Choosing which college to attend is an exciting part of life. It can also be complicated and stressful at times. Let us help you explore UWM’s College of Letters & Science to see if we would be a good fit for you.
1. Do we have the academic program you want?
Students choose us to help them prepare for the career of their choice, whether that be doctor, museum curator, therapist, marketing coordinator, or the many hundreds of other jobs that a liberal arts degree can lead to. Many students are also unsure of a specific career path. Our liberal arts majors are flexible and adaptable, giving students options upon graduation and throughout their lifetime.
2. Can we help you build your resume?
Students also choose us because of the learning we provide outside of the classroom. Experiential learning is just as important as classroom learning and opportunities abound.
- Hands-on Experience. Our location in Milwaukee and gives students access to many corporations, nonprofits, government agencies, and small businesses for practical hands-on experience through part-time work, internships, and volunteer experiences. Our Center for Student Experience and Talent helps students develop a resume, find internships, practice interviewing, and more.
- Research. The rankings bear out our commitment and success engaging undergraduates in research during their college career. Our Office of Undergraduate Research helps students find their ideal match, or many students just reach out directly to professors who are working on topics that interest them. Students often can receive their first professional journal citation through undergraduate research.
- Study Abroad. We offer different types of study abroad opportunities in more than 70 different locales. Experiences can be as short as two weeks and as long as a year. The Study Abroad Office assists students in their planning.
3. Do you like our environment?
We are a large urban campus. You will find all kinds of activities and events every day and will live and study within a large and diverse student body. The greater Milwaukee area from the beaches to downtown, the suburbs to the different neighborhoods, offers a never-ending array of entertainment options along with countless businesses, government agencies, community organizations, and nonprofits where students can intern or work.
Admissions and Financial Aid General Timeline
- Apply for admissions by August 1 for the fall semester or December 1 for the spring semester. We recommend applying much earlier than these deadlines though to allow enough time to complete placement, orientation, and advising. Our recommended priority deadlines are:
| Semester | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines |
|---|---|---|
| Fall (September start) | March 1 | August 1 |
| Spring (January start) | November 1 | December 1 |
- Complete the FAFSA to apply for financial aid. Typically you will submit a FAFSA each year between October and January.
- Apply for UWM freshman scholarships November/December of your senior year. Students must be accepted first to apply for scholarships. You can read more about L&S specific freshmen scholarships and general freshmen scholarships.
- After admissions, complete the intent to enroll.
- Between February and May, complete placement assessments.
- By May 1, submit your housing contract or exemption.
- In June and July, attend orientation where you will receive academic advising and register for classes.
In general, you will find these three offices helpful to answer your questions:
Credits Accepted
Many high school students have the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. We accept AP credits, IB credits, and dual enrollment credits from accredited colleges and universities.
- AP and IB Credits: In order to earn UWM credits, students must take the AP exam and achieve a certain score. Similar to AP, students must earn certain scores on the IB exam to earn UWM credit. This website shows how your scores correlate to UWM credits.
- Dual Enrollment Credits: Many high schools partner with a local college or university to offer classes to their students which earn both high school and college credit simultaneously. To inquire how your dual enrolled classes would transfer to UWM, send a copy of your unofficial college transcript from the institution where you took the class(es) to let-sci@uwm.edu.