<p>Would it be okay for me to enter as a physics major, then if I change my mind transfer to a civil engineering major? Are the courses during freshman/sophomore year similar, or would I have to almost start from scratch if I transferred?</p>
<p>Transfering between such majors is possible beginning after first year but understand there is no certainty it will be allowed as you would need approval of the civil engineering department and good grades will be needed. The freshman level courses taken by physics and engineering majors is usually very similar and includes math, chemistry, a CS course, rhetoric and a physics course. If you do enter as physics major and are thinking about transfering then you should make sure you learn what courses civil engineers usually take first year and take those because you have to have those core freshman courses to be able to transfer but again those are usually the same courses you would take for physic.</p>
<p>Now for a different issue. If you are thinking that if you apply for physics, your chances of admission are better than if you applied for engineering because physics is in the Arts & Sciences college, then you need to do some rethinking. Though the degree is awarded by the Arts & Sciences college, the physics department is actually part of the college of engineering, which controls the major and admission to it and the usual middle 50% ranges of those admitted to physics are comparable to the middle 50% ranges of the engineering college as a whole. In other words, do not choose pyhsics rather than engineering on your application under the belief it may be easier to be accepted for physics.</p>