Quick Overview

Southwest Tech admits students on a first-come, first-served basis once required steps are finished by the deadline. We follow Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Nondiscrimination policies, as well as Wisconsin Technical College System Chapter TCS 10. Some programs fill quickly and have limited space. These are called high-enrollment programs. Applications for these programs are reviewed by residency group and by set review dates.

Understanding your application status

When you apply, you may see one of the following statuses:

  • Accept: You met admission and academic preparedness requirements and are ready to enroll in core courses.
  • Accept: Requirements Still Needed: You met admission requirements but still need to finish academic preparedness (like placement scores or transcripts).
  • Accept: Conditionally: You met requirements, but your application will not be reviewed until the review date.
  • Accept: Wait List: The program is full. You met all requirements, and you are placed on the wait list by application date and residency.
  • Conditionally Accept or Conditionally Accept: Requirements Still Needed: These apply to non-district Wisconsin residents and out-of-state applicants. Your application is reviewed on your group’s review date.

Open-enrollment Programs

  • Seats usually do not run out at the program level.
  • Some individual courses may be popular, but you will still be able to take technical or occupational coursework.
  • Certain courses may require placement tests or prerequisites.
  • Open-enrollment programs do not have a wait list.

High-enrollment programs with limited seats

High-enrollment programs have many applicants and limited capacity. They may also require prerequisite courses or other steps to make sure students are prepared. These programs usually have ongoing wait lists, sometimes longer than a year.

Programs currently in this category

  • Electrical Power Distribution
  • Radiography
  • Cosmetology
  • Nail Technician
  • Midwife (Direct-Entry)

Review dates by residency

    Applications are reviewed on different dates based on residency:
  • District residents: Fall – November 1, Spring – March 1, Summer – August 1
  • Out-of-district Wisconsin residents: Fall – January 1, Spring – April 1, Summer – October 1
  • Out-of-state applicants: Fall – March 1, Spring – July 1, Summer – December 1

How the review process works

  • District residents: Applications received before the review date are held until preparedness requirements are complete. On the review date, they are reviewed in the order received. If space is available, you are accepted. If not, you move to the wait list.
  • Non-district Wisconsin residents: Same process, but reviewed on the later dates listed above.
  • Out-of-state applicants: Same process, but reviewed on out-of-state dates. Out-of-state applicants can remain on the wait list only through the enrollment term they applied for.

The Wait List

District and non-district Wisconsin residents can choose to be placed on the wait list for the next available term by notifying the College in writing. Wait list priority is based on your original application date, and you can renew your status each term until admitted. Out-of-state applicants cannot carry over their wait list status from year to year. They must reapply if not admitted to their original term.

What “academic preparedness” means

    Academic preparedness includes steps that show you are ready for program courses. This may include:
  • Placement test scores
  • Transcripts
  • Admissions Meetings
  • Program-specific requirements

Your program page lists the exact items required. Once you complete them, your status moves from Accept: Requirements Still Needed  to Accept.

What to expect after you apply

  1. Submit your program application by the deadline.
  2. Complete any academic preparedness requirements your program needs.
  3. Watch for updates on your application status.
  4. If your program is a high enrollment program, your application will be reviewed on the dates for your residency group.

Accessibility and equal opportunity

Southwest Tech follows Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Nondiscrimination policies and aligns with Wisconsin Technical College System Chapter TCS 10. If you need this information in another format, please contact Student Services.