ROAD TO WISCONSIN

Every year there are qualified students applying for admission from the state of Illinois who are good applicants we just don’t have space for in our competitive first-year class. They are students who have long had dreams of becoming a Badger and want to find a path to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

You were invited because you have expressed interest in becoming a Badger by applying as a first-year applicant, and your academic qualifications make you a strong fit for UW–Madison in the future. At this time there is not space in the first-year class, but we hope you will consider joining us as a transfer student next year by signing the Road to Wisconsin Agreement.

A select number of students who attended a high school in Illinois and were offered a spot on our wait list are being offered an opportunity to participate in this new Road to Wisconsin program. With limited availability in our incoming fall class, we encourage students who were not offered the opportunity to participate in this program to apply as a transfer student through our standard process. Once you earn at least 24 credits post-high school graduation, applying as a transfer student is another pathway to UW–Madison. More information about applying as a transfer student can be found at admissions.wisc.edu/apply-as-a-transfer/.

No, this program requires that you complete 24 transferable credits post-high school graduation at a community (two-year) college. This does not include test credit or dual enrollment credit from high school.

No, this invitation is for the fall semester only. If you would like to come for spring, you should complete an application as a transfer student. Note: Students who inquire about enrolling or taking advantage of the summer term immediately before their fall start will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, this program requires that you complete 24 transferable credits post-high school graduation at a community (two-year) college. This does not include test credit or dual enrollment credit from high school.

Students will receive an updated admission letter for Road to Wisconsin in February or March, provided they meet the expectations of the agreement and provide their transcript for review. To learn more about applying or declaring a specific major, visit admissions.wisc.edu/do-you-have-my-major/.

Students will be encouraged to attend a community (two-year) college of their choosing that offers liberal arts transfer course work. We prefer students attend a community college in Illinois or Wisconsin, but students may attend anywhere in the United States. Students who are interested in being in Madison can choose to attend Madison College.

Students who have accepted and submitted the agreement will transfer to UW–Madison the following fall term, as long as they have fulfilled the Road to Wisconsin program agreement requirements.

Students need to complete coursework that is part of a liberal arts transfer program. This could include core subjects such as college math, English, literature, social science, science, and humanities. Continuing education courses, graduate-level courses, and courses that are remedial, technical, vocational, or doctrinal in nature are not transferable. We encourage students to use the Transferology tool to see how credits will transfer from other UW System schools, Wisconsin Technical Colleges, and Wisconsin Tribal College systems, as well as several two-year institutions from Minnesota and Illinois.

Credit is awarded for college-level coursework completed at accredited institutions. Continuing education courses, graduate-level courses, and courses that are remedial, technical, vocational, or doctrinal in nature are not transferable. Depending on the community (two-year) college you attend, equivalencies for your courses may be listed in one of our transfer equivalency databases.

All undergraduate students who attend UW–Madison must satisfy the university-wide General Education Requirements. The purpose of the General Education Requirements is to ensure that every graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This includes 13–15 credits of coursework intended to provide a breadth of experience across the major modes of academic inquiry. You can find more information at gened.wisc.edu. Students should also visit the UW–Madison website for their intended major to see which prerequisites are required and what courses they might be able to take once on campus.

Yes, students will attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR).

Yes, the FAFSA application becomes available for students for the following year on October 1, and we encourage students to complete this as soon as possible. UW–Madison’s priority filing date is December 1. Students interested in scholarships should visit our Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WISH) to apply. Note: many scholarship applications are due around February 1.

Students interested in scholarships should visit our Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WISH) to apply. Note: many scholarship applications are due around February 1.

Yes, if you have accepted our wait list offer, you will continue to be considered for fall admission from the wait list, should space become available after May 1. Participation in the Road to Wisconsin program will not negatively affect consideration for general admission from the wait list. If you accept both offers, you will only enroll in Road to Wisconsin should you not be selected from the wait list.

We would encourage you to accept our offer of the wait list, but it is not required to participate in Road to Wisconsin.

Program requirements:

• Submit the Road to Wisconsin program agreement by May 1, 2021. Any extenuating circumstances can be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Submit an official final high school transcript showing high school graduation and successful completion of senior year by July 10, 2021.
• Complete 24 transferable credits post-high school graduation within one year of fall enrollment at a two-year college. This does not include test credit or dual enrollment credit from high school.
• Earn a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA.
• Submit a final college transcript by June 15, 2022.