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Robert M. La Follette
School of Public Affairs
1225 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Telephone:  608.262.3581
Fax: 608.265.3233


Last updated:
October 28, 2009

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Admissions

La Follette Candidates

The La Follette Faculty is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the La Follette community through academic research and public service experience and contributions. Applications for admission are reviewed by an admission committee composed of faculty members. The committee makes decisions based on the applicant's ability to successfully complete the program and on their commitment to public affairs. Applications should be submitted by January 1st for priority admission and funding consideration. To be considered in the next review applications should be received by March 1st. Late applications will be considered if there is space available. New students are accepted for the fall semester only.

See profile of 2009 class.

Application Materials

Students submit an application, statement of purpose, and recommendations online. GRE scores are sent to the graduate school electronically. (See codes below.)Two official transcripts and a resume are sent directly to La Follette Admissions, 1225 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706.

Students apply electronically through the Graduate School's application web site.Instructions can be found at the Graduate School web site.

Letters of Recommendation

3 letters of recommendation are required and submitted through the application. The letters should address the applicant's ability to handle the graduate public affairs program, their leadership potential, their analytical writing ability and public affairs employment capacity.

Education

The University of Wisconsin - Madison Graduate School requires a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 in all previous academic programs. Two official transcripts are sent directly to the La Follette School of Public Affairs. The admissions committee will pay more attention to grades in prerequisite courses and those taken in the last two years of the student's undergraduate work. La Follette students have a variety of academic backgrounds including economics, political science, social work, education, law, business and other social science areas. The committee looks for overall ability to succeed in the program but also at a student's strength in upper level algebra, calculus or statistics and economics courses.

Statement of Purpose

The personal statement gives the student the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of and commitment to public service. Students can use this opportunity to explain how they might contribute to the diversity of the La Follette academic community. The admission committee pays close attention to an applicant's ability to write clearly and coherently. It can be sent as part of the application or emailed directly to the La Follette admissions office.

GRE

All students must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores before they can be considered for admission. Because it normally takes two to six weeks for the Educational Testing Service to send GRE scores to UW-Madison, applicants should plan to take the GRE in October or early November so that results are received in time to be considered in January for admission for graduate study beginning in the fall semester. The University of Wisconsin-Madison institution code is 1846. The La Follette School of Public Affairs department code is 2204. The LSAT and MCAT can not be used in place of the GRE. The GRE score must have been taken within the past 5 years.

Résumé

Please send your résumé to the La Follette School Admissions Office at 1225 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). Applicants may take the TOEFL, MELAB or IELTS in their home country, in the United States or in Canada.

La Follette requires a TOEFL (paper-based) test score of 580, TOEFL computer-based test score of 237 or above, TOEFL internet-based test score of 92 or above, IELTS score of 7or above, or MELAB of 82 or above. The admissions committee may ask a student to take a University English assessment test upon arrival and the student must register for any recommended English-as-a-second-language course(s) in the first semester of graduate study.

Preparatory Background/Prerequisites

Admission to the Master of Public Affairs Program

Overall, the La Follette admission committee looks for evidenece of ability to handle a quantitatively and analytically rigourous graduate program. The faculty members look for successful completion of college-level coursework in:

 

Admission to the Master of International Public Affairs Program

Overall, the La Follette admissions committee looks for evidenece of ability to handle a quantitatively and analytically rigourous graduate program. The faculty members look for successful completion of these college-level courses to determine admission:

Priority Deadlines

Students who wish to receive first priority consideration for La Follette fellowships, the Advanced opportunity fellowships, and admission should apply by January 1st. New students are accepted for the fall semester only. Applications will be taken after the deadlines if space is available.

For additional information about admissions, please contact:

Admissions
La Follette School of Public Affairs
1225 Observatory Hill Drive
Madison, Wisconsin 53706

608.262.9163
admissions@lafollette.wisc.edu

 

Profile of fall 2009 class

Number of applicants: 288
Size of entering class:52
Number of women:26
Number of men: 26
Wisconsin residents: 30
Out-of-state: 22
International students: 3
Average years of work experience: 3
Average age:25
Average GRE Quanttitative score: 692
Average GRE Verbal score: 586
Average Analytical Writing score: 4.5