Center for Academic Excellence (CAE)
College of Letters & Science

Summer Collegiate Experience

 

Preparing Students for Success

 

 The Summer Collegiate Experience (SCE) is a six-week residential program designed for selected incoming first-year students. During the program, participants take two courses, meet with an academic advisor to plan their fall semester courses, and explore the resources available at UW–Madison.

SCE courses provide an opportunity for students to make connections with peers, faculty, and staff while getting a preview of student life at UW–Madison. The experience supports students to transition smoothly into university life and allows them to establish a strong foundation for success in their academic careers.

Confirming Your Enrollment in SCE and Next Steps

1. Confirm your enrollment at UW and your participation in 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 CAE and SCE:
      • Confirm your participation in the CAE program by May 1.
  • Confirm your participation in the Summer Collegiate Experience (SCE) agreement by May 1

2. Activate your Student Email 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:

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:

  • Submit your FASFA to be considered for potential funding and scholarship opportunities.
  • Explore Residential Learning Communities and submit your housing preferences by May 1.
  • Interested in L&S Honors? Apply now before April 27.
  • Sign up for your SOAR summer orientation sessions before June.
  • 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.

Students who choose to attend SCE should take placement tests by May 17.

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 12 (room 204 Ed Sciences) and May 17 (room 228 Ed Sciences) on UW- Madison’s campus. Please let us know you are coming.
    • Please bring your ID, #2 pencils, and a non-graphing calculator with you.
    • If you need to request accommodations, please email Tim O’Connor at tnoconno@wisc.edu
  • Math B placement test can be also taken online but requires a fee. Some students may be eligible for automatic fee waiver.
  • We strongly encourage you to also take a placement test in any world languages you have studied.
  • Placement tests must be completed by May 17. This allows time for scoring and sharing results with academic advisors before your SCE course selection advising session.

5. Sign up for SCE Course Selection Advising & Select Courses

  • Sign up for an online session with an advisor to discuss SCE courses. Further Instructions will be emailed to you in early May. 
  • Course selection opens up May 23.

6. Attend SCE

  • Arrive on campus on June 21
  • Participate in SCE from June 21 to August 1

Academics

SCE participants take one morning class and one afternoon class, both running for the full six-week program. Students will have the opportunity to rank their preferences from a list of available classes. Once their preferred classes are approved, students will receive confirmation of their class assignments and enrollment by June 17.

The following courses are offered as part of the SCE program:

  • Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences 100: Weather and Climate
  • Communication Arts 100: Introduction to Speech Communication
  • Communication Arts 260: Communication and Human Behavior
  • Computer Science/Library & Information Studies 102: Introduction to Computation
  • English 100: Introduction to College Composition
  • Folklore 100: Introduction to Folklore
  • Mathematics 118: Summer Collegiate Experience Mathematics
  • Astronomy 103: The Evolving Universe: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology
  • Chican@ Latin@ Studies 201: Introduction to Chican@ and Latin@ Studies
  • Classics 102: Ancient Narratives and Modern Times
  • History 109: Freedom Seekers: Slavery and Revolution in Early America
  • Integrated Science 100/150: Exploring Biology and Exploring Research in STEM
  • Library & Information Studies 202: Informational Divides and Differences in a Multicultural Society
  • Sociology 134:  The Sociology of Race and Ethnicity in the United States
  • Sociology 138: The Sociology of Gender

View the 2025 SCE Courses Page for more details.

Program Cost


The SCE program covers the cost of all tuition, housing, meals, and required textbooks for participants.

Housing


Accommodation for the program will be in Tripp Residence Hall. Each student will be assigned a single room, offering a comfortable and quiet environment to focus on academics and engage with peers.