Transferring to Cornell for sophomore fall 2016 question

Cornell has a rolling notification policy for transfer
applicants. If you apply for Fall Semester admission, you
will hear between May and June. If you apply for admission
in the spring, you’ll receive word sometime in November
or December.

If one is required to complete 2 semesters, and decisions come out between May and June, this means only your mid term report for freshman year is sent and considered, correct?

And also, the AEM course requirements page (http://admissions.cals.cornell.edu/apply/transfer/requirements/aem/) lists 3 courses as recommended but not required. So its recommended that one take all 8 courses listed there in one semester? Or is it recommended that one takes the 5 courses + one of the recommended but not required courses?

If one takes a class not in the transfer prerequisites, are there any guidelines as to which classes are the best and best increase your chances?

And finally, what’s the general feel about transferring to AEM? As in, is it considered really hard to transfer into or just about the same as every other major and school? I know AEM is competitive enough as it is for freshman. Which school or major accepts the most transfers?