Spring Admitted Student Checklist

Set Up Your NetID to Access MyUW

MyUW is a student portal that will present new options to admitted students, including the The New Student To-Do List and other next steps for admitted students.

Locate the 10-digit campus ID number from your admission letter. Activate your NetID to access the portal. You can also update any changes to your mailing address, phone number, or email address to make sure you receive important email from other offices.

Confirm Your Enrollment

Log in to your Student Center to accept your offer of admission by the confirmation deadline for the term you were admitted.

This is a required first step for many other Admitted Student Next Steps.

First-Year Spring Term Confirmation Deadline: December 15

Transfer Spring Term Confirmation Deadline: December 15 or ten days from the date of your admit letter or receipt of your credit evaluation, whichever is later.

You will then pay the $200 deposit online. It is applied toward your tuition and fees for the first semester and is not refundable after the confirmation deadline.

How to accept your offer of admission

Be sure at the top left it says “Applicant Homepage.” If it says “Student Center,” scroll down to “Applicant Homepage.”
Click on the tile page with “Admissions.”
Within the Admissions tile, view “Application Status;” it will show you the applications that you have submitted.
Accept/Decline Admission: follow the instructions it gives you to officially confirm.
If this is your first time logging in, you must activate your NetID. Your Student Center also gives you access to other personalized information, including your financial aid package.

To pay your enrollment deposit by check or money order, please complete and submit the Enrollment Deposit Form.

Activate Your @wisc.edu Email Account

In order to receive key messaging from the university, including your financial aid offer, you will need to set up your @wisc.edu student email account as soon as possible and check this email regularly.

If you already have an active NetID and have accepted your admission, you may need to activate IT Services in order to access your @wisc.edu email account. You can activate missing IT Services by following the instructions on the NetID – Activate Missing Services page.

Note: Your IT Services may take up to 24 hours to activate. You will need to wait 24 hours before you attempt to log in to your newly activated Office 365 email account.

If you have not yet activated your NetID, use the instructions on the NetID – Activating Your Account page to complete the activation process.

IT Services, including your Office 365 account (@wisc.edu email address assignment), will be activated automatically for students using this process.

Note: Your IT Services may take up to 24 hours to activate. You will need to wait 24 hours before you attempt to log in to your newly activated Office 365 email account.

Share Your Acceptance Virtually

Share your acceptance with friends and family, and show your Badger pride to the world using our virtual backgrounds, gifs, and profile pictures exclusively for our #FutureBadger admitted students!

Next Step Partners

Additional Checklist Items for International Students

In addition to our first-year and transfer Admitted Student Checklists, our international students have some additional steps to complete before arriving on campus, including information on obtaining your visa, the I-20 process, our Financial Verification Form for F-1 and J-1 visa holders, and mailing information for your visa.

The New Student To-Do List

The New Student To-Do List will help you identify and track some of the important tasks you need to complete throughout the summer and into your first year at UW–Madison. First-year, domestic students can access the To-Do List through MyUW or at todo.newstudent.wisc.edu.

Understand and Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships

Office of Student Financial Aid

608-262-3060
finaid@finaid.wisc.edu
Follow on Instagram

The Office of Student Financial Aid begins processing financial aid eligibility at the point that you’ve been admitted, so you will be hearing from their office via email if you have already submitted the FAFSA.

Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®)

Financial aid for the spring semester will be determined via the 2025–2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). If you have not yet completed the 2025–2026 FAFSA® and had it sent to UW–Madison using School Code 003895, you should do so as soon as possible.

You should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) each year to make sure you’re considered for federal, state, and UW–Madison-offered financial aid and scholarships that may require a complete FAFSA® for consideration.

The FAFSA® becomes available on October 1, and UW–Madison has a December 1 priority deadline.

The Office of Student Financial Aid holds a FAFSA® Frenzy to help you get it submitted early, and are available via phone, email, or walk-ins to answer questions about financial aid eligibility, the application process, or your financial aid offer.

Applying for Scholarships

To be eligible for scholarships at UW–Madison, you must set up your NetID.

Most scholarships are managed by our eight undergraduate schools and colleges, and more scholarships become available when you are a current student.

It is important to explore the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) to ensure that you’re matching to all scholarship opportunities for which you’re eligible, year over year.

Through WiSH, you can find information about, apply to, and accept any of the various scholarship opportunities available on campus. WiSH uses your data and answers from the general application to match you to open scholarship opportunities.

For more information about WiSH, frequently asked questions, and the application timelines, view the scholarship resource page.

Student Employment

Interested in getting involved, developing skills, and meeting new friends—all while getting paid? Then student jobs may be the perfect opportunity for you.

Here you will find thousands of part-time employment opportunities through both UW–Madison departments and with local businesses and organizations that are looking for students just like you. You can also connect with important resources to help you explore your passions and prepare for the job search and interview process.

If federal work-study is a part of your financial aid offer, it’s important to understand what it means: work-study is not a grant or a loan but a need-based, part-time employment program in which the government and the employer contribute toward your pay. Federal work-study must be earned at an eligible student job, including any UW–Madison department, approved community small business, or non-profit organizations within the Madison area. Regardless of whether you are offered federal work-study, you are able to work both for a university department or with a local business.

Understanding Your Aid Offer

Helpful definitions related to information you’ll find on your financial aid offer:

Cost of Attendance

Your cost of attendance (COA) is an estimate of the expenses you might encounter while attending UW–Madison. You can expect to have both direct costs (billed by UW–Madison) and indirect expenses (expenses we estimate and you’re likely to incur but are not billed by UW–Madison). As the indirect expenses are estimated, we strongly encourage you to plan your own specific budget based on your housing choice and meal plan, transportation needs, etc.

Net Price

Your estimated cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships you were offered.

Net Price Calculator

Approximate your cost of attendance and estimate your financial aid based on your specific information.

Grants and Scholarships

Free money to help lower your cost to attend UW–Madison. Grants and scholarships are not repaid.

Student Loans

Accepted loans will need to be repaid after you complete your degree. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest until after you graduate. Unsubsidized loans start accruing interest at the time of disbursement, but no student loan requires repayment until either you drop below half-time enrollment or graduate.

Federal Work-Study

Provides the opportunity to work part-time for any UW–Madison department or for approved Madison community non-profit organizations or small businesses to help pay for college costs. Wages earned are paid directly to you via direct deposit. However, a student doesn’t need to have work-study to be able to work on campus.

Explore Housing Options

University Housing

608-262-2522
info@housing.wisc.edu
Follow on Instagram, Facebook, and X

Living on Campus

University Residence Halls at UW–Madison are more than “dorms” or places to sleep. They’re dynamic communities designed for your success.

With over 20 residence halls across campus, it’s the perfect place to get you plugged into campus life and help you grow on your academic and personal journey.

You’ll find your new, on-campus home filled with convenient living amenities, exciting social opportunities, 24/7 staff support, supportive academic resources, exceptional food, and thousands of other Badgers.

While living on campus is not required, over 90% of first-year students choose to live in our halls.

All residence halls offer convenient access to helpful resources and spaces for you to hang out with friends and study. Our resident rooms include loftable furniture, a variety of storage spaces, and high-speed wireless internet.

We offer popular classes right inside our residence halls, as well as free on-site advising, tutoring services, and media centers. Plus, our live-in staff provide support and programs to help you succeed inside and outside the classroom.

Explore virtual tours for all of our halls.

Eat Well. Live Well. University Dining

We offer many dining options to meet your needs. With several venues across campus, we offer dishes made-to-order by our in-house chefs, a variety of grab-and-go products, and grocery/convenience items. Our dining plans allow you to:

Pick a dining plan level based on your eating habits. Plans are based on a meals-per-week structure.
Go back for seconds in our markets, which are all-you-care-to-eat or buffet-style.
Get support navigating a food allergy or dietary accommodation. We have a registered dietitian on staff and allergy-friendly menus.

Discover Residential Communities

Find community by choosing to live in one of our optional Residential Learning Communities or Theme Communities for students of any major.

You’ll foster connections, find special events, and get plugged into campus in these unique programs designed to welcome and support you. Theme Communities bring together students with shared interests, and Learning Communities offer exclusive classes and faculty mentorship.

The Housing Contract, advance payment, residence hall preferences, and dining plan selection must all be completed by the due date in your contract offer email (also listed in your MyUW Housing portal).

Explore Off-Campus Housing Options

If you choose to live off campus, UW–Madison’s Off-Campus Housing Services can help.

One of the best ways to search for privately-owned housing options is through the UW–Madison Off-Campus Housing Marketplace.

Searching for available housing does not require you to create an account and is completely free. The site provides a database of campus-area rental vacancies, roommate openings, and sublets in apartment buildings, houses, cooperatives, and rooming houses. Users may select their criteria to generate a list of available rentals, complete with rental details and contact information.

Housing near campus is limited; if you choose to live off campus, we suggest starting the search process as early as possible. Rental properties in the immediate campus area begin filling vacancies at the start of the fall semester for the following August.

Campus and the city of Madison blend seamlessly together and students may also find success searching for housing in commutable Madison communities near campus.

You can also connect directly with knowledgeable staff by emailing any questions you have about living off campus to off-campus@housing.wisc.edu.

Students can expect to receive materials from University Housing and privately-owned housing providers. You can differentiate between materials sent to you by the university and those from private entities by looking for the university’s “W” crest.

Sign Up for Placement Tests

Testing Services

608-262-5863
frontdesk@exams.wisc.edu

Placement testing is the way advisors learn more about your skills and help correctly advise you about your first-semester courses.

You will register for and take your placement tests online.

Placement testing should be completed at least two weeks prior to participating in your orientation and course registration program (SOAR).

First-Year Students

You will receive additional information via email about your placement testing requirements.

Math

All first-year students, regardless of previous math coursework, are required to take “Math B” as it exists on the Testing Services website. The “Math A” exam option will not meet this requirement and will result in needing to retest.

English

First-year students are required to take an English placement test, regardless of previous coursework or test credit (e.g. AP, IB, CLEP, A-Levels).

World Languages

Students who have previous experience in Spanish, French, or German and who plan to take coursework in that language at UW–Madison must take the placement test in that language to qualify and enroll in classes beyond the introductory language course.

Students interested in taking a course in another world language should review the UW–Madison Languages website for more information.

Your scores will be used by your academic advisor to accurately place you in a variety of courses. For information about testing, refer to the Testing and Evaluation Services website for incoming UW–Madison students.

Transfer Students

Some transfer students are required to take placement tests in English, mathematics, world language, and/or English as a Second Language.

In addition to an email from the Office of the Registrar, transfer students can find information about which test(s) they need to take at the bottom of their Transfer Credit Evaluation, located in the Academic Records tile of their Student Center.

For information about testing, refer to the Testing and Evaluation Services website for incoming UW–Madison students.

International Students

Students who were required to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) will take the English as a Second Language Assessment Test (ESLAT) instead of the UW System English Placement Test. If you are required to take the ESLAT, you will complete the test online in Canvas, the university’s learning portal. Registration is not needed.

Sign Up for Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR)

Office of Student Transition and Family Engagement

608-262-4707
soar@studentaffairs.wisc.edu
Follow UW Student and the Transfer Transition Program on Instagram

Students admitted for the summer and fall attend SOAR in summer. Students admitted for the spring will be part of the SOAR sessions held in January.

SOARregistration opens December 1 at noon Central time for students starting in the spring semester.

Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR)

During SOAR, you will begin your transition to UW–Madison by learning about academic advising, degree requirements, and campus resources. You will also enroll in your courses.

SOAR offers you the opportunity to:

Gain exposure to the array of academic and social opportunities at UW–Madison.
Learn about university life and UW–Madison culture.
Interact with peers, including both incoming and current students.
Gain an understanding of UW–Madison policies, procedures, and processes.
Meet with an academic advisor.
Select and enroll in your first semester classes.
Begin to explore and understand the Wisconsin Experience.

SOAR Parent & Guest Program

We strongly encourage up to two parents or adult guests per student to attend the concurrent SOAR Parent & Guest Program. There, attendees will be introduced to UW–Madison’s Parent and Family Program, which keeps families connected to the university all year long.

Benefits of participating in the SOAR Parent & Guest Program include:

Learning about the campus resources available to support your student.
Attending information sessions on topics such as advising, housing, financial aid, campus safety, health and wellbeing, and more!
Asking questions of UW–Madison professional staff and current students.
Gaining advice on supporting your student during their time here.

Submit Your Final Transcripts and Scores

Office of Admissions and Recruitment

Office of Admissions and Recruitment
University of Wisconsin–Madison
702 West Johnson Street, Suite 1101
Madison, Wisconsin 53715-1007

How to Send Official Materials

Submit Your Final Transcripts

Make sure to request a final official transcript be sent to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment by January 10, after your final grades are posted. Your final transcript must include graduation date.

It is very important that you successfully complete the course work entered on your application. A curriculum change could affect your admission status, and declining grades may be cause for revoking admission.

Regarding the final transcript listed on your pre-enrollment checklist: If your Student Center Tasks do not include a pre-enrollment checklist, then you have completed all necessary steps needed to complete this item for SOAR. Your final transcript and/or documents must be submitted by the appropriate deadline listed above.

Send Your AP/CLEP/IB Scores

If you have scores from the AP, CLEP, or IB exams, you might be eligible to receive course credit for your scores. Request that the College Board or International Baccalaureate program send official scores directly to our office, which will arrive electronically directly from the testing agency.

Send Your College Transcripts for Course Credit

Receive credit for your previous college coursework.

We recommend sending your official college transcripts that you have not yet submitted to our office to be evaluated for course credit at this time.

Your official transcript(s) should be requested from the college or institution through which your credit was awarded.

We encourage you to send your official college transcripts as soon as possible to ensure your transfer credit is posted to your UW–Madison student record in time for class registration and advising.