<p>FWIW, I think that many people who are apply and are accepted into master’s programs in biomedical engineering do not have undergraduate degrees in some other area of engineering. (I remember that when I graduated from an LAC ahem years ago, biomedical engineering was a possible option.) </p>
<p>Thinking out loud about going to a college with engineering and liberal arts both: My recollection from a tour of Case Western Reserve University is that has a single door in so you are accepted to Case, not just to the engineering school or just the college of arts and sciences, so perhaps one can move between the schools there? Is the University of Rochester a bit like that too, maybe?</p>
<p>There are plenty of science undergrads who go on to engineering grad school. The difficulty depends on the fields involved and the student’s undergrad coursework. Physics>EE, Math>CS, and Chem>ChemE or Chem>MatSE are all commonly done. If the student is considering the possibility of engineering grad school, taking engineering undergrad courses is a good idea. </p>
<p>There are lots of schools where the major coursework is identical, but a student can earn either a BA or BS in the subject, depending if he/she is enrolled in the Arts & Sciences or Engineering departments. For example, U Michigan offers both a BA and BSE in Computer Science. Plenty of schools offer a BA in Physics as well as a BS in Engineering Physics. Distribution requirements may differ, but the classes for both are the same.</p>
<p>wjb, you should investigate Dartmouth, as well. DS is there now, officially majoring in engineering but flirting with physics. 4-year BA, then – if desired – a fifth year for a BE. Yes, selective, but heck – what isn’t these days.</p>
These two points also bear a lot looking into, and fortunately there is plenty of time since this kid is a hs junior.</p>
<p>At most schools (nearly all? not sure), if a student wants to consider Engineering s/he will need to start right out in Engineering — or fall behind and not be able to graduate in four years. The curriculum is quite proscribed. The first year often involves few or no actual Engineering courses, but still allow little leeway/experimentation. Specific math, physics, Chem, Computer Science courses required in a specific order.</p>
<p>As saachi says, it is much easier in most cases to transfer out of an Engineering program into another major within a given U/LAC. Transferring in… not so much. This is a question we asked at every school S was considering. In the end, he zero interest in leaving Engineering for A&S, but who knew that going in?</p>