As an exploring first-year student, you have many opportunities to create a college path that is right for you. You are also about to start a new chapter of your academic and personal life. Starting college involves exploring many new opportunities and navigating who you want to become. We support many students at different points in their academic journey, and everywhere in between. Wherever you are starting from on your academic journey, we are excited to work with you at CCAS!
What Advisors Do
At UW-Madison, advising is a partnership between you and the network of advisors you build during your time here. Advisors are professionals who have been trained to help you with your plans and goals during college and beyond. Your advisors are here to introduce you to opportunities and help you make informed decisions.
Every undergraduate student at UW-Madison will have at least one assigned advisor. Whether you have specific questions or just need someone to talk to, advisors are here to help you succeed.
Advising Support at UW-Madison
Advising is a key aspect of the teaching and learning mission of UW-Madison. There is no one standard advising “roadmap” for all students. Your journey at UW-Madison will depend on a number of factors, including: your personal and professional goals, your graduation timeline, your majors and interests, and other commitments related to family or work.
Advisors that you may interact with during your college experience include:
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Academic
An academic advisor is a professional who provides advice and guidance to students on academic matters. Your academic advisor is the point-of-contact for topics such as:
- Course selection & schedule creation
- Degree requirements
- Major exploration & declaration
- Grades/GPA
- Planning future semesters
Academic advisors are also here to support you during any academic or personal issues that you face. They can help connect you with other campus resources and help get the information you need.
If you start with CCAS, you will have an assigned CCAS academic advisor until you declare a major.
Major
After you declare a major, you will work with a major advisor through graduation. A major is a specific area of study to specialize in while in college (like Political Science, Chemistry, or Psychology), that typically consists of 30-40 credits.
After students declare a major, they will work with a major advisor through graduation. A major advisor is a professional advisor or faculty member within the academic department or unit that houses that academic program. Major advisors have full expertise within the major to help students with:
- Guiding course selection
- Staying on track for major and degree completion
- Learning about research and job opportunities
- Connecting with faculty in the academic department
Certificate
A certificate is an optional path of study that allows students to gain skills and knowledge in a specific subject or integrate multiple subject areas. These are similar to minors at other colleges & universities. Certificates are typically between 15-24 credits.
Each certificate on campus has dedicated person or team to advise students in the program. A certificate advisor is who students work with to ensure they complete the program requirements.
Career
A career advisor is a professional who provides students (and often alumni) with support in identifying and attaining career goals. Career advisors can help students with many aspects of career exploration, including:
- Gathering information & personal insight based on their interests, values, and skills.
- Discussing options on choosing a major or academic path that aligns with career goals.
- Offering help with resume writing, job search strategies, interview preparation, and career exploration.
- Providing information about internships, co-op programs, and experiential learning opportunities.
- Developing networking skills and building professional relationships.
- Organizing career-related workshops, seminars, and events.
- Providing support for graduate school applications and entrance exams.
- Offering guidance on job offers, negotiations, and career transitions.
For more information about career advising at UW-Madison, visit careers.wisc.edu.
Cohort Program
Students part of UW-Madison cohort programs may also have direct advising resources in that program. Cohort program advisors provide individualized and holistic support services for their students while at UW-Madison.
These programs include:
Specialist
A specialist advisor is an expert who provides targeted guidance and support in a specific area within the university. They have in-depth knowledge and experience related to their area and help students through specific needs. These include, but not limited to:
- Adult & Special Student Services
- Athletics Academic Services
- Basic Needs Resources
- Dean of Students Office
- International Student Services (ISS)
- McBurney Disability Resource Center
- Office of Student Financial Aid
- Study Abroad
- University Veterans Services
- Wisconsin Institute for Science Education and Community Engagement (WISCIENCE)
Strategic Exploration
Choosing a major can be both exciting and challenging as you explore many possibilities. Strategic Exploration helps you both explore majors and stay on track to graduate. Our advisors will help you make strategic choices around course selection. We will work with you to create a customized academic plan that fits your goals and interests. We will show you how you can explore your interests while not feeling behind on degree requirements.
No matter where you are starting from, we are excited to work with you at CCAS!
Completely undecided and are feeling unsure and maybe overwhelmed about where to start.
Know you want to apply to a limited enrollment program and need course planning guidance while other options.
Love many subjects and do not know how to pick one major, certificate, or a combination.
Have a general sense of what you like, but do not know, or want to explore, which programs can match those interests.
Have never had the chance to pick classes you like and need some guidance about what is possible.
Know what you DO NOT like, but need guidance trying out new experiences to see what you DO like.
Understanding Credits
If you have earned any college-level credits, be sure to send them to UW-Madison! Before you attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR), the Office of the Registrar will provide you with a Transfer Credit Evaluation detailing how your previous courses and standardized tests will transfer to UW-Madison. You will be emailed when your evaluation has been completed with instructions on how to view it in your MyUW Applicant Homepage or Student Center.
Want to see how some of your credits will transfer to UW-Madison now?
Credit by Exam
You may earn credit from college credit exams, such as: AP, IB, CLEP, and A-Levels. The Placement and Credit by Examination section of the UW Guide shows how scores on these exams equate to credit at UW-Madison. Use the tables on this page to see what you will earn based on your scores. Earned credits from exams include: direct course equivalents, breadth credits, departmental electives, and general electives.
College-Level Courses
Transferology is an online transfer equivalency database with 400+ colleges in their network. All courses evaluated by UW-Madison will appear in Transferology. This is a great place to start if you have taken at least one course through dual credit or through the institution directly.
Note: Some courses you have taken may not appear in Transferology. Those will show on your Transfer Credit Evaluation.
Limited Enrollment Programs
Some majors have limited space available and students must apply to enroll in that program. These are known as limited enrollment programs. Limited enrollment programs are competitive and have selective criteria such as: prerequisite coursework, minimum GPA requirements, auditions, and personal essays. These include majors in the College of Engineering, School of Business, School of Music, and more.
Many first-year students interested in UW-Madison’s limited enrollment programs will work with us at CCAS as they prepare to apply and explore their options. If you are interested in a limited enrollment program, you will start making an exploration plan with your advisor during SOAR and build on that plan together over time.
Learn more about Limited Enrollment Programs
Early Declaration Majors
In these programs, students are strongly encouraged to start as early as possible. This is most often due to the structure and sequencing of the coursework. Students pursuing one of these programs will most often declare in their first year on campus.