Terribly sorry for the confusion, I meant pre-admit and not pre-major. So you won’t need to apply for the major if you’re pre-admit at the UW, but you will at OSU if you go there, as well as at the UW if you’re pre major and not pre admit. Silly words.
If you’re already in for the major as a pre-admit person, all you need to do is maintain a decent GPA and not get into major disciplinary trouble, I think.
Since UW would be the safer option (because of pre-admit) and the better program according to what you said, I would lean toward the UW, but other factors (social and academic, as OP stated) could sway the decision the other direction, as well as the specific topics you’re interested in exploring in ME, if you know them already, and what the universities and their ME departments offer in those topics.
@Chaosjwu what do you want socially and academically, as well as theme-related for ME (if you know that already; its 100% fine if you don’t)? Once we know that we can help see which school more satisfies your wants, and then advise which we think would be better for you.