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School of Business
Frequently Asked Questions
Listed below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions from prospective students. If you do not find the information you need below, please contact us with your question.
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What makes the Wisconsin School of Business program special? Why should I choose the UW-Madison?
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How long does it take to earn the MBA through the Evening program?
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What does it cost to earn a degree in the Evening MBA Program?
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Are course waivers or transfer credits accepted in the Evening MBA Program?
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Is it possible to take a lighter credit load or stop out of and restart the program?
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May I transfer between the full time/day and Evening Programs?
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Do admissions standards differ for the various programs offered by the School of Business?
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What types of backgrounds and industries are represented among Evening MBA students?
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Can international students apply to the Evening MBA program?
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What should I do if my job requires that I travel frequently?
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What kinds of support services are offered to Evening MBA students?
Q: What makes the Wisconsin School of Business program
special? Why should I choose the UW-Madison?
A: There are many reasons. Wisconsin
offers:
- A graduate business program ranked among the top programs in the nation
- A combination of practical, hands-on training and theory
- An exciting international trip
- Access to the resources of a world-class university and one of the best business school buildings in the country
- Highly regarded, accessible faculty
- An outstanding student library with database connections all over the world
- Career services through the school's MBA Career Services
- Evening MBA Student Services
Q: How long does it take to earn the MBA
through the evening program?
A: The program is 32 months in length. Students attend classes two evenings per
week, Mondays and Thursdays. In addition they attend two weekends (Friday and Saturday) during the winter break in the first and second years, and take part in an international trip during the winter break of the second year of the program. In the first and second years the students finish up in mid July. In the third year the students finish the program in mid May.
Q: Can I choose a major in the
program?
A: All Evening MBA students take a predetermined, lockstep
program that leads to a Master of Business Administration degree
with a major in general management.
Q: What does it cost to earn a degree in the
Wisconsin Evening MBA Program?
A: The degree is awarded in32 monthss. Each year a yearly program fee is set in the summer prior to the start of the fall semester each of the three years. Tuition and fees for the 2009-2010
academic year are $18,581. The 2010-2011 tuition will be set in the summer of 2010 at the rate approved by the state legislature. An estimated cost to earn the degree if you begin in fall 2010 is $60,000 for the entire program.
Q: Is financial aid available?
A: Merit scholarships that cover 20% of the tuition over the 32 months of the program are available from the Wisconsin Evening MBA Program. Applicants need only submit a complete application to be considered for a merit scholarship. Student loans are available through the Office of
Student Financial Services. (www.finaid.wisc.edu)
Merit fellowships and
assistantships are not available to evening students.
Q: Are course waivers or transfer credits
accepted in the program?
A: No courses leading to the degree may be
waived nor is transfer work accepted. Students are required to
complete all courses in residence.
Q. What are the prerequisites for the
program?
A. Computer literacy may be demonstrated through coursework or
job-related computer experience. The Wisconsin School of Business requires all
masters students to possess knowledge of word processing,
spreadsheet analysis and software presentation skills.
The business school also requires all masters students to possess or have access to their own personal computer. Recommended hardware and software specifications will be communicated at the time of acceptance to the program.
Q: Is it possible to take a lighter credit
load or stop out of and restart the program?
A: If special circumstances arise, a student may be granted
approval to deviate from the curriculum.
Q: May I transfer between the full time/day
and Evening Programs?
A: Transfers between the evening and full-time program are
not permissible.
Q: Do admissions criteria differ for
the various programs offered by the School of Business?
A: Yes, depending on the program you apply to, the admissions
criteria will change accordingly.
Q: Is campus parking available when students
attend classes?
A: Parking permits are provided to evening
students for week nights after 4:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday all day at no extra charge.
Q: Do Evening MBA students commute from the Milwaukee area?
A: Yes, the Wisconsin Evening MBA program provides luxury coach service
to and from Grainger Hall on class nights to our Milwaukee area students.
Q: What types of backgrounds and industries
are represented among evening students?
A: Evening MBAs represent just about every major company in
the Madison regional area, as well as many smaller firms. In
addition, students work for government and not-for-profit agencies.
Academic backgrounds include engineering, science and technology,
education, the arts and humanities, as well as business and
economics.
Q: Are all Evening MBA students from the Madison Area?
A: No, students commute from Milwaukee, Janesville, the Fox Valley and
northern Illinois. Coach service is provided for our Milwaukee area residents.
Q: What is the work experience requirement?
A: Two years of full time professional work
experience after the bachelor's degree is the target. The caliber
and length of employment are important criteria in the admissions
decision. The average length of work experience is currently 5.5
years.
Q: What are the minimum GMAT scores and GPAs?
A: Admissions decisions are made using a
number of criteria and no minimum scores are required. However,
comparisons are made with the current pool of applicants, so each
applicant is encouraged to present the best possible credentials.
Target scores for admits to the evening program are: GMAT: 600 and GPA: 3.0.
Q: When should I apply to the Evening MBA
Program?
A: Admission cycles run on the 1st of each month. If the 1srt fall on the weekend the cycle will end on the Monday following the 1st.Applications that are complete on the 1st will be reviewed for admission and a decision will be posted within 6 weeks of the cycles end. Applications will be accepted until the class is full.
Q: Are admission interviews required?
A:
No, admission interviews are not required. Admission interviews are by invitation only.
Q: How can I prepare for the GMAT?
A: You may contact the Graduate Management Admission Council
(GMAC) at
1-800-717-GMAT (4628) (toll-free within the U.S. and Canada only), 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time
Telephone: 1-952-681-3680, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time
or
www.mba.com for information on test
preparation materials. Test review courses are also available.
Q: Can international students apply to the
evening program?
A: Applications from non-U.S. citizens are
accepted as long as they are in possession of permanent work
authorization and are fully employed. The Test of English as a
Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required. You may request a TOEFL
waiver if you attended 4 years of, and graduated from, a U.S.
institution in a field other than engineering, technology or
science.
Q: What should I do if my job requires that I
travel frequently?
A: Classes are scheduled on Monday and
Thursday evenings so that students may use Tuesday through Thursday
for business-related travel. If you travel frequently over Mondays
and Thursdays, you may want to consider another, more flexible
program.
Q: Who teaches in the evening program?
A: Tenured, tenure-track, teaching and adjunct professors
teach in the Wisconsin Evening MBA program.
Q: What kinds of support services are offered
to Wisconsin Evening MBA students?
A: The School of Business provides a range of student support
services and facilities available after regular
business hours. Full career managment services are available. The evening program staff is
available on Monday and Thursday evenings until 8:00 p.m., or by
appointment. There is abusiness that is designated for
the exclusive use of Evening and Executive MBA students. Other
facilities that are open extended hours include the
Wisconsin School of
Business Library and break out rooms for team meetings. Deli service
is available prior to class meeting times and a buffet break is complimentary during the class break. A complimenatry coach service is offered for Milwaukee area students on school nights. There is no need to drive from Milwaukee to attend the program.
MBA Career Services staff are available by appointment after hours.
Parking is provided in Grainger Hall after 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. We offer a complimentary buffet during class breaks.