Seems that this is no longer true for engineering majors. https://www.engr.wisc.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/ indicates that applicants can apply for direct admission to engineering majors. However, it comes with an unusual catch in that there may be high college GPA requirements to stay in the major, as described at https://www.engr.wisc.edu/academics/student-services/academic-advising/first-year-undergraduate-students/progression-requirements/ . Students not directly admitted to the engineering major who wish to change into the engineering major also have an admission process to do so, which restricts the student’s flexibility if one of his/her possible majors is an engineering major.