Myth: It pays to apply early.

In terms of affecting the odds of admission, no. Being the first application in the door may save some headaches, but it makes no difference in the decision.

UW-Madison uses a rolling-decision system, which means that it reviews applications as soon as they are complete, rather than lumping them all into one or two evaluation periods. Students who complete their applications during the filing period — typically September 15 through February 1 — usually receive decisions within four to six weeks, and the admissions office guarantees that they’re no more likely to be admitted or denied whether they file early or late in that window.

But what if the freshman class fills up early? This is why the university postpones decisions for some students. Counselors are somewhat conservative in admitting students in the rolling period, helping to avoid filling the class prematurely. Postponed applications are reconsidered once the deadline has passed and admissions officials have a better sense of how many more students they can admit.

Next myth » Minority students get in with lower grades than some white students who are rejected.

• Introduction
• Myth: It’s a secretive process.
• Myth: A formula determines whether students are admitted or denied.
• Myth: UW-Madison has raised its admissions criteria in recent years.
• Myth: The UW turns away students with perfect GPAs.
• Myth: Some students get special treatment in the admissions process.
• Myth: It’s impossible for regular students to get in anymore.
• Myth: No one reads personal statements.
• Myth: It pays to apply early.
• Myth: Minority students get in with lower grades than some white students who are rejected.
• Myth: UW-Madison caps the number of students who can be admitted from one high school.
• Myth: Back in the day, UW-Madison let everybody in.
• Myth: Applicants from outside Wisconsin are taking up spots that could go to state residents.
• Myth: Connections with important people can get you in.
• Myth: Alumni can get their kids in if they pull the right strings.
• Myth: Being postponed is the same as being on a wait list.
• Myth: An A is always better than a B.
• Myth: One grumpy admissions counselor can doom an application.
• Myth: Admissions counselors like rejecting people.
• Myth: My son or daughter isn’t emotionally ready to be turned down by the university.
• Myth: It’s a perfect system.