University of Wisconsin-Madison Precollege Psychology of Well-being: Happiness and Motivation

Every weekday has a morning class session, an afternoon class session and a required study session to close the academic day, which adds up to about 68 hours of class time between 11 and 23 July 2027. In class you'll discuss current research, keep a reflective journal and try experiential activities on topics such as gratitude, purpose, mindfulness, optimism and self-regulation. You'll need a laptop or tablet, or you can ask to borrow one of the program's devices.

Residential students often get free time to recharge, and there's something planned every evening, from games and sports on campus fields to trips to Observatory Hill or the state capitol. Most of it is optional, although a few community-building events are compulsory. Weekends start later and bring staff-led outings such as kayaking or an art class on campus, plus an optional day trip, for example to the Wisconsin Dells or Chicago, which costs extra. Commuters join all the daytime coursework and go home at the end of each day.

The course is for students finishing grades 9 to 12, and an admissions committee decides who gets a place. Badger Precollege says ALP students typically take advanced classes, have done well in subjects related to their chosen course, hold a 3.2 or higher unweighted GPA or the equivalent, and show clear interest in the course. That describes a typical student rather than a strict cutoff, and you don't need any previous psychology coursework for this class.

You'll send two essays, written or recorded on video. One asks why you chose this course and what idea in it grabs you, and the other asks about an experience that changed how you see yourself or others. You also send an unofficial transcript covering all of high school so far, and ninth graders can use report cards. An optional third essay, test scores or recommendation letters can strengthen the case. Homeschooled students can submit examples of their work or a recommendation from an adult who knows them. International applicants show at least intermediate English with a TOEFL score of 80 or IELTS score of 6.5, or can self-assess and ask for a phone or video interview.

You apply through the Accelerated Learning Program application, choosing this course as your first choice.

1. 1

   Applications open on 12 January 2027, so have your essays drafted and your transcript saved as a PDF before then.

2. 2

   Complete the online application, pay the $100 non-refundable application fee and upload your essays, transcript and any scholarship documents.

3. 3

   Submit by 1 May 2027, although earlier is better because the course fills first come, first served.

4. 4

   Expect a decision 2 to 5 weeks later, as the committee releases decisions on the second and fourth Monday of each month.

5. 5

   If you're admitted, return all acceptance forms within three weeks to secure your place.

6. 6

   Pay the first half of tuition by 15 May 2027 and the second half by 1 June 2027.

Living on campus costs $4,500 for a U.S. student and $4,800 for an international student, while commuting costs $2,650, and every applicant also pays a $100 application fee that is never refunded. The residential price covers a shared dorm room and buffet meals at Four Lakes Dining Hall. Commuters arrange their own daily transport, the weekend day trip costs extra for anyone who signs up, and international students also need a U.S. visitor visa, whose fee you should check with the U.S. State Department.

Scholarships are need-based and limited. Wisconsin residents who receive free or reduced-price school lunch can apply for a full scholarship, and other U.S. families can apply for up to 50% of tuition based on income, shown with the first page of the latest tax return. International students can't get ALP scholarships. Badger Precollege hands out funds on a rolling basis and warns they can run out before its 1 April scholarship deadline, so send your documents with the application. You can also ask in writing for the application fee to be waived before you apply.

If you cancel up to one month before the start, you get all program fees back. From one month to two weeks out, Badger Precollege keeps 10% of the program fees, and in the last two weeks it keeps 20%. Once the course begins, there's no refund at all.

Badger Precollege says trained staff supervise students at all times. Each residential student is assigned a Residential Assistant, usually a college student or young professional, who looks after about 12 to 14 students and lives in their section of the residence hall. Staff who work with minors have a criminal background check every two years, and program staff are trained in CPR, first aid, youth mental health first aid and reporting child abuse. UW–Madison policy also sets minimum staff ratios and bans one-on-one contact between an adult and a minor.

Health care, including medication, is handled by University Health Services Camp Health, and you'll fill in an online health form before you arrive. If a residential student gets sick, a parent or guardian must collect them within 24 hours, so families who live far away should plan for that. Read the full safety commitment.

Not by itself. The course carries no credit, and you leave with a grade report showing the course description, your overall grade and comments from your instructor, which you can share with your school. Badger Precollege compares its roughly 68 instructional hours to half a high school credit, but whether you actually get any credit is decided solely by your school or district, so ask before you enroll. International students may be able to earn U.S. high school credit through Forward International Academy, a Wisconsin high school the program works with.