UNIVERSITY of WISCONSIN-MADISON

Close Menu
Open Menu
A group of precollege students in a lab

College Ready @ Badger Precollege

Analytical skills for college success

How do I find a good-fit school for me and my budget? What are my options post-graduation from high school? How do I start navigating the higher education process? What if college isn’t a good fit for me?

If these are the questions you are asking yourself, College Ready is the course for you. This dynamic college prep experience for high school students combines online and overnight opportunities to provide broad college preparatory experiences and incorporate transferable readiness skills, all to help prepare students for applying to college. With decades of experience and many insights learned, our staff is prepared to support your exploration and show you that higher education is not only valuable, but attainable. We work closely with UW–Madison campus partners to provide students with current information regarding admissions, financial aid, educational options, and more. Any interested high school student who wants to expand their tool-kit for decision-making is welcome to apply.

The online experience provides an interactive look at options in higher education and navigating the process of finding the right school. Classes are taught online in Canvas and Zoom. Each 2-hour class engages students in varied activities incorporating critical self-reflection, dynamic discussion, college-admissions content, guest speakers, and collaborative work time. The program culminates in an optional overnight stay, providing the opportunity to live the college experience. Customize your learning through drafting an admissions essay, budgeting for college, and diving into Student Life. Explore campus, engage in student culture, and visit undergraduate classes – all experiences designed to give you a taste of what it means to Think, Prepare, and Act like a college student.

At a glance

When

October 21–November 15, 2025

Fall Online: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 –8 p.m. CT
Fall Overnight Experience: November 13–15, 2025
**To participate in the overnight experience, students must complete the online experience**

registration

Opens: Late August

Closes: October 13

Scholarship application deadline

Nonrefundable application fee: $75

Due October 13, 2025

homework committment

Approximately 1 hour per week

who

Current high school students (grades 9-12)

tuition

$450 for online experience only
$650 for online and overnight experience

The College Ready program was a huge help for my view of college and being able to see the day to day life of being a college student before actually becoming one.

—College Ready Student

Prepare for your best-fit school in the ultimate hybrid college readiness experience

A student in on his laptop

Relevant

Customizable components in the overnight experience allow for students to learn about topics that best answer their questions and meet their needs as they navigate the college admissions process.  Students can choose from admissions essay writing, student life exploration, or financial aid workshops.

A group of precollege students with their tour guide.

Comprehensive

We’ve partnered with UW-Madison Admissions, the Office of Student Financial Aid, the Career Exploration Center, and more to provide information on college admissions, financial aid, choosing a major and more. Students will have the opportunity to interact with the same UW–Madison professionals who assist incoming undergraduates on their college-bound journeys.

Synchronous and engaging

Classes are offered synchronously, meaning that students are together in the same virtual classroom at the same time with their instructors. Frequent small-group breakout sessions to maximize engagement, provide feedback, and facilitate discussion.

  • Overnight experience
  • Registration information
  • Scholarship information
  • Instructor biography

This is a general, sample itinerary. A formalized itinerary, packing list, and necessary forms will be provided after registration.

TimeActivity
Thursday, November 7thDay 1
6–7 p.m.Check In
EveningWelcome dinner and events. Possible events include: UW Student Panel and visiting Memorial Union
Friday, November 8thDay 2
MorningBreakfast, visit an undergraduate course; campus tour
AfternoonLunch, breakout sessions
Early eveningExploring State Street and Campus; Dinner
EveningUW Madison Event
Saturday, November 9thDay 3
MorningExplore Madison and UW Campus
AfternoonFinal workshop and presentations; check out

More information about the overnight experience can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

How to:

Note: Students applying for a full or partial scholarship should review the Scholarships section before registering.

  1. Complete the online registration.
  2. The tuition of $650 (Online + Overnight) or $450 (Online Only) is due at the time of registration.
  3. Activate your NetID and Login to Canvas (instructions will be sent via an automated email).
  4. Complete any additional forms provided after initial sign-up by posted deadlines.

Refund Policy*
A full refund, minus a $50 nonrefundable administration fee, will be issued anytime between registration and two days prior to the program starting. Students dismissed for disciplinary reasons are not eligible for any refund. Students voluntarily leaving while the program is in session are not eligible for any refund.

All requests for refunds must be received in writing to [email protected]. Refunds may take up to eight weeks to process, starting from the time a written request is received by Badger Precollege.

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.

Time Zone Considerations
College Ready @ Badger Precollege requires students to participate in online synchronous learning during central time on the days listed. Please use this tool to take this into consideration if you live in a different time zone.

*Please note that this policy differs from our other Badger Precollege refund policies. This is because the registration timeline is much shorter for College Ready than for our other programming. Thank you for your understanding.

We are pleased to offer full and partial scholarships to students who participate in the College Ready program on a first-come, first-served basis. Please review the information below to see if you qualify.

**The last date to submit scholarship documents is October 7th. Please note that earlier submissions may increase your chances of receiving aid.**

Full Scholarship: Open to Wisconsin 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
  • Submit a DPI Form with your school’s Authorized Representative signature (ex: Food Service Director, Principal, Counselor) AND the checkbox verifying your free-reduced lunch status before submitting your registration. Once this has been received we will follow-up with further instructions.

If you don’t qualify for a full scholarship or are not a resident of Wisconsin, you may qualify for a partial scholarship.

Partial Scholarship:
To qualify for a partial scholarship, you must:

  • 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.
  • Once your aid amount has been determined, you will be directed to register for the program. Please note that the leftover balance after your scholarship has been applied will be due at time of registration.

Scholarship Documents can be submitted via email to [email protected] OR mailed to our office:
Badger Precollege
21 N Park St, 7th Floor
Madison, WI 53715

*Please note that students who accept a scholarship through the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) are only allowed three DPI scholarships per year. If a student wishes to take both College Ready @ Badger Precollege and the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) within the same year and DPI funding is available, they may do so. The current year is defined as July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025.

Sara Bembenek-Saborio is an English as a Second Language Instructor, Curriculum Designer, Program Manager, and Course Facilitator who has been with UW-Madison for over six years in the areas of international education, program design, and college readiness with high school students in both in person and online courses. Sara collaborates extensively with both the UW campus & greater Madison community and international educational partners to design courses that inform and prepare students for understanding their educational options after high school and having the tools needed to navigate the higher educational landscape.

Frequently asked questions

Learning Experience

What is the online experience like?

Classes are held synchronously, meaning that you will be in the same virtual classroom as other students at the same time. Classes include small and large group discussions, collaborative projects and short lectures, making classes spaces for students to connect and engage with one another.

What is the staff to student ratio for College Ready?

The staff to student ratio is kept small to provide personal attention to each student, 1 staff member for every 10 students.

Why should my student participate in the overnight experience?

The overnight experience is unique to Badger Precollege and is just one way we facilitate Thinking, Preparing, and Acting like a college student. This experience gives students access to campus resources and culture all while solidifying their final project concentration. We will visit campus centers that provide support to undergraduate students and take in aspects of campus life that are unique to UW-Madison or reflect what you might find in a college town, all while meeting Office of Youth Protection policies.

What technology is required for College Ready?

Classes are taught online in Canvas and Zoom, the same software UW–Madison and countless other universities use to teach their students. We ask that you have access to reliable internet. Chromebooks, Windows, Linux and Apple computers are all welcome. We recommend that you have a minimum 2mb downstream and 256k upstream internet speed.

What if a student needs academic help?

If a student needs academic help in this program, we ask that the student reach out to their teacher (if their teacher hasn’t already reached out to the student) and ask about next steps. Additionally, each session is supported by our team of Educational Assistants who are on hand to guide students through any questions they might have.

Overnight Experience

What does transportation look like to and from campus?

Students are responsible for getting themselves to UW-Madison. Students traveling by bus or airplane can use services such as Uber or Lyft, or even walk (in some cases) to get to the hotel location. Before booking your mode of transportation, it is recommended you reach out to the Program Manager to verify arrival/departure times.

How will you keep my student safe on campus?

As with our online experience, students will always interact with at least one teacher and teaching assistant. While staying overnight, students will have access to at least one residential assistant who will provide supervision and support. We maintain supervision ratios of 1 staff member for every 10 students in all settings. All program staff have been background checked and have taken the required trainings from the Office of Youth Protection and Compliance. For further questions on student safety, please fill out the form below.

Where will my student be staying?

Students will stay in one of the hotels on or nearby campus. Due to Office of Youth Protection guidelines and undergraduate students living on campus, we are not able to provide lodging in the dorms. We do, however, provide this during our summer programs. Checkout Badger Summer Scholars or the Accelerated Learning Program for more information about how your student can have a summer dorm experience!

Will my student have a room to themselves?

No. Students will share a room with another College Ready participant. Each room is a double room, with one bed for each student.

When and where will my student eat?

Students will eat in one of the campus dining halls. A total of five meals will be provided during the overnight experience. See the sample itinerary to learn when these will occur.

My student will be missing a day of school. Can I receive a form to verify my student’s participation in the overnight experience?

Yes! We will provide a document if needed to verify your student’s participation in the overnight experience for the purpose of attendance tracking with their school.

Do you still have questions? Please fill out the form below.

Form

Let us help

Name*
Questions or comments about Badger Precollege or precollege programs.
Join Mailing List*
Age Verification*
Interested in Badger Precollege programs for international students?
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.