University of Wisconsin supplemental essays, 2026-27
University of Wisconsin lists 2 supplemental questions for 2026-27, with this instruction: "Essay Prompts If you apply using the Common Application, you will be asked to respond to one of the first-year Common Application essays.". One is a "why this school" question, which is the one prompt you cannot reuse from another application.
The 2 prompts
In the order the school lists them. A limit appears only where the school prints one.
The school's instruction: “Essay Prompts If you apply using the Common Application, you will be asked to respond to one of the first-year Common Application essays.”
Each student is unique. Please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments, and/or interests you will bring to our campus.
What it asks for: personal story.
Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest.
What it asks for: why this major.
Source: University of Wisconsin, read October 24, 2026. Confirm the prompts in your application before you submit.
Write them in My Schools
Free. Store every draft, see word counts against each limit.
Add University of Wisconsin to My Schools and these prompts appear in your Essays tab beside the Common App personal statement, with autosave and version history. The prompt reuse map (Advanced) shows which of your drafts can answer which prompt across your whole list.
Questions
1. Each student is unique. Please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments, and/or interests you will bring to our campus. 2. Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest.
Universities of Wisconsin Application prompt: no stated limit; Why UW–Madison prompt: no stated limit.
These prompts ask about personal story, why this major. The why-this-school answer must be written for this school. Answers about a community, a challenge or an activity often adapt from drafts for other schools; My Schools maps which of your drafts fits which prompt.
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