New Badgers Q&A
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Student Essentials
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Q: What is MyUW?
A: It’s the student portal for accessing essential things such as your school email, grade reports, scholarships, course selection, Learn@UW, course map, Wiscard account, etc.
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Q: What is a Wiscard and how do I get one?
A: It’s your student ID at UW that is necessary for you to get into dorms and school facilities. You can also use it at the dining halls. You can get your wiscard at the Wiscard Office at Union South.
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SOAR & Class Enrollment
Q: What is SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration)?
A: It’s a required two-day session for every incoming freshman and transfer student. During the first day you will: 1) be organized into different schools or colleges (according to your admission to UW), 2) meet students in the same college as yours, 3) meet your academic advisor , 4) learn what is expected/general prerequisites for you to earn a degree within your college, and 5) start searching for classes you are interested in. On the second day you will enroll in courses. SOAR checklist can be found here: https://soar.wisc.edu/
Q: How do I enroll in classes?
A: You will learn to enroll in courses during SOAR using “Course Guide” on MyUW.
Q: How many credits should I take?
A: UW-Madison requires all full-time students to enroll at least 12 credits per semester. It is generally not recommended to take 18 or more credits as a first-year student, since the transition to college can be unexpectedly challenging. 14-16 is a decent amount.
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Student Life
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Q: Should I live in the dorms?
A: Recommended for first years! It is a once in a lifetime social experience!
Q: Yes, I decided to live in a dorm, what dorm should I choose?
A: Residence halls information can be found here: https://www.housing.wisc.edu/residencehalls-halls.htm. When choosing a dorm, look for the structure (number of residents, room space, how many people sharing a bathroom, facilities provided, etc.), the location, and learning communities in the halls.
Q: I am interested in doing research. What should I do?
A: Email professors with research topics you are interested in. Make sure you have an organized and up-to-date resume with you, and also have a general idea of what their lab is working on.
Q: I am interested in finding a job on campus. Where do I start?
A: Check out the students job opportunities on the University Housing website (https://www.housing.wisc.edu/jobs.htm).
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Q: What is the best type of transportation during the school year?
A: Most students choose to walk, take the bus, or bike to get around the campus. Bus passes are sponsored by ASM (Associate Students of Madison) for students to enjoy free bus rides.
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About UW-Madison
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Q: When was UW established?
A: 1848, the year when the state of Wisconsin was established.
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Q: What's UW's mascot and official colors?
A: Bucky Badger! And the colors are cardinal and white.
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Q: How many students go to UW?
A: We have around 30,000 undergraduates and 14,000 postgraduates enrolled at UW.
Q: How many majors does UW offer?
A: UW is organized into 20 schools and colleges and offers 136 undergraduate majors.
Q: How many student organizations does UW have?
A: We have nearly 900 student orgs to choose from.
Q: UW's academic?
A: In 2016-17, UW was ranked #10 National Public School by U.S. News & World Report; #25 by the Center for World University Rankings; #28 by Academic Ranking of World Universities; #45 by Times Higher Education; #55 by QS World University Rankings. UW is one of the "Public Ivy" universities capable of providing prestigious collegiate experience. It is also categorized as a Doctoral University with the Highest Research Activity in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Also, UW is among the universities with the highest research expenditures.
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Q: What about UW's athletics?
A: We students are extremely proud of our athletic teams Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers compete in 25 intercollegiate sports in the NCAA Division I (the highest of NCAA) Big Ten Conference, and have won 28 national championships. Go to UW Athletic Ticket Office for information on buying student tickets for all sports.
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Q: Other rankings of UW?
A: Shout out to the Princeton Reviews for recognizing UW as the #1 Party School for 2017! Hooray!?!?! Hey, incoming Badgers, tell your parents not to have a nervous breakdown! Because UW students not only know how to enjoy life while succeeding academically, but also produce the most CEOs on the Fortune 500 list, and the campus is constantly ranked among the most beautiful colleges, with Madison being one of the most educated cities in the US.
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About Madison
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Q: What is the weather like there?
A: Pleasant during the summer (~ 27C) and harsh during the winter (~ -10C). The Midwest is generally dry.
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Q: What kind of city is Madison?
A: Madison is the capital of Wisconsin. Breathtaking views all year round and studious vibe around this city. It’s a safe, friendly, and internationally celebrated college town.
Link to Wiki page of Wisconsin-Madison for more information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison,_Wisconsin
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About Wisconsin
Q: What's special about Wisconsin?
A: The Badger State's got CHEEEEEEESE (#1 cheese production) and CHEESEHEADS (for Wisconsin's great NFL team, the Green Bay Packers), which is why Wisconsin's known as "America's Dairyland." It's got great BEER, lots of binge drinkers and drunken cities (a majority of America's most drunken cities are in Wisconsin), and alcohol culture (we named our baseball team the Milwaukee Brewers). Wisconsin is also a birthplace of many famous people, including: Orson Welles (filmmaker and actor), Frank Lloyd Wright (architect), Georgia O'Keeffe (artist), Spencer Tracy (actor), Mark Ruffalo (actor), Willem Dafoe (actor), Paul Ryan (politician, though many consider him a disgrace)... Some great things that started in Wisconsin include Harley-Davidson (a major American motorcycle manufacturer), Bon Iver (indie folk band), Culver's (the best butter burgers), Miller Brewing Co., etc., etc.
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More Questions?
Q: This campus is so big! How do I memorize every place?
A: No worries! Although it takes time to get to know this campus, be adventurous and your curiosity will lead you.
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Q: I still have lots of questions. Who can help me answer them?
A: Come to our TUSO orientation or email us at tuso.tuso.uwmadison@gmail.com