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School of Business
Frequently Asked Questions for Undergraduate Programs
-About Admissions
-About High School Preparation
-About Actuarial Science
-About Risk Management and Insurance (RMI)
-About Tuition and Financial Aid
When can I apply for admission to the School of Business?
Students may apply to the School of Business the semester before they reach junior standing (at least 54 college credits). The School of Business is a junior-senior program. Students interested in business spend the freshmen-sophomore years in the liberal arts college (Letters & Science) completing the pre-business curriculum.
What are the School of Business admission requirements?
Students must complete the pre-business curriculum and attain junior standing (54 or more credits) before admission. There is no minimum GPA requirement. Students are selected on a competitive basis while maintaining an overall School of Business undergraduate enrollment of 1,300 students.
What is the Pre-business curriculum?
The pre-business curriculum is a series of 7 types of courses to be completed prior to School of Business admission consideration. Subject areas include: Communications (6 credits), Math (8-10 credits), Science (4-5 credits), Accounting (3 credits), Economics (7 credits), Foreign Language (varies), and Psychology (3 credits).
What if I am not admitted to the School of Business?
Many students lead successful careers in business without a business degree. Actuarial science majors may opt to study mathematics in lieu of a business degree. Any student may complete business courses as electives while completing another degree on campus.
For more information about admission, please see the Admissions page on the Undergraduate Programs Office website
For information on admission to the University, see UW-Madison Office of Admissions website.
What can I do in high school to prepare to be an actuary?
It is recommended that students complete calculus, statistics, and 3-4 units/years of a single foreign language in high school. Students completing the Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus and Statistics exams may receive college credit at UW-Madison. Other AP tests may also satisfy overall degree requirements.
Can I schedule a campus visit?
Yes! To schedule a campus visit, register through the University's Office of Admissions webpage. Guests may sign up for a School of Business information session on Mondays and Fridays (fall and spring semesters only).
About Actuarial Science
What is an actuary?
Please browse the page of introduction to actuarial science for more information.
What types of jobs do actuarial science majors land after they graduate?
Many actuaries are employed by insurance companies. Others are in consulting practice, providing actuarial services to smaller insurance companies, banks, labor unions, and a variety of business firms. Still others are employed by governments in regulating the insurance and pension industries and in providing actuarial guidance to social insurance systems.
What is the average starting salary of an actuary?
The Business Career Center posts current salary statistics on their site.
About Risk Management and Insurance (RMI)
What types of jobs do RMI majors land after they graduate?
Graduates in RMI usually find professional careers in risk management field. Recruiters typically came from corporate and governmental risk management department; insurance companies, particularly those involved with commercial risks; leading insurance brokers/agents; and top consulting firms in risk management and employee benefits.
What is the average starting salary of RMI majors?
The Business Career Center posts current salary statistics on their site.
About Tuition and Financial Aid
How much is the tuition and living expenses?
Please visit the Office of Admissions Costs and Financial Aid site for current information.
What financial aids are offered by the department?
High school seniors interested in majoring in actuarial science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are eligible to apply for the Actuarial Science Scholarship program. For more information please visit our financial resource page
For more information about the application process go to School of Business admission FAQ site