Master of Business Administration
ADMISSION TO THE MBA–PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM
Admission to the MBA Professional program is based on a multitude of factors and will be evaluated holistically. Our website contains several resources to help walk you through the admission process but we are here to help. Contact Kristi Cutts, associate director of admissions, at (920) 424-3384 or cuttsk@uwosh.edu with any questions or if you’d like to set up an in-person appointment.
Admission Checklist
Click here to download a checklist PDF.
Step One: Apply for admission and pay the application fee
Applications are processed on a continual basis. Visit apply.wisconsin.edu to begin the online application form. Completing your application requires a non-refundable $56 application fee. Your application will not be processed until this fee is paid. Payment can be made online or a check can be mailed to:
UW Oshkosh Office of Graduate Studies
800 Algoma Blvd., Dempsey Hall 345
Oshkosh, WI 54901
If you are not a U.S. citizen, please complete the international student application materials.
Step Two: Request and submit official transcripts
An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university is required. To request official transcripts, contact any colleges or universities where you completed undergraduate or graduate coursework. Submit your official transcripts electronically to gradschool@uwosh.edu or mail to UW Oshkosh Office of Graduate Studies.
Step Three: Email your current professional resume or curriculum vita
Email your current professional resume or curriculum vita to mba@uwosh.edu.
Step Four: Email your personal essay
Email your personal essay to mba@uwosh.edu. Your personal essay should be single-spaced and no longer than two pages, describing all of the following:
Reason for pursuing an MBA degree
Impact it will have on both your short- and long-term career goals
Value you will bring to the classroom
Step Five: Submit GRE or GMAT scores
Submit an official GRE or GMAT score to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (institution code 1916). Limited waivers may be possible for individuals who have one of the following:
Ten or more years of full-time, progressive business experience, with at least five years in an upper management or supervisory position, including human resources and budget responsibilities
A qualifying professional certification. Visit www.uwosh.edu/mba for a complete list of qualifying certifications
A domestic graduate degree
To request a waiver, send request and supporting documentation to mba@uwosh.edu.
Entrance Exam
The UW Oshkosh MBA program requires either the GRE or GMAT exam for admission. Both exams measure verbal, quantitative and analytical writing skills, and are designed to help predict a student’s successful academic performance.
Please try to schedule the test 30-60 days in advance. We strongly encourage you to review before taking either exam. Free downloadable PowerPrep review software is available from the following Web sites:
For the GMAT: mba.com
For the GRE: gre.com
Test Preparation
The UW Oshkosh Reading Study Center provides assistance for students taking the GRE through workshops or individual consultation. Visit http://www.uwosh.edu/readingstudycenter/gre to learn more.
A number of good GRE or GMAT review books are also available at local and online bookstores such as www.amazon.com andwww.barnesandnoble.com. The largest sellers are Barrons, Kaplan and Princeton Review.
If you purchase a review book, we encourage you to purchase a review book/ CD-ROM package.
Free practice test available at the GMAT Website: www.mba.com
Prospective test takers can access the new version 2.1 of the POWERPREP® II software, which is both Mac®- and PC-compatible, to help with their test preparation. The free software includes two full-length practice tests and is as close to the actual test-taking experience as one can get. Campus-based educators and advisers can also download the free software to make it accessible to students. Two new GRE® Success Starter videos are also now available. These short videos are a great way for test takers to get started. Learn more about these and the full array of official test prep for prospective test takers at www.ets.org/gre/prepare.
Paperless Score Reporting: GRE test-taker score reports are now paperless! Effective July 2013, test takers have access to view their official Examinee Score Report online. About 10 to 15 days after their computer-based test (and about six weeks after their paper-based test), test takers are notified via email that their scores are ready online. They simply access their My GRE® Account to view their scores. Test takers can also use the new on-demand, print-friendly functionality to print an official Examinee Score Report for free. ETS will continue to send official Institution Reports, directly from ETS, in a secure fashion to institutions in their preferred format.
Retaking the Test Policy: Individuals can now retake the computer-based GRE® revised General Test as frequently as once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period. Individuals can take the paper-based GRE revised General Test and GRE Subject Tests as often as they are offered. While the total number of testing opportunities has not changed, the shorter 21-day window allows individuals to retake the test more quickly to better meet approaching application deadlines.
Try These Links for more practice tests:
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https://www.mba.com/us/the-gmat-exam/prepare-for-the-gmat-exam/test-prep-materials.aspx
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http://princetonreview.com/mba/testprep/testprep.asp?TPRPAGE=79&TYPE=GMAT-PRACTICE-TEST
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http://www.kaptest.com/Business/GMAT/Practice-for-the-GMAT/BU_gmat_practiceGMAT.html
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Timed and scored GRE and GMAT practice tests (Five tests for $40): www.800score.com
Testing Locations
GRE
The GRE is available by appointment at one of the nine locations below:
Ashland (715) 682-1699 |
Madison (608) 231-6270 |
Green Bay (920) 497-7280 |
Eau Claire (715) 836-5070 |
Milwaukee (262) 373-1270 |
Stevens Point (715) 346-4472 |
Whitewater (262) 472-5613 |
Oshkosh (920) 424-1433 |
La Crosse (608) 785-8968 |
An appointment is required to take the exam.
GMAT
The GMAT will only be available at Pearson VUE Testing Centers in:
Brookfield | Bishops Woods Center 13555 Bishops Ct., Suite L10 Brookfield, WI 53005 |
(262) 784-5098 |
Kenosha | Johnson Bank Building 7500 Green Bay Rd., Suite 311 Kenosha, WI 53142 |
(262) 697-5467 |
Madison | Prairie Trail Office Suites II 8517 Excelsior Dr., Suite 105 Madison, WI 53717 |
(608) 833-3991 |
Milwaukee | 735 North Water Street Suite 600 Milwaukee, WI 53202 |
414-226-2667 |
Ashwaubenon | Executive Center II at Baeten Farms 1150 Springhurst Drive Suite 200 Ashwaubenon, WI 54304 |
920-498-0072 |
Additional information can be found at www.mba.com.
Waiving the GMAT/GRE Exam
* About 15 percent of applicants receive a GMAT/GRE waiver. Applicants may be allowed to waive the GMAT/ GRE exam with the completion of one of the following:
- A domestic graduate degree as shown on an official transcript.
- An email request to waive the exam requirement based on extensive business experience. A detailed resume demonstrating 8 – 10 years of professional experience, with a minimum of 5 years in a management position that includes both supervisory and budgetary responsibilities should be attached to an email requesting that the resume be reviewed for possible exam waiver. Requesting the waiver does not guarantee that a waiver will be granted.
- One of the following professional certifications listed below:
CAPM, Certified Associate in Project Management
CFA, Certified Financial Analyst
CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
CIA, Certified Internal Auditor
CIRM, Certified in Integrated Resource Management
CLU, Chartered Life Underwriter
Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (ASQ)
CMA, Certified Management Accountant
CPA, Certified Public Accountant
CPCU, Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter
CPIM, Certified in Production and Inventory Management
CPM, Certified Purchasing Manager
CPSM, Certified Professional in Supply Management
CQA, Certified Quality Auditor
CQE, Certified Quality Examiner
CSCP, Certified Supply Chain Professional
Financial Licensures Series 7 and 24, and either 63 or 66
Lean Six Black Belt Certification
Member, Society of Actuaries
Member, Casualty Actuarial Society
PE, Professional Engineer (test certification only)
PgMP, Program Management Professional
PMP, Project Management Professional
QPA, Qualified Pension Administrator
ASQ, Certified Manager of Quality and Organizational Excellence
PHR, Professional in Human Resources
RICP – Retirement Income Certified Professional
SPHR, Senior Professional in Human Resources
SHRM-CP Certification
ARM – Associate Risk Management
PRAXIS test – in the area of Business Education
What is an official transcript?
At UW Oshkosh, we consider a transcript official if it is sent directly to us from the institution that you studied at. If your transcript is sent by mail, it should be in a sealed envelope and stamped official.
Will you accept an official transcript electronically (versus by mail)?
YES, if your institution offers you the option to send an official transcript electronically please do so. However be sure that you direct the transcript to the UW Oshkosh Graduate Studies Office at gradschool@uwosh.edu. We also encourage you to submit a copy of your transcript order confirmation to our admissions counselor so that we can be sure your transcript gets linked with your application.
Do I have to send in all of the application materials at one time?
NO, it is not required that all application materials are submitted simultaneously. We track the materials that you’ve turned in, and will keep your application pending until the outstanding application materials are submitted.
I forgot to pay the application fee. How do I submit it?
No problem! You can either log back into the UW System online application and remit payment, or you can mail a check to:
Office of Graduate Studies
UW Oshkosh
800 Algoma Blvd., Dempsey Hall Rm 345
Oshkosh, WI, 54901-8621
You may also come to campus and pay in cash at Dempsey Hall room 345.
Which entrance exam should I take? Should I take the GRE or the GMAT?
UW Oshkosh accepts both exams so the decision is yours. We only look at the 3 sections that are common on both exams-verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The GMAT actually has a fourth section labelled integrative reasoning. We do not factor that section into our holistic admission decision should you take the GMAT.
How much work experience is required for the MBA Professional program?
A minimum of 2 years of full time professional work experience is required. Exceptional candidates with limited professional work experience but strong part-time or internship experience may be considered.
Does work experience serve as a waiver?
Work experience does not waive any of our courses.
What if my undergraduate major was not in business?
Admission to the MBA program is not determined by undergraduate major(s). Only about half of our MBA students have undergraduate business degrees. Our curriculum is designed to support students from all academic backgrounds. Initial required coursework sets a foundation for advanced business topics. Specifically, all students will take the entry course BUS 791 The Strategic Context of the Organization as well as four tools courses to ready them for advanced curriculum courses.
What GPA are you looking for?
The guidelines are 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA OR a 2.9 GPA in the last 60 credits for full-standing admission. For probationary admission, it’s 2.25 cumulative AND 2.5 GPA in the last 60 credits.
Note: We use a holistic admission process, so admission is not based on GPA alone.
What score must I receive on the GRE/GMAT?
We look for students to score in the 35th percentile or higher in each section of the GRE/GMAT exam for full-standing admission. Scores lower than that, but at the 20th percentile or higher, may be eligible for probationary admission.
Note: We use a holistic admission process, so admission is not based on GRE/GMAT entrance exam score alone.
Are there waivers to the GRE/GMAT entrance exam requirement?
Yes we do have three waiver categories, 1) Advanced Domestic Degree, 2) Extensive Professional Experience and 3) Business Certification
How long is my GRE/GMAT score valid?
If you can get an official GRE or GMAT score report sent to us, we will accept it, but if you are unable to get the test results, you need to retake the exam. The rule of thumb is that GRE/GMAT will only send out official scores if the test was taken within the past 5 years.
How many credits will transfer from another graduate program?
Due to our AACSB accreditation standards, we can only transfer classes into our program from other AACSB accredited business schools. It’s always up to the institution that the credits are transferring into to decide how many and which credits will transfer and how they will transfer. The general rule of thumb is that only 9 credits of graduate coursework will transfer. We may be able to get a special exemption to that number if we work with the Office of Graduate Studies, but even then, it’s a 12 credit max.

Master of Business Administration
Sage Hall, Suite 1410
835 High Avenue
Oshkosh, WI 54901
mba@uwosh.edu • (800) 633-1430