Apply
Going back to school as a nontraditional student can be overwhelming. Try to remind yourself that you are doing something quite remarkable: taking control of your future by finishing your education.
Apply to UW–Madison as a University Special student under the classification UNPS-Badger Ready.
What You Need to Submit
- Your completed online application
- Official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended
- Official high school transcript from the school you graduated from. If you earned your General Educational Development (GED) certificate or a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED), submit your official score report in addition to all high school or home school transcripts. If you were or are homeschooled, we may need additional documentation.
Fall Admission Deadlines
Apply by: June 1
All official transcripts received by: June 15
Spring Admission Deadlines
Apply by: November 1
All official transcripts received by: November 15
Reminder: To be considered for admission, all required items must arrive by the deadline. If your materials don’t arrive in time, please apply again for a future term.
Official transcripts from high school and all previous post-secondary institutions are required
We require official, sealed high school and university transcripts sent directly from the school or a third-party vendor such as Parchment. Transcripts sent by a student, family member, or counselor via email will not be accepted.
Official transcripts can be routed by mail to: USSS Badger Ready, 21 N. Park Street, Madison, WI 53715, or electronically to: advising@dcs.wisc.edu. Your application will not be complete until all official transcripts have been received. If you studied outside the U.S. for high school or college, please read more about international transcripts.
Note, please do not send your transcripts to the UW–Madison Office of Admissions and Recruitment.
If you have previously attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, we already have access to those records. While all other transcripts are required, you do not need to submit a UW–Madison transcript.
Once your application file is complete, you will meet with a Badger Ready advisor to assess your career goals, review your transcripts and course history, address financial concerns, and develop a tailored academic plan for UW–Madison or another college or university. Badger Ready is focused on the present and your current level of academic readiness. Your prior GPA alone will not be a barrier to admission. The advisor will help you determine if UW–Madison is a good fit for you and can help you explore other options as well. Our advisors collaborate with the Office of Admissions and Recruitment and other campus advisors to ensure your academic plans are achievable.