Being a freshman at a large university can feel both exciting and daunting. It’s only natural for UW–Madison students to be a bit intimidated by the sprawling campus and nervous about not knowing anyone in their field of study. To give first-year Badgers a leg up during this turbulent transition, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) launched the CALS QuickStart program in 2018. Funded with support from annual donors, this summer curriculum helps incoming freshmen prepare for the experience that awaits them. By completing an online first-year seminar and participating in early move-in programming, incoming students can meet professors and advisers, connect with peers and alumni, and explore future career opportunities while earning up to four credits before the fall semester has even begun.
The eight-week foundations course is online and asynchronous, offering flexibility and preparing new Badgers for the upcoming transition to college. During this time, they spend about five to six hours a week completing assignments, projects, and readings. An elective early move-in program provides students with a chance to familiarize themselves with campus and make the most of their time at the UW. This weeklong option helps connect them with fellow peers, faculty, and staff, and participants can tour labs, attend student panels and industry visits, and learn more about available university resources.
“The impact of this program goes beyond the summer when students are taking the first-year seminar and moving in early with us,” says QuickStart program manager, Liza Chang ’14, MS’17, PhD’19. “I have heard from countless alumni who credit engaging in opportunities, utilizing resources, and finding a community of their own to the QuickStart experience.”
Philanthropy is a vital part of the program’s success. More than 60 percent of QuickStart’s inaugural students had financial need. Donor contributions create scholarship funds for those in need, enabling students to move to campus early, fulfill the CALS first-year seminar requirement, and reduce their time to degree through early academic and career planning. By the end of summer, participants will have a personalized plan to help them reach their academic and professional goals.
“QuickStart gave me a community where I could be vulnerable, and we could all learn and explore together,” shares Rutuja Gupte x’26, who’s double majoring in genetics and genomics and data science. “This program introduced me to a wide variety of opportunities on campus and equipped me with the tools to access those opportunities.”