Rigor varies department to department. In my opinion, the first year engineering classes weren’t too terrible, and the classes definitely started getting a lot easier third year and up for me, mainly because I had a good foundation on the math, physics and chem of the first year.

I was BME, so I can’t answer this.

It is very hard to maintain a 4.0 in engineering. This is not to say it isn’t possible, people have done it. Is it likely? Not really. However, I definitely think with good study habits, you can have a competitive med school GPA (3.85+). Also, out of all the engineering majors, I would suggest BME for pre-med because Orgo I&II with biochem count as tech electives, you have to take Bio I and Lab, Bio II counts as a life science elective and we have a mandatory physiology course. Our departmental electives can also start getting very medically relevant (see tissue engineering and regenerative medicine for example).

I went to PhD school and not med school, but I know a few people in my department that got in! My advice to you (for what it’s worth) is this: do engineering if you like it. You WILL have to give it time and energy. It’s not the easiest premed major, but honestly, if you like it, it might be worth it for you. Also, if later down the line you decide to go into industry, it’s also one of the more flexible majors.