University of Wisconsin Madison c/o 2016 (2012-2013 Cycle) Forum

[ks2499]

Remembering last year, Wisconsin was very slow. I applied in late november, I got my acceptance March 1st, and they gave my 170+ lsat no schollie dollars (in state). Some people heard back relatively quickly from Wisconsin, but for most of us last cycle they were incredibly slow. Wisconsin gives it hardly any money ('specially to in-staters), and seems to only give schollies to people above their LSAT 75th and at or above GPA median, mostly 36 or 45k total. The only big schollies I remember them giving were to URM's.

Yeah, LSN confirms this. Unfortunate.

It also looks like they released at least a couple ED decisions for this year.

[bettercallsaul91]

Submitted 11/3. Just went in review today 12/27.

[ariadne328]

Also in review as of yesterday. Submitted early November. Hoping this is a good sign!

[illiniguy1551]

Also in review as of yesterday, just above 25% LSAT and above 75% GPA. Hoping for a direct in, but expecting a waitlist...

[ks2499]

Also in review as of 12/27. Good luck everyone!

[ariadne328]

Also in review as of yesterday, just above 25% LSAT and above 75% GPA. Hoping for a direct in, but expecting a waitlist...

Looking at past trends I'm at both medians, but so far this cycle has been surprising me. I have my fingers crossed!

On a separate note, I haven't gone back to previous years threads yet and looked at the time between when people when "in review" and when they had a decision. Anyone know the timeline off hand?

[ks2499]

Also in review as of yesterday, just above 25% LSAT and above 75% GPA. Hoping for a direct in, but expecting a waitlist...

Looking at past trends I'm at both medians, but so far this cycle has been surprising me. I have my fingers crossed!

On a separate note, I haven't gone back to previous years threads yet and looked at the time between when people when "in review" and when they had a decision. Anyone know the timeline off hand?

Looking back through last years thread, it seems like we aren't following the same pattern. It looks like people went under review much sooner, not long after submitting, and RD decisions came out starting in mid-December. There were also date changes once they were under review.

[michaelm55]

"In Review" as well 164,3.93

[jrstephens1991]

In review, 12/27

[doglover0702]

Submitted in September, but not ED. Went into review 12/27. It's been so long with no movement on my status checker, I didn't even check until I saw other people went into review.

They take their sweet time don't they?

[JadeWest]

submitted/complete late nov
in review sometime in dec
in today.

above lsat, below gpa

[ks2499]

submitted/complete late nov
in review sometime in dec
in today.

above lsat, below gpa

Congrats! How did you hear?

[ariadne328]

submitted/complete late nov
in review sometime in dec
in today.

above lsat, below gpa

Congrats! How did you hear?

Congratulations!

Also, I assume you mean the medians for lsat and gpa. Is this correct?

[JadeWest]

submitted/complete late nov
in review sometime in dec
in today.

above lsat, below gpa

Congrats! How did you hear?

Congratulations!

Also, I assume you mean the medians for lsat and gpa. Is this correct?

email. and yes.

[willio]

In via email today. 165/3.6

EDIT: I should mention I'm in-state.

[ariadne328]

In via email today. 165/3.6

EDIT: I should mention I'm in-state.

Congratulations! When did you go under review?

[willio]

In via email today. 165/3.6

EDIT: I should mention I'm in-state.

Congratulations! When did you go under review?

Thanks. I went under review on 12/27 so it was a very fast turn around.

[bettercallsaul91]

Just a heads up folks - someone identified as 'director of University of Wisconsin-Madison' just paid my LinkedIn profile a visit. o.o

[annet]

Congrats to those who are in! And thank you everyone for the updates. No change here, although not for lack of checking

First we were all...


But then it was all...

[AbbeyRoadLaw]

In today via email!

[BearsGrl]

Good luck to those applying this cycle for UW-Madison.

As someone who applied to the school last cycle, WI sticks to a pretty tight overall schedule. Prior to my cycle, the previous cycles went through about 3-4 cycles of admits. One wave was looked at in December, accepted early to mid-January, the second batch accepted late January and then another set in February. I know of many people, myself included, who went through multiple updates so multiple updates doesn't necessarily mean anything. I know that I went through two updates (one early December, then another in January). I didn't hear about my rejection until March.

UW looks very closely at ties to the state of WI and has a limit of in-state students that they are required to meet. They don't generally offer scholarships so if you are looking to negotiate, don't even think you can try to do that. I mean, give it a go if you want to, but make sure that you have a solid comparison to use and a reason for bringing up that comparison.

Realistically speaking, do not consider WI unless you first want to live in the WI area. Will someone have access to the Midwest? Sure. But don't go thinking that you will. Don't think lateral over to Chicago is a given. It's not. And if you're out of state, I don't think the debt ratio is worth the risk. UW is a solid school, but understand that the other school in the state (Marquette) gets as much big law clout as UW. It's one of those rare states where the two law schools in the state have a solid reputation and are considered peer campuses within the state.

If you really do want to go there, write a LOCI and be specific. They love people passionate about their school for a particular reason. However, seriously consider the debt burden because WI isn't a hotbed for big law. It will offer you access to a reasonable COA, solid athletic program and access to all four seasons. Fall in love with the snow. You'll need to.

The best advice is just to wait it out because UW-Madison seemed to have a more systematic approach to reviewing apps. Good luck!!!

[blueapple]

Admitted today via email. 167, 3.7 out of state

[priyank90]

In today via email! 164, 3.61

[jrstephens1991]

Good luck to those applying this cycle for UW-Madison.

As someone who applied to the school last cycle, WI sticks to a pretty tight overall schedule. Prior to my cycle, the previous cycles went through about 3-4 cycles of admits. One wave was looked at in December, accepted early to mid-January, the second batch accepted late January and then another set in February. I know of many people, myself included, who went through multiple updates so multiple updates doesn't necessarily mean anything. I know that I went through two updates (one early December, then another in January). I didn't hear about my rejection until March.

UW looks very closely at ties to the state of WI and has a limit of in-state students that they are required to meet. They don't generally offer scholarships so if you are looking to negotiate, don't even think you can try to do that. I mean, give it a go if you want to, but make sure that you have a solid comparison to use and a reason for bringing up that comparison.

Realistically speaking, do not consider WI unless you first want to live in the WI area. Will someone have access to the Midwest? Sure. But don't go thinking that you will. Don't think lateral over to Chicago is a given. It's not. And if you're out of state, I don't think the debt ratio is worth the risk. UW is a solid school, but understand that the other school in the state (Marquette) gets as much big law clout as UW. It's one of those rare states where the two law schools in the state have a solid reputation and are considered peer campuses within the state.

If you really do want to go there, write a LOCI and be specific. They love people passionate about their school for a particular reason. However, seriously consider the debt burden because WI isn't a hotbed for big law. It will offer you access to a reasonable COA, solid athletic program and access to all four seasons. Fall in love with the snow. You'll need to.

The best advice is just to wait it out because UW-Madison seemed to have a more systematic approach to reviewing apps. Good luck!!!

Thanks for this.

[BearsGrl]

Good luck to those applying this cycle for UW-Madison.

As someone who applied to the school last cycle, WI sticks to a pretty tight overall schedule. Prior to my cycle, the previous cycles went through about 3-4 cycles of admits. One wave was looked at in December, accepted early to mid-January, the second batch accepted late January and then another set in February. I know of many people, myself included, who went through multiple updates so multiple updates doesn't necessarily mean anything. I know that I went through two updates (one early December, then another in January). I didn't hear about my rejection until March.

UW looks very closely at ties to the state of WI and has a limit of in-state students that they are required to meet. They don't generally offer scholarships so if you are looking to negotiate, don't even think you can try to do that. I mean, give it a go if you want to, but make sure that you have a solid comparison to use and a reason for bringing up that comparison.

Realistically speaking, do not consider WI unless you first want to live in the WI area. Will someone have access to the Midwest? Sure. But don't go thinking that you will. Don't think lateral over to Chicago is a given. It's not. And if you're out of state, I don't think the debt ratio is worth the risk. UW is a solid school, but understand that the other school in the state (Marquette) gets as much big law clout as UW. It's one of those rare states where the two law schools in the state have a solid reputation and are considered peer campuses within the state.

If you really do want to go there, write a LOCI and be specific. They love people passionate about their school for a particular reason. However, seriously consider the debt burden because WI isn't a hotbed for big law. It will offer you access to a reasonable COA, solid athletic program and access to all four seasons. Fall in love with the snow. You'll need to.

The best advice is just to wait it out because UW-Madison seemed to have a more systematic approach to reviewing apps. Good luck!!!

Thanks for this.

I think there were a small number of folks that were also accepted in December, but those were instant acceptances (say you had a high LSAT, the needed GPA and were in WI/super solid outside candidate).

I just know that there are potential law students who choose UW as out-of-state applicants and they don't know how respected within the state BOTH of our law programs are. Does UW get the edge? Obviously. However, not by much.

That, plus there was one attorney at a respected law firm in the state (I won't mention city/firm name) who told me about 5-6 years ago to not go to law school because the market was going through a significant downturn. For that reason, I postponed applying. I don't know enough about Chicago to consider it a viable option for UW students. For some, I'm sure it is. For many, I'm sure it isn't.