<p>Wolverine - re:
</p>
<p>First off, deciding your major after getting to college is FINE for a BA.</p>
<p>But engineering, like music, art & design, or theatre, is NOT a BA. It’s pretty much the equivalent of a professional degree, just like a BFA in A/D is a “studio based” professional degree and the way a BMus is a professional degree.
I can assure you that it can be even more difficult to access something like a BMus at Michigan if you don’t have the background going in, the audition material or portfolio 
In the case of these programs where auditions, portfolios, or notable accomplishment or mastery in math/science/tech are requisite, there is always still the option of transfer when one has gathered the necessary experience and level of accomplishment.</p>
<p>What disadvantages a student from a tough background is the fact that if they enter college not knowing they want to do engineering, and spend time and money and financial aid eligibility on courses that will not be useful toward the ENG degree, then they will have to spend more of both time and money pursuing something specialized like ENG.</p>
<p>SO if you think you’re interested in Engineering, research NOW and apply to COE to make the most of the time/money you spend at Michigan. It is theoretically easier to transfer to LSA from COE than vice versa. However, if you’ve already started in LSA, check the prerequisites for ENG, take as many as you can, and you’ll optimize a transfer scenario.</p>
<p>BTW, COE typically takes 9 semesters to graduate (4.5 yrs).</p>