Undergraduate Application Deadlines
Freshmen
Connections Program
Transfer Students
Reentering Students
Study Abroad Students
International Students
Nondegree University Special and Guest Students
Placement Tests
Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB)
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Retroactive Language Credit
Department of Mathematics Credit
UW-Madison is a world-class university and admission is both competitive and selective. Each year the university must turn away students who would clearly succeed at UW-Madison, but whose academic background, achievements, and characteristics are not as strong as those of the students who are admitted. Academic preparation is the primary consideration for admission, but numbers alone do not determine admissibility. The university considers individual achievement as well as personal characteristics that will contribute to the strength and diversity of the university community. Admission policies are set by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, the Faculty Senate, and, in some cases, individual schools, colleges, and departments. For additional information, contact:
Office of Admissions
Armory & Gymnasium
716 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53706-1481
608/262-3961
fax 608/262-7706
onwisconsin@admissions.wisc.edu
www.admissions.wisc.edu
Undergraduate application deadlines are the same for all applicants (freshman, transfer, international, and reentry students):
February 1 for summer and fall terms
October 1 for spring term
An average of 22,000 students apply for approximately 5,600 spots in the typical freshman class. Admission counselors review each application individually, looking for students who demonstrate strong academic ability as well as leadership, community service, creativity, talent, and enthusiasm. Counselors consider high school performance (rigor of course work, academic GPA, grade trends, and/or class rank); ACT and/or SAT scores, including the standardized writing test; and nonacademic qualifications. Also considered are personal characteristics that will contribute to the strength and diversity of the university. Students can apply for freshman admission beginning September 15 of their senior year in high school.
Invitations to participate in the Connections Program are extended by the Office of Admissions to selected freshman applicants to UW-Madison. In lieu of immediate enrollment at the UW-Madison campus, the Connections Program places participants on a path to earn a UW-Madison degree after attending one of the 16 collaborating two-year college programs. Students enroll as freshmen at the two-year campus. They receive a UW-Madison student ID and many privileges at UW-Madison, such as access to advising, libraries, recreational facilities, student Web portal, and student athletic ticket sales. At the two-year campus, students complete the first 54 credits and satisfy the university-wide General Education Requirements. They then "transition" to enroll at UW-Madison as juniors to continue studies toward a bachelor's degree. Participating two-year colleges are: the 13 UW Colleges freshman/sophomore campuses, Madison Area Technical College, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and Nicolet Area Technical College. For details on this program, visit www.provost.wisc.edu/connections/ or contact the director of the Connections Program at 608/890-1649 or connections@dcs.wisc.edu.
Admission decisions are based on a comprehensive review of all academic indicators of success and the applicant's potential for contribution to the university community. To apply, students must have completed 24 transferable semester credits; three years high school math (or equivalent) including algebra, plane geometry, and college preparatory math; and a single foreign language (two high school years or two college semesters). To be considered for admission, students must demonstrate breadth of college-level course work (i.e., English composition, college-level math, science, social science, humanities, and if appropriate, foreign language), consistent grades across all academic disciplines, and a competitive cumulative GPA.
GPA is calculated according to UW-Madison policy, which requires the calculation of all courses attempted, including repeated courses. Admission to the university does not guarantee acceptance to the intended major, which is a separate process from the undergraduate admission process.
Students who plan to transfer to UW-Madison should consult the appropriate school or college section in this catalog for information on degree and major requirements, as a guide in planning work at other institutions. In general, transfer credit is given for college-level courses taken at a degree-granting, accredited institution. Courses must be similar in nature and content to UW-Madison courses and apply to a UW-Madison academic program. Students may wish to review course descriptions in this catalog when selecting courses at another institution.
Students within the University of Wisconsin System or the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) may consult the online Transfer Information System (TIS) at www.uwsa.edu/tis for information on how lower-division courses will transfer to UW-Madison.
Students once registered at UW-Madison in an undergraduate degree program who wish to resume undergraduate study after an absence of a semester or more are considered reentry students. Reentry students must file an application for readmission but are not subject to the application fee.
To guarantee an early enrollment appointment time, reentry students should submit the complete application by February 1 for the summer and fall terms, or by October 1 for the spring term. Students applying for reentry admission must submit the Application for Undergraduate Admission, official transcripts for any work completed elsewhere since last enrolled at UW-Madison, a list of courses in progress (if applicable), and an academic action from the dean's office if they are in "dropped" or "must obtain permission to continue" status.
Students who attend a study abroad program sponsored by a university other than UW-Madison are considered to be reentry students if their program lasts a semester or more. These students must submit an application for readmission. (Students who attend a summer-only program need not apply for readmission.) Students planning to study abroad via a nonresident program should visit www.admissions.wisc.edu/studyabroad.php for instructions and forms at least two semesters before departure.
International students must have completed at least 12 years of formal education, pursuing the sequence of preparatory studies required for university admission in their country. Students who have completed fewer than 12 years of education or who have pursued an academic course in commerce, social studies, or language at the secondary level typically cannot be considered for freshman admission. These students are encouraged to begin their university study elsewhere and apply as transfer students.
In addition to their academic records, international students must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 550 (paper test), 213 (computer test), or 80 (Internet-based test).
Applicants requesting a student visa (F-1 or J-1) must also document that they have sufficient financial resources to attend UW-Madison. Their financial sponsor must provide an original bank letter showing a minimum average deposit that equals at least two years' worth of tuition and living expenses.
Undergraduate students visiting from other universities or recent UW-Madison graduates have occasion to enroll at UW-Madison as nondegree University Special and Guest students. Contact the Division of Continuing Studies, Adult and Student Services Center, 1305 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1523; 608/263-6960; fax 608/265-2901; assc@dcs.wisc.edu; www.dcs.wisc.edu/services/.
Before students can enroll in classes at UW-Madison, they must take placement tests in English, mathematics, and foreign language. ACT, SAT, TOEFL, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) scores do not fulfill this requirement. Students receive detailed information about required placement tests after they have been admitted and while arranging attendance at the Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) program. Academic advisors at SOAR use placement test results to help students enroll in appropriate course levels. In addition, English and math placement scores may satisfy General Education Requirements.
Both Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Higher Level examinations offer the possibility of establishing credit at UW-Madison. Many high schools offer courses through the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) program or the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. UW-Madison offers degree credit based on a student's performance on the AP and IB exams administered in the high schools. (AP and IB exams must be taken before entering UW-Madison.) Students who receive credit for a particular course through AP or IB and take the same course at UW-Madison will not receive degree credit twice; however, the grade in the UW-Madison course will be included in the overall grade point average.
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) allows students who have gained college-level knowledge outside the classroom to take examinations for possible college credit. Each exam is 90 minutes long and is made up primarily of multiple-choice questions. Some exams include an essay; however, UW-Madison does not require the essay for any CLEP exam.
Credit will be granted only to those students who have completed less than 16 semester hours of college credit when the examinations are taken. Students must earn a minimum score of 75 to receive credit.
For a list of the current CLEP credit policies, contact the Office of Admissions. If no policy has been established for a particular CLEP examination, the request will be referred to the appropriate academic department for a credit recommendation. The scores for awarding credit at the University of Wisconsin-Madison do not necessarily match those recommended by the American Council on Education.
In some schools and colleges at UW-Madison, it is possible to earn retro credits for prior work completed in a foreign language. To earn these credits, students must take a course above the first-semester level in French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish, or any other language in which they have some proficiency. The course must be designated appropriate for earning retro credits by the department and must be the first foreign language course taken by the student after enrolling in the university. In other words, students who take a college-level language course while still in high school may still pursue retro credits at the university.
To be eligible for retro credits, freshmen must earn the credits during their first two semesters at the university. Transfer students must enroll in the course on the UW-Madison campus before they earn 30 degree credits (including credits transferred from other campuses but not including AP, CLEP, IB, or retro credits in another language). Students must submit the Retroactive Language Credit Request Form to the instructor during the first two weeks of class and earn a grade of B or better. Native speakers of a language are not eligible to earn retro credits in that language.
Students interested in earning retro credits should plan to take the foreign language placement test and consult with the foreign language advisor at SOAR or with the language department regarding proper placement. For more information about retro credits, contact an advisor.
The Department of Mathematics offers tests for credit and advanced placement during the first week of classes. Students who have had calculus in high school and who place high enough on the UW System Math Placement Test may consult with the math advisor during SOAR about taking the UW-Madison Calculus Advanced Placement Exam during the first week of classes. Based on performance on this exam, students may earn credit for Math 221 and 222 (Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, II). Students who have established advanced placement credit by other means, such as AP or IB, do not need to take this exam. For more information, contact the mathematics advanced placement advisor, Van Vleck Hall, 608/263-3053.