Badger Summer Scholars

In addition to academic enrichment, students will have the opportunity to build friendships in a residential community of students from across the US and from across the world. Through group experiences and other opportunities, students can begin to explore life as a Badger and gain insights into preparing for college.

Students will participate in a variety of residence hall activities and connect with fellow participants. These activities are designed to offer the students an opportunity to disconnect from the course material and build meaningful friendships with their peers and classmates. 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.

Students will connect daily through morning meetings, activities and icebreakers with other students in the program. Group experiences are led by our Residential Assistants and may include small group discussion and collaboration to make each activity interactive. These activities will range in topic from trivia and Pictionary, to connecting over popular games, to more organized workshops that share information about the college application process and college experience. 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.

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 20th. 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

At Badger Precollege, we provide international students with engaging coursework and programming while offering different levels of support to ensure the best experience possible. To learn more about visa requirements and other details, click here.

In addition to the traditional program opportunities, international students have access to:

• A Badger Precollege staff member who will work closely with international students to create a fun and educational atmosphere while in the program. They will be available for students to communicate any ideas, concerns or issues relevant to the programs.
• An orientation session that covers all relevant information for the program and any questions that students or their families may have. It will cover technologies used in the program, what to expect within each synchronous course set up, expectations for the program and work done outside of course time, time zone set up and many other topics.
• Specific activities dedicated to creating awareness around different cultures and individual sessions that introduce the culture and community of Madison and the University.

English proficiency recommendations

To be successful in the Badger Summer Scholars program, we suggest that students demonstrate at least intermediate-level English through a minimum TOEFL score of 80 or IELTS score of 6.5 or Duolingo English Test score of 105. If you do not have a test score available but would like to see if your English is proficient for Badger Summer Scholars, you may request a phone or video interview with program staff. To schedule an interview, please email info@precollege.wisc.edu.

A limited amount of need-based financial aid funds are available to domestic students. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide scholarships to international students at this time.

If you are eligible for free or reduced lunch in Wisconsin, submit the DPI Precollege Scholarship Application. Please be sure to complete both sections of the form and have an authorized representative from your student’s school complete and sign Section II: Verification and Recommendation.

If you are not eligible for free or reduced lunch in Wisconsin, submit the first page of the 1040 form of the most recent year’s tax return with Social Security numbers redacted. 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.

Important Dates for Financial Aid

The deadline for all summer financial aid applications is April 1, 2024. Badger Summer Scholars cannot allocate aid to students who have not been admitted to a program^*. As such, the student’s program application (including application fee and supporting documentation, such as their grade report, etc.) must be completed by April 1 as well.

*Application materials can still be submitted after the financial aid deadline, but the student will not be eligible for the 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.

Financial Aid Policies

Applications will be reviewed by Badger Precollege’s Financial Aid Committee. All requests will be considered and maintained in confidentiality. As part of the application process, please remember:

• Wisconsin students are given preference for scholarship aid, but it is available to everyone.
• Applicants should first check with school officials to see if local monies are available for program costs.
• Applicants should inquire about local financial support through businesses, service organizations, etc.
• All materials supporting your application must be received by Badger Precollege no later than the financial aid deadline.
• Applicants will be notified of awards before the first payment deadline.
• Aid is determined by analyzing family income and extenuating economic circumstances according to the Income Eligibility Guidelines used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s School Lunch Program.
• Available funds for financial aid vary from year to year and past aid awards may not be an indication of current available support.
• Additional information may be requested from students and/or families prior to notification of aid.

The application fee is nonrefundable. Refunds may take up to eight weeks to process, starting from the time a written request is received by the Badger Precollege office.

Cancelation Policy

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 or deposits.

Refund Schedule

All program applications must be accompanied by the nonrefundable application fee before they can be processed.