Welcome to our Virtual Advising Week page! We are excited to connect with you for SOAR online this summer! We are looking forward to helping start your UW academic experience with confidence. This page serves as the guide for our CCAS Virtual Advising Week, as part of your online SOAR experience. All times listed on this page are in U.S. Central Time (UTC-5/GMT-5).
This page includes the following information:
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What to do during your Virtual Advising Week session
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Descriptions for each part of the virtual SOAR program
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Who to contact us when you have questions
Virtual SOAR Overview
Our goal during SOAR is to help you set the foundation for your first semester at UW. The Virtual SOAR program consists of both live and on-your-own activities that focus on two themes:
- Academic Advising & Enrollment – hosted by your advising group
- Student Life & Transition – hosted by the SOAR Program team
This page will outline the Academic Advising & Enrollment component for your virtual advising experience with CCAS. For more information about the Student Life & Transition component, visit the Virtual Student Life & Transition landing page on the SOAR Program website linked below.
Scheduling your CCAS Virtual Advising Week
What your Virtual Advising Week schedule looks like is up to you! We provide flexible options for advising appointments and all our live activities. We strongly recommend scheduling your academic advising appointment first, and then sign up for other live activities. Attending an academic advising appointment is required to enroll in Fall 2026 courses.
You will sign up for each activity using the following platforms:
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Starfish - to schedule your academic advising appointment
Starfish is a UW-Madison tool to connect students with advisors (both academic and career) and other support professionals. You will schedule your SOAR academic advising appointment using this tool.
Need to schedule your appointment? The following links will take you directly to the available advising appointment times with a professional advisor. Click the button that matches your student type:
International First-Year students Transfer Students. U.S. First-Year Students
Scheduling an Appointment
After clicking your direct link, you will be in the CCAS SOAR scheduling profile in Starfish. Select “Academic advising for SOAR” as the reason for making an appointment then click the Continue button in the bottom right.
You should then see all the open SOAR appointment times times for our advisors for your Virtual Advising Week. Select ONE meeting time that works for you, then click the Continue button.
On the next screen, select “Zoom-SOAR” as the location and then add in any notes you want to share with the advisor, if anything. This can include:
- Questions you want to cover during the meeting
- Any information you believe is important for your SOAR advisor to know
Click Confirm. You have scheduled your SOAR advising appointment!
Checking your Appointment Details:
After scheduling, you will get an invitation to your UW Microsoft 365 Outlook Calendar within 10-15 minutes. The invite will have the appointment details and the Zoom link to join the meeting. You can access your UW Outlook Calendar through the Email tile in MyUW and then clicking the Calendar icon on the left menu. If you need help accessing your UW-Madison email or Zoom account, contact the DoIT Help Desk.
You will also see the appointment listed in your Upcoming section listed in the navigation menu on the left in Starfish.
To access Starfish in MyUW:
You can also access Starfish from your MyUW dashboard. You will use Starfish to make appointments with your assigned advisor during the academic year.
MyUW:
- Login to MyUW
- Search for Starfish
- Note: Click Add to home for easy access later!
Doodle Sign-up Sheet - to register for a Keynote Kickoff and Group Chats
You will sign up for a Keynote Kickoff and Group Chat sessions using Doodle Signup Sheet. Follow the instructions below to sign up for these activities. Reminder: Please schedule your advising appointment before signing up for these sessions.
How to use Doodle Signup Sheet:
1) Click the Doodle Signup Sheet for your Virtual Advising Week below:
Sign up for Keynote and Group Chats (August 10-13)
2) The first page of the sheet will show all the days and times for Keynote Kickoffs and Group Chats. Scroll down the page to see all options.
3) Select all the sessions you plan to attend by clicking the checkbox to the left of the event title. If you select an event by accident, click the checkbox again to de-select it from your list.
4) After choosing your events, you will see the total at the bottom of the page. Click Continue.
5) At the top of the next page, enter your first and last name in the Your Name box. Please enter your @wisc.edu email in the Email box.
- If you do not know your @wisc.edu email or cannot access it, contact the DoIT Help Desk for help.
6) The next section of the page will show a summary of your chosen sessions. Click Confirm Booking to finish the sign-up sheet!
7) The next page will show you the list of sessions you signed up for. This is the end of the signup sheet!
8) You will also get a confirmation email from Doodle showing the days, times, and Zoom links for each session you chose. Click the Zoom link at the session start time to join its Zoom room.
After getting your Doodle confirmation email, we also recommend doing the following:
- Pinning this confirmation email in your UW Outlook email inbox to have easy access to these links.
- Creating a meeting for yourself in your UW Outlook Calendar for each session you are attending. Add the Zoom link as the location for each meeting. This will allow you to make a visual schedule for all your Virtual Advising Week activities.
Making edits to your signup sheet:
Need to change your session choices? Follow these steps to update your selections:
1) At the bottom of your Doodle confirmation email, click the View Event button. This will take you to your Selection Summary page.
2) At the top of the page, click the Edit booking button.
3) The selection page will be open. Update your events list by selecting the options you want and de-selecting the ones you do not want (if any). When you are done making updates, click Continue.
4) You will now see the new sessions you chose on the summary page. The sessions you did not change will say “Signed up”. Click Confirm booking to update your choices.
5) You will get a new confirmation email that shows the sessions you changed.
Must Do (by Friday of your week):
- Complete the CCAS SOAR Academic Advising Canvas course (before advising appointment) – 30-45 min
- Attend your 1:1 Academic Advising Appointment – 45 min
- Attend your Keynote Kickoff – 45 min
- Participate in one Group Chat of your choice – 30 min
- Enroll in at least 12 credits (full-time status) – time varies
- Complete your Post-Enrollment Reflection form (after you enroll in courses) – 3-5 min
- Attend your Student Life & Transition activities (hosted by the SOAR program team) – time varies
Encouraged:
- Participate in multiple CCAS Group Chats and SOAR Student Life & Transition sessions
- Visit our Zoom drop-in advising when you have questions after your appointment
- Use our recommended Campus Exploration resources to look forward to your first year at UW-Madison
Activity Descriptions
- Advising Appointment
- SOAR Advising Canvas Course
- Keynote Kickoff
- CCAS Group Chats
- Campus Exploration Resources
- Zoom Drop-in Advising
- Enroll in Courses
- Post-Enrollment Reflection Form
Your SOAR advising appointment is a 45-minute video meeting on Zoom with a CCAS academic advisor. This meeting is a key part of your SOAR advising experience, and one that our advisors look forward to! We recommend using your UW-Madison Zoom account for this meeting if possible.
You must meet with a CCAS advisor to be able to enroll in Fall 2026 courses. You will choose a appointment time with Starfish, UW’s scheduling platform for advisors. Our SOAR advising appointment times generally happen between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. US Central Time (UTC-5). After your appointment, the advisor will remove the enrollment hold.
Still need to schedule your appointment? Click the button that matches your student type to see open appointment times.
International First-Year students Transfer Students. U.S. First-Year Students
In your 1:1 advising appointment, you will do the following:
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Review placement exam results, transfer credits, and degree requirements
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Get answers to your questions
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Discuss major and academic interests
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Confirm your plan for Fall 2026 courses
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Get connected with your assigned CCAS advisor for the academic year
The earlier you schedule, the more appointment times will be available. You may only schedule one advising appointment during your CCAS Virtual Advising Week. If you cannot meet during any of the available times, please email us at questions@ccas.wisc.edu and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
The CCAS SOAR Academic Advising Canvas course will introduce you to information that will help you enroll in your first semester classes. You will get access to the course in your UW Canvas Dashboard at least 7 days before the start of your CCAS Virtual Advising Week. Please complete Steps 1-5 in this course before your advising appointment so that you can enroll in courses afterwards.
- Step 1 | Learn about the Advising and Enrollment Process
- Step 2 | Welcome to Cross-College Advising Service (CCAS)
- Step 3 | How to prepare for your CCAS Advising Appointment
- Step 4 | What to do during your CCAS Virtual Advising Week
- Step 5 | Encouraged SOAR Activities
Keynote Kickoff is our welcome to you for Virtual Advising Week! Join us as we start off week with an introduction to advising, where you will learn how CCAS helps you explore majors, build a balanced schedule, and navigate the enrollment process with confidence. We will also have time for questions and answers (Q&A). We will host Keynote Kickoffs via Zoom on the mornings of Day 1 and 2 of each Virtual Advising Week.
During this session, CCAS staff will:
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Introduce you to the CCAS community and how we support your success as a student
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Learn how to use Course Search and Enroll to help start your exploration of courses and UW’s academic opportunities
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Answer questions about Virtual Advising Week & advising with CCAS
August 10-14 Virtual Advising Week Keynote Kickoff time options:
- Monday, August 10: 8:00-8:45 a.m.
- Tuesday, August 11: 8:00-8:45 a.m.
Still need to sign up for your Keynote Kickoff? Click the button below for instructions!
Our Group Chats are information sessions on various topics led by our advising team. Each Group Chat session will be on Zoom and different topics are offered throughout the week. Review your Virtual Advising Week welcome email for the sign up form. Group Chats are offered at various times Days 1-4 of your Virtual Advising Week. Review the sign-up sheet linked below for specific days and times. We encourage you to attend multiple Group Chats based on your interests!
Still need to sign up for Group Chats? Click the button below for instructions!
Our CCAS Group Chat sessions are the following:
Applying to the College of Engineering
CCAS is the dedicated advising office for helping any student intending to apply to the College of Engineering. Applying to the UW–Madison College of Engineering is the gateway to becoming a Badger engineer, and there are 13 majors to explore. Students must meet a set of minimum requirements to apply to one of these Engineering degree programs. Join us to learn more about the application process and taking the first steps toward becoming a Badger engineer!
Exploring Majors and Beyond at UW
As an exploring student, you are a part of a large community of students within CCAS! This session will dig into the variety of strategies you can use to explore your interests and connect with other exploring students!
First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs)
First-Year Students only: A First-Year Interest Group (FIG) is a cohort of 20 first-year students who enroll in a cluster of three courses that are connected by a common theme. Each FIG is anchored by a seminar that is only open to the 20 students in the FIG. There are more than 60 different FIGs offered on a wide variety topics and many include field trips or other hands-on learning opportunities. FIGs are a great way to meet other students who share a common academic interest, develop a close connection with a faculty member, and engage in unique interdisciplinary thinking. All of the courses in every FIG count toward graduation, and most fulfill general education or breadth requirements that apply to every UW–Madison student. In this session, FIGs program staff will explain the program and answer any questions you have!
Interested in a FIG after this session and need help with the process? Schedule a meeting with a FIGs Peer Advisor to discuss enrolling in a FIG!
Meet with the FIGs Team (Starfish link)
Navigating UW-Madison Coursework
Kick off your first year at UW with the academic tools and resources that will set you up for success. This session introduces key study skills for navigating college-level coursework, normalizes help‑seeking by introducing resources available to you, and shows you how to access them. Leave with clear next steps for connecting with campus support and building strong academic habits.
Undergraduate Research at UW
UW–Madison is home to hundreds of research groups, opening up a world of possibilities for you to do research with some of the world’s leading researchers. Research can be a valuable experience for many career paths and provides opportunities for skill development that can be transferred to many contexts. This session will introduce you to the scope of research at UW, benefits of engaging in research as an undergraduate, and provide concrete steps to finding a research experience on campus.
Pre-Health & Pre-Law Advising
Thinking about a future in healthcare or law? This session will connect you with advisors in both Pre-Health and Pre-Law who can introduce you to the academic pathways, support resources, and steps to prepare for applying to professional schools.
We have made a list of asynchronous, or “on your own time”, activities we recommend doing to explore UW-Madison before the Fall! We encourage you to do look through these anytime before the fall semester starts.
- Check out our 2026 CCAS SOAR Handbook – You can pick up a printed copy when you arrive in the Fall!
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Start Exploring page (CCAS Website)
- Exploring Academic Opportunities by Interest
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New Student pages (CCAS Website):
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Explore ways to get involved in student organizations on the Wisconsin Involvement Network
- View the Campus Resource list on the SOAR Virtual Students landing page
After your SOAR advising appointment, you can attend our drop-in advising hours on Zoom if you need more help! Our Peer Advisors host these drop-in advising sessions for advising and enrollment questions. Peer Advisors are current UW students who are highly-trained in academic advising information. You can also attend more than one drop-in session if you have more questions throughout the summer. We are here to help you during your transition to UW-Madison!
Common topics for Zoom drop-ins include:
- Help with selecting and enrolling in courses
- How to add, swap, or drop a course
- Understanding waitlisted courses
- Help using Course Search and Enroll
- Learn where to find exam schedules and textbooks
- Discuss location of courses
- Any other academic questions!
For our full SOAR drop-in advising schedule and Zoom room link, visit the following page:
You will use the Course Search & Enroll website to explore courses and enroll in your Fall 2026 schedule. You should enroll in at least 12 credits by the Friday afternoon of your Virtual Advising Week (unless told otherwise). More information about how to use Course Search & Enroll is in Steps 3 and 4 of the CCAS Academic Advising Canvas course.
For more enrollment help, review the Office of the Registrar’s Enrollment help guides or contact us at questions@ccas.wisc.edu.
We want to hear from you! The Post-Enrollment Reflection Form gives the chance to review your Virtual Advising Week. This form contains:
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Opportunities to provide feedback on your CCAS advising experience
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Connections to information and resources to help you prepare for the fall
Please complete this form AFTER you have enrolled in Fall courses:
Technology & Connectivity
Your SOAR program is being delivered in a fully online format. We want to ensure all of our students know the tools needed to complete the program and be prepared for the academic year. During SOAR, you will use multiple online platforms to complete tasks, connect with your advisor, and learn about campus life and academics.
This section outlines the recommended hardware, software, and connectivity needed to get the most out of your SOAR experience.
To learn more about what technology is recommended during the academic year, visit the UW-Madison Getting Started with Tech page.
Hardware (Computer)
We recommend that students use either a desktop or laptop computer with a webcam and microphone to have the best experience with our campus technology. At minimum, students will need the following hardware to complete the SOAR program:
- A tablet, laptop, or desktop computer for completing Canvas content and participating in online meetings
- Completing the Canvas course on a smartphone is possible, but this is not recommended and will be a lower quality user experience.
- Make sure the operating system (OS) on your device is up to date.
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Make sure the computer is being used on an appropriate surface so it doesn’t overheat (for example, not being used on a bed or blanket)
- A phone (landline or cellphone) may be needed as a backup for joining online meetings
Software & Applications
Most applications used for SOAR provide web-based platforms that do not require you to install additional software.
Recommended web browsers are Chrome and Firefox. You may use Edge or Safari, but please note that the Canvas courses may not function properly in this browser. Avoid using Internet Explorer.
Below is a list of applications you will use for the SOAR program:
- Canvas (requires NetID login)
- MyUW (requiresNetID login)
- Student Center – your academic information
- Course Search & Enroll – exploring and enrolling in courses
- Starfish – scheduling advising appointment (see instructions in the Overview section of this page)
- Zoom (for video meetings) – all new students get a free UW-Madison Zoom account!
- UW-Madison Email and Calendar (Microsoft Outlook)
- Please use and check this account often for all University communication!
How to Connect (Internet)
A reliable, high-speed internet connection is important to being able to participate fully in your virtual SOAR experience. If possible, we recommend an internet connection with:
- 15 megabit per second (Mb/s) or better download speed
- 5 megabit per second (Mb/s) or better upload speed
- A ‘ping time’ of less than 75 milliseconds.
To understand your internet speed, check your internet speed using a speed test and compare it against the recommended specification above. A wireless hotspot or tethering from a phone might not be sufficient.
If you are concerned about your internet connection, please check out DoIT’s tips for how to manage slower internet or low bandwidth.
Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
VPNs are helpful for students who are worried about the security or accessibility of their internet connection. VPNs are also helpful to ensure access to UW websites in certain locations.
For Virtual SOAR, we recommend downloading, installing, and connecting to the GlobalProtect WiscVPN client. On that page, choose the operating system that matches your device for specific instructions. This will allow you to connect to the UW-Madison network from anywhere.
Have Questions?
We understand that navigating through online SOAR information can sometimes feel confusing. We are here to help throughout your Virtual Advising Week experience! We strive to make your experience as smooth as possible.
If you cannot find the information you need, please contact us at the following email. A member of our team will respond to your message. This inbox is monitored Monday through Friday from 8:00-4:00 Central Time (UTC-5/GMT-5).
