University of Wisconsin-Madison AI Policy for College Applications
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: AI use permitted
- •La Follette School of Public Affairs Graduate Programs: AI use prohibited
Last verified: 2025-09-19 • Confidence: High
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“We will not disqualify an applicant found to have used or suspected of using AI in their admissions essays, nor are we running essays through any system to detect if AI was used”
— Essays - UW-Madison Admissions(Updated: 2024)
“However, we strongly discourage students from simply feeding AI a prompt for their essay, as it denies you the opportunity to help us better understand why you would be a good fit for UW–Madison”
— Essays - UW-Madison Admissions(Updated: 2024)
Program-Specific Policies
La Follette School of Public Affairs Graduate Programs
“We require you to certify that the essays you submit are entirely your own original work and have not been created using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Please be aware that if it is discovered that the submitted essays do not meet this requirement, we retain the right to revoke your admission”
— View source(Updated: 2024)
Applies to: admissions essays
Specific Guidelines
✓ Allowed Uses
- •limited AI assistance discouraged but not prohibited
✗ Not Allowed
- •simply feeding AI a prompt for entire essay
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | AI use permitted | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| La Follette School of Public Affairs Graduate Programs | AI use prohibited | Must attest no AI used | E3 • Formal verification required |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (4)
Additional Context
UW-Madison has permissive undergraduate admissions AI policy with no disqualification or detection systems, but strongly discourages AI essay generation. La Follette School requires certification of AI-free essays with admission revocation threat. No standardized AI policy across all programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of Wisconsin-Madison allow ChatGPT for essays?
Yes, University of Wisconsin-Madison permits AI use in application essays. Students may include AI-generated content as long as it's accurate and they take responsibility for it.
Do I need to disclose AI use to University of Wisconsin-Madison?
University of Wisconsin-Madison does not require disclosure of AI use in admissions materials.
How does University of Wisconsin-Madison check for AI?
University of Wisconsin-Madison has not indicated how they check for AI use in admissions essays.
Which University of Wisconsin-Madison programs have different AI policies?
La Follette School of Public Affairs Graduate Programs have specific policies that differ from the general university policy. Programs that prohibit AI entirely: La Follette School of Public Affairs Graduate Programs.
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