University of Wisconsin-Madison Precollege Wisconsin International Precollege Academy (WIPA)

WIPA is only for international high school students aged 15 to 18 who haven't yet been admitted to a college or university. Badger Precollege says students who have been living in the United States may not be eligible, while US citizens or residents who live abroad may be.

Classes and dorm life both run entirely in English, so the organizer looks for intermediate, advanced or native-level speakers. You don't have to send a test score, but if you've taken one it should be at least TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo English Test 105. Every applicant also has a required interview, which checks your fit with the program and your English.

Grades are considered, and Badger Precollege says you can use your essays or other materials to show your interest or explain circumstances that affected your results. It describes WIPA as a small program but doesn't publish a cohort size or acceptance rate.

Most of each weekday morning and afternoon is class time, with lectures, workshops and work on your final project. Across the Accelerated Learning Program, which WIPA now belongs to, the weekday ends with a required study session after the morning and afternoon classes.

Something is organized every evening, from games and sports in campus gyms to stargazing on Observatory Hill or photos at the state capitol, and while most of it is optional, a few "Mandatory Fun" traditions aren't. Weekends start later, with staff-led outings such as kayaking, shopping or an art class on campus. An optional day trip to places like Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Dells or Chicago costs extra, and you sign up for it once you're admitted.

Not from UW–Madison, since Accelerated Learning Program courses are non-credit. What you leave with is a small-group final presentation of your ideas on the Sustainable Development Goals, plus a working knowledge of US admissions and financial aid from the workshops, student panels and campus tours.

If you want US high school credit, Badger Precollege points international students to Forward International Academy (FIA), a Wisconsin-based high school that may award it once you complete the program. That's a separate arrangement you start through FIA's interest form or its student services coordinator, so ask your own school early whether it will recognize the credit. Badger Precollege makes no claim that WIPA helps with admission to UW–Madison.

The WIPA program fee is $4,800, plus a $100 application fee that's never refunded, so a family pays $4,900 before travel. The fee covers a shared dorm room, meals at Four Lakes Dining Hall, evening activities and field trips, and Badger Precollege runs shuttles from Chicago O'Hare and Madison's Dane County airports.

The optional weekend day trip costs extra, and the B-1/B-2 visitor visa carries its own US government fee, so check the current amount with the State Department. The program fee is billed in two payments due 15 May and 1 June.

Limited partial scholarships are available for students with financial need, with applications due 27 March 2027, and international applicants send the first page of their family's most recent income tax report. If you cancel, how much comes back depends on timing, and refunds can take up to eight weeks to arrive.

Every student is assigned a residential assistant (RA), usually a college student or young professional, who lives in the same section of the residence hall and looks after about 12 to 14 students, and Badger Precollege says trained staff supervise students at all times. Adults who work with minors pass a criminal background check every two years and train in CPR, first aid and youth protection, and UW–Madison policy bans one-on-one contact between an adult and a minor. The details are in the university's youth safety commitment.

Health care, including medication, runs through University Health Services Camp Health, and students arriving without a parent should bring the Health Update Form. International students also get dedicated staff, a specialized orientation and pre-departure advice. One rule matters for families overseas: a parent or guardian must collect a residential student who falls ill within 24 hours of being told, so plan for that before departure.

1. 1

   Gather two essay responses of 150 to 200 words each, your full high school transcript or a report card for the 2026-2027 school year, and a credit or debit card for the $100 fee.

2. 2

   Apply online between 12 January and 1 May 2027, choosing your track and uploading any scholarship documents, which are due by 27 March 2027.

3. 3

   Book your required interview within three weeks of the Program Manager's email, which checks both your fit and your English.

4. 4

   Badger Precollege reviews applications on a rolling basis and confirms your admission after the interview, which it says can take a few weeks.

5. 5

   Once admitted, apply for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa using your acceptance letter, and Badger Precollege advises sending full applications by the beginning of April so you have 8 to 10 weeks for the embassy interview.

6. 6

   Email copies of your passport and visa to Badger Precollege at least two weeks before you travel, and plan to arrive for the early international arrival from 9 July 2027.