What is it really like?

I’m going to be applying for colleges soon so I have been looking into majors. I was originally thinking biology but the more I look into it, the more I realize what I have always loved learning about is the application of science not just memorizing facts. Because of this, I am now strongly considering Biomedical engineering because it is genuinely interesting to me and I know that the only way I’ll be able to succeed in college is if I like what I’m learning. I guess what I’m asking is, is engineering really that impossible or is it something that someone like me would be capable of doing? Some background: 1930 SAT, 29 ACT, 93 unweighted GPA. I really do like to challenge myself and I have a very heavy courseload including AP chem AP bio and AP calc AP. Please anyone with experience help me out

Note that BME students are often encouraged to go to grad school to be competitive in the job market.

Also, is it a lot harder to get accepted to a university’s engineering school than its arts and sciences school? Can you apply to both schools if you want a back up?

This depends entirely on the school and to some degree your gender.

@eyemgh I mean like in general do most schools have higher standards and lower admissions rates for their engineering school. And I think everyone misunderstood the question I’m just wondering if engineering is really as hard as everyone says

It depends on the popularity of engineering within the university in question and whether or not they admit to specific colleges or even majors or simply to the university as a whole. For example, engineering is the hardest admit at Cal Poly and Berkeley, but an easier admit than the general population at Duke. CP and Berkeley are known for their engineering above all other undergraduate majors where as Duke is not RELATIVE to it’s other offerings.

I would really try to talk to students in each of the programs. Maybe ask your GC if any recent graduates from your high school are in the programs you like and then see if you can reach out to them. Or visit the schools and go to the classes.

I was a biomedical engineering major at NU for freshman year and I tanked (20 years ago). I was a very strong math/science student in an average suburban high school. Had straight As and graduated 9th out of 600+ students. Took BC Calc and AP Physics among other rigorous honors classes. I was out of my league at NU in that major. I wish I would have spent more time investigating the competitiveness of the program and how I fit. Don’t mean to scare you as it’s such as interesting major, but I would be sure to do your homework. And, yes, you need a masters to really do anything with it.

@eyemgh , Duke has many more applicants to A & S than Engineering. But the overall admissions rate is lower for Engineering (12 A & S to 10 percent for Engineering). And the average SAT’s and ACT are higher in Engineering . If I recall correctly, that was even the case years ago when my older son considered applying to Duke for Engineering.
http://www.admissions.duke.edu/images/uploads/process/DukeClass2019Profile.pdf This is true at UVa as well, which is also more well known for A & S than Engineering. The average SAT in engineering is 1430, the school overall is more like 1355. Engineering is a harder admit overall at Virginia Tech as well. So, you really just need to look at the schools you are interested in individually.

I agree, it’s individual and that’s the point i was trying to make. I didn’t use an up to date example though. Duke was that way when my son was sorting out his school list and it was confirmed to us by a friend and interviewer for Duke.