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.

 

Q: What makes the 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

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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.

 

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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.

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Q: What does it cost to earn a degree in the Wisconsin Evening MBA Program?
A: Tuition and fees for the 2007-2008 academic year are $15,906.  Tuition is subject to change.

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Q: Is financial aid available?
A: Merit scholarships are available from the Wisconsin Evening MBA Program. Awards are made on the merit of the application. March 15 is the deadline to submit a complete application and be considered for merit aid. 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.

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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.

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Q. What are the prerequisites for the program?
A. Computer literacy may be demonstrated through coursework or job-related computer experience. The 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.

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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.

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Q: May I transfer between the full time/day and Evening Programs?
A: Transfers between the evening and full-time program are not permissible.

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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.

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Q: Is campus parking available when students attend classes?
A: Parking permits are provided to evening students for school nights at no extra charge.

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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.

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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.

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Q: Are all Evening MBA students from the Madison Area?
A: No, students commute from Milwaukee, Janesville and northern Illinois.

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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.

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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.

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Q: When should I apply to the Evening MBA Program?
A: The application deadlines for 2008 are:

November 15

January 15

March 15 (Merit aid deadline)

April 15

Applications completed after April 15 will be accepted on a space available basis.

Admission decisions will be communicated within two months of the deadline in which an application is completed.

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Q: Are admission interviews required?
A: No, admission interviews are not required. Admission interviews are by invitation only.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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Q: Who teaches in the evening program?
A: Tenured, tenure-track, teaching and adjunct professors teach in the Wisconsin Evening MBA program.

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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, many of which are available after regular business hours. The evening program staff is available on Monday and Thursday evenings until 6:30 p.m., or by appointment. There is a special area in the MBA Programs Office that is designated for the exclusive use of Evening and Executive MBA students. Students have access to this area during normal building hours. Other facilities that are open extended hours include the School of Business Library and the Graduate Student Computer Lab. Deli service is available in the Grainger Hall Atrium prior to class meeting times. MBA Career Services staff are available by appointment after hours. Parking is provided in Grainger Hall on school nights.

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