Your prior comment (below) left me somewhat confused. Is she looking into Biomedical Engineering or Physics?
We researched the engineering field for my daughter. That was a couple of years ago- so I forget some of the specific info. The general idea I got was that people did not really think that going into Biomedical Engineering as an undergraduate was a good idea. I think it was explained that they get a little bit of bio and a little bit of chemistry, but not enough of either to make them competitive in the job market. My husband is an engineer- so I also got some input from him. If she is determined to go the engineering route, mechanical engineering pays the best. My husband is in Materials Science and works for a fortune 500 company. From what I have read, some people find that to be a more interesting field in engineering than mechanical. They are always looking for qualified female engineers where he works. They do hire and promote qualified women at the highest levels where he works.
I also learned that the coursework for various types of engineering degrees is pretty standardized. All of the programs that are “certified” have comparable course offerings and coursework. Unless you go to one of the top ten programs for engineering, I don’t think companies care where you get your degree other than whether or not it is a certified program. And, about 4 years after graduation, companies care much more about your results; where you got your degree does not have much impact on your employment opportunities.
Also, probably the most important thing to consider if she wants to do both: engineering is one of the most time-consuming degrees there is. Not only is the coursework very difficult, but they actually require significantly more credit hours to graduate than other majors. Most engineering majors do not have great social lives while in college since they have to spend some of their weekends studying. I think it would be very difficult (if not impossible) to combine an engineering major with many hours spent dancing.
Your daughter might want to consider a degree through the department of natural sciences. I found out that it is not difficult to get a 2nd degree in engineering or masters degree and make-up some of the missing engineering coursework for someone that has a degree in physics or chemistry. That is my daughter’s back-up plan if she changes her mind about med school. One of her favorite subjects is chemistry, so she is considering chemical engineering.
“she is looking at Biochemical Engineering. She has been offered an internship this summer, which is working around her SI commitment-she is determined to do both. I am reading and thinking that the ballet department and physics department needs to be strong and location is very important.”