<p>so is it easier for girls to get into MIT?</p>
<p>If your daughter is willing to consider the women's schools, they have a long history of turning out women scientists at a higher rate than coed colleges. So Bryn Mawr, Smith, Wellesley would be on that list. Since young women remain less likely than young men to express an interest in majoring in science, they probably get a boost most places.</p>
<p>The other problem with CMU, for everyone not just women, is their structure. You apply to one school for engineering, another for computer science, yet another for engineering. OK if you are really sure you know what you want to do, but how many 17 year olds can be this sure?</p>
<p>MIT says no, but many people do not believe them. One of the MIT admissions people has a blog that discusses this issue in depth. I still don't believe him, but it makes good reading.</p>
<p>My son (hs class of 2003) has two female friends at Carnegie Mellon, one is in CS and one in biochem--both received very generous merit packages (the one in CS received a full ride) and both are very happy there.</p>
<p>Thanks everybody. This is a turn for the kid, don't know yet how serious she is but as of now it seems that the type of program at Penn (BAS degree in Biomedical Science) with double major if possible, or a minor or two in Bio or Chem. I went to the site provided on engineering programs and printed out all bio-med programs at accredited schools. D would most likely NOT be interested in a BME dgree. She's hoping to find something similar to the Penn program's course requirements. I will probably contact the Department to pose my "If she doesn't go directly to med school, can she go bio grad school with this plan?" question, which I believe should be yes but I want to know.</p>