SOAR

The Office of Admissions provides lots of information for new freshmen, transfer, and international students who are transitioning to UW-Madison. Please complete the correct checklist for your admit type before continuing with the SOAR registration process.

Admission Checklist for Spring-Admitted Students

• Freshmen
• Transfer
• International

You will need to complete placement testing before attending your SOAR session; placement testing is the way advisors learn more about your skills and help correctly advise you about your first-semester courses.

• Freshmen are required to take English (or English as a Second Language, ESLAT) and math placement tests, regardless of previous coursework. Testing in a world language is also highly encouraged.
• Transfer students are informed which test(s) they are required to take via email from the Office of Admissions. Information about which test(s) you need to take is also available at the bottom of your Transfer Credit Evaluation, located in your Student Center.

More information about placement testing can be found here.

• Review the content listed on the SOAR Program Overview page.
• Students should determine which advising group they will advise with at SOAR. Review the information provided by the Office of Undergraduate Advising at advising.wisc.edu.

Spring Admits

Fall/Summer Admits

The SOAR reservation system will open at the following times CST:

• Transfer Students – April 8, 2019
• Freshmen Students – April 22, 2019

The SOAR program strives to ensure all participants can fully participate in the program, if students or guests need accommodations for the SOAR program, please follow the links below.

• Request Disability Accommodations for the SOAR Program, Placement Testing, and the School Year
• Request language interpretation for the SOAR Parent/Guest Program

Freshmen SOAR sessions span two days, and housing accommodations were not automatically included in your SOAR registration process. We recommend staying on campus to experience all residence hall living has to offer. Book your stay online at https://www.housing.wisc.edu/conferences/soar/reservation/.

Both parents and students have the opportunity to stay on campus. If staying in housing is not the best fit for your family, there are many local places to stay in the Madison community. For a list on-campus hotels offering competitive rates and private hotels offering discounts to SOAR participants visit soar.wisc.edu/hotels.

On-campus housing is not offered during our January programs. The SOAR program has partnered with the Lowell Center to offer a competitive rate, $89 per night, for students and families who need a place to stay in Madison. To reserve a room visit bit.ly/soarjan2019.

Lowell Center

Located just steps from Memorial Union, State Street shops and Madison’s vibrant Capitol Square, Lowell Center offers hotel accommodations—including comfortable guest rooms, an updated fitness center, inviting outdoor patios and the area’s largest indoor pool. Guests enjoy standard amenities like Keurig® coffee makers, mini refrigerators, Bath & Body Works® toiletries, flat screen TVs, complimentary wireless access, and the area’s most comfortable beds.

• Complete the Preparing for SOAR module in MyUW. This must be completed prior to arriving at SOAR.
• Pay any outstanding SOAR fees.
• Learn more about academic advising on campus and about how advising will work at SOAR by visiting the Office of Undergraduate Advising’s website.

Review this information to prepare for your SOAR experience. SOAR gives you a closer look at what life is like for a UW–Madison student. Come to Madison prepared, and discover the exciting resources waiting for you.

• Please take some time to fill out the SOAR Program Evaluation after you complete your SOAR session.