Applying to college can be both time-consuming and stress-inducing, but it doesn’t have to be.
When I was a junior in high school, I looked into dozens of universities to apply to. Most of their applications required hours of work with no guarantee of admission.
But Winona State does things differently. By requiring less than 15 minutes of my time, the ease of WSU’s application process happily surprised me.
For those looking to become a WSU Warrior, here are four basic steps to guide you through the application process:
1. Send Your Official High School Transcript
To apply, you’ll need your official transcript from high school. You can either send it directly from your school or through another medium such as parchment.
2. Fill Out the Online Application
Whether you’re a first-year, transfer, or graduate student, you can apply online. You’ll be asked to log in or create a StarID, which takes less than a minute, and then go ahead and fill in your information. If you already have a StarID (from taking PSEO classes or College in the Schools CIS classes) use that one to log in.
If you have any questions, the Admissions Office is ready and excited to help you out.
3. Pay the Application Fee
There’s a $20 application fee, but we never want that to be a barrier for students who are interested in applying to our school. We have waivers available to ensure our application is accessible to everyone. Contact the Admissions Office to learn more.
4. Wait for Your Letter
WSU has something we call “Automatic Admission Standards.” This means if you meet the criteria below, you’ll automatically receive a “Yes, you’ve been admitted” letter from us!
- A 3.0+ cumulative high school GPA
- A rank in the top 50% of your graduating high school class
If you don’t meet these standards, don’t panic! You’ll get a “No, not yet” letter, but that just means we want to hear more about you. By going through the appeal process, you’ll get a second response from WSU.
The appeals process includes submitting:
- A personal statement – In no more than a few pages, tell us the essentials of what you think WSU needs to know about you. Maybe you aren’t great at standardized tests, for instance, which we completely understand. You’re more than just a number to us, so we want to know who you are.
- Two letters of recommendation – These can be from anyone who isn’t related to you. Teachers, guidance counselors, or even bosses are all great options.
Embark on Your Warrior Journey
Now all that’s left is to begin your Warrior journey. New friends, exciting experiences, and enriching educational opportunities await you. You’ll have to apply before all that, though.
Remember: your entire WSU application can be completed in a short amount of time, then you’ll be well on your way to officially becoming a Warrior!