<p>So I applied to the engineering school and it said on my letter that I got into general engineering in the corner of the paper. Does this mean I am in the general engineering school as a freshman and have to apply to the specific department as a 2nd year? Or how does the system work? I seem to be confused.</p>
<p>You are in the general engineering school as a freshman. Once you complete the EGR requirements including intro engineering, calc 1 and 2, first year chem, calc based physics, and comm A, you can apply to your desired department. This could be right away or in your sophomore year. It all depends on when you finish the required classes.</p>
<p>You were admitted to the university as a whole, not just a particular school/college. Most of your first year courses will be in L&S. You will need to get good enough college grades to be admitted to your major. You should have an engineering advisor for SOAR who can help you.</p>
<p>Some of the specific engineering majors are in high demand thus extremely competitive to get admitted to (after you have completed the EGR requirements).</p>
<p>For example, here is more information from the Civil & Environmental Engineering department:</p>
<p>[Admission</a> requirements - College of Engineering @ University of Wisconsin Madison](<a href=“http://www.engr.wisc.edu/cee/cee-undergraduate-admission-requirements.html]Admission”>http://www.engr.wisc.edu/cee/cee-undergraduate-admission-requirements.html)</p>
<p>Initial classification</p>
<p>[Official</a> regulations - College of Engineering @ University of Wisconsin Madison](<a href=“http://www.engr.wisc.edu/current/coe-enrollment-regulations.html#1]Official”>http://www.engr.wisc.edu/current/coe-enrollment-regulations.html#1)</p>
<p>New students admitted to the College of Engineering but not yet to a degree-granting department are assigned the classification of Engineering General Resources (EGR). EGR students should transfer to a degree-granting department as soon as they are eligible. Students may not begin a semester with the EGR classification after they have completed four semesters as an EGR student. Summer session is not considered a semester.</p>
<p>Admission to a degree-granting classification</p>
<p>[Official</a> regulations - College of Engineering @ University of Wisconsin Madison](<a href=“http://www.engr.wisc.edu/current/coe-enrollment-regulations.html#3]Official”>http://www.engr.wisc.edu/current/coe-enrollment-regulations.html#3)</p>
<p>To be considered for admission to the Civil Engineering (BSCE) major, a student must have:</p>
<ol>
<li>Satisfied the General Education Communication Skills Part A requirement (see General College Requirements).</li>
<li>A minimum of 24 credits.</li>
<li>A minimum of 17 credits of calculus, statistics, chemistry, computer science, statics, and physics courses required for an engineering degree. These credits must include Math 222 or Math 276.</li>
<li>A grade point average of at least 2.50 for all math courses 217 and above, statistics courses 224 and above, chemistry (all classes), computer science (all classes), EMA 201, and physics courses 201 and above. For one and only one of these courses that a student has repeated, the more recent of the two grades will be used in the calculation.</li>
<li>A grade-point average at least 2.00 for all courses not included above in Requirement 4.</li>
<li>Successful completion of introductory chemistry (Chem 103/104 or 109 or 116); calculus-based mechanics (EMA 201 or Physics 201, 207, or 247); math through Math 222 or Math 276; and either InterEGR 101 or 160 or another introduction to engineering class from an approved list. For transfer students, the introduction to engineering class is optional and not required. If taken, credits will apply to Liberal Studies.</li>
</ol>
<p>When the number of qualified BSCE applicants exceeds the capacity of the program, admissions will be limited to that capacity. Under these conditions, admission of students will be based on grade point averages, test scores, geographical background, personal background, and diversity. This basis for admission is intended to implement the University’s goals of (1) maximizing the success of students who are admitted to a program and (2) achieving a heterogeneous and ethnically diverse student body. It is the student’s responsibility to submit a timely application to the dean’s office for admission to the BSCE degree-granting classification.</p>
<p>Application periods are as follows:
For Fall Semester: January 15 to March 1
For Spring Semester: September 15 to November 1
For Summer Session: January 15 to March 1</p>
<p>Students not admitted to the BSCE degree program may file an appeal with the dean.</p>
<p>Link to UW-Madison scholarship information for Engineering (you can apply after you have been admitted and before you have accepted, note that one of these has a Feb 1st deadline):</p>
<p>[Scholarships</a> - College of Engineering @ University of Wisconsin Madison](<a href=“http://www.engr.wisc.edu/current/coe-current-undergraduate-scholarships.html]Scholarships”>http://www.engr.wisc.edu/current/coe-current-undergraduate-scholarships.html)</p>
<p>Scholarships</p>
<p>FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS</p>
<p>Scholarships@UW-Madison</p>
<p>A new website makes it easy to find UW-Madison scholarships:
scholarships.wisc.edu
Scholarships@UW-Madison is designed to help prospective, new and continuing students who have been admitted to the College of Engineering for the upcoming academic year and their parents find undergraduate scholarship details within one site. Instead of navigating individual schools and colleges, students can turn to this comprehensive resource to find UW scholarships for which they are eligible.</p>
<p>Freshman Academic Achievement Award</p>
<p>Class level: Freshman
Major: Any in engineering
Number of awards: 120
Amount of award: $3,000 (non-renewable); $2,000 (non-renewable); $1000 (non-renewable)
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Outstanding high school seniors who have been admitted to the College of Engineering for the upcoming fall semester.</p>
<p>After your application for admission has been filed, you can apply for scholarships by following the instructions below. Do not wait to hear from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in regard to your acceptance to UW-Madison to apply for the Freshman Achievement Award. Your admission will be verified prior to making an offer.</p>
<ol>
<li>Visit My UW-Madison. </li>
<li>Click the Finances tab. </li>
<li>Click the “Enter Scholarships@UW-Madison” link in the box.</li>
</ol>
<p>New Freshman LEED (Leaders in Engineering Excellence and Diversity) Scholarship (formerly the Diversity Affairs Scholarship)</p>
<p>Class level: Freshman students
Major: Any in engineering
Number of awards: Varies.
Amount of award: Varies.
Application deadline: April 1
Applications will be available starting January 1st, 2014!
Eligibility: Underrepresented minority students and women of all ethnic backgrounds
Contact: Diversity Affairs Office</p>
<p>Just because the majors are in high demand in the industry doesn’t mean the programs are hard to get accepted to. In fact, I would say that it is easier to get into any engineering department than it is to get into the business school. There is a shortage of engineering students given the difficulty of the classes. I’ve heard of many people getting into the BME program (one of the most competitive) with a 3.0 GPA. GPA isn’t everything. If you care too much about your GPA, then engineering isn’t the field for you.</p>