<p>MaineLonghorn,</p>
<p>First, the person who can give you the most insight and valid counseling is the Assistant Dean of Science in the Office of Undergraduate Education, Preetha Ram, Ph.D. (<a href="mailto:pram@emory.edu">pram@emory.edu</a>, 404-727-6040; 727-6069). She coordinates the program for Emory and serves as student advisor for all candidates.</p>
<p>I think this is an intriguing program, but it has many things to consider. The dual-degree program with Emory/GT is fairly new in its current version. Previously, there was a joint program focused primarily in BioMedical Engineering with GT, and this program has now expanded to include other engineering disciplines.</p>
<p>I'll be blunt here. If your son is truly interested in Engineering, and that is his focus, then I would NOT recommend this program (or Emory) and instead apply directly to GT. If he has a "Renaissance Man" nature about him, and he has a sincere interest in breadth of knowledge and scholarly interests -- in addition to Engineering -- then this program has benefits. </p>
<p>Going to GT directly will put him on a focused Engineering track, whereas participating in this dual-degree program will necessitate his having a natural, driven inclination for appreciating the liberal arts (for his sake) -- to the point of having to satisfy all of Emory's General Education Requirements, plus a designated Major requirements, plus taking the pre-engineering classes needed as pre-reqs. for his next 2 years at GT. The difficulty in part is not knowing how your current 17- or 18-year old will change in his interests in the next few years. It will be a lot of work and a big commitment that needs to begin in his Freshman year. If his academic interests are indeed broad, PLUS, he wants an Engineering degree, then this is a good option ... but possibly still not the best option. </p>
<p>Here are some thoughts on the trade-offs of this dual-degree program:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>It's a 5-year minimum commitment: 3 years at Emory and 2 years at GT. It can easily spill over to another semester, depending on course requirements and availability.</p></li>
<li><p>Financial aid is handled separately at Emory vs. GT.</p></li>
<li><p>The additional degree from Emory may have only limited value as leverage in the job world. Employers seeking to find technical workers will look first for a B.S. in the relevant Engineering discipline (i.e., BSEE, BSME, BSCS, etc.). </p></li>
<li><p>From a social integration perspective, it may seem awkward to make the readjustment to GT after 3 years at Emory. Friends, and simply knowing the lay of the land, knowing resources available may take some getting up to speed on.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I would encourage you to speak with Preetha Ram to understand the goals of the program, the commitment to the academic rigor, and the additional time commitment. Good luck.</p>