<p>UVa is not unique in requiring students to apply to engineering, architecture, or nursing separately. There are many universities where you must apply to the school of business in a similar way, as a newly admitted student. If you are unsure, or want more flexibility there are schools that allow for this. The trade off as hazel points out is more limited class offerings and availability. So while you may not be technically ‘blocked’ due to being in one school or another you are still going to experience frustrations getting classes you want. No school is going to have everything lined up exactly the way you want. You either make the commitment and work within that curriculum, knowing there’s a chance you’ll change you’re mind, or you go for less restrictions but trade off broader overall curriculum options.</p>
<p>Also, you may be misunderstanding the concept of being ‘blocked’ from CLAS courses as a SEAS student or vise versa. This is only for an initial period to rightfully give students primarily studying in that school and in need to those courses for their degree priority. Then registration opens up and you can try to get into those courses. So it’s not really ‘locked out’, but ‘priority’ given to students in that school. As a first year student it’s hard because you register last, however if you stay on the wait list, email the professor, show up the first day of class with a form to add you to the course, you can often get into the class. My son was able to take two Econ courses his first and second year as a SEAS student. I think he was 50th on the wait list initially for one.</p>
<p>FWIW, the prevailing thought if you are unsure about engineering is to start in engineering and then switch out if it’s not for you. It’s much easier then the opposite direction as you are less likely to be behind in sequences, and courses taken are more likely to fill either count toward or as electives for another degree. In other words, if you start in liberal arts and swap to engineering there is a greater chance that you may have an extra semester. If you start in engineering and move to liberal arts to study physics or math, for example, there’s a decent chance you’ll still graduate on time.</p>