Techniques for uplink scheduling in a wireless network are disclosed. A wireless access point (AP) receives, from a wireless station (STA), a buffer status report (BSR) reflecting data accumulated at the STA for uplink to the AP. The AP identifies, based on the BSR, a scheduling mode under which the data was accumulated at the STA. The AP schedules an uplink parameter for the STA, based on the identified scheduling mode. The uplink parameter relates to at least one of: (i) an uplink transmission for the STA or (ii) a buffer status poll for the STA. The AP transmits, to the STA, an allocation relating to the scheduled uplink parameter for the STA.