Next Steps for Applicants
Activating Your NetID
Before you can access the Student Center to check the status of your materials and decision, you must activate your UW NetID.
To do so, you’ll need your 10-digit campus ID number (found in your application acknowledgment letter or email) and birth date. Once you activate your NetID, you will assign yourself a password and then be authorized to access the Student Center and your application status information.
Log in to Student Center
Once we receive your application for admission, we will send you an application acknowledgment*. If you provide us with an email address, the acknowledgement will be sent via email. If you do not supply an email address, you will receive the acknowledgement letter in the mail.
*We do not begin processing first-year fall or transfer spring applications until September 1. You will not receive your application acknowledgement until after this time. Application acknowledgements are sent within three business days of the application being submitted. We are also unable to verify if your documents have been submitted or have arrived in our office until after you application is processed and your application acknowledgment is received.
The acknowledgement will include your campus ID number, which can then be used to activate your UW NetID and check your application status.
The Student Center enables you to:
- Check to make sure we’ve received all your application materials.
- View your admission decision
- Check the details we have on file about you, including residency status and term of entry
- Update your mailing address, phone number, and email address
- Monitor the status of your financial aid application and accept your award
- Accept or decline an offer of admission
Checking Your Application and Materials Status
To check your application status:
Note: Applicants who have previously applied to UW–Madison may see “Student Center” in the top left and will need to select “Applicant Homepage” in that drop down to access all of these options.
- Any outstanding materials will be noted under “Tasks” on the “To Do List.” Please note your document(s) may take up to 14 business days to process, once they are received
- If an item is added to your To Do List, you will receive an email notifying you to check your Student Center
- We encourage you to check your Student Center regularly
Forgot Your Campus ID, NetID, or Password?
Your campus ID number was sent to you with your application acknowledgement email. It will likely begin with a 908.
If you cannot find your campus ID number, send an email to onwisconsin@admissions.wisc.edu or call our office at 608-262-3961 and we will resend your acknowledgement email to you. (We will not be able to provide you with your campus ID number over the phone.)
If you’ve activated your NetID but have forgotten your NetID password, you can reset it online with the NetID Password Reset Tool.
If you have forgotten your NetID, you can recover it using the self-service NetID Recovery Tool.
Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships
In December, you can submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form uses tax information and is what the university uses to determine your need-based aid.
We encourage all students to submit a FAFSA and recommend completing that as soon as possible to be eligible the most aid and receive your aid package soon after your decision to help you plan.
Both current and incoming students can research and explore all the scholarships they qualify for based on their program, background, and interests through the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH).
Once you have submitted your application to UW–Madison and activated your NetID and password, you will be eligible for those scholarships that are awarded automatically.
You can also apply for those scholarships that require an application for consideration.
Do not wait until you have been admitted to apply for scholarships. Scholarships will have varying deadlines, but most will have a deadline of February 1.
In addition to our scholarships, we recommend pursuing additional funding opportunities through your work, community, and other organizations.
Be Sure to Meet All Deadlines
It’s important to ensure that your application and all required, supporting materials arrive to our office by our deadlines.
Self-Report Your Mid-Year Grades
Applicants may be asked to self-report their mid-year grades when prompted by email during the application process. To ensure a possible future admit decision is not in jeopardy of being cancelled, applicants must report their grades exactly as they appear on an official transcript or grade report that was issued by their school.