OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS AND RECRUITMENT

DEADLINES AND DECISIONS

The fall and spring term applications open August 1.

The following deadlines pertain to both domestic and international applicants.

Applications and all required supporting documents are due by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on the noted deadline dates.

We cannot begin to review your application until all required materials are received.

We start processing applications on September 1.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

FRESHMAN APPLICATION AND MATERIALS DEADLINES

DECISION PLAN APPLICATION & MATERIALS DEADLINE DECISION
Spring Regular Decision October 1* On or before December 31
Fall Early Action November 1* On or before January 31
Fall Regular Decision February 1* On or before March 31**

Early Action is non-binding. You’ll receive your admissions decision earlier but will not be required to commit until the national deadline of May 1*.

*If deadline falls on a weekend, it is extended to the next business day.

**Due to a record number of applications for our fall 2021 freshman class, our Regular Decision release will take place the evening of Friday, April 2 (central time). This will allow us the needed time to give all applications the full consideration they deserve. Above all else is our commitment to provide a complete, holistic review of each applicant.

FRESHMAN ADMISSION DECISIONS

We cannot begin to review your application until all required materials are received. Review our requirements to ensure you submit a complete application.

Types of admission decisions applicants can receive in our Early Action review period:

  • Admit: Admission to UW–Madison is competitive and selective, and we review applications using a holistic process. We admit students based on academic strengths who will thrive in our rigorous curriculum and who also add unique perspectives to our student body. We consider essays, extracurricular involvement (both in and outside of school), letters of recommendation, talent, and interests to consider how students may contribute to our campus community.
  • Defer: Applicants who are deferred are neither admitted nor denied upon initial review. Deferred applicants have the potential for success at UW–Madison, however, we would like to review midyear grades and other supporting material prior to making a final decision. Decisions on deferred students will be made by the end of March. Note: Students who have been deferred will receive information on self-reporting grades and updating their file in February at the email address on their application. 
  • Deny: Students who are not competitive for admission are denied admission.

Types of admission decisions applicants can receive in our Regular Decision review period:

  • Admit: Admission to UW–Madison is competitive and selective, and we review applications using a holistic process. We admit students based on academic strengths who will thrive in our rigorous curriculum and who also add unique perspectives to our student body. We consider essays, extracurricular involvement (both in and outside of school), letters of recommendation, talent, and interests to consider how students may contribute to our campus community.
  • Wait List: Students who are offered a spot on our wait list are neither admitted nor denied. If space becomes available after May 1, admission may be extended to some students who have accepted the wait list offer. Every effort will be made to inform students if there is space for them or not by the end of June.
    • Connections Program: A select group of Wisconsin residents who are offered a spot on our wait list will be offered a spot in the Connections Program. Students who participate in the Connections Program are granted the opportunity to start at a partner college or university before finishing their bachelor’s degree at UW–Madison—all while holding the distinctive UW–Madison student status from the beginning. Students offered Connections can choose to accept both offers, accept only their wait list offer, or accept only Connections.
  • Deny: Students who are not competitive for admission or who fail to complete their application are denied admission.

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APPEALING A DENY DECISION

Every application denied has already been through an extensive review. For an appeal to have merit, it must bring to light new compelling academic and/or personal information, as well as details pertaining to extenuating circumstances that were not addressed in the initial application. Essentially, the appeal must present information that clearly shows the student to be stronger than had been earlier evidenced.

Appeal letters must be written and submitted by the applicant within 30 days of the deny decision to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. Email is an acceptable format for submission. Be sure to clearly outline the reasons for appealing and present new and compelling information. Do not simply repeat information that was presented at the time of application. At the time of appealing, the letter should accompany any other appropriate documentation as needed.

Defer and wait list decisions cannot be appealed. Any application that is incomplete will not be eligible for an appeal. Applicants can only appeal once and decisions resulting from an appeal are final. We will not accept appeals filed on behalf of the student by a parent, counselor, teacher, friend, etc.

It is our usual practice to respond to appeals within four to six weeks of the date we receive them. While all appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, the rate of a decision being reversed based on an appeal has historically been very low. Application fees are nonrefundable regardless of the result of an appeal. If you wish to submit an appeal, please click here for further instructions.

TRANSFER APPLICATION AND MATERIALS DEADLINES

DECISION PLAN APPLICATION & MATERIALS DEADLINE DECISION
Spring Regular Decision October 1* On or before December 31
Fall Priority Decision February 1* On or before March 31
Fall Regular Decision March 1* On or before April 30

*If deadline falls on a weekend, it is extended to the next business day.

TRANSFER ADMISSION DECISIONS

We cannot begin to review your application until all required materials are received. Review our requirements to ensure you submit a complete application.

Types of admission decisions applicants can receive:

  • Admit: Admission to UW–Madison is competitive and selective, and we review applications using a holistic process. We admit students based on academic strengths who will thrive in our rigorous curriculum and who also add unique perspectives to our student body. We consider essays, extracurricular involvement (both in and outside of school), letters of recommendation, talent, and interests to consider how students may contribute to our campus community.
  • Defer: Applicants who are deferred are neither admitted nor denied upon initial review. Deferred applicants have the potential for success at UW–Madison, however, we would like to review final term grades and other supporting material prior to making a final decision. Decisions on deferred students will be made by the end of June.
  • Deny: Students who are not competitive for admission or who fail to complete their application are denied admission.

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APPEALING A DENY DECISION

Every application denied has already been through an extensive review. For an appeal to have merit, it must bring to light new compelling academic and/or personal information, as well as details pertaining to extenuating circumstances that were not addressed in the initial application. Essentially, the appeal must present information that clearly shows the student to be stronger than had been earlier evidenced.

Appeal letters must be written and submitted by the applicant within 30 days of the deny decision to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. Email is an acceptable format for submission. Be sure to clearly outline the reasons for appealing and present new and compelling information. Do not simply repeat information that was presented at the time of application. At the time of appealing, the letter should accompany any other appropriate documentation as needed.

Any application that is incomplete will not be eligible for an appeal. Applicants can only appeal once and decisions resulting from an appeal are final. We will not accept appeals filed on behalf of the student by a parent, counselor, teacher, friend, etc.

It is our usual practice to respond to appeals within four to six weeks of the date we receive them. While all appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, the rate of a decision being reversed based on an appeal has historically been very low. Application fees are nonrefundable regardless of the result of an appeal. If you wish to submit an appeal, please click here for further instructions.

DEFERRED ENROLLMENT

In most cases, transfer and reentry students cannot defer enrollment. The University of Wisconsin–Madison provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities, chronic medical conditions, and for active-duty military personnel.

Transfer students who have confirmed enrollment and are unable to enroll at UW–Madison in the term specified on their acceptance letter due to one of the reasons listed above may request to defer enrollment.

REENTERING APPLICATION AND MATERIALS DEADLINES

To guarantee an early enrollment appointment for the term you are applying for, we encourage you to complete your reentry application by the following deadlines:

PERIOD APPLICATION OPEN DEADLINE DECISION NOTIFICATION IF NO DEAN’S ACTION
Spring Term February 1, 2020 January 8, 2021 Made on a rolling basis
Summer Term August 1, 2020 July 19, 2021 Made on a rolling basis
Fall Term August 1, 2020 August 20, 2021 Made on a rolling basis

 

SECOND DEGREE APPLICATION DEADLINES

PERIOD APPLICATION DEADLINE DECISION NOTIFICATION
Spring Term October 1* On or before December 31
Fall Term March 1* On or before May 31

*If deadline falls on a weekend, it is extended to the next business day.