<p>Ben, gotta say yours is the first opinion against being able to apply directly to the program that your interested in and get admitted directly to it. At Michigan, for example, you can declare your major, if you meet the minimum requirements for doing so. If you don’t, well, declare all you want. You won’t get in. So, knowing you’re in before committing to a given university is a big plus, and is definitely not a burden.</p>
<p>As for taking college engineering courses your first year to see what you like, as Drusba explains, engineers all take the same basic math, physics and chem sequences, so just how would you learn any more about a given engineering discipline, than if you picked one that you even had a vague idea about that might appeal to you? The thing is, if you picked right, you’re in, and need not do anything (no risk) after your freshman year. If you decide you picked incorrectly, then an intra-college petition is all that is needed and is similar to the process at Michigan, for example. So, being given the option to get admitted directly is an additional benefit, and definitely not a burden.</p>
<p>One last thing, many high school seniors can and do decide what they would like to pursue as a major in college, and being given the opportunity to get directly admitted to it before committing to a university is ideal for them. For those who can’t decide, engineering undeclared exists, and waiting a year before deciding is a reasonable amount of time. To say UMich, where you have to wait a year to decide after committing, and where you don’t have the opportunity to get admitted directly prior to committing is, somehow, better, makes no sense.</p>