Undergraduate Application Reader

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

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Employment Type:

Job Profile:

Job Summary:

Come join our team in the Office of Admissions and Recruitment! We are admissions professionals dedicated to recruiting, admitting, and enrolling the next generation of UW-Madison undergraduates.

The Office of Admissions and Recruitment is seeking temporary part-time application readers. Readers have the flexibility to work remotely and will receive thorough training in holistic application review which entails the detailed review of transcripts, school profiles, activities, essays, letters of recommendation, and test scores if provided. Readers should have the availability to work a minimum of 20 hours per week during peak fall and winter reading season, with most hours worked during the traditional business hours of their time zone. Prior experience in the field of college admissions, higher education or high school education is preferred but not required.

Readers must be located in the United States for the 2026-2027 academic year. Readers must be able to legally work in the United States without sponsorship. To avoid a conflict of interest, candidates for the reader position must not be currently employed as an admissions professional, high school counselor, or independent college counselor/coach/agent. Candidates should not be the parent of a rising junior or senior in high school.

The start date for this position is Tuesday, October 6, 2026 and new hires must be able to attend all initial training dates. Initial trainings will be held virtually on four dates: Tuesday, October 6th; Thursday, October 8th; Tuesday, October 13th; Thursday, October 15th (9:30am-12:00pm Central Time each day)

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public research university and the flagship institution within the Universities of Wisconsin. Located within the Division of Enrollment Management, the Office of Admissions and Recruitment receives 70,000+ applications annually from prospective undergraduate students.
 

Important Information:

• Readers must be located in the United States for the 2026-27 academic year

• Readers must be able to legally work in the United States without sponsorship

• To avoid a conflict of interest, candidates for the Reader position must not be currently employed as an admissions professional, high school counselor, or independent college counselor/coach/agent. Candidates should not be the parent of a rising junior or senior in high school

• Laptop and software will be provided

• A small number of readers may be asked to support international or transfer application review

• Initial training is mandatory and it will be held virtually on four dates: Tuesday, October 6th; Thursday, October 8th, Tuesday, October 13th; and Thursday, October 15th (9:30am-12:00pm Central Time each day)

• Pay will be $22.50/hour (firm) for all newly hired remote readers

Tasks for this position include:

• Conduct a thorough first review of undergraduate applications

• Attend training and meetings as required

• Data entry and correction in SIS (Student Information System) as needed

• Other duties as assigned

Key Job Responsibilities:

• 5% Unique Responsibility: Demonstrates commitment to the University’s mission statement, particularly to be sensitive and responsive to those groups which have been underserved by higher education. Participation in related learning activities is expected

• 5% Other duties as assigned

• 90% Conducts comprehensive application review and selection for assigned programs

Department:

Division of Enrollment Management (DEM), Office of Admissions and Recruitment (OAR)

Compensation:

$22.50 per hour (firm)

Required Qualifications:

• Appreciation for the individual experiences and aspirations of each applicant

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing

• Exceptional attention to detail

• Ability to work independently and efficiently around multiple deadlines

• Must have the availability to work a minimum of 20 hours per week during peak fall and winter reading season, with most hours worked during the traditional business hours of your time zone

• Must be located in the United States for the 2026-2027 academic school year

• Must be able to legally work in the United States without sponsorship

• Proficiency with computer office applications and software, email, and web-based communication

• Can be seated at a computer for 4-8 hours per day

• Ability to set up a private office space with high speed internet access

• Demonstrate high level of sensitivity and confidentiality around the review process and adherence to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior experience in the field of college admissions, higher education, or high school education preferred

Education:

Bachelor's degree preferred

How to Apply:

To apply for this position, select either "I am a current employee" or "I am not a current employee" under Apply Now. You will be prompted to upload your application materials.

Important: The application has only one attachment field. Please upload the following two documents in that field, as TWO separate files. Failure to submit the two separate required documents will result in no longer being considered for the position.

• Cover letter

• Resume

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States, (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment and must be able to sustain eligibility, without sponsorship, throughout the duration of their employment.

The Division of Enrollment Management (DEM) believes in our ability to contribute towards an ecosystem of innovation. Through this relentless desire for bold ideas, DEM leads a comprehensive strategic enrollment approach to attract, enroll, support and graduate the most talented students. We foster equitable and seamless experiences, value research in practice, engage in responsible stewardship, provide inclusive support, collaborate, and increase access to higher education to accomplish our goals. With students firmly at the center of our actions, decisions, processes, and services, our work helps to deliver the impact of UW-Madison as a world-class institution that enriches communities across the globe.

The Division is comprised of a dedicated team of over 400 employees and includes the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, the Office of Student Financial Aid, the Student Success Through Applied Research (SSTAR) Lab, and the Office of the Registrar. DEM invests in the professional growth of their team members and is committed to the highest standard of service for students, colleagues, visitors and other stakeholders. Team members will serve as role models by practicing exemplary and respectful behaviors in all of our interactions.

Contact Information:

Paula Gates, paula.gates@wisc.edu 

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See Relay Service

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. 
 
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). 
 
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.