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Applying for Admission

Effective Fall 2003, the WSU Teacher Education Program began implementing a competitive admissions. Baseline criteria in effect up until that point remained in effect as the minimum acceptable criteria for the most part. However, they are now scaled to provide more point weighting for stronger performance on any particular criteria element.

Scoring Grids and Guides:

• Admission Scoring Grid for Elementary Programs (PDF)
• Admission Scoring Grid for K-12 and 5-12 Programs (PDF)
• Writing Scoring Guide (PDF)

Admission Cycle Meeting Information: click here

College G.P.A. Scoring:

2.75 - 2.99 = 1 pt
3.00 - 3.24 = 2 pts
3.25 - 3.49 = 3 pts
3.50 - 3.75 = 4 pts
3.75 - 4.00 = 5 pts

Writing Proficiency Exam
All students must pass the extemporaneous Writing Proficiency Exam administered during the Admission Meeting. During the writing exam, students must draft an essay on one of three topics provided. The hour long timeframe provides competent writers with enough time to engage in prewriting, compose a brief essay of two to three pages, and then proofread it for correct editing and conventions. See advice on Preparing for Timed Writing Samples for more information. (Accomodations can be arranged in advance for students with documented special needs).

Baseline criteria converted to a Qualitative Rating Scale
Beyond the writing exam, current criteria will be converted to a qualitative rating. For example, the current college G.P.A. requirement of 2.75 will be scored as in the example at the right.
Other criteria which will be scaled include:

1. Cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 or better
2. B or better in a 3 sem hour college-level writing course     (ENG111 at WSU)
3. B or better in a 3 sem hour college-level speech course     (CMST191 at WSU)
4. C or better in a 3 sem hour college-level math course *     (MATH 100 or higher or Stats at WSU)
      *Additional point will be given for advanced math / statistics

Added Criteria

In addition to the existing "old" criteria, the faculty of the education program have agreed to add broader criteria which will include:

• A background experience essay
• ACT test score data (for elementary applicants)
         NOTE:Follow this link to an ACT preparation website with free trial tests for practice.

Admission Committees by Desired License

Students applying for admission to the program must apply for consideration under the licensure level that they seek. Separate admission committees are in place for each of the licensing programs offered at WSU. Students are reviewed by the respective admission committee:

• Early Childhood and K-6 with Pre-Primary specialty
• Winona K-6 with 5-8 middle level specialty
• Rochester K-6 with 5-8 content specialty (cohort program)
• 5-12 (Traditional high school subjects areas, extended down to middle grades too)
• K-12 (Music, Art, PE, Spec, Ed, & For. Lang.)

Admission by Space Available in License Programs

A predetermined number of available seats (30) for each program are available each semester. (60 total seats for K-12 and 5-12 majors).The Admission Committee for each specific program ranks student applicants based upon the admission criteria for that program. Students are ranked in each committee from strongest to weakest. Based upon this ranking students are classified into a three-tier system:

• the top tier will be admitted without further review
• the bottom tier being declined without further review
• some students in the middle tier may be selected on a space available basis after further review.

Students who have not been selected for a given semester will be invited to reapply for another semester if they so choose, without penalty.

Need more information on the application process? Admission Deadlines?