Switching from ArtSci to Engineering

Hi everyone! I recently committed to the WashU class of 2021 (super pumped!). I applied as a Chem major to ArtSci, but after giving it some thought, I really want to study Chemical Engineering (which means switching into the engineering college). I know for sure I want to do Chemical Engineering; I only applied as a Chem major because I was initially really worried that an engineering curriculum would be too difficult. I was going to email WashU, but under their FAQs I saw this:

Beginning in the Fall of 2016, first-year applicants will be required to wait one full semester before requesting a change to another undergraduate college at WashU.

But when I looked at some old threads/reddit, lots of students said they were allowed to switch with no problem. I’m just looking for some clarification: does this mean that I absolutely won’t be allowed to switch until I complete my first semester, or not?

Hi, I’m also an incoming Chem major that is pretty sure that I am switching to Engineering. From everything that I have read they are correct. You cannot transfer schools before you come into the university and can transfer after your first semester.

From everything that I have read and heard though I think that you can transfer between any college pretty easily as long as your GPA is a 3.0 or higher; below that number it may be a bit harder but I’m not sure what the exact cutoff is. I’m also assuming that whichever school your in shouldn’t have that big of an effect, if any, on what classes you can take first semester before switching.

Something that I am more interested in is whether I will have to take Writing 1 as someone transferring into Engineering. In the engineering school, you can test out of Writing 1 with a placement exam or SAT test scores and my SAT scores would excuse me from this class in engineering.