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.
Priority deadlines:
Fall – June 1
Spring – November 1
What’s on the application
- The first part includes residency, demographic, and academic information
- The next section consists of three essay prompts
- Lastly, you will have the opportunity to apply for financial assistance (scholarship)
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: badger.ready@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.