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How to Write the University of Wisconsin Madison Essays 2023-2024

The University of Wisconsin at Madison has one supplemental essay on the Common App. If you apply through the UW System Application, there is an additional personal statement prompt you must respond to, similar to the Common App essay that goes to all schools.

UW Madison is fairly selective, and admissions officers will look closely at your essays, especially if you’re on the academic threshold of their average admitted student statistics. While drafting these essays can be daunting, CollegeVine is here to help! Read on for a guide to tackling UW Madison’s supplemental essays.  

Also check out this UW Madison essay example by an accepted student to see what it takes to get in.

UW Madison Essay Prompts

All applicants (common app), tell us why you decided to apply to the university of wisconsin-madison. in addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. if you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (80-650 words), uw application only.

Prompt 1: Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words)

Prompt 2: Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW. (300 words)

This is a classic “why this school” and “why this major” supplemental essay prompt. An effective essay for this prompt will achieve the following goals:

1. Highlight your authentic reasons for wanting to attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

2. Highlight your authentic reasons for wanting to study your major of choice.

The word “authentic” above is very important—one of the biggest mistakes students make in this type of essay prompt is writing a generic essay that could just as easily have been written about the University of Minnesota at Twin Cities, or the University of Michigan. This is the single biggest pet peeve for admissions officers, as they strongly prefer students that have specific reasons for choosing their university. They also want to ensure that students are passionate about their chosen major, not just pursuing the one that will lead to the highest paying or most prestigious jobs after graduation.

With this prompt, your goal is to give admissions officers concrete reasons why UW Madison is an especially good match for you, as well as specific reasons why you love your major. Consider beginning your essay with a story about how you discovered UW Madison and decided to apply. For example, you could write the following introduction if you decided to apply to UW Madison after visiting the campus:

I wasn’t used to the snow. In fact, this was the first time I ever experienced a snowfall. It doesn’t really happen where I’m from—a small town in Mississippi. Then again, so much of what I saw at the University of Wisconsin at Madison during my snowy campus visit doesn’t happen where I’m from either. 

Then, highlight unique aspects of the university that appeal to you, and be holistic with what you talk about. Study the UW Madison website in detail, watch videos of campus tours and student reviews, and visit if possible. Find the names of one extracurricular and one part of campus where you can imagine yourself spending lots of time. Then, weave them into your writing. The strongest essays are deeply personal, so connect the campus to yourself. Here is an example:

I am passionate about volunteer work and community service. Throughout high school, some of my fondest memories have been spent serving food in soup kitchens and volunteering at clothing banks. At the University of Wisconsin at Madison, I know I would be able to continue pursuing my passion for community service because of the integration between the university and the surrounding town. The University of Wisconsin at Madison feels incorporated into Madison’s culture, rather than having a closed-off, guarded, and separate campus. The connection between the campus and the community would enable me to be a member of a Badger Volunteers team through the Morgridge Center for Public Service. This program would provide me with new opportunities to give back to the community and help others.

The activist culture in Madison excites me. Living in a small town, I have had few opportunities to attend political rallies. Since I grew up in the Unitarian Universalist church, I was raised to value activism and social justice, and it is important to me that I go to college in a place where people are well-informed and care about affecting change in the world around them. I hope to join the Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministry, where I would be able to continue my activism while also building friendships and continuing to explore my religion.  

I also love Madison’s surroundings—I would love to join the Wisconsin Hoofers so I could take full advantage of all the outdoor opportunities in and around Madison, especially skiing, hiking, and watersports on Lake Mendota. I have never had the opportunity to try these sports in humid and hot Mississippi, so I would love to explore new activities in a different environment.

This excerpt clearly shows the student’s specific interest in attending the University of Wisconsin, and highlights the kind of authenticity you want to show to admissions officers. It is particularly effective when the applicant connects her own background to the culture of activism at UW Madison, as that highlights her personality and positions her to create an authentic connection to UW Madison’s admissions counselors.

Next, think about your chosen major or academic interest. Imagine yourself as a student working toward a specific degree:

• What interesting classes would you take? 
• Which professors do you hope to work with? 
• How would the unique opportunities at UW Madison enhance your background and serve your career interests?

Your specified major should logically stem from your background. Use your prospective major to structure a logical narrative, even if you aren’t fully committed to pursuing it. For example, a student that CollegeVine worked with during the 2016-17 admissions cycle covered the following themes in their essay:

The student lived in Minnesota and in middle school became passionate about history education. In high school, he volunteered as a docent at a local museum and started a research project on the history of Norwegian and German immigration to his hometown. He also served as student representative on the local school board, and led the charge to redesign his school’s history curriculum to make it more engaging for other students.

This student intended to major in history at UW Madison. He planned to take classes with Professor Smith, a noted expert in immigration history. And outside of his major, the Center for Pre-Law Advising would help him achieve his dream of being an immigration lawyer by helping him gain relevant experience.

This thematic structure highlights several elements of a successful response to this prompt. In particular, the student demonstrates specific and deep ties to his chosen major and career path, and specific ways in which he will leverage UW Madison as a setting to obtain an education in what he is passionate about. 

If the student was undecided about a major , they could take a similar approach. But Instead of writing about one interest, they could pick 2-3 of their potential interests, and discuss how UW would support those.  

Finish the essay with a succinct conclusion that ties back to your introduction. Summarize how you know that UW Madison is the school for you because its campus matches your personal values and its academics satiate your intellectual curiosity. End with a phrase that relates to the school’s philosophy, e.g. “Most of all, I would like to attend UW Madison because I want to join the Badgers in their commitment to make a difference.”

UW Application Only, Prompt 1

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words).

This prompt is actually the same as Prompt 1 on the Coalition Application , so we recommend checking out our guide for that. It’s also very similar to Prompt 1 on the Common App .

The reason for this is that if you’re applying via the UW Application, UW admissions officers will not see your Common App or Coalition Application essay, so they’re asking for a personal statement-style essay on their own platform. You should apply via the Common App or Coalition Application if you’re already using it, but if you’re not, then you can consider reusing the personal statement you write for this prompt for those application platforms.

UW Application Only, Prompt 2

Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the uw. (300 words).

This is the classic Diversity Essay , but with an added component of how the aspects of your own diverse identity will enrich UW.

UW is clear in the prompt that diversity can mean many things; we often associate it with traditional aspects of identity—such as race/ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality, or religion—but you can also be diverse because of a hobby, your hometown, group of friends, personality trait, or many other aspects.

To come up with a topic, consider two things: one, the most defining aspects of who you are, and two, what aspects will best allow you to contribute to the diversity of UW. You want to try to find a balance between the two.

For example, you may be super passionate about soccer and are very close to your team, but there are a lot of soccer players at a big school like UW. Try to dig a little deeper; you can still write about your soccer team, but instead of discussing the general supportive environment, focus on a unique and specific aspect of your involvement in this community.

A good topic would be an essay on how you became known as the “team mom” when you were a senior because you always had extra cleats, shin guards, and shorts for anyone who forgot theirs. You also volunteer tutored teammates who were struggling in math and hosted a monthly team bonfire at your house. At UW, you look forward to finding similar community on an intramural soccer team, and you’ll take similar initiative in other campus spaces, such as getting more students involved in the local Big Brothers Big Sisters.

This essay is a fairly straightforward one, but there are a few mistakes to avoid:

1. Describing the community without explaining your involvement in it. You want the focus to be on you and your contributions.

2. Forgetting to specify how your diversity will enhance UW. Make sure to research a specific UW group or resource you’ll join and improve as a result of your diverse trait.

Where to Get Your UW Madison Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your UW Madison essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools.  Find the right advisor for you  to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Prepare Your Essay

You are more than facts and figures.

It doesn’t get said enough, but your UWs are literally looking for reasons to admit you. That’s why they ask for an essay. They simply want to hear about you. Take your time. Give it some thought, share it with a few people you trust, and revise.

In the end, it’ll be worth it.

All Universities of Wisconsin ask the following question of freshmen and transfer applicants:

All UWs This part is all about you. Tell us about something you’ve done — academically or personally — and what you’ve learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education?

If you apply to UW-La Crosse or UW-Madison, you’ll need to answer a second question, as well:

UW-Madison Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

UW-La Crosse Please respond to ONE of the following: (1) How will your life experiences or commitments enrich the UW-La Crosse campus community? OR (2) Tell us why you are interested in attending UW-La Crosse and what aspects of the campus are especially important to you.

Tips & Recommendations

We’ve collected some of the best tips and recommendations for writing a great essay.

University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Not sure how to approach the UW-Madison essay prompts? With tips from an Ivy League graduate, CollegeAdvisor.com’s guide to the UW-Madison essay prompts will show you exactly how to write engaging essays for your UW-Madison application and maximize your chances against the UW-Madison acceptance rate.

Want help crafting your UW-Madison essay prompts? Create your free  account  or  schedule a free consultation  by calling (844) 343-6272.

UW-Madison  Supplemental Essay Guide Quick Facts:

• The UW-Madison acceptance rate is 57%— U.S. News  ranks UW-Madison as a  competitive  school.
• We recommend answering all UW-Madison supplemental essays comprehensively and thoughtfully.

What is the acceptance rate for the University of Wisconsin-Madison?

According to U.S. News, the UW-Madison acceptance rate is 57%. Last year, over 53,000 students applied to the school, which was a  17% increase  over the previous year. While the UW-Madison acceptance rate increased temporarily to about 60%, the normal rate falls near 57%. Like most schools, UW-Madison was  test-optional  last year in response to COVID. This year, they’ve continued the test-optional policy. Admissions experts believe that changes in testing requirements have caused the spike in applications that most schools have experienced.

So, what does this mean for you? Well, it does indicate that the UW-Madison supplemental essays will be an important part of your application. Without mandatory test scores and given the rise in applications, admissions officers will pay more attention to other aspects of your application.

In other words, for your best chance against the UW-Madison acceptance rate, we recommend that you take time to make sure that your responses to the UW-Madison essay prompts reflect your strengths.

Additionally, remember that the UW-Madison acceptance rate is not the only factor to consider when building your school list. Make sure that you’re looking at schools holistically. For more information on how to evaluate the UW-Madison acceptance rate (and more details on the data behind acceptance rates), read  our article .

What is the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s ranking?

The UW-Madison ranking is #42 in  National Universities , according to U.S. News.

Other U.S. News UW-Madison rankings: the UW-Madison ranking in  Best Undergraduate Teaching  is #71; UW-Madison ranking in  Best Value Schools  is #81; and the UW-Madison ranking in  Top Public Schools  is #14.

In terms of specific programs, the UW-Madison ranking is #15 in  Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs , and the US Madison ranking is #19 in  Nursing .

Finally, the UW-Madison ranking is #64 in  First-Year Experiences .

These are just some of the UW-Madison rankings. However, a school’s rankings should not be the only thing you take into consideration when compiling your college list. You should also consider other factors—including the school’s location, programs available, and size—when you look at schools. The UW-Madison rankings are not the only important factor in deciding to apply.

Keep in mind that the best college for you may not be the one you expected! There are a lot of different resources available when it comes to researching colleges; be sure to consult a few to ensure you create a comprehensive list.

Need help creating a college list? Check out our resources on the college list process  here .

Does the University of Wisconsin-Madison require essays?

Yes. In addition to the  Common App   personal essay, there are specific UW-Madison essay prompts. The UW-Madison supplemental essays differ depending on how you submit your application. The Common Application and  UW System Application  are available for all applicants. You will be required to write a “Why UW-Madison” essay no matter how you submit your application.

Need tips on writing your Common App essay? Check out our  blog article .

How many essays does the University of Wisconsin-Madison require?

In addition to the Common Application Personal Statement, there is one required UW-Madison essay that all applicants must complete: the “Why UW-Madison” essay.

However, if you apply through the UW application portal rather than the Common App, you will have to submit a second UW-Madison essay. This second essay functions as a replacement for the Common App essay. If you apply via the UW application portal, give yourself ample to complete both UW-Madison essay prompts.

Does the University of Wisconsin-Madison care about essays?

Yes, all colleges care about your essays, UW-Madison included. The UW-Madison essay prompts are a great chance to show admissions officers something new about yourself. When responding to the UW-Madison essay prompts, you will want to demonstrate that you would be a great fit for their UW-Madison. This is especially true when writing the “Why UW-Madison” essay. This is referred to as demonstrated interest (DI). DI is a tool the admissions officers use to determine how interested a student is in attending their particular school. By writing specific “Why UW-Madison” essays, students can show their DI in attending UW-Madison and increase their admissions odds.

The high UW-Madison ranking indicates that students may apply just because of UW-Madison’s prestige. In response to this, admissions officers will be on the lookout for students whose interest in the school runs deeper than its reputation. For more information on DI and how to use it to your advantage, check out this article from  Forbes .

Finally, in light of the UW-Madison acceptance rate, well-crafted responses to the UW-Madison essay prompts will strengthen your application. Don’t underestimate the UW-Madison essays and their impact.

Does the University of Wisconsin-Madison have a “Why UW-Madison” essay?

Yes. This is the classic supplemental essay question, and the UW-Madison essay prompts are no exception—all colleges want to know what makes them special to you. The “Why UW-Madison” essay is your chance to showcase any research you have done about UW-Madison while you’ve been writing your UW-Madison supplemental essay or as you’ve been completing the rest of the application.

Given the UW-Madison acceptance rate, your research will be an important part of acing the why UW-Madison essay. Why? When it comes down to two candidates with similar GPAs and extracurriculars, a strong “Why UW-Madison” essay can be the determining factor in who is admitted.

UW-Madison Essay Prompts – Question 1 (required)

Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected “undecided” please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (650 words maximum).

How do I write a good essay for UW-Madison?

The rest of this guide will show you how to write engaging UW-Madison supplemental essays.

Let’s start with the first UW-Madison essay, which is required of all applicants. You have 650 words to respond to this why UW-Madison essay, which is the same length as the Common Application’s personal statement. You should be prepared to spend a fair bit of time both researching and writing this UW-Madison essay, considering its length.

For this UW-Madison essay, avoid over-generalizing with statements like “The campus is beautiful” or “I just feel like I belong there.” Instead, offer concrete examples of why you belong there. You should do research into specific aspects of the UW-Madison community that appeal to you.

This UW-Madison essay prompt has two parts. First, the prompt asks why you decided to apply to UW-Madison. Then, it asks why you are interested in your chosen academic field. You’ll want to ensure you respond to both parts of the question. If you are undecided in your major, you will still want to address your academic interests and explain how attending UW-Madison would help you to hone these interests and discover a major that excites you.

Do your research

Before answering the first part of this UW-Madison essay prompt, do some reading. For example, you can look into  extracurricular activities , research, or  travel opportunities  that only UW-Madison offers to its students. You might also review the  calendar  of student events. The  list of student organizations  on their website can be a great resource to find campus organizations you’d like to join.

If you want to get your finger on the pulse of student life, check out UW-Madison’s student publications. Additionally, leverage the alumni network to ask questions about previous students’ experiences. This can help you learn about student-specific traditions and events that you can’t read about on the website.

Start free-writing

If all of these options seem overwhelming, try starting with a structured free-write session. Take about 15-20 minutes and create two lists. Under one, list every reason why you want to attend UW-Madison. Under the second list, list every reason why you selected your major. If you’re unsure of your major, list every area of academic interest that you may want to pursue. Then, take an additional 15 minutes and draw connections between the two. Perhaps you listed that you want to participate in UW-Madison’s  DSE Mentorship Program  for undergraduate engineers. If you also engineering as a possible major, that’s a great connection to highlight in your essay.

The second part of this UW-Madison essay prompt is a great way to demonstrate your academic and intellectual goals. Take a look at their list of 9,192 courses and 288 undergraduate majors and certificates. Pick three courses that look interesting and explain why each of those courses appeals to you. How would you benefit from taking these courses? How do your previous academic experiences set you up for success?

Avoid statistics

You want to avoid listing out numbers and statistics that admissions officers already know. For instance, instead of spending words talking about how the average class size is 31, explain specifically which professors you would be excited to learn from in such a personal teaching environment. If you are interested in two contrasting majors, you should support both of them with anecdotes about your academic experiences.

This is the space to show off your expert investigation skills and name-drop courses, clubs, professors, and research opportunities only available at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Colleges can tell when you swap out their name for another University and submit the same “Why here?” answer. Your application will be stronger if your answer to this “why UW-Madison” essay could not be swapped with any other schools’ applications.

UW-Madison Essay Draft Key Questions:

• Do you prove that you’ve done research on the school?
• Do you explain what unique opportunities UW-Madison would provide you that you could not get anywhere else?
• Does your draft provide specific details about what you hope to do while on UW-Madison’s campus?

UW-Madison Essay Prompts – Question 2

If you apply using the Common Application, you will be asked to respond to one of the freshman Common Application essays. If you apply within the UW System Application, you will need to answer the following prompt:

This part is all about you. Tell us about something you’ve done—academically or personally—and what you’ve learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence your education? (650 words maximum).

Who completes this prompt?

Not everyone applying to UW-Madison will complete this UW-Madison essay. If you are applying to UW-Madison through the Common App, you will  not need  to respond to this UW-Madison essay prompt. If you are applying through the UW Systems Admissions Application then this UW-Madison essay will be the substitute for your Common App personal essay. This means you will want to spend a fair amount of time drafting your response to this UW-Madison essay prompt, since UW-Madison will not read your Common App personal essay if you apply through their college-specific portal.

There are several different parts to this UW-Madison essay prompt. At first glance, it may seem quite general. “Something you’ve done” is a pretty broad topic. However, the follow-up questions might qualify your chosen topic a bit more. You’ll need to describe how you learned from the situation. Was it something you succeeded in or was it a challenge you overcame? Did you find it to be a turning point that pushed you into a new phase of your life? You should be sure to address the final part of this UW-Madison essay prompt—about the event’s influence—and discuss how it will influence your education moving forward.

Avoid cliches

For this UW-Madison essay prompt, you could expand on something that is already present in your application. However, make sure that your topic is proportional to the length of this UW-Madison supplemental essay. For example, if you decide to write about an extracurricular, you will want to select something that you have a large role in. You should then discuss an anecdote that really challenged you, and as a result, prompted you to grow. Topics such as scoring an A on a big exam or winning an important sports game can be a little clichéd. Try to think of a unique situation that you overcame and the skills that you gained from that experience.

One of the most important parts of this UW-Madison essay is how your topic will impact your education. Make sure you discuss how you will contribute to academic life at UW-Madison. However, don’t repeat anything you already said in your “Why UW-Madison” essay. Overall, you want to make sure this UW-Madison supplemental essay shows who you are as a person and how you have grown. Given the relatively low UW-Madison acceptance rate, you should present detailed, well-written answers to the UW-Madison essay prompts.

UW-Madison Essay Prompts: Final Thoughts

Completing the UW-Madison essay prompts can seem daunting in light of the UW-Madison acceptance rate and high UW-Madison rankings. However, you shouldn’t let that discourage you from applying. The UW-Madison supplemental essays are a great opportunity to introduce yourself to UW-Madison admissions officers. With the lower UW-Madison acceptance rate, these UW-Madison essay prompts can boost your application if you have a lower-than-average GPA or  SAT score .

Use this guide as a step-by-step aid when approaching the UW-Madison supplemental essays, and start earlier than you think you should. Don’t be afraid to ask for revisions from someone; it’s helpful to have another set of eyes checking your UW-Madison supplemental essays for grammatical errors, tone, and clarity. Good luck!

This 2021-2022 essay guide on UW-Madison was written by  Laura Frustaci , Harvard ‘21. For your best chance against the UW-Madison acceptance rate, and more CollegeAdvisor.com resources, click  here . Want help crafting your UW-Madison supplemental essays? Create your free  account  or  schedule a free consultation  by calling (844) 343-6272.

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Home — Application Essay — University — UW–Madison

UW–Madison Admission Essays

Understanding the intricacies of university application essays is crucial for aspiring students. The University of Wisconsin–Madison, renowned for its rigorous academic environment, demands essays that reflect a student's intellectual capabilities and personal growth. In fact, analyzing UW Madison essay examples can offer significant insights into the level of depth and articulation expected by such prestigious institutions. These essays are a vital component of the application process, offering a unique opportunity for students to showcase their individuality, experiences, and aspirations. In this guide, we'll explore various aspects of the University of Wisconsin–Madison essay requirements, providing insights and examples, including those akin to UW Madison essay examples, to help students navigate this critical aspect of their university applications.

Key Features of UW–Madison Essays

The University of Wisconsin–Madison's essay requirements are strategically designed to assess a candidate's alignment with the university's educational ethos and academic vigor. These essays, transcending mere writing tasks, provide a window into an applicant's personality, intellectual curiosity, and potential impact on the university's dynamic community. In this context, UW Madison application essay examples can serve as invaluable guides, illustrating how to effectively engage with the essay prompts. These prompts encourage deep reflection on personal growth, academic objectives, and societal responsibilities, allowing students to demonstrate their suitability for the rigorous academic environment of UW–Madison. Engaging with the essence of these essays and crafting responses that resonate with the admissions committee are crucial for enhancing admission chances, underlining their significance in UW–Madison's holistic application process.

• Essays emphasize personal development, academic aspirations, and community involvement.
• Annually updated prompts reflect current topics and values.
• They provide a platform for students to express their individual viewpoints.

University of Wisconsin–Madison Admission Requirements

Securing admission to the esteemed University of Wisconsin–Madison involves fulfilling a range of stringent criteria. The university selects students who exhibit academic excellence, well-rounded personalities, leadership skills, and alignment with its core principles and culture. These criteria aim to identify not only academically adept students but also those ready to positively contribute to the campus community. Every application aspect, from scholastic achievements to extracurricular involvement and personal essays, undergoes thorough evaluation to ensure the selected candidates are ideally suited for UW–Madison's diverse and dynamic environment.

• High academic performance, evidenced in GPA and standardized tests.
• Diverse extracurricular engagement demonstrating leadership and initiative.
• Impactful personal statement and supplemental essays.
• Recommendation letters from academic or professional mentors.
• Proof of adherence to the university's values and ethos.

Role of UW-Madison Supplemental Essay Examples in Applications

UW-Madison supplemental essay examples in the application process is instrumental for prospective students. These examples serve as a vital guide, illustrating the depth of analysis, personal reflection, and writing quality expected by the University of Wisconsin–Madison. By studying these examples, applicants gain crucial insights into crafting essays that go beyond academic metrics, highlighting their unique personalities and experiences. Effective UW Madison supplemental essay examples showcase critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and an understanding of the university's core values, such as community engagement and academic excellence. They teach the art of storytelling and the importance of specific details for impactful narratives. While these examples are valuable resources, it's essential for applicants to maintain authenticity and originality in their essays. The examples should inspire, not be replicated, guiding students to produce essays that are true to their experiences and resonate with UW-Madison's ethos.

UW-Madison Supplemental Essay Examples: Prompts for 2023

Committed to a comprehensive and all-encompassing review process, UW–Madison has introduced several thought-provoking supplemental essay prompts for the 2023 cycle. These prompts aim to allow applicants to display various facets of their personalities, experiences, and future plans. The prompts are crafted to elicit responses that showcase the applicant's self-reflection abilities, challenges they've overcome, and their vision for the future. They also provide a glimpse into how applicants envision their contributions to the university community. Collectively, these prompts are vital in the application, offering a stage for applicants to persuasively argue why they are an excellent match for UW–Madison.

• Challenge and Growth: Applicants share a significant challenge they've overcome and the lessons learned, demonstrating resilience and personal growth.
• Academic and Career Aspirations: This prompt asks students to detail their goals and how UW–Madison can aid in achieving them, focusing on the alignment of the applicant's plans with the university's resources.
• Community Contribution: Applicants discuss how they plan to contribute to the UW–Madison community, showcasing their understanding of community values and social responsibility.

These prompts encourage applicants to provide thoughtful, personal responses, illustrating their readiness for university life and their potential to enrich the UW–Madison community. Effective responses range from narratives about overcoming personal adversities and articulating clear academic and career pathways to well-planned community engagement and leadership roles within the university.

Guidelines for Writing UW–Madison Supplemental Essays

Writing compelling supplemental essays for UW–Madison is a vital part of the application process. These essays offer an opportunity to stand out and show the admissions committee your unique identity beyond academic metrics. To gain a clearer perspective, reviewing University of Wisconsin Madison supplemental essay examples can be extremely beneficial. These examples provide practical insights into effective storytelling and structuring, helping you understand how to convey your experiences and aspirations authentically. Here are essential tips to help craft impactful and memorable essays, inspired by the strategies evident in University of Wisconsin Madison supplemental essay examples:

• Interpreting the Prompts: Carefully read and understand each essay prompt. Reflect on how your experiences and aspirations align with the questions posed.
• Self-Reflection: Engage in introspection about your experiences, challenges, and accomplishments. Authentic, self-aware essays often leave a lasting impression.
• Authentic Voice: Write in a manner that's true to your personality. Authenticity is crucial for connecting with the admissions officers.
• Specific Examples: Use detailed examples and stories to bring your essays to life. Specific experiences add depth and relatability to your narrative.
• Structured Approach: A well-organized essay with a clear beginning, middle, and end enhances readability and impact. Ensure your essay flows logically.

Remember, UW–Madison's supplemental essays are your chance to provide the admissions committee with a deeper understanding of your character, values, and ambitions. A well-crafted essay can significantly impact your application.

Leveraging UW–Madison Essay Examples for Success

UW–Madison essay examples are invaluable resources for understanding what the admissions committee seeks. These examples often showcase creativity, depth, and a strong connection with the university's values. Utilizing these essays as models can aid in developing your own narratives, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining originality and authenticity in your writing:

• Reflecting on Challenges and Growth at UW–Madison
• Learning from Failures: A Journey to Success
• Charting a Path in Environmental Advocacy
• Community Service: Lessons in Leadership
• The Influence of Personal Research on Academic Choices
• Promoting Educational Inclusivity: A Personal Mission
• Harmonizing Music with Academic and Career Goals
• Resilience: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
• Embracing Multilingualism and Global Perspectives
• Envisioning Sustainable Practices at UW–Madison

Maximizing Impact with UW–Madison Essay Examples

In conclusion, UW–Madison essays are an integral part of the application, offering a platform for students to express their individuality and suitability for the university. To effectively navigate this crucial aspect, examining University of Wisconsin Madison essay examples can be incredibly instructive. These examples provide a clearer understanding of the expected caliber and style, aiding students in crafting their narratives. Understanding and adhering to the essay requirements, drawing inspiration from such examples, and infusing personal experiences and insights into your writing can significantly enhance your chances of admission. Remember, well-written essays, much like the University of Wisconsin Madison essay examples, can profoundly influence the admissions committee's decision, emphasizing the importance of dedicating time and effort to develop compelling, authentic stories.

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How to write the university of wisconsin-madison essays 2020-2021: the complete guide.

Wisconsin may not be home to New York City, but if your heart desires a sprawling campus with countless ways to enjoy the outdoors, look no further than the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

It has an acceptance rate that hovers around 51%.

The university sits on 936 acres – that’s not a typo, folks – it’s really that huge. The campus is located between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona.

Beyond a range of academic programs, the university offers extensive opportunities to play sports, join clubs, and participate in on-campus and community activities. Applying to the University of Wisconsin-Madison can be done either through the Common App or directly through the UW website .

What are the University of Wisconsin-Madison supplemental essay requirements?

Two essays are required for admission to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Click above to watch a video on Wisconsin Madison Supplemental Essays.

If you apply through the Common App, you will have to answer question #2 below, in addition to the first question.

If you apply through the UW System Application, you will need to respond to both of the following:

1 ) Tell us about something you’ve done—academically or personally—and what you’ve learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education? 2) Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

In the UW System Application, the maximum word count allowed is 650 words. However, according to the “Application Tips” page on the UW website, admissions prefers for you to plan for 300-500 words.

Note: If a university publishes an application tips page, follow it precisely. Not only will your application be stronger, but admissions will be able to tell you did your research.

Wisconsin – Madison Supplemental Essay 1: Academic & Personal Achievements

1 ) Tell us about something you’ve done—academically or personally—and what you’ve learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education?

Before writing this essay, it’s important to note that UW isn’t looking for a resume or laundry list. Don’t get trapped into writing a list of achievements.

It’s important to the admissions committee to understand the story of your achievements. In order to tell that story, you must begin to analyze what you’ve accomplished and learned from those achievements.

Therefore, we must identify the two separate pieces to this prompt.

• Your academic and personal accomplishments.
• Lessons learned from those achievements and challenges.

As you begin to break down your accomplishments, think about the communities, projects, academic pursuits, extracurricular activities, and teams to which you’ve contributed. UW suggests developing your thoughts with an outline before you begin writing.

Don’t limit yourself to academic or official accomplishments. Also consider your contributions to:

• Religious institution (ex. church, mosque, synagogue)
• Volunteer organization (ex. Meals on Wheels)
• Neighborhood/city/county/state

For each of these communities, brainstorm people/places/ideas/events you believe often go unnoticed and are important to you. 

Don’t get hung up on language. “Achievements” and “accomplishments” are subjective. You can also write about small personal victories and contributions that led to a greater result. All told, you don’t need to have won a ribbon or trophy to justify your action as an achievement.

When brainstorming achievements, consider creating a bubble map for a visual representation of your ideas. If you’re digitally savvy, you could use a tool like Bubbl.us to create your map.

Once you have a detailed list , start narrowing down your choices by considering what is most important to you.

• The more you care about a pursuit, the more you will be able to write about it and convey your passion.
• Again, don’t shy away from topics that are strictly personal to you – that’s what this essay is all about!

Your goal is to find an accomplishment or string of achievements that are closely related.

• Did you take care of a sick sibling while mom worked to pay the bills?
• Were you a founder or leader of an extracurricular activity that grew by 15% during your high school career?
• Did you raise $200 for a political campaign or charity that worked on issues you care about?

Now that you’ve identified achievement(s), it’s time to start drafting an essay. Context is always important when you are writing to strangers.

• Start your essay by providing some background information, a cold hook, or a quote.

While context is important, do keep it short. You want to save the majority of your word count for explaining why the achievement is important to you.

The second part of the essay is critical:

• UW – Madison wants to know how you’re a better person for having achieved or struggled?
• And how will you bring that change to their campus?

Don’t be afraid to talk about your challenges—in life, failure and struggle are often the best teachers.

You spent the first part of your essay introducing and describing your achievement. This includes the actions you took to succeed (20- 25% of your essay).

Now, spend close to 30-40% of the essay explaining what you learned from those accomplishments. If you’re having trouble thinking of how you changed, brainstorm these questions:

• What qualities did I need to display to accomplish this goal?
• How am I a better person for having gone through this challenge?
• What qualities of mine can I improve?
• Were there qualities that I did improve?

Once you’re done with this part, it’s time to move to the last part of your essay: explaining how you’ll implement your lessons learned into your education. Spend the rest of your essay on:

• Describing how your learning pattern has changed
• Your newfound appreciation for teamwork
• Developing a conceptual understanding of a field
• A budding curiosity of a teaching style
• Affirmed passion for an educational vector

Whatever you choose, make sure you’re telling UW – Madison that you’re a developing student who is looking forward to implementing your lessons learned on campus.

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Wisconsin – madison supplemental essay 2: why this school.

2) Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

In the second essay, you will have to address why you applied to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and what you hope to get out of the academic experience.

The first part of this prompt is fairly standard and, if you’re applying to multiple universities, it should start to sound familiar.

However, your response to the question shouldn’t sound familiar to UW’s admissions committee. Instead, your answer must be tailored to you and the University of Wisconsin-Madison specifically.

• The litmus test for this requirement is to read through your final draft and ask: Could this essay be submitted to any other university other than the University of Wisconsin?
• If you answered “yes,” you need to revise .

The best way to prepare for this essay is to perform research. This, by the way, is not only beneficial for your essay but will also help you to get an idea whether this school is the right fit for you.

• First, browse through the University of Wisconsin-Madison website.
• Don’t stop at the admissions page. Explore the plethora of information on academics, research opportunities, sports, clubs, daily living, and so on.
• Search for more information about UW on college review websites, which often feature testimonials from current students.
• If possible, go to the campus for a tour to see in person what the university has to offer.
• Most important: Research the academic program you’re interested in. Explore professors, projects, fellowships, internships, career counseling, grants, and public-private partnerships.

All of the above research will fuel your essay and give you concrete reasons to help you describe why you are applying to the school. When writing your essay, try to focus on one significant reason or a few reasons instead of just a single superficial idea, such as “academics” or “because I’m receiving a swim scholarship.”

As a rule, never write about one of the following topics:

• Social life

Then, think about what you want to get out of your college experience and how your future goals are related to obtaining a degree.

When describing your reasons for applying, use detail, and then link those details back to your professional or academic goals.

Admissions officers want to see that their university is an important channel that will help you achieve your college and career goals.

Even if you have yet to decide on a major, you should address this question through the lens of your academic interest(s). Consider both your research and academic/extracurricular history.

• What majors or academic programs are you interested in pursuing? What you write about now isn’t final, so don’t worry if you waver between different subjects. Choose a subject.
• Are there research programs or co-ops for which you are interested in applying?

Perhaps you are really interested in medicine and engineering, leaning toward pursuing biomedical engineering. You could take a look at the senior design courses where you work in a team with a clinician or industry professional to create a product.

When writing your essay, link back to previous ideas and your big-picture goals.

Let the university know that they’re the perfect fit, and you are passionate and enthusiastic about their program offerings.

• Don’t write about what you think they want to hear.
• Instead, be honest and allow the admissions committee to see your interests and values through your response.
• Ultimately, what UW – Madison has to offer needs to relate to you.
• Don’t spend too much time complimenting their academic offerings. Trust me, they know they’re a great school. They want to know why you think you’re a good fit.

We strongly recommend that you include the following elements in your essay:

• A short introductory story or hook that explains your interest in the field, major, or program.
• Toward the end of your essay, explain your professional ambitions and how you’d use your UW education to contribute to your community, country, or the world.

Here’s an outline of a “Why UW – Madison” essay that effectively answers this prompt:

• Your parents were never interested in community politics and barely ever voted. A few years ago, a local politician approved the building of a large chain store near your home, which lead to increased pollution and traffic in your community.
• You canvassed to stop the construction, but it wasn’t enough. You didn’t get enough signatures. Still, this process sparked your love for politics. You realize that your parents were mistaken.
• You want to study in UW – Madison’s political science program because you’re interested in increasing voter turnout. UW has a fellowship and multiple research programs in this vector.
• After explaining how you’d take advantage of a fellowship and research opportunity, you want to become a community organizer. UW will help you do that.

Conclusion: Writing the University of Wisconsin – Madison Supplemental Essays

Before submitting your essays, you should definitely check out the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s page of Application Tips . There you’ll learn more about the university’s vision and advice for applying.

In regards to essays, here’s a short list of the university’s advice:

• Plan for 300-500 words, although the maximum is 650
• Revise, proofread, and share your writing with a peer/trusted adult
• Be honest and authentic in your writing

If you have questions that are particular to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s requirements, they welcome you to contact them directly.

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How to Write the University of Wisconsin-Madison Supplemental Essays

Tell us why you decided to apply to the university of wisconsin-madison. in addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. if you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (you may enter up to 650 words, but 300-500 is recommended)..

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s supplemental essay is a great opportunity to showcase your voice to the admissions committee and convey your academic passions and knowledge of the school. When writing your UW-Madison supplement, be sure to address both parts of the prompt: explain your interest in the majors you’ve selected and discuss what draws you to UW-Madison. UW-Madison generously provides a word count of up to 650, so you have ample space to elaborate on the past experiences and values that have led you to your area of study, and also write about the school-specific resources at UW-Madison that you would like to take advantage of during your undergraduate career.

Before you begin drafting your UW-Madison supplemental essay, you’ll want to do some “why school” research. UW-Madison offers 20+ schools with many niche majors and certificates ; therefore, you’ll want to spend some time on the website to identify the specific program that is the best fit for you. If UW-Madison offers programs that can’t be found at any other universities that align with your interests, you can cite these and make an even stronger case for why UW-Madison is the best school for you! Some particular academic strengths of UW-Madison include its programs in Education, Agriculture, Communication, Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Economics. You can look through the web pages of specific departments and schools, and see if there are general resources that are well-suited to you. For instance, UW-Madison’s Integrated Liberal Studies programs, Living-Learning Communities, First Year Interest Groups, and Honors programs integrate communal life with academic pursuits in a way that may be appealing to you.

As with any “why school” essay, you’ll want to not only cite school-specific resources, but also share what you know about the school’s values and reflect upon how these values align with your own. UW-Madison often emphasizes the “Wisconsin Idea”, or the idea that a successful state university should inspire its students to seek truth and apply the resulting knowledge to benefit themselves and society. UW-Madison students are highly involved with their communities and the causes that matter to them. In your UW-Madison supplemental essay, you’ll want to explore how your academic and personal journey to date has reflected the principles of the Wisconsin Idea, and discuss which academic course of study, extracurriculars, and other opportunities at UW-Madison will put you in a position to serve others and bring positive change to society.

If you apply with the UW System Application, you will need to answer the following prompt:

This part is all about you. tell us about something you’ve done—academically or personally—and what you’ve learned from it. was it a success or a challenge did it represent a turning point in your life how did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education.

If you apply to UW-Madison through the UW system rather than the Common Application, this is the equivalent of the Common Application’s personal statement. Unlike the Common App, you won’t get a choice of prompts to respond to–you must answer this question, and the “why school” supplement if you are applying to UW-Madison.

For this UW essay, carefully examine the wording of the prompt before you dive into writing. UW admissions readers are looking for you to discuss something you’ve actively done rather than something that’s happened to you, so to select a strong topic, you’ll want to reflect on any memorable accomplishments, initiatives you started, intellectual interests you’ve pursued, or risks you’ve taken in the past four years. These can be in the context of your academics, extracurriculars, or personal life. Then, it’d be best to gravitate towards a specific moment–rather than a story that covers a long span of time–and select one that was highly influential in determining your academic path, personal values, or worldview.

This is a multi-part prompt, so ensure that you are answering each question within the prompt. You should respond directly to all parts of the prompt, including “something you’ve done,” “what you’ve learned,” “how did this particular moment in your life influence you,” and “how will it continue to influence you [in college].” While you don’t need to answer the questions of “success or challenge” or “turning point” in language that’s as head-on (e.g. sentences like “My accomplishment was a success” or “This was a turning point for me”), it should be very clear and obvious to admissions readers whether you’re writing about a success or challenge, and how that event worked as a turning point in your life.

If you have already written a personal statement for the Common Application, you’re in luck if you’ve responded to prompt #2 (“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”), prompt #5 (“Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.”), or potentially even prompt #3 (“Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?”). There is significant overlap between these prompts and UW’s, so it’s likely that you can recycle your Common App essay with some light modifications. In particular, make sure that you add material that addresses the final part of the prompt, discussing how the moment you selected will influence your approach to your journey as an undergraduate. That being said, if you’ve already written an essay for the Common App, we definitely recommend applying to UW through the Common App! Best of luck with your UW-Madison essays!

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University of Wisconsin-Madison 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15

You Have: 

University of Wisconsin-Madison 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanation

The Requirements: 1 essay of 650 words (or less)

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why

Tell us why you would like to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (You may enter up to 650 words, but 300-500 is recommended).

This sneaky prompt is a twofer, though both parts cover classic why essay territory: admissions wants to know just what appeals to you about the University of Wisconsin-Madison. So, take a moment to look inside. What exactly do you want out of your college experience? Research opportunities? Weekend football games? To dip your toe into city life? Now, if you were to imagine a Venn diagram of your expectations and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s offerings, what would land in the overlap? The only way to know for sure is to do your research!  

The goal is to show admissions that you’ve done your homework. Make sure Admissions Officers know that you’ve already thought about what you want to do when you get there and that you’re ready to act on those hopes and dreams and so forth. 

But, wait, there’s more! The second part of the prompt gives you the opportunity to include information about specific academic programs at Madison that appeal to you. So just as before, utilize the school’s website, but this time pay careful attention to the specific majors and academic offerings that catch your eye. What do you love about your chosen major and/or minor? If you’re interested in UW’s Gender & Women’s Studies pr ogram, can you describe what you will take away from this program and how it relates to your long-term ambitions ? How did you become interested in this field, and what resources does Madison provide that will help you achieve your goals? Finally, if you’re undecided, think about what makes Madison the ideal environment for your academic exploration. How do you plan to hone in on the perfect major as you attend? Remember, the more details you include, the better.

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How to ace the university of wisconsin-madison essays | guide & examples, 2022-2023, school supplements.

Brad Schiller

Don’t you find this question rude?

Why are you applying to the University of Wisconsin–Madison? 

As college admission essay coaches , we see students struggle with these “Why Us” essays all the time. 

It seems almost invasive to answer what’s really sending you to the school — generally, a complex mix of: (1) where you think you can get in, (2) price, (3) what your parents want, and, (4) maybe, how you liked the campus when you visited? You yourself might not be fully sure.

Well, relax. You can ace this type of essay with an easy formula that will convince UWM that you will fit right in on their campus and do well there. 

In addition, we’ll show you how to do a spectacular job of the UWM “personal statement” question if you’re not applying with the Common App . 

Meet us below the table of contents to see how it’s done. 

(For help with all aspects of your college application, head to our College Essay Help Center .)

Q1 — UWM wants to know if you’ll be a good fit for their campus and likely enroll 

The question is: 

Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (you may enter up to 650 words).

Note : UWM recommends aiming for 300-500 words .  

This is a classic “Why Us” prompt. UWM is digging for two simple answers: will you be a good fit for their campus + will you likely enroll . In fact, we’ve written everything you need to know about these types of essays here: The Simple “Why Us” Essay Strategy that Works . Go read it now. You’ll be in strong shape for UWM. 

Note that this isn’t a “Why major” essay (even though it looks like one). Why Majors want to know if you can cut it academically in your major. By contrast, Why Us prompts want to know if you’re going to succeed academically at that particular college . Given how short the recommended word count is for this question, it clearly falls in that category. 

With that out of the way, here are the three steps for acing a Why US essay (though, again, reading our comprehensive guide is best). 

• (1) articulate your college-related interests and
• (2) show how they match what’s available at UWM (aka research).
• (3) Write it all up straight-forwardly. 

In addition, since what you’re aiming for is to show you’ll likely enroll at UWM if admitted, be sure to read up on Demonstrated Interest: Why Showing Colleges You Like Them Gets You In .

Step 1: Brainstorm detail on your academic and non-academic interests

Close read of the prompt: See that phrase “in addition”? That tells you that UWM wants to see that you’re drawn to the school for more than just your intended major. 

Therefore, we recommend brainstorming two separate lists: Non-major and Major (or main academic interests). 

Again, we go into more detail in our “Why Us” article, but you should spend time brainstorming and researching your own interests, in UWM’s case, extracurricular and academic . 

Aim to think deeply about 3-5 of these interests — which can also include career-related aspirations if you have them (it’s fine if you don’t). For each interest, develop granular detail (aka essay-fodder), by asking yourself questions such as: 

• What most interests you about the thing?
• What first got you interested in it?
• How does this interest relate to your career ambitions (if any)?
• What big questions do you have about this interest? 
• What are you most curious about within this interest? 
• How would you like to pursue this in college?

Note that you can organize your thoughts for free in the Dashboard at our guided Why Us Brainstorming module (after creating an account ).

At the end of this process, you should have 2-3 great interests with lots of detail that you can use as fodder for this essay. Again, make sure you have at least one academic and one extracurricular interest for this essay. 

Step 2: Figure out what UWM has to offer that matches your 2+ identified interests

Remember, the goal is to show you’ll be a great fit on UWM’s campus. So the next task is to see what UWM has going on that will match with your interests.

The more research you do (on a campus tour, UWM’s website, their news service, their student newspaper, or just by talking to a student or alumni), the more specific you’ll be able to be about what UW Madison offers, and the more your essay will stand out. 

Again, you want two lists here: Non-major and Major (or main academic interests). 

In the Non-major list , write down everything about UWM that connects to your passions and interests apart from your major (if you’re undecided, substitute your main academic interests instead). This might include clubs, the structure of classes, campus housing, the school’s emphasis on community service. Make sure the features you mention aren’t too general; they should be specific to UW Madison. Then include specific examples from your life illustrating why these aspects of UW Madison excite you.

In the Major list , write down specific resources (classes, faculty, study abroad opportunities) at UW Madison that will help you pursue your major or main academic interests. However, notice that the prompt asks “why you are interested” in studying your major. So you’ll also want to write down the events, people, books, classes, teachers, films, etc. that inspired you to pursue this subject. 

For your academic research, your most rewarding source will likely be the department website for your major or field(s) of interest. Look at courses that are more advanced, as these tend to be more distinctive than entry-level courses. Look at the opportunities in your field. 

Optionally, you can also list your future goals—what will you do with this specific degree? By connecting your intended major to your past life experiences, current passions, and (optionally) future goals, you’ll show how your academic interests represent a vital part of who you are.

Step 3: Put your two pieces together using a straightforward, clear style (Example)

As you likely know, a 300-500 essay is not the place for clever metaphors or philosophical musings. Your goal is to share your academic and non-academic reasons for applying to UWM. That’s really as simple as this should be. 

But being clear isn’t necessarily easy, which is why we highly recommend having someone review your work for clarity only (not content - you know what content to include from this article). Obviously, a college essay coach is the best person to look your essay over and provide substantive guidance, but a well-trained adult can step in, too.  

Again, the prompt is: 

Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

I decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison once I got the strong sense that it would be a nurturing, challenging, and exciting fit for my nature-loving soul. 

I’ve been hiking and exploring nature my whole life, but particularly as a high school student, when I started hiking and mountain climbing every weekend, sometimes with friends and sometimes solo. 

This commitment to being in nature fed my desire to find a career that would help reduce global warming. Two summers ago, I was an intern for a solar energy company, and mostly just got to learn about the business model involved in trying to expand the number of customers who rely on the sun instead of fossil fuels for energy. Last summer, I was given much more responsibility at the same company: I got to go on sales visits and talk to customers, and was responsible for a project mapping out twenty potential institutional targets and ranking them on a number of factors for sales potential. 

In addition, I love leading the Green Newton club, which finds ways to make our high school more sustainable. Thanks to our efforts, our school has committed to expand its solar energy consumption by 30% by next academic year and also replaced plastic knives and forks with compostable wooden ones. 

At UWM, I’d want to be part of the GreenHouse learning community . I couldn’t believe it when I saw that was a possibility. I love the idea of working to make a living situation as sustainable as it can be while taking advantage of seminars, field trips, and volunteer opportunities to learn more about how we can build a more sustainable world. Of course, if I didn’t get into GreenHouse, there’s so much more I’d be interested in: BioHouse and StartUp would both be amazing for my interests in eventually working in a business focused on sustainability. 

For my major, I cannot wait to begin exploring Biological Systems Engineering . Science has always been my strongest subject, and I’d love to keep pushing in that direction. I would want to specialize in the Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering Option because it’s exploring how science can help us steward the natural world with imagination and knowledge.

Outside of class, you’ll be able to find me at the King Student Farm — in fact, I spent much of my campus visit there and became friends with a number of the students who work it as part of the Sustainable Agriculture organization. 

• This is 414 words.
• The essay has lots of specificity, mentioning specific clubs, areas of study, and houses that the student would like to engage with. It also is specific about what the student has done that matches with those resources. 
• The essay shows a dynamic student who would contribute a lot to the campus and fit well with it.
• The essay demonstrates enthusiasm about attending the college.
• Note that while the students’ academic and extracurricular interests in this essay are similar, that’s not necessary — they can be quite different and still form a great “Why Us” essay. 

Q2 — Ace the “personal statement” essay by focusing it on your very best high school experiences

What about the other UW Madison essay? Well, that depends on which application you use: 

• If you choose to apply to the University of Wisconsin through the Common App , you'll have to submit a personal statement and activities list . We definitely recommend this route if you are applying to any other Common Application schools.
• If you do apply through the Wisconsin application, this will be your required “personal statement” prompt:

This part is all about you. Tell us about something you’ve done — academically or personally — and what you’ve learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education? (250-650 words)

Well, this is going to be a short section because, to ace this question, you need to know a lot about writing a great college essay — your most important essay: the personal essay. And we covered everything you need to know about personal essays in better detail than we can here.

Even though this article is about the Common App personal statements, we promise that it will 100% apply to this UWM personal statement. (And take out a lot of agonizing you’d otherwise suffer through!)

Helpful info on all the “other” stuff you’ll consider as you apply to U-Washington (and other schools)

A few helpful resources for the non-supplement parts of your application:

• Common App : If you decide to use it, first read our guide to acing everything to do with writing your Common App application . 
• Whether to submit test scores: UWM is test-optional through 2025 . Read our test-optional article to learn how to think about submitting scores or not. 
• Early options: UWM has an Early Action option . Read our Early Admissions article so you know how to approach this decision. 

BTW, here’s our guidance for approaching any college supplement + here’s where you can find our guides for almost every college’s supplements . 

Feeling inspired? A great place to start is at our College Essay Help Center . 

More articles on Prompt.com’s admissions-boosting methods:

• Work with a college essay coach
• Strong essays increase your chance of admission by up to 10x
• Don’t let influencers influence your college essays
• Should I apply test-optional?
• Early admissions: Everything you need to know
• College Essay Help Center

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Completing Your Doctoral Degree

This webpage describes steps to completing a PhD degree at UW–Madison, which include:

• Meet the degree requirements
• Complete your preliminary examinations
• Defend and deposit your dissertation

See all doctoral degree completion deadlines >>

Looking for master's degree requirements?

Click here for guidelines for completing your master's degree.

Want to track your academic progress?

Check your academic progress using the Graduate Student Tracking System (GSTS).

Need support completing your dissertation?

We can help. Campus offers dissertator support groups, dissertation writing camps, writing guides, and other resources.

Steps to Completing the Degree

You must meet both the program and the Graduate School requirements for graduation. You should be aware that some programs may have more rigorous requirements than the Graduate School’s minimum requirements. You should visit your program’s website for specific requirements and contact your graduate program coordinator for further information.

Note: The Graduate School does not use honors titles (e.g., Magna Cum Laude, Dean’s List, etc.). Graduate students are not eligible to take courses designated for undergraduate honors students.

Minimum graduate degree credit requirement

51 credits (before or after dissertator status)

A student’s program may decide to accept graduate coursework completed at another institution (earned post-baccalaureate) toward fulfillment of degree credit requirements. To learn more, see Minimum Graduate Degree Credit Requirement and Prior Coursework .

Minimum graduate residence credit requirement

32 credits (completed prior to achieving dissertator status)

The doctoral degree minimum residence credit requirement can be satisfied only with courses numbered 300 and above taken as a graduate student at UW–Madison. To learn more about this requirement, see Minimum Graduate Residence Credit Requirement .

Minimum graduate coursework (50%) requirement

At least 50% of credits applied toward the program’s graduate degree credit requirement must be courses designed for graduate work, including but not limited to online, thesis/research, independent study, and practicum/internship credits. To learn more about this requirement, see Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement .

Breadth requirement

Breadth is a required component of doctoral training at UW–Madison. Given there are multiple paths to breadth, the Graduate School leaves the choice of whether students achieve breadth through a doctoral minor, Graduate/Professional certificate, or other means up to the student’s doctoral major program.

To learn more about meeting this requirement, see  Policy on Breadth Requirement in Doctoral Training .

Grade point average (GPA) requirement

The Graduate School requires that students maintain a GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for all graduate courses (excluding research) to receive a degree (though many programs impose higher standards). All incomplete grades must be resolved before a degree is granted. To learn more, see Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement and Probation .

Preliminary examinations assess knowledge of areas within the academic discipline. The student must obtain approval of the minor if the major program requires it and complete all the major courses.

Your program should arrange a preliminary committee and a dissertation committee with appropriate expertise to afford the breadth and depth needed in degree examinations. These committees may be composed of different members. The executive committee (or its equivalent) of a program/department is responsible for approving the composition of the preliminary exam and the dissertation committee. You should consult your advisor and your program’s student handbook for the specific function of degree committees (preliminary exam and dissertation) in your program.

To learn more about the functions and criteria of doctoral dissertation committees, see Committees . Use this online committee requirements tool to help you determine whether your proposed committee would meet the Graduate School’s minimum requirements for committee members.

Preliminary examinations

Your program determines your eligibility to take the prelim examination(s). The program must notifies the Graduate School of a student’s admission to candidacy and requests the preliminary warrant a minimum of three weeks prior to the exam date.

After passing the preliminary examination, students have 5 years to take the final examination (i.e. defend) and deposit their dissertation.  The 5 year clock starts on the first day of instruction of the term (Fall, Spring, or Summer) immediately following the completion of the preliminary examination.  Failure to complete their degree within this period may result in students having to retake the preliminary examination and be re-admitted to candidacy.

Time limit extension for dissertators impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

To offer flexibility amidst the major disruption that COVID-19 may have had on doctoral candidates’ research and scholarship progress, students who achieved dissertator status by the end of the 2020 summer term have automatically had the 5-year time limit extended by 8 months. Dissertators given this 8-month extension who need more time due to continued COVID-related disruption to their progress may request a further extension from the Graduate School. Decisions to extend the deadline beyond the additional 8 months are made on a case-by-case basis upon request of the student and their advisor. Students requesting an extension need to submit the request, along with a letter of support from their advisor, to [email protected] .

Doctoral Student Experience Survey (DSES)

The Doctoral Student Experience Survey (DSES) collects information at the time students make the transition to dissertator status. The survey covers career aspirations, academic experiences, and academic challenges, among other topics. Complete the Doctoral Student Experience Survey online. The Graduate School will use survey data to help identify strategies to improve student services.

After your program requests the preliminary exam warrant, you will receive an email with the link to the survey. All research doctoral students should complete the survey prior to submitting their signed preliminary examination warrant to the Graduate School.

Dissertator status

Dissertator status is a unique fee status and is effective at the start of the semester following completion of all dissertator requirements for the doctoral degree except for the dissertation. The Graduate School requires all dissertators to maintain continuous enrollment of exactly three credits (exceptions may apply during the summer). In rare circumstances where this is not possible, a degree completion fee is assessed to recognize the inevitable use of university facilities up to and including the successful defense and submission of the dissertation. To learn more, see Dissertator Status and the Degree Completion Fee .

Step 0: Pre-checks (optional)

Pre-checks are used to answer formatting questions (e.g., use of tables, graphs, and charts), embargo/delayed release questions, or questions related to the degree granting process.

To request a pre-check, you may email a PDF of your entire dissertation to degree coordinator [email protected] . If you would prefer to meet in person, email [email protected] to arrange a time.

Step 1: Request your final warrant and defend your dissertation

Notify your graduate program coordinator to have them request your doctoral degree warrant from the Graduate School at least three weeks before the anticipated date of your final dissertation defense. You must be enrolled during the semester that you defend and deposit; if you want to defend and/or submit your dissertation to the Graduate School in the summer term, you must register for three credits of research for the eight-week summer session.  Be very aware of two deadline options for depositing your dissertation.  Depositing before the first deadline will result in the degree being awarded at the end of that term.  The second deadline, often called the “window period” deadline, provides a little extra time to deposit after a term ends.  Dissertations deposited during the window period will result in the degree being awarded at the end of the following term, but will not require enrollment in that term.  The deadlines for both are very strict and occur at midnight Central Time.  Be aware that failure to submit by the end of the “window” period at the end of each term will require enrollment in the following term in order for a degree to be awarded.

After your graduate program coordinator submits the doctoral degree warrant request, the Graduate School will review this request. The approved warrant will be available in the Grad Portal. If you pass the defense, your program will let you know how and when to collect electronic signatures on the warrant. When signing your warrant electronically, your committee members thereby approve the dissertation.  (Note: Advisors no longer have to sign the abstract separately.)

Once the final warrant has been signed, you must upload an electronic copy in the administrative documents section of the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website.  Your graduate coordinator will also submit the warrant to the Graduate School in the Graduate Portal.

Step 2: Pay the dissertation deposit fee

Go to Grad Portal to pay the required $90 dissertation deposit fee, which covers the cost of processing the dissertation and publishing the abstract by ProQuest. The fee must be paid before submitting your dissertation electronically. The fee payment site provides an email confirmation with your fee payment receipt. Save this payment receipt as a PDF for the electronic dissertation deposit process. You also have the option to log in to the fee payment site and download a PDF of the receipt once you have paid. The receipt will be uploaded in the administrative documents section of the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website.

Step 3: Complete the doctoral exit surveys

You must complete the following doctoral exit surveys before submitting your dissertation electronically. Each individual survey will provide a certificate of completion once you have submitted the survey. Save the individual certificates of completion as PDF documents to upload in the administrative documents section of the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website.

• Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) : To complete the online Survey of Earned Doctorates you will first provide basic information including your email address. You will then receive an e-mail with a unique PIN and password. Access the SED survey site using the URL, PIN, and password sent to you in this email, and complete the survey. You must advance past the certificate of completion screen in order to submit the survey.
• Graduate School’s Doctoral Exit Survey (DES) : The DES obtains information on your academic experience (e.g., program quality, support, advising) in your doctoral program and information about your postdoctoral plans. To complete the Doctoral Exit Survey online , enter your name as it appears in university records and your student ID number (10 digits). At the end of the survey, there is a survey completion screen. If you have problems accessing the survey, contact [email protected] and include your name and student ID number.

Step 4: Electronic deposit of your dissertation

After you complete Steps 1 to 3, you can submit your dissertation electronically to the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website.

ATTENTION: Your submission of the dissertation is final and you are not allowed to make changes once it has been approved by the Graduate School Degree Coordinator. Your submission is not completed until you receive the confirmation email from the Graduate School Degree Coordinator.

Submitting your dissertation electronically has four steps:

• Prepare for submission
• Submit dissertation on ProQuest/UMI ETD
• Submit administrative documents
• Complete the final submit step

Read this section for detailed instructions for each step.

Before you begin the submission steps, decide whether or not you want to delay release of your dissertation. See the Guide to Preparing your Doctoral Dissertation, below, for more information on embargo/delayed release.

Then, be sure you have the following:

• Full text of your dissertation in PDF format. This must be one file. Fonts must be embedded. Security settings must be set to “no security.” Encrypted files cannot be processed for publishing. The maximum file size that can be uploaded is 1000 MB. The PDF file name cannot contain periods (except for the .pdf extension). Instructions for PDF conversion are available at the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator site under the “Resources and Guidelines” tab.
• UMI abstract text. This abstract, preferably not more than 350 words, must be in English. You will be asked to copy and paste this text during the electronic submission steps.
• Optional supplementary files. These images, data, etc. are an integral part of the dissertation, but not part of the full text.
• Advisor’s and other committee members’ names. These usually are listed as they appear on your approved warrant.
• Subject category. Choose one to three subject categories from the Subject Category list that best describe your dissertation subject area.
• Receipt confirming payment of the dissertation deposit fee. After you have paid the required $90 dissertation deposit fee, you will receive an e-mail receipt confirming payment.
• An electronic copy of the signed final warrant.

Go to the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator site and choose “Submitting Your Dissertation/Thesis.” Select University of Wisconsin-Madison from the list provided. Create an account or login using an existing account.

The ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website will walk you through a simple process of accepting the publishing agreement and uploading the files and information about your submission. If you need to finish your submission later, you can save your information and come back to finish.

At the submission step called Dissertation/Thesis Details, you will need to enter the following important information about your dissertation. Accuracy is essential.

• Title: Enter the full title of your dissertation, as it appears on the title page. Only some special characters can be used in this field. The title field does not accept subscript, superscript, or Greek letters; instead, you will need to spell these out. Select the year in which you completed your manuscript.
• Degree/Department Information: Select the year in which your degree will be conferred. If you are depositing during the window period and are uncertain, contact the Graduate School. Select the degree you will receive and your program.
• Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair: Enter your primary advisor’s name exactly as it appears on your warrant. Do not repeat your advisor in the list of committee members.
• Committee Members: Enter your committee members’ names exactly as they appear on your warrant.
• Description of Dissertation/Thesis: Select categories and keywords that identify your work.
• Abstract: Enter the text of your UMI abstract exactly as it was approved by your faculty advisor, preferably no more than 350 words.

At the submission step called Administrative Documents, you will need to upload the following items:

• Dissertation deposit confirmation receipt: Upload a PDF of the email receipt you received from the UW–Madison Graduate School fee payment website.
• The Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) certificate of completion: Upload the survey receipt as a PDF.
• The Graduate School’s Doctoral Exit Survey (DES) certificate of completion: Upload the survey receipt as a PDF.
• Signed PhD warrant: Upload your final signed PhD warrant as a PDF.

At the submission step called Notes to Administrator, indicate if you plan to attend the optional Graduate School final review.

You may choose to order additional copies of your dissertation and register the copyright of your dissertation – both of these items are optional. To learn more, see Copyright Resources .

Be certain to complete the final submit step at the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website. You MUST submit your dissertation to the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website by 11:59 pm CST on the degree deadline date in order to receive your degree in a given term. Keep in mind that submissions are reviewed by the Graduate School Degree Coordinator in the order they were received. After you complete the final submit step, you will receive an email confirming the submission. When you submit your dissertation, it will be reviewed by a Graduate School Degree Coordinator to ensure that you have followed all formatting requirements.

The Graduate School Degree Coordinator will approve and deliver your dissertation to ProQuest/UMI Dissertation Publishing for microfilming and binding. The UW–Madison Library will receive a bound copy and an electronic version of your dissertation shortly thereafter. You will receive an official email notification when the Graduate School has approved your dissertation for publication.

Step 4.0 Graduate School email confirmation

After you have successfully completed steps 1 – 4, please check your email at the address that you entered when you created an account on the ProQuest website. Look for a message from the ETD administrator. If formatting changes are requested, please complete them and re-upload your dissertation as soon as possible, as instructed in the email. If your dissertation has been accepted, the email will confirm this fact. Next please make sure that your instructor has or will submit a final grade, which should be S for satisfactory if you are enrolled for 990. Please be aware that no degrees are posted before the degree deadline and it may take 4-6 weeks for your degree to be posted after the degree deadline.

Commencement – December and May

If you want your name to be printed in the commencement program, you must submit an Apply to Graduate application through your MyUW Student Center. This is in addition to contacting your program to request your degree warrant from the Graduate School. You may attend the ceremony even if your name is not included in the commencement program. August does not have a commencement ceremony. If you plan to graduate in August, you may attend either the May or December ceremony by submitting the Apply to Graduate application through MyUW Student Center. Cap and gown rentals are at University Bookstore. Guests can attend without tickets.

Degree completion letter

The Registrar’s Office handles degree completion letters . If you have completed all degree requirements and deposited your thesis or dissertation and are waiting until the next degree conferral date to receive your degree, you may request and receive a letter indicating that all requirements have been completed. All grades from the semester in which you are depositing your dissertation (and all other outstanding grades) must be reported to the Graduate School before you can receive a completion letter.  Allow five business days for the processing of your degree completion letter request.

The Registrar’s Office will send your diploma to your diploma address approximately 12 to 14 weeks after degree conferral. Update your diploma address via the MyUW Student Center prior to the end of the semester in which you are graduating. Students with holds will not receive their diploma until those holds are cleared.

A student’s name will be printed on the diploma as it appears on the student’s official university record. Changes to legal personal information  including names can be requested online. For a student’s name change to appear on the diploma, the change must be made before the degree deadline in the semester the student will graduate.

Students who graduated after December 2015 may also access a Certified Electronic Diploma at no cost. A Certified Electronic Diploma is an official, portable, secure PDF version of the diploma that can be shared with anyone.

Transcripts

The Registrar’s Office posts degrees on official transcripts approximately four to six weeks after the end of the semester. You can order your official transcripts online .

Students may also request a campus copy of transcripts of their student record from MyUW Student Center. A campus copy student record is not an official transcript but it does indicate all internal university memoranda. The Registrar’s Office also provides more details on how to request a campus copy student record .

Guide to Preparing your Doctoral Dissertation

Formatting requirements.

We encourage you to read through these requirements before you start writing.  These guidelines will help you prepare your dissertation to ensure that it constitutes a permanent document of quality appropriate for a major graduate institution. Your dissertation is required to conform to these standards. It will be fully corrected, complete, and submitted electronically as a single PDF file.

Keep in mind that the formatting must be consistent throughout the dissertation with the exception of the Appendix.  Previously published articles can be placed in the Appendix in their published format.  If previously published work is included in a chapter, its format must conform to the formatting guidelines.

Dissertations must acknowledge contributions from other individuals, including co-authors of published material that appears in the document, such as designing the research, executing the research, analyzing the data, interpreting the research/data, or writing, proofing, copyediting the manuscript.  Contributions can be recognized in an acknowledgements section or at the beginning of a chapter where the contributed material is used.

Electronic and paper copies of approved dissertations are sent to the UW–Madison Memorial Library. They can be found electronically on MadCat and the ProQuest database. ProQuest/UMI Dissertation Publishing archives all accepted dissertations.

View the Formatting Requirements for your Doctoral Dissertation as a PDF checklist.

Dissertation help

In addition to support and feedback that your faculty advisor, mentor, and committee members will provide, be sure to take full advantage of the dissertation support opportunities at UW–Madison.

For more information

Alexandra Walter Doctoral Degree Coordinator [email protected] 608-262-2433

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You may put unusual or supplementary materials (such as questionnaires or photos) into appendices. Number the appendices consecutively with the text of the dissertation. The formatting of the appendices must meet the standards for the rest of the dissertation. However, the text in the appendices can be single-spaced.

Bibliography

The bibliography should meet your major program’s style requirements, which often conform to the leading journals or book series of the field. They may be single-spaced with an additional space between entries.

Equations, superscripts, and subscripts

Equations, superscripts, and subscripts are acceptable in your dissertation provided they are legible when microfilmed. Generally, superscripts and subscripts may be one size smaller than the text. To identify each equation clearly, please isolate it with double spacing.

Footnotes and endnotes

Footnotes and endnotes may be single-spaced with an extra space between notes. The font size can be one size smaller but must be legible. Please follow the preference of your major program when deciding where footnotes or endnotes should be placed in your text.

Figures and graphs must meet the same standards as the rest of the dissertation. Headings, keys, and all other identifying information must be of the same quality and format as the text. The font size can be one size smaller but must be legible. If graphics, tables, or figures are in landscape mode, orient the top of the printed page at the dissertation binding edge (left side of the paper) with the page number in the upper right-hand corner in the portrait page setup. Images may be submitted in black and white or color.

Language use

You may include quotations in languages other than English in your dissertation. However, the dissertation itself must be in English unless your program certifies that one or both of the following conditions have been met: the foreign language is that of the readers to whom the work is addressed; or translation into English would make the study obscure and imprecise. Dissertations submitted by students from a language program are acceptable in the language of that program.

Minimum required

• Use a minimum of 1″ margin on all four sides.
• Page numbers must be in the  upper right-hand corner at least a half inch from the top and one inch from the side of the page.
• Page headers:  Do NOT use page headers (except for page numbers) or decorative borders.

Page numbering

The title page and copyright page (if you are retaining and registering copyright) are not counted in the numbering of pages. The other pages are counted in the numbering of pages.

• Number the preliminary pages (for example, dedication page, acknowledgments page, table of contents, and abstract) that precede the main text with  lower case Roman numerals beginning with i . Put page numbers in the right-hand corner one inch from both top and side of the page. Page numbers half an inch from the top of the page are also acceptable.
• Number the main text consecutively beginning with  Arabic numeral 1  in the upper right-hand corner one inch from both top and side of the page. Check your dissertation to ensure that  all pages are present and in numerical order.
• If you are using Microsoft Word, find directions about how to start page numbering later in your document .
• Number appendices consecutively with the text, continuing the Arabic numeral sequence.
• Landscaped pages must have page numbers in portrait position and the top of the page must be on the left-hand, binding side of the page when it is rotated. If the page is *not* rotated, then the page numbers must be on the bottom, right-hand side of the page and sideways, so that when the pages are rotated, the page numbers are in portrait position. There are a number of ways to do this. For methods using Microsoft Word, such as text boxes, see instructions and examples of rotating page numbers . Note that if you do not rotate the landscaped pages, you want page numbers to appear in the same position as the highlighted number 3 in the second row of examples.

Production of document

• Use 10 to 12 point type.
• Double-space the main text of the dissertation.
• Lengthy quotations, footnotes, and bibliographies may be single-spaced with a double space between entries or paragraphs.
• Maps, charts, etc. are acceptable.

The title page is the very first page of your dissertation. Do not number the title page. At the bottom of the title page, you must indicate the date you passed your final defense (final oral examination) and list your committee members’ names, titles, and programs. Follow this  sample title page  format exactly.

If you are depositing your thesis in the window period then your title page should reflect the year in which your degree will be granted.

Additional guidelines

UMI abstract When you deposit your dissertation electronically, ProQuest/UMI will require you to provide the text of your UMI abstract. Please have this text ready when you begin the online submission process. The abstract must be in English and should preferably be no more than 350 words. When your advisor signs the warrant, they approve the dissertation and the abstract.

Abstract within dissertation Your program may require an abstract to be part of the dissertation. Please follow your program’s style requirements, and number all of these pages as part of the preliminary material (use lower case Roman numerals). This abstract must be included in the table of contents.

Copyright page (optional) You may include a copyright page; if you do, insert it directly after the title page. Do not number the copyright page. View a sample copyright page . Center the text in the bottom third of the page within the dissertation margins.

Registration of copyright (optional) You are automatically protected by copyright law, and you do not have to pay in order to retain copyright.

There is an additional fee of $75 for registering your copyright, which is a public record, and is payable to ProQuest/UMI at the time of electronic submission.  If you register your copyright, ProQuest/UMI will send a digital copy of your dissertation to the Library of Congress. You are not required to register your copyright through ProQuest/UMI; you may choose to do it on your own. More information is available online at www.copyright.gov and from UW Libraries .

Corrections After you submit the PDF of your dissertation electronically, you will not be permitted to make any additional corrections. Therefore, make sure the PDF is completely accurate before you submit.

Reprints and use of copyrighted material You are responsible for appropriate use of copyrighted materials in your thesis. Some material may be available for use without restriction while other material may require written permission from the rights holder. Other material may be appropriately used without written permission under the “fair use” provisions of the copyright law. General guidance regarding use of copyrighted materials is available from ProQuest/ UMI or from the UW–Madison Libraries .

• Fair Use: Read general information regarding how to determine if your use of copyrighted materials constitutes fair use.  Additionally, your own professional or disciplinary societies may have fair use statements to help you negotiate disciplinary specialties.
• Written Permission: If written permission is required, you are responsible for obtaining such permission and maintaining records of the written permission to use the copyrighted material in your thesis. You can usually get permission by sending a letter of request to the copyright holder. Normally, your letter will be returned with an approval stamp or signature. Some copyright holders require a specific form of acknowledgment. A sample permission request letter is offered by ProQuest/UMI .  Note that obtaining written permission can be a lengthy process. Plan ahead and budget ample time to obtain all required permissions.

Producing copies of your dissertation (optional) There are many options available in terms of producing copies of your dissertation. You do NOT have to order copies through the UMI/ProQuest ETD Administrator site but that option is available. Some other ways to produce copies of your dissertation include:

• UMI/ProQuest ETD Administrator site: order copies
• Printing shop (FedEx Office, Bob’s Copy Shop, etc.)
• Local book bindery (Grimm Book Bindery, Mc Ginn Bindery, etc.)

Embargo/delayed release

As a public research university, the University of Wisconsin–Madison considers the commitment to research a central part of its mission. As such, there is an expectation that research conducted by graduate students is made available to the public. Therefore, dissertations are normally open and searchable online shortly after they are deposited with ProQuest.

However, if a publication or a patent is pending, an embargo, or delayed release, may be requested during the submission process, in which case the citation and abstract will be available in ProQuest while the full text is under an embargo.

Please decide whether or not to delay release before you submit your dissertation. All decisions are final. Once your dissertation has been delivered to ProQuest, it is too late to delay release.

The only way to delay release is to make the appropriate selection during the submission process. You will have the option to select “No” to the Publishing Options question: “I want my work to be available in ProQuest as soon as it is published.” Next you will choose a time period of 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years for embargo. If you would like to select 3 years, select “other” and then write a note to the administrator in the text box below your selection, explaining that you would like 3 years. These options do not require special permission, but you should have discussed this with your advisor in advance.

Any request for more than a 3-year embargo or an extension of the original embargo request will be reviewed by the Graduate School Associate Dean. Such a request requires a letter to be signed by the student and the advisor in advance.

In order to qualify for an embargo extension, you are required to contact the degree coordinator prior to the expiration date of your embargo. Again, it is your responsibility to contact the Graduate School before your dissertation is released. Once a dissertation embargo has been lifted, it will not be reinstated.

Steps to prepare for commencement

Once you have met your degree requirements, you may choose to attend a commencement ceremony. Commencement occurs in May and December each year and is coordinated by the Office of the Chancellor. There is no summer commencement ceremony. If you plan to graduate in August, you may attend either the May or the December ceremony. If you want your name to be printed in the commencement program, you must apply to graduate through your MyUW Student Center by the deadline each semester in addition to contacting your major program to request a degree warrant from the Graduate School. The deadline to request your warrant can be found in the Degree Deadlines, below. You may attend the commencement ceremony even if your name is not included in the commencement program. Academic attire is required to participate in the commencement ceremony. Attire can be purchase or rented from the University Book Store . Your school/college or program may also have its own commencement activities.

Doctoral degree deadlines

• June 14 Graduate School Summer 2024: Dissertator eligibility for summer 4:00 PM
• June 16 Graduate School Summer 2024: Summer degree window period deadline for doctoral students 11:55 PM
• August 2 Graduate School Summer 2024: Request for all Master's and Doctoral Degree Warrants 4:30 PM
• August 25 Graduate School Summer 2024: Doctoral degree deadline 11:55 PM
• August 26 Graduate School Fall 2024: Fall Degree Window Period begins 12:00 AM

View all Graduate School 2023-24 degree deadlines as a printable PDF >>

Resume & Cover Letters

Your application is often your first chance to introduce yourself to an employer, graduate program, or scholarship review committee. Applications for these opportunities vary and are usually quite different from what you may have filled out when applying for part-time jobs throughout high school or college.

For that reason, it’s important to spend time thinking about how your skills and experience make you a good fit for the opportunity. This process can take a little bit of time but trust us (and your future bank account): it’s worth it.

On this page, we’ll break down the parts of an application and some best practices to consider. If you’re looking for examples of resumes for specific industries, check out the Career Community pages.

1. Starting from scratch?

If you’re just getting started building your resume or cover letter, check out our resume samples & tool guides below . You can also try our free Canvas module at the link below for a full and detailed guide to resume (and cover letter) writing! You’ll learn about the main elements of an effective resume, what type of experience you should include, how to write a great bullet point, which resume format to use, and more!

Enroll in the Module

2. Have a resume or cover letter, but want some quick feedback?

Express Advising and Resume Feedback Services will resume at the start of the Fall 2024 semester.

3. Want more in-depth application advice for specific fields?

Remember to check out our Career Community hubs for resources specific to different career areas, and make an appointment with a Career & Internship Specialist for in-depth resume or cover letter advice and help with your next steps.

Make an Appointment

Resume Samples and Tool Guides

As you’re getting started, here’s an important note: you’ll want to adjust your resume for each opportunity you apply for! Each job, internship, scholarship, or graduate program requires different skills and has unique needs and requirements, so your resume should be tailored to address each opportunity. It’s important to carefully review your resume each time you apply, remove irrelevant information, and reorganize your bullet points so that the most important stuff is always listed first.

Once your resume is ready, consider uploading it to Handshake and explore thousands of jobs and internships from 200,000+ employers nationwide.

If you’re looking for specific guidelines on Curriculum Vitae (CV) writing, check out the suggestions from the Writing Center .

How To Write A Resume

A resume is so much more than a list of your experiences. This outline will show you how to highlight your relevant skills, knowledge, and experiences to give you the best shot possible at getting invited to interview.

Writing Effective Bullet Points

Strong bullet points take the basics of your work experiences and education and turn them into snapshots of your success. This worksheet shows you how.

Power Verbs

Starting each bullet point with a strong verb helps to showcase your abilities. Use this list to add variety to bullet points you’ve already written, or to discover new skillsets you can incorporate in your resume.

Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter serves several purposes as part of your application. It demonstrates that you understand the needs of the employer, organization, or grad program and that you “get” them. This is your chance to introduce how your skills and experiences can serve as assets to their team.

The cover letter also serves as a writing sample, and good written communication skills typically rank anywhere from #1 to #3 on annual surveys of skills employers want in their new hires. So proofread, proofread, and proofread again.

Your cover letter and resume are not meant to be duplicates of each other, but to be complements. They should work together to help build your case as a qualified candidate for the position or opportunity you’re applying for.

If you have any questions or would like another set of eyes on your cover letter, let us know. Our career and internships advisors and specialists are here to help guide you through this process. You can also use our free Canvas guide to cover letter writing here!

Cover Letter Sample and Guides

Cover Letter Basics

Learn how to format your cover letter so that it’s easy for employers to read and what you should include in each section.

Cover Letter Format Guide

Description of what to include in a cover letter as well as the format of a cover letter.

Four Steps to a Fabulous Cover Letter

Starting a cover letter can be daunting! Here’s a step-by-step overview of the process, broken down into manageable pieces.

Research Specialist

• Madison, Wisconsin
• SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH/RADIOLOGY-GEN
• Partially Remote
• Staff-Full Time
• Staff-Part Time
• Opening at: May 15 2024 at 16:30 CDT
• Closing at: May 29 2024 at 23:55 CDT

Job Summary:

The successful candidate will work with Dr. Vivek Prabhakaran's Neuroimaging research program on projects ranging from normal aging to dementia. (S)he/they will be actively engaged in cutting-edge neuroimaging and biomarker research studies in normal aging as well as stroke, epilepsy, and dementia. This position requires analytic thinking, good interpersonal skills, excellent writing skills, the flexibility to work independently and collaboratively, and the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and study participants. Primary areas of responsibility include data processing, regulatory work which involves working with the IRB liaison, helping team members with scientific writing and preparation of scientific abstracts, posters, papers, and grants.

Responsibilities:

• 10% Conducts research experiments according to established research protocols with moderate impact to the project(s). Collects data and monitors test results
• 20% Operates, cleans, and maintains organization of research equipment and research area. Tracks inventory levels and places replenishment orders
• 20% Reviews, analyzes, and interprets data and/or documents results for presentations and/or reporting to internal and external audiences
• 15% Participates in the development, interpretation, and implementation of research methodology and materials
• 10% Provides operational guidance on day-to-day activities of unit or program staff and/or student workers
• 5% Performs literature reviews and writes reports
• 10% Assist in scheduling meetings. Attend lab meetings, interact with lab investigators/staff, and execute other research-related tasks as determined by the supervising principal investigator or scientific staff.
• 10% Assist with study visits, maintain IRB and other regulatory approvals.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Required Bachelor's Degree in neurobiology, psychology, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, kinesiology, life sciences, or related area.

Qualifications:

Preferred: - Minimum one year of lab experience - Experience with neuroimaging packages/analyses - Experience with neuropsych testing

Full or Part Time: 50% - 100% This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Ongoing/Renewable

Minimum $54,120 ANNUAL (12 months) Depending on Qualifications

Additional Information:

University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. UW-Madison is not an E-Verify employer, and therefore, is not eligible to employ F1-OPT STEM Extension participants. If you are selected for this position you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.

How to Apply:

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply Now" button. You will be asked to upload a current resume/CV and a cover letter briefly describing your qualifications and experience. You will also be asked to provide contact information for three (3) references, including your current/most recent supervisor during the application process. References will not be contacted without prior notice.

Gabriella Fisk [email protected] 608-890-0034 Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Official Title:

Research Specialist(RE047)

Department(s):

A53-MEDICAL SCHOOL/RADIOLOGY/RADIOLOGY

Employment Class:

Academic Staff-Renewable

Job Number:

The university of wisconsin-madison is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer..

You will be redirected to the application to launch your career momentarily. Thank you!

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UW Crypto Course Gives Students Hand-on Experience with DeFi by Partnering with Layer 3

Top student perspectives selected for essay publication.

May 17, 2024

Course Overview

UW’s crypto course is a popular elective for our Nicholas Center MBA students who want to stay ahead of the curve on emerging financial technologies. Finance 765 Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain and Digital Assets, taught by Brad Chandler, delves into the experimental and evolving landscape of digital assets. The course explores the specific financial use cases of Decentralized Finance (“DeFi”) and compares these new solutions to traditional finance. The course covers everything from the underlying blockchain technology to DeFi swaps, lending, insurance and derivatives. With a new focus on DeFi, the course seeks to answer these fundamental questions:

• What are the financial use cases where DeFi provides a viable solution?
• How does the DeFi solution work?
• How does it compare to the corresponding traditional finance solutions?
• What does DeFi offer that is valuable relative to the traditional financial system? And to whom does the value accrue?

Conducted in seminar format, this course emphasizes active student engagement. Students are expected to participate in discussions, progressively refine their viewpoints and contribute to a collective analysis of these topics. The course culminates in a research project where students critically evaluate a DeFi project that sparks their interest.

Experiential Learning

In the Spring 2024, Brad Chandler partnered with Layer 3, a crypto educational platform, to provide students with hands-on experience with influential DeFi protocols. Layer 3 designed six quests for UW students to explore stable coins, swaps, borrowing, cross-chain bridges, liquidity provisioning and Layer 2 protocols. Students created unique crypto wallets and demonstrated their proficiency in navigating DeFi protocols and blockchains including Uniswap, Aave, Arbitrum, Polygon and Avalanche.

Featured to the left, are two screenshots from the Layer 3 quests tailored specifically for students in UW’s crypto course. 

Student Testimonials

“The Layer 3 quests helped me access many of the DeFi platforms we discussed in class, like Aave and Uniswap. In a few easy steps, I deposited digital assets, took out a loan and quickly repaid it. And I could see the transparency benefits where every transaction is recorded to the blockchain.”

Goncha Muradli, Nicholas Center MBA graduate, Class of 2024

“I, like many other students in the class, had only interacted with crypto via centralized exchanges and only read about these DeFi protocols. Through the guidance Layer 3 offered, I executed a transaction on Uniswap and borrowed on Aave. It’s one thing to talk about DeFi conceptually and another to actually swap one token for another. It certainly crystallized how it all works and taught me how to utilize the DeFi ecosystem beyond HODLing tokens and just talking about it.”

Xander Kessler, Nicholas Center MBA graduate, Class of 2024.

Research Project: Top Student Perspectives

A key goal of the class is to provide a platform for students’ contribution to this space so the course culminates in a research project where students critically evaluate a DeFi project that sparks their interest. Each year Brad Chandler compiles the top student essay papers to showcase their learning and insights. A total of eight students were selected to be showcased in the “Top Student Perspectives on Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain and Digital Assets” for May 2024 . Below is a list of the authors and topics:

• Analysis of Chainlink Price Feeds, by Bridget Wu
• dYdx and the Future of Decentralized Asset Exchange, by Charles Cavins Maloney
• Evaluating Systemic Risks and Inefficiencies in Decentralized Finance: A Case Study of the Compound Protocol by Rishit Mahajan
• Aave: Decentralized Lending in the Aftermath of 2008 by Julie Maduros, Ishan Aggarwal, and Christopher Bakken
• The Solana Ecosystem’s Growth Fuels Jupiter’s Rise to Becoming a Leading Decentralized Exchange Aggregator, by Nick Wong and Reza Mohammadi.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, uw-madison essay examples.

Hey there! I'm applying to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and I'd like to see some examples of essays that got accepted. Does anyone know where I can find these or are willing to share their own successful essays? It would really help me get a sense of the expectations!

Hello! CollegeVine does indeed have an example of an essay that helped a student gain acceptance to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as a breakdown of what the essay did well and what could have been done even better: https://blog.collegevine.com/university-of-wisconsin-madison-essay-examples.

It's important to remember, though, that what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. While you can certainly use this example for inspiration, your goal should be crafting an essay that truly represents you and your experiences. The following tips will help you there:

1. Be authentic: Make sure your essay reflects your true self, not someone you think the admissions officers want to see. They can usually tell when applicants are not being genuine in their writing.

2. Choose a unique and personal topic: Rather than choosing a cliche topic, consider sharing a personal experience or something that has significantly shaped your life. This will help you stand out from other applicants.

3. Show, don't tell: Use descriptive language and vivid examples to engage your reader and effectively convey your point. Make your reader feel as if they're part of the experience, rather than just telling them what happened.

4. Be concise and organized: Clearly presenting your ideas and staying within the required word limit can be challenging, but doing so shows that you're able to think critically and communicate effectively.

5. Proofread and revise: Have multiple people read your essay, and take the time to revise and polish it. This can help ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and free of errors. If you're not sure who to ask, keep in mind that CollegeVine offers both free peer essay reviews and paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors.

One final piece of advice: while discussing your extracurricular activities and accomplishments can be helpful, also focus on discussing your personality, interests, and values that make you unique. This way, admissions officers will learn more about who you are as a person, rather than just re-learning about the achievements and awards already described elsewhere in your application.

Best of luck with your application to UW-Madison!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

The Federalist Papers

Appearing in New York newspapers as the New York Ratification Convention met in Poughkeepsie, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison wrote as Publius and addressed the citizens of New York through the Federalist Papers.  These essays subsequently circulated and were reprinted throughout the states as the Ratification process unfolded in other states.  Initially appearing as individual items in several New York newspapers, all eighty-five essays were eventually combined and published as The Federalist .  Click here to view a chronology of the Printing and Reprintings of The Federalist .   

Considerable debate has surrounded these essays since their publication. Many suggest they represent the best exposition of the Constitution to date. Their conceptual design would affirm this view.  Others contend that they were mere propaganda to allay fears of the opposition to the Constitution. Regardless, they are often included in the canon of the world’s great political writings. A complete introduction exploring the purpose, authorship, circulation, and reactions to The Federalist  can be found here.

General Introduction

• No. 1 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 27 October 1787

Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence

• No. 2 (Jay) New York Independent Journal , 31 October 1787
• No. 3 (Jay) New York Independent Journal , 3 November 1787
• No. 4 (Jay) New York Independent Journal , 7 November 1787
• No. 5 (Jay) New York Independent Journal , 10 November 1787

Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States

• No. 6 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 14 November 1787
• No. 7 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 17 November 1787
• No. 8 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 20 November 1787
• No. 9 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 21 November 1787

The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection

• No. 10 (Madison) New York Daily Advertiser , 22 November 1787

The Utility of the Union in Respect to Commercial Relations and a Navy

• No. 11 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 24 November 1787

The Utility of the Union in Respect to Revenue

• No. 12 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 27 November 1787

Advantage of the Union in Respect to Economy in Government

• No. 13 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 28 November 1787

Objections to the Proposed Constitution from Extent of Territory Answered

• No. 14 (Madison) New York Packet , 30 November 1787

The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union

• No. 15 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 1 December 1787
• No. 16 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 4 December 1787
• No. 17 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 5 December 1787
• No. 18 (Madison with Hamilton) New York Packet , 7 December 1787
• No. 19 (Madison with Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 8 December 1787
• No. 20 (Madison with Hamilton) New York Packet , 11 December 1787
• No. 21 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 12 December 1787
• No. 22 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 14 December 1787

The Necessity of Energetic Government to Preserve of the Union

• No. 23 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 18 December 1787

Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered

• No. 24 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 19 December 1787
• No. 25 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 21 December 1787

Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense

• No. 26 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 22 December 1787
• No. 27 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 25 December 1787
• No. 28 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 26 December 1787

Concerning the Militia

• No. 29 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 9 January 1788

Concerning the General Power of Taxation

• No. 30 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 28 December 1787
• No. 31 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 1 January 1788
• Nos. 32–33 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 2 January 1788
• No. 34 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 4 January 1788
• No. 35 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 5 January 1788
• No. 36 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 8 January 1788

The Difficulties of the Convention in Devising a Proper Form of Government

• No. 37 (Madison) New York Daily Advertiser , 11 January 1788
• No. 38 (Madison) New York Independent Journal , 12 January 1788

The Conformity of the Plan to Republican Principles

• No. 39 (Madison) New York Independent Journal , 16 January 1788

The Powers of the Convention to Form a Mixed Government Examined

• No. 40 (Madison) New York Packet , 18 January 1788

General View of the Powers Conferred by the Constitution

• No. 41 (Madison) New York Independent Journal , 19 January 1788
• No. 42 (Madison) New York Packet , 22 January 1788
• No. 43 (Madison) New York Independent Journal , 23 January 1788

Restrictions on the Authority of the Several States

• No. 44 (Madison) New York Packet , 25 January 1788

Alleged Danger from the Powers of the Union to the State Governments

• No. 45 (Madison) New York Independent Journal , 26 January 1788

Influence of the State and Federal Governments Compared

• No. 46 (Madison) New York Packet , 29 January 1788

Structure of the New Government and the Distribution of Powers

• No. 47 (Madison) New York Independent Journal , 30 January 1788

Departments Should Not Be So Far Separated

• No. 48 (Madison) New York Packet , 1 February 1788

Guarding Against the Encroachments of Any One Department of Government

• No. 49 (Madison) New York Independent Journal , 2 February 1788

Periodic Appeals to the People Considered

• No. 50 (Madison) New York Packet , 5 February 1788

Structure of Government Must Furnish Proper Checks and Balances

• No. 51 (Madison) New York Independent Journal , 6 February 1788

The House of Representatives

• No. 52 (Madison?) New York Packet , 8 February 1788
• No. 53 (Madison or Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 9 February 1788

The Apportionment of Members Among the States

• No. 54 (Madison) New York Packet , 12 February 1788

The Total Number of the House of Representatives

• No. 55 (Madison?) New York Independent Journal , 13 February 1788
• No. 56 (Madison?) New York Independent Journal , 16 February 1788

The Alleged Tendency of the Plan to Elevate the Few at the Expense of the Many

• No. 57 (Madison?) New York Packet , 19 February 1788

Objection That the Numbers Will Not Be Augmented as Population Increases

• No. 58 (Madison?) New York Independent Journal , 20 February 1788

Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members

• No. 59 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 22 February 1788
• No. 60 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 23 February 1788
• No. 61 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 26 February 1788
• No. 62 (Madison?) New York Independent Journal , 27 February 1788
• No. 63 (Madison?) New York Independent Journal , 1 March 1788
• No. 64 (Jay) New York Independent Journal , 5 March 1788
• No. 65 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 7 March 1788

Objections to the Power of the Senate to Set as a Court for Impeachments

• No. 66 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 8 March 1788

The Executive Department

• No. 67 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 11 March 1788

The Mode of Electing the President

• No. 68 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 12 March 1788

The Real Character of the Executive

• No. 69 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 14 March 1788

The Executive Department Further Considered

• No. 70 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 15 March 1788

The Duration in Office of the Executive

• No. 71 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 18 March 1788

Re-Eligibility of the Executive Considered

• No. 72 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 19 March 1788

Provision for The Support of the Executive, and the Veto Power

• No. 73 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 21 March 1788

The Command of the Military and Naval Forces, and the Pardoning Power

• No. 74 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 25 March 1788

The Treaty Making Power of the Executive

• No. 75 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 26 March 1788

The Appointing Power of the Executive

• No. 76 (Hamilton) New York Packet , 1 April 1788

Appointing Power and Other Powers of the Executive Considered

• No. 77 (Hamilton) New York Independent Journal , 2 April 1788

The Judiciary Department

• No. 78 (Hamilton) Book Edition, Volume II, 28 May 1788
• No. 79 (Hamilton) Book Edition, Volume II, 28 May 1788

The Powers of the Judiciary

• No. 80 (Hamilton) Book Edition, Volume II, 28 May 1788

The Judiciary Continued, and the Distribution of the Judicial Authority

• No. 81 (Hamilton) Book Edition, Volume II, 28 May 1788

The Judiciary Continued

• No. 82 (Hamilton) Book Edition, Volume II, 28 May 1788

The Judiciary Continued in Relation to Trial by Jury

• No. 83 (Hamilton) Book Edition, Volume II, 28 May 1788

Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered

• No. 84 (Hamilton) Book Edition, Volume II, 28 May 1788

Concluding Remarks

• No. 85 (Hamilton) Book Edition, Volume II, 28 May 1788

Creating the Centennial Mural

In celebration of the School of Nursing’s centennial, artist Tia Richardson created a mural for the atrium in Signe Skott Cooper Hall. She gathered input from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners through a series of surveys, workshops, observations, and campus visits. These conversations provided her inspiration for the mural design.

Richardson’s vision was to create a mural with many layers of paint by many hands. Community members had a chance to help paint the mural at a series of events in January 2024, and 134 people participated.

Richardson completed the mural with assistance from her artistic helpers, and it was officially unveiled by Dean Linda Scott at a ceremony on May 6, 2024.

Creating the Concept

Community Painting

Finishing the Mural

Unveiling and Dedication

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Explore African Literature

Nigerian Writer Adams Adeosun Receives Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Fellowship

by Kuhelika Ghosh

May 20, 2024

Nigerian writer Adams Adeosun has received a highly prestigious fellowship from the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing. He will be the 2024-2025 Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellow and reside at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Since 1986, the University of Wisconsin’s Institute for Creative Writing has provided time, space, and an intellectual community for writers working on a first book of poetry or fiction, while developing their skills as instructors in one of North America’s top-ranked creative writing programs.

Adeosun distinguished themselves out of an applicant pool of nearly 800 emerging authors. They will receive a stipend of at least $40,000, and will join the faculty at UW-Madison in late August, for a nine-month appointment meant to provide the time, space, and collegial support to complete or revise a first or second creative book-length manuscript.

This is a prestigious fellowship that many African writers are beginning to be recognized for. Last year’s WICW fellows include Motswana writer Gothataone Moeng and Somali writer Sadia Hassan.

Adams Adeosun holds an MFA from the University of Iowa. They are a writer from Nigeria whose work has appeared in magazines and anthologies including Transition, The Offing, Catapult, Isele, Limbe to Lagos: Nonfiction from Cameroon and Nigeria , and Rele Gallery’s Five Years of Young Contemporaries . Their poetry chapbook, If the Golden Hour Won’t Come For Us , is forthcoming from Akashic Books’ New-Generation African Poets box set. They are a 2024 MacDowell fellow.

If you are interested in applying to the fellowship program, applications for the 2025-2026 WICW Fellowships will re-open on November 1, 2024, with a deadline of January 1, 2025. Stay tuned!

Congrats to Adeosun!

• Adams Adeosun
• Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing

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Writing Cover Letters

What is a cover letter? What to include in a cover letter How to organize a cover letter Questions to guide your writing How to format a cover letter Sample cover letters

What is a cover letter?

To be considered for almost any position, you will need to write a letter of application. Such a letter introduces you, explains your purpose for writing, highlights a few of your experiences or skills, and requests an opportunity to meet personally with the potential employer.

Precisely because this letter is your introduction to an employer and because first impressions count, you should take great care to write an impressive and effective letter. Remember that the letter not only tells of your accomplishments but also reveals how effectively you can communicate.

The appropriate content, format, and tone for application letters vary according to the position and the personality of the applicant. Thus, you will want to ask several people (if possible) who have had experience in obtaining jobs or in hiring in your field to critique a draft of your letter and to offer suggestions for revision.

Despite the differences in what constitutes a good application letter, the suggestions on these pages apply generally.

What to include in a cover letter

• Try to limit your letter to a single page. Be succinct.
• Assess the employer’s needs and your skills. Then try to match them in the letter in a way that will appeal to the employer’s self-interest.
• As much as possible, tailor your letter to each job opportunity. Demonstrate, if possible, some knowledge of the organization to which you are applying.
• Write in a style that is mature but clear; avoid long and intricate sentences and paragraphs; avoid jargon. Use action verbs and the active voice; convey confidence, optimism, and enthusiasm coupled with respect and professionalism.
• Show some personality, but avoid hard-sell, gimmicky, or unorthodox letters. Start fast; attract interest immediately. For more information see Business Letter Format .
• Arrange the points in a logical sequence; organize each paragraph around a main point.

How to organize a cover letter

Below is one possible way to arrange the content of your cover letter.

Opening Paragraph

State why you are writing.

Establish a point of contact (advertisement in a specific place for a specific position; a particular person’s suggestion that you write): give some brief idea of who you are (a Senior engineering student at UW; a recent Ph.D. in History).

Paragraph(s) 2(-3)

Highlight a few of the most salient points from your enclosed resume.

Arouse your reader’s curiosity by mentioning points that are likely to be important for the position you are seeking.

Show how your education and experience suit the requirements of the position, and, by elaborating on a few points from your resume, explain what you could contribute to the organization.

(Your letter should complement, not restate, your resume.)

Closing paragraph

Stress action. Politely request an interview at the employer’s convenience.

Indicate what supplementary material is being sent under separate cover and offer to provide additional information (a portfolio, a writing sample, a sample publication, a dossier, an audition tape), and explain how it can be obtained.

Thank the reader for his/her consideration and indicate that you are looking forward to hearing from him/her.

Questions to guide your writing

• Who is my audience?
• What is my objective?
• What are the objectives and needs of my audience?
• How can I best express my objective in relationship to my audience’s objectives and needs?
• What specific benefits can I offer to my audience and how can I best express them?
• What opening sentence and paragraph will grab the attention of my audience in a positive manner and invite them to read further?
• How can I maintain and heighten the interest and desire of the reader throughout the letter?
• What evidence can I present of my value to my audience?
• If a resume is enclosed with the letter, how can I best make the letter advertise the resume?
• What closing sentence or paragraph will best assure the reader of my capabilities and persuade him or her to contact me for further information?
• Is the letter my best professional effort?

*From Ronald L. Kraunich, William J. Bauis. High Impact Resumes & Letters. Virginia Beach, VA: Impact Publications, 1982.

How to format a cover letter

• Type each letter individually, or use a word processor.
• Use good quality bond paper.
• Whenever possible, address each employer by name and title.
• Each letter should be grammatically correct, properly punctuated, and perfectly spelled. It also should be immaculately clean and free of errors. Proofread carefully!
• Use conventional business correspondence form. If you are not certain of how to do this, ask for help at the Writing Center.

Sample cover letters

Looking at examples of strong cover letters is a great way to understand how this advice can become implemented. We’ve compiled and annotated a range of different kinds of cover letters from different kinds of student applicants. We encourage you to look through these letters and see some of what we’ve highlighted as working particularly well in these real world examples.

• Cover Letter Example 1. Undergraduate student applying for a restaurant hosting position.
• Cover Letter Example 2. Undergraduate sophomore applying for an internship with a non-profit, political organization.
• Cover Letter Example 3. Graduate student applying for a Project Assistant position at UW-Madison. The original job posting for this position can be found here .
• Cover Letter Example 4. A graduated student with an English literature and Spanish language double major applying to work as a law firm legal assistant.

In addition to these sample cover letters, you can find a range of other, often discipline-specific cover letter examples through these UW-Madison resources:

• SuccessWorks has developed a useful resource that features an overview of cover letters. It provides a breakdown of this genre’s main parts as well as an example cover letter and resume, all in response to an included job posting for a position with Americas Society Council of the Americas. All of this is located here .
• UW-Madison’s Law School has several wonderful examples of cover letters for law-related jobs here . These are organized according how far the applicants were into their law school careers (i.e., L1, L2, and L3).
• The Career Center for the School of Education has information about cover letters as well as sample cover letter for someone applying to be an elementary school teacher here .

Academic and Professional Writing

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Analysis Papers

Reading Poetry

A Short Guide to Close Reading for Literary Analysis

Using Literary Quotations

Play Reviews

Writing a Rhetorical Précis to Analyze Nonfiction Texts

Incorporating Interview Data

Grant Proposals

Planning and Writing a Grant Proposal: The Basics

Additional Resources for Grants and Proposal Writing

Job Materials and Application Essays

Writing Personal Statements for Ph.D. Programs

• Before you begin: useful tips for writing your essay
• Guided brainstorming exercises
• Get more help with your essay
• Frequently Asked Questions

Resume Writing Tips

CV Writing Tips

Cover Letters

Business Letters

Proposals and Dissertations

Resources for Proposal Writers

Resources for Dissertators

Research Papers

Planning and Writing Research Papers

Quoting and Paraphrasing

Writing Annotated Bibliographies

Creating Poster Presentations

Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper

Thank-You Notes

Advice for Students Writing Thank-You Notes to Donors

Reading for a Review

Critical Reviews

Writing a Review of Literature

Scientific Reports

Scientific Report Format

Sample Lab Assignment

Writing for the Web

Writing an Effective Blog Post

Writing for Social Media: A Guide for Academics