UW–Madison asks Common App applicants for the Common App essay plus one required prompt: why you would like to attend UW–Madison, and why you are interested in the major or majors you selected (or, if undecided, your possible academic interests). The page prints no word limit; use the limit shown in your application.
UW–Madison says it reads your essays to understand more about you and may also use them for program and scholarship review, so the why-UW answer can matter beyond admission.
UW–Madison's questions at a glance
| Question | Limit | Who answers it | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Why UW–Madison and your major | no set limit | Required | Why this college |
How to plan the UW–Madison supplement
- 1Cover both halves of the prompt: the university and the major. Many drafts answer only one.
- 2Use specifics you would actually use at UW–Madison; check them on its site.
1. Why UW–Madison and your major
UW–Madison's wording · no set limit · Required“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.”
What it is really asking. Two things in one: why UW–Madison, and why your selected major (or your possible interests if undecided).
How to approach it
- 1Plan one part for the university and one for the major, linked by you.
- 2Give each a specific reason tied to your experience.
- 3If undecided, say what you are curious about and how UW–Madison lets you explore it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Answering only the major.
- Football Saturdays and the lakes as the main reasons.
Full guide: How to Write the "Why UW–Madison" Essay
What our grader checks in your UW–Madison answers
Every answer is judged against a checklist for its kind of question plus one check written for UW–Madison's own wording. Each area comes back Met, Partly or Missing, and those verdicts (with the word limit) set the answer's readiness: Ready, Nearly there or Needs work. There is no score out of 100.
| Question | UW–Madison's own check |
|---|---|
| Why UW–Madison and your major | Covers both parts: why UW–Madison, and why the selected major(s) (or areas of interest if undecided). |
The type checklists are on the supplemental essay grader page.
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