Spring yield events are in full swing

Spring yield season has officially arrived, and the Office of Admissions & Recruitment (OAR) Events Team is buzzing with excitement. Across campus, preparations are underway to welcome our newly admitted students and their families with events that are immersive, informative, and thoughtfully designed. Each program is crafting experiences that showcase the very best of our community — helping future Badgers envision themselves here and feel the momentum of the journey ahead. We kicked things off with our first Badgers Belong Day on Saturday, February 21. Open to all admitted students and their families, this signature event introduces future Badgers to the opportunities, communities, and traditions that define the UW–Madison experience. Guests will spend the day at Gordon Dining & Event Center connecting with current students and staff, touring campus, exploring University Housing and Residential Learning Communities, diving into financial aid resources, and discovering the student orgs, schools and colleges, and resource centers that make our campus feel like home. Breakfast, lunch, a celebratory Babcock ice cream bar, and a visit from Bucky round out the day. We’ll host the same event for regular decision students on Saturday, April 11. Next up is the Chancellor’s Admitted Student Luncheon on Monday, March 9 in Varsity Hall at Union South. Wisconsin’s top admitted students and a guest are invited to join OAR and Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin for a celebratory lunch. Attendees will meet current Badgers, connect with campus leaders—including deans from each school and college—and get an inside look at the extraordinary opportunities awaiting them at UW–Madison. We then head into our largest admitted student program: Future Badger Day. Offered on four Fridays throughout March and April, each event welcomes roughly 800 admitted students and guests. The day begins with a lively resource fair and an inspiring faculty keynote, followed by a choose‑your‑own‑adventure lineup of breakout sessions on housing, financial aid, orientation, advising, and more. Guests can also attend a faculty lecture or hear directly from current students during our panel. A complimentary lunch in a University Housing dining hall, campus tours, and visits to our residential learning communities lead into an afternoon academic showcase where students explore opportunities within their school or college. On Saturday, April 18, we celebrate UW–Madison’s vibrant creative community with Admitted Student Day for the Arts. Whether students plan to major in the arts or simply want to explore their creative side, this program highlights how the arts enrich campus life. After a light breakfast and welcome from arts leaders, guests choose from breakout sessions—including arts tours and a student panel—followed by lunch in a UW–Madison dining hall. The day concludes with deeper dives into Theatre & Drama, Art, Dance, or Design Studies. We wrap up the season with Transfer Admitted Student Day on Monday, May 4. This full‑day program welcomes admitted transfer students with next‑step information sessions, a current student panel, a resource fair featuring campus partners, and plenty of time to connect. Breakfast, lunch, and another Babcock ice cream celebration make the day even sweeter. None of this would be possible without our campus community. More than 50 OAR team members support these events from set up to teardown; over 65 departments and offices contribute content and expertise; and 12 dedicated student ambassadors bring the Badger experience to life. It truly takes a village—and we can’t wait to welcome our newest Badgers.