The engineering schools are all very competitive to get into as direct admits as freshmen. About 20 percent are direct-admit, while 80 percent of students are admitted as “pre-engineering.” Those students take the first two years of introductory engineering courses, then apply to the engineering program(s) of their preference as sophomores. Admittance to the upperclassman programs varies each year, but from what I have seen seems to be about 40 to 60 percent.