<p>Cornell's engineering school has around a 40% acceptance rate, while the school of arts and sciences has around a 20% rate. I have seen the same trend with many other schools.
I thought engineering schools would generally be more selective....</p>
<p>If you decide to do engineering, chances are you've already worked a few things about your career and your college experience out. All sorts of people apply to Cornell Arts and Sciences, whereas only aspiring engineers apply to Cornell engineering. This shrinks the applicant pool and raises the acceptance rate - not because the students they take are weaker or less qualified, but because not as many people apply there "just to see" if they can get in.</p>
<p>I remember one explanation specifically for Cornell engineering(has to be coupled with the above fact in mind): the applicant pool is self-selecting. Because it's seen as a difficult course and one where essays won't make up for a bad GPA or low SAT scores, many students feel they don't stand a chance, and only the ambitious and qualified students even apply.</p>
<p>I certainly don't think it means the school is somehow "less" selective.</p>