A summer program to prep you for college
The CALS QuickStart summer program empowers incoming first-year students to jumpstart their college experience and explore everything that UW–Madison and CALS have to offer. QuickStart is a 1-credit online, asynchronous course that students take the summer before their first semester of college. This 8-week program is perfect for students who are feeling anxious about the transition to college and for those who are ready to get ahead on their college credits.
What is QuickStart?
QuickStart prepares students for a successful transition to UW–Madison and satisfies the CALS first-year seminar requirement, so you can get a head start on completing your requirements.
In QuickStart, you will learn about majors and career paths, research opportunities on campus, resources available, student organizations, and so much more. You’ll leave QuickStart with a personalized plan of what you can do here in CALS, and how you can reach your goals.
QuickStart is designed to fit into your summer plans. With around 5-6 hours of work a week, you can still have a job, travel, and spend time with friends and family.
“Because of QuickStart, I headed into my freshman year at UW–Madison with a plan for making the most of my time in college. The summer course helped me explore the opportunities at UW–Madison and make a list of what I wanted to get involved in: student organizations, a pre-professional organization for my major, a campus job, the CALS Honors in Research program, and more.”
– Danika, QuickStart alum
Apply to QuickStart
Submit your application by 11:59pm CT, May 1, 2026. The application takes around 15–30 minutes to complete.
QuickStart details
Applying to QuickStart is non-competitive — 100% of applicants who are eligible are accepted into the program!
Applications for Summer 2026 are open now! Submit your application by 11:59pm CT, May 1, 2026. The application takes around 15–30 minutes to complete.
All students who have received admission to CALS are eligible to apply. Students must have completed high school by the program start date and are required to submit their final high school grades to the UW–Madison Office of Admissions before QuickStart begins.
QuickStart begins on Monday, June 15, 2026 and your final high school transcript or final grades must be reported to the UW–Madison Office of Admissions by Friday, June 5, 2026. Learn more about eligibility.
1. QuickStart (Required)
The CALS QuickStart: Foundations course (InterAg 140) is a required component of QuickStart. This 1-credit online, asynchronous course fulfills the first-year seminar requirement. QuickStart runs from Monday, June 15 through Sunday, August 9, 2026. Learn more about the QuickStart course.
2. Early move-in (Optional)
The early move-in program is an optional component of QuickStart and allows students to move to campus early on Sunday, August 23, 2026 at no additional cost. Early move-in students will participate in various activities between Sunday, August 23 and Thursday, August 27, 2026. Learn more about early move-in.
3. Additional 3-credit online course (Optional)
Students in QuickStart have the option to take an additional 8-week online course of their choosing to tackle more degree requirements and experience college level courses before the fall semester. These courses are online and take place from Monday, June 15 through Sunday, August 9, 2026. Learn more about course options.
Costs for the program cover summer term tuition and new student fees. Summer tuition for QuickStart students will be due shortly after classes begin in June. 2026 rates will be released soon, but 2025 can be found here.
Financial support is available for QuickStart students with priority for the 1-credit QuickStart Foundations course. To apply for financial support, you will indicate on your application that you want to be considered for financial support and you must fill out the 2025-2026 FAFSA. The 2026 QuickStart program takes place in the Summer 2026 term, which is still part of the 2025-2026 academic year. Learn more about financial support.
Move to campus early
Students in the QuickStart program also have the opportunity to move into their dorms before the rest of campus. During optional early move-in, you will:
- Meet with peers, faculty, and staff that you have been interacting with online in addition to CALS advisors and professors
- Tour labs, meet faculty, and learn about research that is happening at CALS
- Walk your schedule, explore campus, and find your classes
- Attend a mock lecture and student panel
- Connect with peers at a bonfire, community bonding activities, and more!
The early move-in program comes at no extra cost. Many QuickStart students say that the early move-in program was their favorite part of QuickStart!
During the early move-in, I met many people who have helped me thrive at UW! Meeting my peers I’d been interacting with online gave me the opportunity to quickly establish a tight friend group. We do everything together from studying to attending sporting events to getting ice cream at Memorial Union. QuickStart connections ensure that I will always have the support I need to succeed here!
– Nathan, QuickStart alum
Take an additional 3-credit course
QuickStart students can also take an additional 8-week online course of their choosing to tackle more degree requirements and experience college level courses before the fall semester. A majority of the courses are asynchronous and can work with your summer schedule. Students should expect about 20-25 hours of additional work a week to complete the course.
Students who indicate interest in taking a 3-credit course will be required to meet briefly with a CALS advisor before enrollment in the course. We will reach out to schedule this once your application has been submitted, and you will be notified of your course assignment in your QuickStart acceptance letter.
Check out the list of courses offered below. For more information on the courses, you can visit Guide.
“If you have the time on your hands and you want to get a good overview as to what a college course may be like, I would say taking a 3-credit summer course is worth it. Pick one that you believe is the most interesting to you.”
– QuickStart alum
- Biochemistry 104: Molecules of Life and the Nature of Science
- Community & Environmental Sociology 248: Environment, Natural Resources, and Society
- Entomology 201: Insects and Human Culture – A Survey Course in Entomology
- Entomology 205: Our Planet, Our Health
- Food Science 120: Science of Food
- Genetics 133: Genetics in the News
- Life Sciences Communication 251: Science, Media and Society
- Nutritional Sciences 132: Nutrition Today
- Plant Pathology 123: Plants, Parasites, and People
- Anthropology 104: Cultural Anthropology and Human Diversity
- Anthropology 105: Principles of Biological Anthropology
- Art 100: Introduction to Art
- Not an option for students who are interested in a major in Art or Art Education
- Communication Arts 100: Introduction to Speech Composition
- Counseling Psychology 225: Intersectionalities, Self-Awareness, and Social Actions for Change
- Asynchronous lectures, 50-minute synchronous discussion sections. Discussion times vary — students can select session that fits their schedule. Discussion sessions will be weekly from June 15 to August 9.
- Counseling Psychology 230: Race and the Developing Child
- Educational Policy Studies 210: Youth, Education and Society
- Educational Policy Studies 212: Education for Social Justice
- Electrical & Computer Engineering 252: Introduction to Computer Engineering
- Synchronous course that meets online every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3:00-3:50pm CT, June 15–August 9
- Environmental Studies 215: Sustainability
- Gender & Women’s Studies 103: Gender, Women, Bodies, And Health
- Human Development & Family Studies 174: Introduction into Cultural Diversity of Families
- Human Development & Family Studies 262: Development of the Young Child
- Inter-HE 201: Belonging, Purpose and the Ecology of Human Happiness (EcoYou)
- Psychology 202: Introduction to Psychology
- Not an option for students who are taking or have received AP/IB credit for Psychology
- Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education 100: Disability and Society
- Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education 125: Health and Rehabilitation Professions
Curious to learn more?
2026 QuickStart Information Sessions
- Thursday, March 26, 6:00-7:00pm CT via Zoom
- Wednesday, April 8, 6:00-7:00pm CT via Zoom
- Monday, April 27, 6:00-7:00pm CT via Zoom
If you have questions about QuickStart, you can sign up for a virtual QuickStart information session.
At these sessions, you’ll get to meet with QuickStart staff and alumni, learn more about the program, and have a chance to ask questions!
If you are unable to attend any of these dates, but would like to connect to learn more about the program, please email quickstart@cals.wisc.edu.
The QuickStart Experience
Hear what our students have to say!
The 2025 QuickStart group
The most valuable takeaway from CALS QuickStart wasn’t just the hands-on learning, mentorship or the exciting campus experiences, it was the people I met. On move in day, at the very first dinner, I was lucky enough to meet future best friend and roommate who would become my core support system throughout my time at college. The friendships and connections I continued to make during that week have continued to grow throughout the years, creating an incredible community that will last long beyond my time at UW–Madison.
– Ella, QuickStart alum
The 2025 QuickStart peer leaders, current CALS students ready to welcome you to campus!
QuickStart students tour a food science lab as part of the early move-in program
Participating in QuickStart was one of my best decisions! QuickStart gave me a preview of what it would be like to be a at a big university like UW–Madison before I stepped on campus. Being a part of such a huge university can get overwhelming at times but QuickStart gave me a community to hang on to where I could be vulnerable and we could all learn and explore together. This program introduced me to a wide variety of opportunities on campus and equipped me with the tools to access these opportunities. It made my transition to university easier and made me confident about embarking ahead.
– Rutuja, QuickStart alum
All of the early move-in programming helped prepare me for my freshman year. From the bus tour to the classroom sessions, there was so much information I learned that I would have had to figure out by myself without QuickStart. For me, the most important part of college so far has been getting the most from these formative years; QuickStart allowed me to start growing before my classes even started. Of course, QuickStart is a great way to make friends, and that was another HUGE plus of the program!
– Fred, QuickStart alum
QuickStart students meeting with QuickStart alumni as part of the early move-in program
Ready to apply?
Submit your application by 11:59pm CT, May 1, 2026. The application takes around 15–30 minutes to complete.
FAQ
Costs for the program cover UW summer term tuition and new student fees. Summer tuition for QuickStart students will be due shortly after classes begin in June. Other university fees may be applied to a student’s summer bill, including document fees, or course-specific book fees for the 3-credit course option.
The current table values are 2025 rates and will be updated with the 2026 rates at a later date.
| Wisconsin Resident | Minnesota Resident | Non-resident | International | |
| Tuition: 1 credit* | $502.18 | $716.43 | $1,772.99 | $1,814.66 |
| Tuition: 4 credits* | $1,941.28 | $2,798.28 | $7,024.52 | $7,191.20 |
*Other university 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.
Yes! Last year, over 40% of QuickStart students received financial support. To apply for financial support, you will indicate on your application that you want to be considered for financial support and you must fill out the 2025-2026 FAFSA. The 2026 QuickStart program takes place in the Summer 2026 term, which is still part of the 2025-2026 academic year.
Please note that as a first-year student, you may have already submitted your 2026-2027 FAFSA for federal aid consideration for Fall 2026.
If you would like to be considered for financial support for the 2026 QuickStart program, you will need to complete the 2025-26 FAFSA. You should complete the 2025-26 FAFSA no later than 24 hours after submitting your QuickStart program application.
No, any financial aid for the 2026-2027 academic year, which includes the Fall 2026 semester, cannot be used for the 2026 QuickStart program. QuickStart takes place in the Summer 2026 term, which is part of the 2025-2026 academic year, and uses financial aid information from the 2025-2026 FAFSA.
If you would like to be considered for financial support for the 2026 QuickStart program, you will need to complete the 2025-26 FAFSA.
No, you don’t have to move to campus early. The early move-in program is a highlight of the QuickStart program for many students and is recommended, but completely optional. You can move to campus early at no additional cost.
Yes, you can participate in all the early move-in programming if you are living off campus or commuting.
If you won’t have a high school transcript by Saturday, June 6, 2026, you may still be eligible for QuickStart. To find out if you can still be eligible, reach out to the QuickStart team at quickstart@cals.wisc.edu.
Questions?
Reach out to the QuickStart team at quickstart@cals.wisc.edu.
Office of Academic Affairs
116 Agricultural Hall
1450 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Office Hours: 7:45am – 4:30pm
For current & prospective student general inquiries:
Phone: 608.262.3003
Email: academicaffairs@cals.wisc.edu