University of Wisconsin–Madison
Three students stand in the forefront of the image. The SOAR logo is in the upper left corner, which reads "SOAR. Student orienation, advising, and registration." To the right of the image, three overlapping arches are framing the phrase, "Ready. Set. SOAR."

Virtual SOAR Required Content

To make the most of your virtual SOAR experience, we highly encourage students and their supporters to download the UW Events App to access our complete virtual SOAR program. If you are unable to download the UW Events App, Please explore this page for important information about campus life and resources to navigate the transition to UW–Madison.

 

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Required Content

All Virtual students are required to participate in the following four areas of orientation programming. Please check your email to access Zoom links for live programming.

Sign up for your required small group

This is required for all incoming students.

In this small group session you will get to meet other incoming Badgers, get your questions answered, and learn about campus resources. Content warning, small groups involve discussion surrounding sensitive topics such as drugs/alcohol and consent.

A group of students are sitting in a circle in a garden

Q & A panels

During our Orientation Leader panel you and your supporters will have the opportunity to ask our Orientation Leaders any questions you have about UW–Madison. There are two panels offered each day, one at 9am CDT and the other at 3pm CDT. They are one hour long via Zoom and are not recorded. Captioning will be provided via Zoom.

NSL panel

Live presentations

There will be four live presentations from campus partners to provide critical information to aid in successful transitions to UW–Madison. These presentations will be via Zoom from 10:00-10:30 am CDT, Tuesday-Friday with one presentation per day. Presentations include: involvement, housing, safety, and career support.

First-year students learn the moves to “Varsity” during for the Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) program in the Marquee Theater in Union South at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on July 30, 2024. Coordinated by the Office of Student Transition and Family Engagement, the two-day SOAR sessions provide new students and their parents and guests opportunities to learn about campus resources, connect with fellow first-year students, meet with advisors, register for classes, and explore campus. (Photo by Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison)

Resources

Explore the links below to learn more about resources available at UW–Madison to help students navigate their transition to UW–Madison. These content areas are the same content areas shared with in-person SOAR participants.

UW-Madison staff smiling behind a window that has "Welcome" pained on it

Welcome to UW–Madison!

We are SOAR excited that you are here! Please engage with the different tiles below to learn about campus resources and living in the badger community.

In addition to academic advising, UW–Madison has a variety of ways that we support students academic and career pursuits. This includes 15 learning support centers, first-year seminars, and the many career services offices. To learn more about academics and career support at UW–Madison visit the links below.

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UW–Madison is committed to support students developing a strong sense of wellbeing. This includes services such as University health Services (UHS) who aid in mental and physical Health. RecWell who encourage students to be fit and live well. And finally, UW Police Department who promotes and ensures the safety of our campus community.

Students playing basketball at SOAR

At UW–Madison involvement takes on a variety of different forms allowing students to develop their sense of belonging in our shared community. Involvement can include student organizations, jobs, research, volunteering, and so much more. Explore the links below to see how you can get involved and make Madison feel more like home.

Chemistry lab

Whether you live on or off campus living in the badger community is a key aspect of being a UW–Madison student. Below you will find resources about housing, transportation, and the Wiscard (your student ID).

move in

At UW–Madison we do not just do a welcome week, we do an entire welcome moth. from move in to early October, there will be a variety of events catered to new students to foster a sense of belonging to the badger community. Check out the link below to learn more about Wisconsin Welcome, popular events, and how to download the guide.

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International Student Services (ISS) is here to support international students at UW through four key areas advising, compliance, operations, and global engagement. Learn more about ISS and how they can support your transition to UW–Madison.

International student services tabling event

Virtual Resource Fair

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Summer Term

From the university’s most in-demand courses to advanced topics, Summer Term combines flexibility with academic rigor. Sessions are 3 weeks, 4 weeks, or 8 weeks long. You’ll cover the same material as you would during a traditional semester, but everything moves faster. It’s a quick but manageable pace.

Check with your advisor for details.

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Career Exploration Center

The Career Exploration Center (CEC) supports undergraduate students who are exploring their major, career, and academic goals. We assist students in gathering information, personal insight, and experiences that aid them wherever their are in their exploration.

OSAS Tag line image. Lets do this together

Office of Student Assistance and Support

The Office of Student Assistance and Support assists students with a variety of concerns by working directly with them and connecting them to appropriate resources on campus. We also consult with and serve as a resource for faculty and staff, parents, families, and friends, working together to serve students.

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University Book Store

Since 1894, the University Book Store has been a cornerstone of support for the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the surrounding community. For more than 130 years, the store has remained dedicated to serving students, alumni, and Badger fans with pride, purpose, and an enduring connection to campus life.

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Office of Sustainability

The Office of Sustainability serves as a campus-wide resource for sustainability. By facilitating sustainability education and partnering with campus units to improve operations and resource stewardship, the office represents the realization of a shared vision for a sustainable campus.

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Language Institute

The Language Institute, established in 2004 as a joint initiative of the College of Letters & Science and International Division, is a center for collaboration in research, education, outreach, and advising related to the study of human languages.

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Office of Student Financial Aid

The Office of Student Financial Aid helps students in a variety of different ways to help students fund their academics. From appointments to FASFA help to basic needs support the Office of Finical Aid helps students navigate and understand their educational costs.

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Wisconsin Union

Since 1928, when the doors to Memorial Union opened, the Wisconsin Union has served as the living room of the UW-Madison campus. The Union connects students, faculty, staff, members and visitors through shared cultural, social and recreational events and experiences.

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Multicultural Student Center

The Multicultural Student Center provides support, advocacy, and co-curricular experiences that center, affirm, and celebrate the varied and intersectional experiences of all UW students. Our spaces, programs and services are designed to cultivate a sense of belonging and community while strengthening all students’ capacity to learn, lead and thrive.

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McBurney Disability Resource Center

The McBurney Disability Resource Center is UW-Madison’s resource for ensuring equal access to education for all of our students through academic and classroom accommodations. We work with students and instructors to provide and support disability-related student accommodations.

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Associated Students of Madison (ASM)

ASM is the official student governance body of UW-Madison, representing the needs of over 50,000 students. ASM is composed of roughly 50 elected or appointed students, 8 professional staff members, and 200 student appointees on committees that hold legal rights to recommend university policies, budgets, and candidates for UW employment.

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Division of the Arts

The Division of the Arts unifies and catalyzes the arts at UW–Madison. We support and promote the missions of the academic arts departments and affiliated partners, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, deepen the student experience, build community engagement, and advocate for inclusion, diversity, equity, and access across the arts.

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Naval ROTC

Since 1948, The University of Wisconsin NROTC has been commissioning bright, competent officers into the fleet.

In addition to providing a college education, NROTC gives young adults all the tools they need and more to lead and succeed in the Armed Forces and civilian sector.

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Army ROTC

Army ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) is one of the best leadership courses in the country and is part of your college curriculum. During classes and field training, you will learn first-hand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups and how to conduct missions as an Officer in the Army. Upon graduation from Army ROTC, you will earn the bar of a Second Lieutenant and become a leader for life.

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Math Learning Center

The Math Learning Center is a great place for UW students to get help with their mathematics course content. Our space is welcoming, and our staff are here to provide you with mathematics support to help you to succeed!

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Mead Witter School of Music

We offer flexible programs with innovative and global approaches to music study. Our teaching, research and performances reflect UW–Madison’s progressive history of creating change through innovation and exploration.

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First Year Interest Groups

First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs) are cohorts of twenty first year UW-Madison students who share a common academic interest and take (usually) three fall-semester classes together as a group. Each FIG is anchored by a small enrollment seminar that is only open to the students in the cohort.

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Air Force ROTC

Detachment 925 is one of the more distinguished detachments in the nation. With a solid blend of physical fitness, leadership studies, and extra-curricular events, members of Det 925 develop into well-rounded individuals, helping them excel at any activity, both and and out of the ROTC program.

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Intercollegiate Athletics

The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison provides student-athletes with opportunities to excel, and thereby advance their athletic, academic, and social development. In doing so, we endeavor to field competitive teams that display growth, integrity and accountability.

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Parent and Family Program

The Parent and Family Program launched in 2007 as part of an institutional priority to improve and centralize communications with parents and families of UW–Madison students. The program — which started with an informational website, hotline for phone calls, and dedicated email address — has now expanded to include the Badger Family Hub, printed publications, organized campus events, virtual Q&As with campus experts, Chinese (中文) and Spanish (español) websites, and many other resources.

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DesignLab and Software Training for Students

DesignLab offers free one-on-one digital design tutoring for UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff! Learn how to design better.

Get help with all of your digital projects, including presentations, posters, videos, audio, websites/blogs, infographics, and more!

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RCC

Serving Dane County since 1973, the RCC (formerly the Rape Crisis Center) is a non-profit organization that provides services to survivors (and their support people) of all forms of sexual violence, including recent sexual assault, past sexual assault, incest (past or present), sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation.

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Office of Inclusion Education

Welcome to the Office of Inclusion Education! A part of Student Affairs, our office seeks to create a place where all Badgers feel like they belong. We offer a broad array of learning opportunities for students that contribute to their Wisconsin Experience.

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First-Generation and Limited-Income (FGLI)

FGLI Services is a central hub for connection, support, and success for students who are the first in their families to attend college or come from limited-income backgrounds. The office provides a welcoming space where students can build community, explore campus opportunities, and access resources designed specifically for first-generation and limited-income Badgers.

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Transfer Transition Program

Whether you’re just starting to plan your transfer, are in the midst of the admissions process, or have started your journey as a UW-Madison undergraduate student, the Transfer Transition Program is here for you. Our goal is to get to know you better, to help you get connected at UW-Madison, and to make sure you get the information and assistance you need to make your transition as easy as possible.

Q & A Panel FAQs

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We recommend you visit It.wisc.edu for more information

There are a variety of ways to make friends and build community some common ways include:

  • Student organizations
  • Badger Volunteers
  • Wisconsin Welcome
  • Student jobs
  • Residence Halls
  • Intramural and club sports

Between move in and classes starting there are hundreds of events for new students to meet other new students. This is called Wisconsin Welcome and lasts the first five weeks of the semester. Some favorite events include the Convocation and the W Project. Learn more about Wisconsin Welcome here.

Balancing courses and extra curricular activities can definitely be complex, yet there are a many strategies our students have used to manage their time.

Many find that being more involved helps with their time management, because it prevents them from procrastinating.

Having an origination system can also be helpful. This can include a physical planner or utilizing a digital calendar, such as, Google Calendar.

Some common items include:

  • Slippers
  • Playing Cards
  • First Aid items
  • Umbrella
  • Winter boots/rain boots
  • Batteries

Something that many of our students have stated that they wish they would have known is that it takes time to make friends and build community. Many of our students have stated that they did not make their strongest friendships till the end of their first or second year.

There are a few intercity buses that bring students to Chicago, the Twin Cities, and Milwaukee. For more information about intercity busses, check out the Transportation Services website.

Have Questions? Contact Us.

608-262-4707 

soar@studentaffairs.wisc.edu 

Please have your 10-digit CampusID available.