Accept Admission

How to confirm your participation as a  CAE Scholar

Congratulations on being accepted to UW–Madison! Please follow the steps below to confirm your participation in CAE.

1. Confirm your enrollment at UW and your participation in the Summer Collegiate Experience (SCE)

• Confirm your admission to UW:
  • Pay the required enrollment deposit by May 1 to confirm your admission to UW–Madison via your Applicant Homepage. 
• Confirm your participation in SCE:
  • After you have submitted your enrollment deposit to UW, you will receive an email that includes a link to confirm your participation in the Summer Collegiate Experience (SCE) by May 8. This program is not mandatory for CAE Scholars but highly encouraged.

2. Activate your student e-mail account

Your student email is the official channel for important updates about being a CAE Scholar, the Summer Collegiate Experience (SCE), and other essential UW–Madison communications. Make sure to check it regularly.

To access your student email account:

• Activate your NetID if you have not already
• Go to email.wisc.edu
• Log in with your NetID

Need help? Instructions for configuring your campus email on your phone or desktop computer are available at kb.wisc.edu/28350.

3. Complete the remaining UW–Madison admitted First-Year Student Checklist items

Important checklist items include:

• If you have not already done so, submit the FAFSA and the CSS Profile to be considered for financial aid. Information on applying for aid can be found here: https://financialaid.wisc.edu/applying/.
• Explore Residential Learning Communities and submit your housing preferences by May 1.
• Interested in L&S Honors?   Apply now before any of the following deadlines: Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM (decisions shared by mid-March), Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM (decisions shared by early April), or Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM (decisions shared by mid-May).
• Sign up for your SOAR summer orientation sessions before May 29 (must register for 1st SOAR session by May 22).
• Register for and complete required placement tests Math B and UW English (or English as a Second Language)
  • We strongly encourage you to also take a placement test for any world languages you’ve studied.

4. Take placement tests

• Ensure completion of required placement tests, including “Math B” and “UW English” (or English as a Second Language). In-person Math B placement testing will be available to all CAE and SCE scholars on April 25 or May 16. 
• Math B placement test can be also taken online but requires a fee. Some students may be eligible for a fee waiver. Note: The Math B placement test is required; the Math A placement test will not be accepted.
• We strongly encourage you to also take a placement test in any world languages you have studied.
• REMEMBER! Placement tests must be completed at least two weeks before your SOAR session. This allows time for scoring and sharing results with academic advisors. Students who choose to attend SCE should take placement tests by May 18.

PLEASE NOTE! These next steps apply to students NOT participating in SCE. If you are participating in SCE, visit the SCE website for alternative next steps.

5. Sign up for a pre-SOAR advising session and choose your High Impact Practice (HIP)

During your pre-SOAR advising appointment, you can request a seat in your preferred high-impact practice (HIP) this Fall. CAE Scholars participate in at least one high-impact practice, such as:

• Residential Learning Communities (indicate your preference when applying for Housing).
• First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs).
• Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS)

Note: if you are choosing a residential learning community as your high-impact practice, you must indicate this in your Housing preferences by May 1.

Start exploring these opportunities to enhance your academic experience.

6. Attend SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration)

Thursday-Friday, June 18-19, or

Thursday-Friday, June 25-26, or

Monday-Tuesday, July 13-14

At SOAR, you’ll learn about student life, discuss your Fall classes with advisors, and enroll in those classes.

If you need assistance with SOAR housing or registration fees, eligible students will receive an email from the Office of Student Financial Aid in April.

QUESTIONS?
Please contact us by phone at 608-263-5068 or by e-mail at cae@saa.ls.wisc.edu.