Without applying, some high school students will be accepted into UW schools next week

 

MADISON Wis. (CBS 58) -- Next week, thousands of high school students will receive admission offers that they've been accepted into University of Wisconsin schools without even applying.

The new Direct Admit Program at the Universities of Wisconsin will begin notifying incoming high school seniors they've been automatically enrolled at some UW campuses.

If they place highly in their class, students will receive admission letters to 10 participating UW campuses. Three campuses; Madison, Eau Claire, and La Crosse opted out of the program.

It was designed to help boost enrollment and target students who may have not considered attending a four-year college, Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman said.

"I can say there will be tens of thousands," Rothman said of the number of students that will be accepted. "This is simply a different and new pathway to try and encourage more students to attend the Universities and obtain the great opportunities that a university can offer them."

Students would skip the traditional method of applying online, writing a college essay, and instead be automatically admitted into one or more campuses based on certain qualifications, such as grade point average and class rank.

Test scores, such as the ACT and SAT, won't be considered in the enrollment process.

Offers will begin reaching students by mail or email on Monday and continue through September, Rothman said.

So far, 330 school districts are enrolled in Direct Admit.