Badger Summer Scholars
Spend your summer with UW–Madison, exploring what it means to live, learn and become a college student.
Badger Summer Scholars is a transformative residential college preparatory experience for students in 9th through 12th grade. Through meeting with and learning from UW experts in various fields and academic areas of interest, applicants will explore the college application process and experience a taste of what it means to live and learn like a college student. Applicants should be ready to take the next step in their journey and to engage in a rewarding college program with peers from all over the country.
Why BSS
Participants in the program will learn what it is like to be a Badger and gain valuable experience living and learning in a dynamic and challenging environment, all while interacting with UW–Madison staff and Badger Precollege instructors at a top-ranked university. Our high school students will have the opportunity to learn about the college admissions process, financial aid applications, campus life and more. Our courses showcase the many topics students can study in college, giving students an advantage in deciding their college major.
What to expect
Students are in class each weekday with a morning class session, afternoon class session, and a required study session immediately after. Once a week students spend their afternoons in our Jump Forward series, designed to help students understand various college admissions and student life topics. Class sizes are kept small to allow for an engaging course and are taught by UW–Madison staff and Badger Precollege instructors who have the same level of commitment and involvement for Badger Summer Scholars as they would from college students. In class you will utilize campus resources, become a more independent learner and increase your confidence in approaching challenging academic tasks. By the end of the program, you should notice better time management skills when handling complex projects and an improved understanding of yourself, your strengths and your talents!
Residential students experience what it is like to live in the dorm and form lasting friendships through free time and coordinated activities while exploring the UW-Madison campus and surrounding areas. Learn more about the residential experience.
Commuter students attend the program on weekdays and depart campus once the study session has concluded. They may transport themselves to and from campus daily with parent/guardian permission.
At a glance
Program Dates
July 20–August 1, 2025
Format
In-person; Residential or Commuter options available.
Application Open Date
January 13, 2025
Application Deadline
May 1, 2025
Tuition & Fees
Nonrefundable application fee: $100
Domestic Student: $4,250
Commuter Student: $2,500
International Student: $4,600
Tuition due in two parts on May 15th and June 1st.
Be a Badger Summer Scholar
Learn from UW–Madison staff and Badger Precollege Instructors
Prepare for the college application process and college essay writing
Meet students from around the world
Immerse yourself in the college experience
Application process
Explore the course options available and review the application information below for admission criteria, application requirements, and information regarding accommodations. Applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis and courses fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Early registration will increase the likelihood of being placed in your top choice.
If applicable, review the scholarship information and prepare necessary documentation.
Gather any supporting documentation needed. International students should also review specific requirements related to English proficiency.
Complete the online application, indicating your first-choice course and uploading all application and any scholarship documents.
Admissions decisions made by a committee and will be released on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month. Depending on when you apply, you may wait 2-5 weeks before receiving a decision. Students can be Admitted, Conditionally Admitted* or Denied. If admitted, students have three weeks from the date of admittance to secure their enrollment by submitting all required acceptance forms.
*Conditionally Admitted: the student may need to provide additional information and will have three weeks to do so. If the student is unable to complete the additional steps or the additional documentation does not meet required standards, Badger Precollege reserves the right to determine when and how denial is communicated.
Waitlists: Students must apply to the program to be placed on a waitlist and, if admitted, submit all required forms within three weeks of admission as course waitlists are generated on first come, first served basis. Admitted students will receive a form allowing them to request a spot on a course waitlist. We recommend students to complete the form as soon as they are admitted to secure the best spot on the waitlist.
application
Admission criteria:
Students who participate in Badger Summer Scholars typically:
- Have been successful in courses that relate to their first choice course*
- Earn a 3.0 or higher GPA (unweighted) or commensurate
- Clearly demonstrate an interest in their first choice course
- Clearly articulate their responses to essay questions
Academic growth is considered and students may use essays or other supplemental materials to demonstrate interest, achievement, or speak to extenuating circumstances that may impact academic performance.
*Some Badger Precollege courses have recommended prerequisites to allow for greatest success. Students may use essays or supplemental materials to demonstrate how their academic course load meets these requirements if they feel it may not be obvious to the admissions committee. Additionally, the admissions committee may request further information to make a determination.
Application requirements:
All Applicants must submit the following materials, preferably as PDFs:
- Two Essays; submitted as one document (approx. 500 words total)
- Unofficial Transcript; must show all years of high school academic achievement, including current semester.
- If the transcript does not include the current semester/quarter/trimester, please include the current report card as well.
- 9th Grade Students may submit a report card(s) if a transcript is unavailable. Students must submit all high school grades to date.
Applicants may submit additional materials that best represent their ability to be successful in their first choice course. Examples could include the optional essay question answer, test scores (ACT, SAT, state/national tests, etc.), or letter(s) of recommendation.
International applicants:
Demonstrate at least intermediate-level English by:
- Submitting a minimum TOEFL score of 80, IELTS score of 6.5 or Duolingo English Test score of 105.
- If you do not have a test score available and would like to see if your English is suitable for our programs, you may request a phone or video interview with program staff by emailing [email protected]. Interviews must take place before an admissions decision can be made. We recommend you contact us before or shortly after you apply to the program to ensure a timely admissions decision.
Essay questions:
- What is your motivation for taking this course? What past experiences will allow you to be successful? How does this course relate to your future plans?
- What is one accomplishment you are the most proud of? (This could be in academics, sports, hobbies, growth goals, etc.)
- (Optional) How do you respond when something is difficult for you? What strategies do you use to overcome difficulties?
Accommodations:
Students can request accommodations after being accepted into the program. Please review Accommodation information here.
We are pleased to offer full and partial scholarships to students who participate in the Badger Summer Scholars program on a first-come, first-served basis. Please review the information below to see if you qualify. At this time no scholarship assistance is available to international students. Funds available for scholarships are limited and are distributed throughout the month of January-March on a rolling basis.
Prior to applying, a student may request a waiver for the application fee in writing to [email protected].
All materials supporting your application for scholarship assistance must be submitted with your application or received within two weeks of program application submission. Documents not included on the application can be sent to [email protected]. No new applications for scholarships will be accepted after March 24, 2025.
Please visit our financial information page for more information and to review the full scholarship policy.
Scholarship Application Process
Full Scholarship: Available to WI Residents Only
To qualify for a full scholarship you must:
- Receive free or reduced lunch in the state of Wisconsin during the current school year
- Upload a DPI Form when you apply to the program with your school’s Authorized Representative signature (ex: Food Service Director, Principal, Counselor) AND the checkbox verifying your free-reduced lunch status.
If you don’t qualify for a full scholarship or are not a resident of Wisconsin, you may qualify for a partial scholarship of up to 50% of the tuition cost.
Partial Scholarships:
To qualify for a partial scholarship you must:
- Upload the first page of the 1040 form of the most recent year’s tax return with Social Security numbers redacted to the program application. If extenuating circumstances (i.e. loans, loss of employment) are not reflected on tax return but are impacting your family’s finances, please also submit your financial need story.
Additional information (essay, interview, phone conversation, etc.) may be requested from students and/or families prior to notification of aid.
Notification of Aid
Families will be notified of decisions via email prior to the first tuition payment due date. Badger Precollege is committed to making an allocation of financial aid funds to allow the largest possible number of students to attend our programs. Families will be required to submit their intent to accept financial aid. Failure to do so by the deadline posted in your award letter may result in a loss of partial or full aid award.
The Jump Forward Series covers a variety of topics designed to engage students in better understanding the college admissions process and the overall college experience.
Students will have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the college application process, discover how to craft the best college essay, explore financial aid options and more by connecting with professionals who assist incoming undergraduate students on their college-bound journeys via in-person presentations, tours, and Q&A sessions. Students will also get to hear from UW–Madison academic departments, allowing students to further explore academic and vocational subjects.
Badger Summer Scholars staff work closely with our UW–Madison campus partners to provide students with up-to-date information regarding the above topics and more. Through this experience, students will gain valuable knowledge enabling them to confidently jump into their college journey.
While our programs are designed to challenge and engage students academically, we are also committed to providing a space for students to have serious fun and feel safe and comfortable to be authentically themselves.
Housing and meals
Residential student tuition covers the cost to live in one of the residence halls on campus and three meals provided by one of our buffet-style dining halls. Students may also choose to eat some meals on State Street or use standard meal delivery apps like UberEats, DoorDash, etc.
Activities
Students will connect daily through morning meetings, activities and icebreakers with other students in the program. They also have the opportunity to explore parts of Madison through group experiences led by our Residential Assistants. These activities will range in topic from trivia, bracelet making, nature walks, trips to state street, board games, reading and relaxation, shopping trips, visiting the Zoo/Beach, art classes, campfires, movie nights, etc. Additionally, as with other Badger Precollege Programs, students will always have access to administrative staff, residential assistants and instructors to help facilitate student success and connection.
Free time
An important part of any precollege experience is the opportunity for students to explore and practice autonomy while in a new setting. With a balance of unstructured and structured free time students can socialize and try new things, but also take time for independence and relaxation. Each day is scheduled for students to have a level of freedom while adhering to boundaries and timeframes. They will have freetime in the afternoon after classes and workshops and again after dinner. Each period of free time also features optional activities organized by residential staff, which students may participate in if they would like.
Weekends
We all enjoy a little extra time to sleep in on the weekends and at Badger Precollege we make sure to factor it into the schedule! On weekends students have more time to explore other parts of campus and Madison often through staff-led excursions. This could include opportunities to kayak, shop, take an art-making class on campus, play a game of pick-up ball, and much much more. Longer periods of time for activities and exploration give students the opportunity to socialize with others through staff-led activities, or do some self-exploration as well.
Getting to the program
All international students should arrive to Madison, WI one day prior to the official program start date. For Badger Summer Scholars, this will be on Saturday, July 19th. The purpose of this is so Badger Precollege can facilitate an International Student Orientation on Sunday morning before the remaining participants arrive. After acceptance, the Badger Precollege team will provide students with additional information regarding the best airports to utilize, timeframes for arrival, and opportunities for shuttles. All housing and meals are included in the tuition costs.
Support for international participants
Visas: The process of obtaining visa and travel documents is a responsibility of a student applicant. UW-Madison cannot advise students on visa procedures or eligibility. Participants not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program are recommended to get a B-1/B-2 Tourist Visa before coming to the United States. You can find out if your country is included in the waiver program by visiting this site.
Acceptance Letters/Letters of Support: Each admitted student will receive an acceptance letter confirming their enrollment in the program. Included in this letter should be all necessary information to apply for a visa. However, upon request, a letter of support can be additionally provided. Students are strongly encouraged to bring their acceptance letter and other supporting documents to their visa interview at the US Embassy.
Cancelations and refunds
Badger Precollege reserves the right to cancel classes when necessary, including those for which enrollment numbers are not sufficient, or those for which a highly qualified instructor is unavailable. In the case of course cancellations, we will be happy to help you choose an alternative course. If no acceptable alternative is available, we will refund any tuition paid, minus any non-refundable application fees. We will also work with families to process refunds in the case of student illness or injury.
Refunds may take up to eight weeks to process, starting from the time a written request is received by the Badger Precollege office.
To view the full refund policy and other financial policies, please visit our financial information page.
I met some amazing people and had a great time. The things that I learned could not have been taught anywhere else and this has made me so excited for college and continuing my path of learning.
—Badger Summer Scholars Student
2024
More from Badger Precollege
Make the most of your summer with Badger Precollege and sign up to be with us the entire summer! Check out Accelerated Learning Programs for additional opportunities for high school students.