Direct Entry Programs
While students in the majority of programs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison will formally declare their major and be officially accepted into their major program as a current student, we also offer a number of direct entry programs that allow students to be formally admitted to both the university and the school, college, or major program prior to enrolling.
Direct entry programs are competitive and selective. If you are interested in a direct entry program, you will indicate that as your first choice major on your application to the university.
Business
All first-year applicants who wish to be considered for direct entry to the Wisconsin School of Business must apply to the university as a whole and list a business major as their first choice major on their application. Students will be notified in their letter of admission if they were directly admitted to the School of Business. Students who are not directly admitted will be admitted as pre-business students in the College of Letters & Science and can apply to the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Program as current students.
Working closely with the School of Business, the Office of Admissions and Recruitment will make direct entry decisions for the Wisconsin School of Business BBA Program, effective fall 2017.
Our office reviews applicants holistically and considers a student’s preparation and academic readiness for the School of Business, as well as their interest and fit for business, including leadership and involvement.
The Wisconsin BBA Program has upper level admission for students who are not admitted directly, including transfer students.
Transferring to UW–Madison? Learn more about the transfer admission process for business.
Dance
Students who choose to pursue a dance major at the University of Wisconsin–Madison will be inspired by our world-renowned faculty, unique performance opportunities, and a diverse curriculum. The Dance Department is housed within the School of Education, where students may choose to pursue either a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Bachelor of Science-Dance (BS) degree.
Students must submit an application to the university as a whole and indicate dance as their first choice major on the application. Students must also apply to the Dance Department. Admission to the Dance Department is contingent upon admission to the university. Students may apply concurrently and are encouraged to apply in Early Action (first-year) or Priority Decision (transfer). Talent is certainly a consideration in admission decisions but is considered along with academic strength and preparation. Including information about your interest, involvement, and experience related to dance is encouraged.
Applicants must pass their dance audition to be admitted to the Dance Department. Applicants who pass their audition before the university’s admissions decision release date will be admitted directly to the Dance Department. Those who have not successfully passed their audition when admissions decisions are released will be admitted as Undeclared in the School of Education. If an applicant passes their audition after an admission decision has been released, the student’s major will be updated to reflect being admitted directly to the dance major.
Engineering
Applicants interested in majoring in the College of Engineering must apply to the university as a whole and list an engineering major as their first choice major on their application. Applicants will be required to list a major outside of the College of Engineering as their second choice major.
Our office reviews applicants holistically for admission to the university, as well as for direct entry into the College of Engineering. Coursework in core academic subject areas weighs heavily for engineering applicants, and special attention will be given to a student’s rigor and performance in math and science courses. As an example, Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses are a great way to explore the field of engineering, but they should not be taken in place of core coursework like math, science, English, social studies, or world language. Additionally, students who take part in PLTW courses will not receive any transfer credit for that coursework.
Engineering applicants are encouraged to have their letter of recommendation written by a teacher, instructor, or professor in the areas of math or science. Students who are able to explore the field of engineering through extracurricular activities, exploration courses, or job shadowing are encouraged to talk about this experience in their essays.
All students are expected to maintain the rigor and academic performance indicated at the time of admission. A change in schedule or decline in grades may result in admission being revoked to the College of Engineering or the university as a whole. Students admitted to the College of Engineering will need to meet progression requirements as outlined by the college to maintain their direct admission to their specific engineering major.
Music
The School of Music at the University of Wisconsin–Madison offers a range of opportunities for students to expand their talent, interest, and knowledge about music and music education.
Students must submit an application to the university as a whole and indicate a music major as their first choice major on the application. Students must also apply to the School of Music. Admission to the School of Music is contingent upon admission to the university. Students may apply concurrently and are encouraged to apply in Early Action (first-year) or Priority Decision (transfer).
When applying to the university as a whole, students are encouraged to discuss their experience and interest in music in their essay. We encourage letters of recommendation that focus on a student’s academic strengths as well as talent. Musical talent is certainly a consideration in admission decisions but is considered along with academic strength and preparation.
Applicants must pass their music audition to be admitted as a music major. Applicants who pass their audition before the university’s admissions decision release date will be admitted directly to the School of Music. Those who have not successfully passed their audition when admissions decisions are released will be admitted as Undeclared in the College of Letters & Science. If an applicant passes their audition after an admission decision has been released, the student’s major will be updated to reflect being admitted directly to their music major.
Students may choose to pursue a degree or a certificate, taking music classes taught by engaging faculty with diverse experiences and exceptional talent. The School of Music is housed within the College of Letters and Science and offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Arts (BA), or Bachelor of Science (BS). A music audition and application are required. Music Education is a program offered jointly by the School of Music and the School of Education. Students must first audition and be accepted to the School of Music as a music major and will complete teaching certification requirements through the School of Education.