How To Apply

SUBMIT APPLICATION

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Indicate Department or Major Field of Study: “Library and Information Studies, G612”

List names and e-mails of 3 references who will submit electronic Letters of Recommendation (Do not wait until you have completed the entire electronic application to send the request for reference emails to your three references. You are encouraged to do this right away.)

The iSchool requires three (and only three) letters of recommendation. Submitting more than 3 references will delay the review of your application.  If you have been out of higher education for less than five years, at least one of the three letters must be from an academic reference. Please note: If you have been out of higher education for five or more years, an academic reference is NOT required, but you may choose to submit one.

What is an Academic Reference?  This reference must be a professor, instructor, or teaching assistant who is familiar with your academic abilities and who assessed (graded) your course assignments. Their letter of recommendation should include an estimation of how well you will do in a rigorous graduate program.  If you received your undergraduate degree less than five years ago, but are unable to obtain an academic reference, you may obtain one by taking an iSchool course (offered online or on campus) as a University Special Student  (nondegree student) or by taking a college level course at another accredited institution.

What is a Professional Reference? This reference should be an employer who will write a letter of recommendation about your abilities in a professional or work setting. Supervisors of volunteer experiences are also acceptable. Personal references from family or friends are not considered.

Additional instructions for submitting references are available from the Graduate School.

NOTE: Please do not wait to submit your electronic application, even if all of your recommendation letters have not yet come in. The iSchool office is notified each time a recommendation letter is submitted electronically, and the letters are added to your application file as they come in. Waiting until the application deadline (or close to the deadline) could cause a delay in processing your application.

NOTE: Those interested in school library media: Prior to July 2017, a valid teaching license was required for certification in the state of Wisconsin. After July 2017, school library certification became a standalone license. Students without a valid Wisconsin teaching license must contact Associate Director Nicole Wiessinger for further licensing information.

TOEFL scores are sent electronically from ETS to the Graduate School at UW-Madison.

Indicate 1846: University of Wisconsin-Madison code. (Only indicate the UW-Madison code; there is no Department code.) If you did not originally indicate UW-Madison 1846 when the exam was administered, please see the ETS website to obtain additional electronic score reports. TOEFL scores are required for each applicant whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English. Please refer back to the iSchool Admission Requirements, or to the Graduate School website, for more information about English proficiency and exemptions from the TOEFL scores.

If you did not already submit your credit card number at the end of the electronic application, send check or money order to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
228 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1380

Applications cannot be reviewed without paying the Graduate School application fee.

The UW Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee grants to eligible students.  The Information School also offers a limited number of application fee grants to eligible students.   Email  admissions@ischool.wisc.edu

ALL are required for a complete application.

4a. Statement Of Purpose Or Reasons For Graduate Study

If not already included with the main online application, submit your personal statement electronically through the Reasons for Graduate Study/Statement of Purpose section of the online application. Your statement should communicate to the admissions committee your aspirations for your time at the iSchool and for your career. Among other things, it could discuss:

• What you hope to accomplish from this program
• Your reasons for choosing UW-Madison’s iSchool program
• Your tentative career goals
• Your leadership experience and potential for leadership in the profession

Diversity of experiences contributes to the enrichment of the school and profession. Your statement may include any relevant factors you would like the admissions committee to consider such as cultural, economic, educational, and other aspects of your background that may differentiate you from other applicants. You may also choose to mention particular skills and experiences (foreign languages, technology skills, travel, etc.). If you are applying to the distance program, please explain why you are choosing the distance option. We will use your personal statement to assess your writing ability.

Your statement should not exceed 750 words.

4b. Professional Resume

4c. Indicate If You Would Like To Be Considered For Internal iSchool scholarships

If YES, you must complete the brief survey linked  to in the online application. If the question is checked YES, but you do not complete the scholarship survey,  your application will NOT be considered for an iSchool scholarship.

4d. Upload Unofficial Transcripts To The Online Application.

Please note that if you are admitted to the program and choose to accept the offer of admission, the Graduate School Admissions Office will follow up requesting official transcripts from you prior to enrolling on campus.

Please note: You must click the FINAL SUBMIT button in order to have the iSchool-specific Supplemental Application successfully uploaded to the iSchool Office.