UW-Madison attracts Wisconsin’s top students

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has scored a major in-state recruiting coup, attracting the state’s largest number of 2006 Wisconsin All-State Scholars.

Of the program’s 120 awardees, 44 elected to enroll at UW–Madison, says Rob Seltzer, director of admissions. The students are among UW–Madison’s 5,643 new freshmen enrolled this fall that make up the Class of 2010.

The All-State Scholar Program offers one of Wisconsin’s most competitive and prestigious scholarships, honoring the state’s top high school seniors.

“These students are truly Wisconsin’s best and brightest academic talent,” Seltzer says. “They would be admitted to Ivy League schools or receive full scholarships at schools across the country. That they’ve chosen to come to UW–Madison is a real point of pride.”

Hundreds of Wisconsin public and private high school seniors were nominated for the All-State honor by their principals. From the group, the final 120 scholars were chosen based on grade point average, college entrance exam scores, extracurricular activities, demonstrated leadership and a personal statement.

Each student received a one-year, $1,500 scholarship, funded by the Robert C. Byrd federal honors program, which is renewable for up to three years.

UW–Madison actively recruited every one of the All-State winners, and 68 percent eventually applied. All who applied were admitted.

Lindsay Berger of the Marathon County town of Kronenwetter chose UW–Madison over Northwestern University, Georgetown University and Macalester College. She hopes to pursue a career in foreign affairs.

“There’s something about this city that just makes me feel at home,” she says. “There is such a spirit here among college students and citizens alike that welcomes everyone.

“UW-Madison is renowned nationwide for its strong academics, providing an education that surpasses other private universities at a relatively reasonable price,” she adds.

Julia Dai of Ashwaubenon High School in Green Bay was drawn by the Medical Scholars Program, and plans to pursue a career in medicine.

“I came to Wisconsin for a variety of reasons: the great academic programs, the exciting sports atmosphere, the city and cultural life, and the diversity of activities on campus,” she says.

Other key statistics of the incoming freshman class, based on preliminary data, are listed below. Final numbers will be available in November.

• UW-Madison received 22,816 total freshman applications, the most in university history.
• Of those, 13,322 were admitted and 5,643 students enrolled.
• 1,182 or 20.9 percent, are first-generation college students.
• There is record-high student of color representation, both in number and percentage. The freshman class is now 14.2 percent students of color, up from 12.7 percent last year. UW–Madison received 10 percent more applications from students of color.
• Academically, 57 percent of incoming freshmen ranked in the top tenth of their high school classes.
• Women make up 53.9 percent of the freshman class, down from 56.1 percent last year.
• Average ACT score of new freshmen is 27.6, compared to 22.2 for the state and 21.1 for the nation.
• Sixty-four percent intend to take honors courses at UW–Madison, and 55 percent plan to study abroad.
• Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois are the top feeder states, followed by New York, California, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
• Top Wisconsin feeder counties are Dane, Waukesha, Brown, Outagamie and Racine.
• There are incoming freshmen from all states except Vermont, South Carolina and Arkansas.