UWM and MATC guarantee admission to MPS juniors upon graduation

Rory Linnane, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·3 min read
Keith Posley, Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, discusses a new college access program on Thursday at Washington High School of Information Technology. Milwaukee Direct Admit guarantees admission to UWM and MATC for MPS juniors who graduate on time.
Keith Posley, Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, discusses a new college access program on Thursday at Washington High School of Information Technology. Milwaukee Direct Admit guarantees admission to UWM and MATC for MPS juniors who graduate on time.

High school juniors at Milwaukee Public Schools are now guaranteed admission to UW-Milwaukee and Milwaukee Area Technical College upon timely graduation, under a simplified application process announced Thursday.

If students seek admission to both schools through the process, they may be accepted to one or both of the schools. If students select only one school, they will be guaranteed admission to that school, according to Marc Young, executive director of undergraduate admissions at UWM.

The application process is free, and, according to MPS officials, generally takes less than five minutes. MPS supplies the colleges directly with students' transcripts. No essays, letters or other attachments are needed. There is no GPA requirement.

Students are not locked in to attend the schools. If they choose to do so, they must officially accept the offer.

The Milwaukee Direct Admit program comes out of the M3 program, pronounced "M-Cubed," a collaboration between MPS, MATC and UWM. The program also provides dual-enrollment options for MPS students to earn course credits for MATC and UWM for free while in high school.

More: MPS student earns practical nursing diploma through M-Cubed program

Vicki Martin, president of Milwaukee Area Technical College, speaks on Thursday at Washington High School of Information Technology about a new college access program. Milwaukee Direct Admit guarantees admission to UWM and MATC for MPS juniors who graduate on time.
Vicki Martin, president of Milwaukee Area Technical College, speaks on Thursday at Washington High School of Information Technology about a new college access program. Milwaukee Direct Admit guarantees admission to UWM and MATC for MPS juniors who graduate on time.

Why are UWM and MATC offering direct admission for MPS?

MATC President Vicki Martin said MPS is the largest source of students for MATC, and MATC is the largest source of students for UWM.

Martin said the program will save time for MATC admission staff and will break down barriers for students. As a first-generation student, Martin said she remembers applying for college and feeling daunted by the application forms.

“Today, we’re celebrating that we’re eliminating these process barriers for students between MPS and higher education,” she said.

Jada Graves, a junior at Washington, said she hopes to study interior design, possibly out of state or possibly at MATC. She said the easier application process is like a weight lifted off her shoulders, and she thought it would help more students envision college as a possibility.

About 33% of the MPS students who graduated in 2022 enrolled in higher education programs that fall, according to the most recent state data, which doesn’t yet show any students who may have enrolled in a program later. For the class of 2021, about 34% of students enrolled in higher education in the fall after graduation, while another 7% enrolled later.

MPS Superintendent Keith Posley, a UWM graduate, said the new program will “open doors” for students.

“Our students deserve every opportunity for success, and we’re excited to make college access easier for our students as they pursue their dreams,” he said.

Washington High School of Information Technology students Kalan Neely (left), Jakhia Robinson-Brooks, and Jada Graves ask questions on Thursday after an announcement about a new a college access program. Milwaukee Direct Admit guarantees admission to UWM and MATC for MPS juniors who graduate on time.
Washington High School of Information Technology students Kalan Neely (left), Jakhia Robinson-Brooks, and Jada Graves ask questions on Thursday after an announcement about a new a college access program. Milwaukee Direct Admit guarantees admission to UWM and MATC for MPS juniors who graduate on time.

How MPS students can get guaranteed admission to MATC and UWM through Milwaukee Direct Admit

As of Jan. 25, students can access the Milwaukee Direct Admit application at mpsmke.com/directadmit. The deadline is June 14.

Applicants will need the student's name and student ID number. Students under age 18 will need a parent or guardian signature for the online form.

Students can expect to hear back from their selected schools in about one month, according to MPS.

Are there any exceptions to Milwaukee Direct Admit?

There are some provisions to note, according to information from MPS, MATC and UWM:

  • MPS students must apply in their junior year of high school.

  • MPS students are only guaranteed admission if they graduate in the spring or summer of their senior year.

  • If students select both MATC and UWM, they will be admitted to one or both school. If they choose just one school, they will be guaranteed admission to that school.

  • While students are guaranteed admission to UWM or MATC, they are not guaranteed admission into specific programs or majors. Students may need to audition or complete a more thorough application process to be accepted into specific programs based on their qualifications.

  • This does not cover tuition costs. Students are encouraged to separately complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for financial aid and explore scholarship opportunities at each college.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UWM and MATC guarantee admission to MPS juniors upon graduation