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QuickStart was an absolute blast! I made some of my best friends through this and am close with several of the UTFs:) The bonfire and ALPs courses were super fun and I also really liked the research lab tours.

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Roasting S'mores around the Campfire during Early Move-In  :)

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Moving in early through QuickStart gave me the opportunity to explore campus, meet amazing people, and enjoy delicious S'mores all before the chaos of everyone else moving in began. I was nervous coming to such a big university where I didn’t know anyone, but QuickStart helped me realize that everyone was in the same boat. I made lifelong friends, connected with mentors who continue to support me, and most importantly, found a sense of belonging – knowing that I was exactly where I needed to be. I’ll never forget the last day of QuickStart when we gathered around the campfire and took a deep breath, ready to begin our first year of college. The friends I made and the confidence I built wouldn’t have been possible without QuickStart!

Ellie Baudhuin

Genetics & Genomics; Health and the Humanities

2023 Cohort

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Grabbing ice cream at Memorial Union during Early Move-In!

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During the early move in, I met many people who have helped me thrive at UW! Meeting my peers I'd been interacting with online gave me the opportunity to quickly establish a tight friend group. We do everything together from studying to attending sporting events to getting ice cream at Memorial Union. QuickStart connections ensure that I will always have the support I need to succeed here! I also got to meet one of my professors, Dietram Scheufele at a QuickStart lunch as he talked about his research and class. Making this connection allowed him to know my name on the first day of class even though there were over 300 students in the class. Since then, he has helped me figure out career ideas, and discuss potential research opportunities. This connection wouldn't have been possible without the QuickStart and early move in program!

Nathan Buckley, Biology and Life Sciences Communication, 2023 Cohort

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My QuickStart friends and I, months later and with so many more memories together 

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Hanging with new friends after bonding activities

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Hanging with new friends after bonding activities

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The entire week of early move-in programming was an overall highlight but I specifically enjoyed getting to further bond with the new people I had met after our day's activities. Whether we explored the dining halls, visited each others rooms, or participated in the fun late night events held by the campus, getting to bond with new friends was such a highlight during a scary time period. Now, my best friends on campus are the five girls I met during QuickStart and I would not trade them for the world. Do the early move-in!!!

-Elise

Biological Systems Engineering, 2024 Cohort

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The QuickStart program had a bonfire night during the early move-in programming. It was my first time making s'mores! I had a lot of fun learning to make s'mores and chatting with my peers. I could have fun with my peers in a relaxed setting where we discussed everything from academics to our hobbies. I also got a chance to connect with my instructors and teaching fellows and get valuable guidance. It was a very fun night and I made wonderful memories!

-Rutuja
Genetics and Genomics, Data Science
2022 Cohort

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First Day Connections to Lifelong Friendships

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First Day Connections to Lifelong Friendships

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The most valuable takeaway from CALS QuickStart wasn’t just the hands-on learning, mentorship or the exciting campus experiences, it was the people I met. On move in day, at the very first dinner, I was lucky enough to meet future best friend and roommate who would become my core support system throughout my time at college. The friendships and connections I continued to make during that week have continued to grow throughout the years, creating an incredible community that will last long beyond my time at UW-Madison.

Ella Patenaude

Biology and Data Science

CALS QuickStart 2023 Cohort

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I am so glad that I decided to be part of QuickStart! Through this program I made so many genuine friendships with peers and it really made this huge campus feel a bit smaller. I am even going to live with two of my friends I meant through QuickStart next school year! This program also allows you to create valuable connections with mentors, professors, and advisors which are all great people to go to for guidance.

Kennedy Dobbs

Microbiology and Global Health Certificate

2024 Cohort

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As a first generation college student in STEM, coming to a big university like Madison was extremely overwhelming. QuickStart allowed for a smoother transition into college life. One thing that was stressed throughout the Quickstart curriculum that has profoundly impacted my experience at UW-Madison was the importance of networking. Networking has allotted me more opportunities than I ever imagined during my Freshman year alone! I have QuickStart to thank for providing tips and tricks at how to appropriately approach networking.

Ila Keyzer

Animal & Veterinary Biosciences

Pre-Veterinary Track

2023 Cohort

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All of the early move-in programming helped prepare me for my freshman year. From the bus tour to the classroom sessions, there was so much information I learned that I would have had to figure out by myself without QuickStart. For me, the most important part of college so far has been getting the most from these formative years; QuickStart allowed me to start growing before my classes even started. Of course, QuickStart is a great way to make friends, and that was another HUGE plus of the program!

Fred; Animal+Vet Biosciences; 2024 cohort

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Because of QuickStart, I headed into my freshman year at UW-Madison with a plan for making the most of my time in college. The summer course helped me explore the opportunities at UW-Madison and make a list of what I wanted to get involved in: student organizations, a pre-professional organization for my major, a campus job, the CALS Honors in Research program, and more. I had also outlined my four-year plan, the courses I would take each semester to complete my degree. As a college student, I have been more involved beyond academics and oriented toward both personal and professional development; without QuickStart, I don't think I'd be where I am today!

-Danika

Biological Systems Engineering

2022 Cohort

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During QuickStart, we had a module on learning how to professionally communicate with staff and professors, especially focusing on desiring research opportunities. The tips given during this module have helped me so much and allowed me an opportunity to do a little bit of research this summer that will continue into the fall as a paid position. I learned what to say, how to describe my excitement, and how often to contact them to make sure they knew I was committed and ready for the next step in my STEM career. QuickStart has so much amazing knowledge in all of its lessons and the UTFs have extremely helpful real-life experience with it too.

Elise

Biological Systems Engineering

2024 Cohort

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The early move-in programming helped me find fun like minded people before 5,000 more people moved into the residence halls. Getting to spend a few days connecting to resources actually allowed me to find a support system before classes started and made my first few weeks less stressful. Such great memories of both the games and learning sessions!
Faith Koester
Microbiology and Spanish
2019 Cohort

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My favorite memory from QuickStart had to be the high ropes course with everyone! The day started off with some team building activities to help everyone get to know each other a little better. At the end of the event we harnessed up a few people at a time and began climbing huge posts to do the ropes course in the sky. It was definitely nerve-racking, but the environment was so supportive. Everyone was cheering each other on and celebrating every climb! I'll never forget getting to the top and seeing my group cheering from the ground!

-Kirsten Gahan
Microbiology, Certificate in Environmental Studies
2020 Cohort

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When I was in QuickStart in 2021, I heard from an amazing professor who spoke about her lab. I reached out to her, and I received a job as a student researcher. I worked really hard in this lab, which  I found through QuickStart. Then, the next year, I was able to help lead a tour of my lab to the following cohort of QuickStart students (2022) when I was a TA. After the tour, six members of QuickStart from the 2022 cohort applied to join my lab too!

Sophia; Biology and Health Policy; 2021 Cohort

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During the optional in-person programming portion of CALS QuickStart, my favorite memory is the bonfire! There is a big bonfire pit at Dejope Residence Hall, and one night we all got together and made s'mores at the campfire. It was a great way to socialize and truly get to know other students. I even got to help some of my international classmates make their very first s'more!

-Sydney
Biology and Life Sciences Communication
2019 Cohort

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QuickStart was absolutely amazing for me. Before even starting my first real semester at UW, I already had friends and mentors. QuickStart helped the big UW campus feel smaller. We were also able to move in early, tour the campus buildings before classes started, and learn about all of the great opportunities that awaited: undergraduate research, certificates, etc.! I recommend QuickStart to every single person, as each person can get something unique out of it!

Sophia; Biology and Health Policy; 2021 Cohort

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The most valuable takeaway of QuickStart is that the people you meet are fantastic. Even though some possibilities are given to all UW students, the close-knit community of CALS (UW students, mentors, and professors) encourages and helps students take advantage of these opportunities. You can learn something new from each person that you meet in QuickStart, and everyone is willing to help. Don't be afraid to reach out with questions and join. It is a very welcoming environment.

Sophia; Biology and Health Policy; 2021 Cohort

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Jordan Main
Biological Systems Engineer, Class of 2022
Cohort 2018

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Quickstart gave me exactly what I needed to start school at such a large university. One of the many perks of UW-Madison is just all that they have to offer from classes to extracurriculars to helpful resources. Quickstart brought all of this information and made it way more manageable. Quickstart also gave me a sense of community right away, so by the first day of classes I already had people to say hi to as well as faculty/staff to lean on. Quickstart gave a place that I belonged too and that has made my college experience!

- Claire
Life Sciences Communication with Italian and Entrepreneurship Cert.
2019 Cohort

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I was excited to attend a large university!  I had so many great ambitions about what my college experience would look like, yet I was scared I would be just a number in my large classes. CALS QuickStart was the perfect course for me! What is so unique about the program is that you can make connections with faculty and students that last your entire time at UW Madison (and beyond)! If you are looking for an amazing support system, join CALS QuickStart!

-Sydney
Biology and Life Sciences Communication
2019 Cohort

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CALS QuickStart prepares you to be ready to take on any opportunity or challenge you face in college. After taking CALS QuickStart, I felt so much more prepared to take advantage of research, student orgs, and making professional connections. I am so happy I continued to stay connected in the program by becoming a teaching fellow. It was incredible to see the program as a student and as a mentor.

-Sydney
Biology and Life Sciences Communication
2019 Cohort

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Friendships and Confidence Through Resources

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Friendships and Confidence Through Resources

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QuickStart gave me the resources that I needed (and some that I didn't even know I needed) to start my college experience at UW-Madison. Once on campus, it was instantly clear I was feeling more calm, cool, and collected navigating UW-Madison than peers who did not participate in a program like this. Most importantly, QuickStart introduced me to an incredible community, and gave me two of my very best friends.

Grace Novak
Genetics and Genomics, Life Sciences Communication
2019 Cohort

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CALS QuickStart helped guide my academic journey by helping me create a comprehensive toolkit of opportunities I could pursue in four years. It has helped guide my decisions in coursework, navigate the vast array of research opportunities on campus, and provided valuable insights into internships and career-building experiences through the University!

Krithika

Genetics and Genomics B.S, Certificate in Global Health

Cohort 2021

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QuickStart connected me with amazing people and helped me to find strong community at the university. I am really grateful to have these people with me as I navigate the challenges of college and adult life.

Rutuja

Genetics and Genomics, Data Science

2022 Cohort

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My most valuable takeaway from CALS QuickStart was the positive energy leading into my freshman year. This can be a nerve-wracking time, and I was pretty anxious leading into my first year. I think that this program made me especially excited to start college, and it made me eager for specific opportunities (studying abroad, helping do research, etc.). This excitement made me push myself to plan more so I could get the most out of my undergraduate!

Amanda
Genetics and Spanish Double Major
Class of 2021, 2018 CALS QS Cohort

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Biggest takeaway from QuickStart was the mentor relationships I gained! Literally from day 1 on campus to the day that I graduated the same people I met through QuickStart were cheering me on and talking through my questions and goals. Having a group of peers and mentors to have coffee with and talk about anything was truly invaluable to me.

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Staying involved in QuickStart helped me achieve my other undergraduate goals, no question. Having a support network in the CALS Academic Affairs office was a huge benefit throughout undergrad.

Jordan Main
Biological Systems Engineer, Class of 2022
Cohort 2018

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College is unquestionably a big transition, regardless of whether you call home five minutes from campus or on the other side of the world. The QuickStart program is an excellent way to ease into the college experience by introducing students to what a college course at UW operates like, the resources available to students at UW, and how to succeed in your freshman year; all while forming a tight cohort that continues BEYOND just your freshman year. QuickStart is truly a worth while experience, and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Pate Lantz

Biology (B.S.) & Life Sciences Communication (B.S.), certificate in Athletic Healthcare

2022 Cohort

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The most valuable takeaway of QuickStart for me was that the time and effort put into the program is reflectional of your opportunities and success heading into college. Taking the time and effort to really explore all of the resources, programs, and mentorships available through QuickStart will prove to be beyond beneficial. There is always something more to learn, try for the first time, and ways to get out of your comfort zone!

Sophia

Animal Sciences & Ag Business Management Certificate, Class of 2025

2021 Cohort

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Starting college is an exciting time in life, but it also comes with so many new things to learn. Quickstart is a great way to learn all the non-academic stuff you need to succeed in college. You will learn about all the resources out there to help you succeed. It is also a great way to meet people and make friends. Some of the people I met in Quickstart are my close friends now.

-Clara; Biochemistry and Health Policy 2024 cohort

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Participating in QuickStart was one of my best decisions! QuickStart gave me a preview of what it would be like to be a at a big university like UW Madison before I stepped on campus. Being a part of such a huge university can get overwhelming at times but QuickStart gave me a community to hang on to where I could be vulnerable and we could all learn and explore together. This program introduced me to a wide variety of opportunities on campus and equipped me with the tools to access these opportunities. It made my transition to university easier and made me confident about embarking ahead.

-Rutuja
Genetics and Genomics, Data Science
2022 Cohort

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Make friends and get comfortable with campus!

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Make friends and get comfortable with campus!

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Freshman year I was super excited to be on a big, beautiful campus like Madison. However, coming from a suburb. a lot of things about Madison were overwhelming at first. Through QuickStart, I was able to get to know campus with others, get used to riding the bus, and get advice on how to thrive in a busy city!
- Elena
Biology with Computer Science and Global Health certificates
2018 Cohort

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I want to be a professor and like teaching. After my great experience in QuickStart freshman year, I wanted to apply to be an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow (UTF). I was very grateful for this opportunity to develop my teaching skills, particularly how to be an effective and supportive instructor. Teaching isn't necessarily all about communicating information in a large group setting, a lot of it is interpersonal, and helping individual students succeed through whatever the semester/term throws at them, and being a UTF QuickStart was the perfect opportunity to start learning how to effectively do that! I highly recommend doing QuickStart and even applying to be a UTF after your freshman year!
- Elena
Biology with Computer Science and Global Health Certificates
2018 Cohort

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My favorite memory from the program would definitely be from the on-campus programming since we did so many fun activities! It’s hard to choose because I also really liked the Minute to Win It games and the high ropes courses, but I think my favorite overall would have to be painting at the union. It was my first time checking out Memorial Union (and getting Babcock ice cream – yum!), and it was a very memorable experience! I had tons of fun painting a few different things with my fellow QuickStarters, and I was so impressed by some of the other paintings people made.

Amanda
Genetics and Spanish Double Major
Class of 2021, 2018 CALS QS Cohort

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Lifelong Friends and Endless Opportunities  

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Lifelong Friends and Endless Opportunities  

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Going to a school as large as UW Madison can definitely be frightening at first, but joining Quickstart made me feel like I was a part of a close knit community from day one. I not only felt that I was able to make connections with so many great CALS faculty members, but also with numerous professors before my classes even started. Additionally, I met my best friends and now roommates through Quickstart, which is absolutely priceless. Quickstart makes a large campus full of unfamiliar faces feel a lot more like home!

-Alli
Global Health and Spanish
2021 Cohort

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QuickStart is a great way to kick off your transition to college. As others also highlighted, one of the main reasons you should participate is for the connections. You’ll meet other students going through the same high school to college transition and will build a strong support system through the program. Having familiar faces on campus (before even starting your first class) is invaluable! It makes the larger UW community feel much more manageable. In addition, CALS QuickStart teaches you about so many different opportunities available to you as a student. Because UW is such a huge school, it can be easy to feel a little overwhelmed with all the different options. But CALS QuickStart breaks down these opportunities into manageable and learnable chunks, so that you make sure you are aware of all the different things you can accomplish at UW. It was through CALS QuickStart that I was able to organize my courses so that I could complete my double major, find a lab to do state-of-the-art research in right away freshman year, and learn (and plan out) my study abroad experience (and so much more!). I would definitely recommend CALS QuickStart to each and every student coming into their undergrad – it’s a great opportunity to ensure that you’re starting your college education off right!

Amanda
Genetics and Spanish Double Major
Class of 2021, 2018 CALS QS Cohort

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The Quickstart Program provides an amazing opportunity to become acquainted with the expectations of college life as well as network with faculty and other students. Beginning your college journey can be an uncertain, exciting, or nerve-wracking time in your life, but the support that Quickstart provides during this period is unmatched. The staff truly care about your success but also your well-being and they always extend a listening ear and provide helpful resources for you to explore. If you may be interested, do not hesitate to reach out and learn more about the program, I can attest to how helpful this program has been and continues to be for me.

-Aja
Global Health and Environmental Studies
2020 Cohort

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Curious about CALS QuickStart at UW-Madison? Let me share a glimpse into my journey with this transformative college prep course. Initially, I questioned my ability to connect with like-minded peers and mentors. However, through QuickStart, I discovered a vibrant community within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Beyond expanding my knowledge, the program facilitated genuine connections that endure to this day. These relationships have become invaluable sources of support and guidance, shaping both my academic and personal growth. Join me in exploring the enriching experience of QuickStart and uncover the boundless opportunities it offers for learning and networking.

Mia Marcy, Biology and Criminal Justice double major, CALS Quickstart 2023

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QuickStart counts towards a required course credit, and by completing it over the summer, you are already ahead with classes starting freshman year. Spending the summer getting to know the university through the coursework really helps you get your feet wet before even setting foot on campus. The early move-in programming is a great opportunity to start making friends and get familiar with campus right away!

Krithika

Genetics and Genomics B.S, Certificate in Global Health

Cohort 2021

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I can't describe how great it was to be exposed to a lot of the resources and tools that people take a semester plus to be exposed to. The first couple weeks can be an overwhelming transition and it was really comforting to have that head start and not get lost in the process.

Yara
Biochemistry with Majors in Biocore and Global Health
2021 cohort

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I was super excited to start freshman year but also nervous. CALS QuickStart gave me a head start and lessened some of my nerves. Meeting and learning with my professors and peers over the summer gave me the confidence to do great in my courses. In addition, moving in early allowed me to get comfortable with my surroundings and make friends!

Jenna Krantz

Genetics and Genomics

2023 Cohort

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The beautiful campus experience before real stress begins

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The beautiful campus experience before real stress begins

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QuickStart helped me familiar myself with campus and the resources available. I was able to make friends, participated in meaningful activities, and learned about success strategies.

Vy
Biochemistry
2019 Cohort