QuickStart

CALS QuickStart Application

We want all students who want to participate in CALS QuickStart to join us!
100% of applicants who are eligible (see below) are accepted into the program, all you have to do is fill out the application! Click on the button below to complete the application (it only takes 15-30 min).

The deadline to submit your application is 11:59pm Central Time on May 5, 2024!
You can submit an application even if you haven’t committed to UW-Madison yet and accept/decline our offer after you make your college decision.

You won’t regret taking the time to set your goals, connecting with your future professors, meeting friends with similar interests, and getting accustomed to campus.

-Former CALS QuickStart participant
See what other CALS QuickStart alumni say about the program!

Eligibility

• Any incoming first year student who has accepted an offer of admission to UW–Madison for Fall 2024 and plans to pursue a CALS major may apply for the CALS QuickStart program.
• Students must graduate high school prior to 6/17/24 to be eligible to participate in QuickStart.
• Students must complete high school classes by 6/7/24 and graduate prior to the start of the program on 6/17/24 to be eligible to participate in QuickStart. Students will be required to submit their final high school transcript to Admissions before 6/7/24 or they may not be able to participate in the program. If final high school transcript is not ready by the deadline Admissions will request proof of graduation and successful progress in course work be provided from a school official prior to the first day of the term.

CALS QuickStart Program Components

I really value the head start that I felt I got from doing the QuickStart course and the on-campus programming because of the valuable information I learned, people I met, and the foundation I had before my peers.

-Former CALS QuickStart participant
See what other CALS QuickStart alumni say about the program!

Inter-Ag 140 CALS QuickStart Foundations (REQUIRED):

This 8-week course prepares students for a successful transition to UW–Madison. Students will learn about themselves and UW-Madison’s campus and complete the course equipped with a personalized roadmap centered around their academic and career goals that will help shape their unique Wisconsin Experience.

• 1-credit course that fulfills your first-year seminar requirement
• Online and asynchronous
• Course dates: June 17 – August 11, 2024
• Students should expect to spend approximately 5-6 hours a week on coursework (completing assignments, readings and projects) and need to have consistent access to the internet to be successful in the course.

Early move-in program (OPTIONAL):

Our early move-in and on-campus programming familiarizes students with UW-Madison and CALS to help them make the most of their college experience.

• Move to campus early (August 25).
• Participate in on-campus programming (August 25-30) specially designed to connect students with peers, faculty, staff, and alumni.
• Dive into life at UW-Madison through lab tours, industry visits, student panels, and more!
• The early move-in programming is only available to CALS QuickStart students and there is no extra cost to participate.

Additional summer course of your choice (OPTIONAL):

Please note: the 3-credit course option is no longer available for students applying after May 1.

Take an additional 8-week online course of your choosing to tackle more degree requirements and experience college level courses before the fall semester.

• Students may choose from the list of 3-credit courses below
• Online, synchronous and asynchronous options available
• Course dates: June 17 – August 11, 2024
• Students should expect to spend 20-25 hours a week on coursework (completing assignments, readings and projects) for the additional 3-credit course. Students need to have consistent access to the internet to be successful in the course.

Program Costs

Costs for the program cover summer term tuition and fees. Summer tuition for QuickStart students will be due shortly after classes begin in June. Other fees may be applied to student’s summer bill, including document fees, or course-specific book fees for the 3-credit course option.

*Other fees may be applied to student’s summer bill, including document fees or course specific book fees. To review the list of fees that may be assessed on a student’s account please visit the Bursar’s website here.

Scholarships

Thanks to generous donor support, need-based scholarships are available to offset summer tuition. Last year, over 50% of QuickStart students were awarded scholarships!

Students can indicate on their program application that they want to be considered for additional scholarships awarded based on financial need. To be eligible for these awards, students must have a 2024-25 FAFSA on file with UW–Madison. Students will be notified in their participation letter whether they have been awarded a scholarship.

For questions about your FAFSA, contact the UW-Madison Office of Student Financial Aid. They have advisors on staff to answer questions.

Being able to get that scholarship really helped me out a lot. It not only enabled me to do QuickStart, but it enabled me to jumpstart my future. I feel like I can succeed a lot more, which will probably, in turn, help me financial-wise, career-wise. I can look back at it and be like, ‘You know what, I’m here because of QuickStart.’ I think that’s great.

-Sarah Akakpo
See what other CALS QuickStart alumni say about the program!

QuickStart Information Sessions

We invite you to register for a CALS QuickStart Information Session, where QuickStart staff and alumni will share a brief overview of the program and answer your questions. These sessions will be held virtually via Zoom. If you are unable to attend these sessions but would like to connect to learn more about the program, please reach out to us at quickstart@cals.wisc.edu.

• Wednesday, February 28, 2024; 6 to 7 p.m. Central Time
• Tuesday, April 16, 2024; 6 to 7 p.m. Central Time
• Thursday, April 25, 2024; 6 to 7 p.m. Central Time

register at visit bucky

Interest Form

Want to receive more information about the program and reminders about events and due dates coming up? Fill out this interest form and we will email you directly.

Student Highlights

Read about how CALS QuickStart impacted the college careers of a few of our alumni below, and
navigate to this Padlet to see what other CALS QuickStart alumni say about the program!

QuickStart not only helped me understand and embrace greater independence, but prepared me for my undergraduate experience by introducing me to the opportunities UW–Madison has to offer . . . I was able to further my career goals in academia and research as well as my active engagement in extracurriculars.

Anika Gupta

I had only been to UW–Madison for a single hour my entire life before QuickStart. Walking around and getting to see where my classes were was probably the most beneficial aspect for me. And getting to meet influential people who work on campus helped so much, realizing everyone is there to help and guide you.

Haley Trecker

Being a part of QuickStart provided me with a variety of pre-college experiences that allowed me to make valuable connections with programs, professors, and other students in CALS. QuickStart did a great job laying the groundwork for me to come to college feeling comfortable and confident on campus. I’ve continued to foster the connections I was able to make with my advisors and QuickStart peers, and they’ve been a very valuable resource to offer guidance and camaraderie to enhance my academic experience.

Emily Hoffins