Precollege Academic Campus Experience (PACE)
The PACE program gives students finishing grades 4–8 an opportunity to explore their current interests and passions with like-minded peers in a college setting. Students will spend one week taking an enrichment course designed specifically for advanced middle-school learners. Three week-long sessions are offered. Students may enroll in one or multiple sessions. Scholarships are available.
Learn more about the application process below.
Why PACE
PACE offers the opportunity to engage your academic interests in a college setting. During class, don’t be surprised if you lose track of time geeking out on your favorite subject while facing unique academic challenges. In the classroom, you will become a more independent learner and increase your confidence when approaching challenging academic tasks, both individually and in teams.
By the end of the program, you will develop better time management skills and improve your understanding of yourself, your strengths, talents and areas where you can continue to grow. When you are not in class, be ready to explore different parts of campus, which may further spark your curiosity!
Overall, PACE will help you feel more comfortable and confident sharing your ideas with a broad community of intellectually motivated peers.
At a glance
2026 Program Dates
- Session 1: July 6–10
- Session 2: July 13–17
- Session 3: July 20–24
application open
January 12, 2026 to May 1, 2026
Format
In-person on the UW-Madison campus
grade level
For students finishing grades 4-8
cost
Non-refundable registration fee: $50
Tuition:
$650 per session for single enrollment
$620 per session with individual student multi-session enrollment.
Tuition due on May 15th and June 1st.
Daily Schedule
9:00am – 3:45pm daily
25 instructional hours per session
Upcoming classes
How to apply
Look through the course options available and choose your first-choice course for each of the sessions you wish to enroll in.
Ensure you have the required supplemental documentation ready to submit. PACE students will need to submit the answers to the application questions (also found in the table below) and their most recent transcript (an unofficial copy is acceptable). If you plan to apply for a scholarship, be sure to review the scholarship application process before applying to the PACE program.
Log in to the online application system and complete the application. You may log in via the “Apply Now” button at the top of this page after the application opens in January.
Submit the application and non-refundable application fee. You will receive an email confirming your submission immediately.
If you would like to request accommodations, you will be able to do so after acceptance. Learn more about accommodations.
- Admission information
- Scholarship information
Admission Questions
Please use this form to answer the following questions in 4-6 sentences. Take time to answer these questions thoroughly as they will be reviewed by the admission committee and will be used for decisions about program admission, class placement, and consideration for scholarship (if you apply for a scholarship, please review the information in the next tab). Please know your responses may be shared with your course instructor.
- Why do you want to participate in this program?
- What interests you about your course selection(s)?
- Could you tell us about an accomplishment you are proud of? (This could be school, sports, hobbies, personal goals, etc.)
Then, in 1-2 sentences, please answer the following questions:
- Tell us what you like to do. For example, what are your favorite subjects to study and/or activities to participate in (in school or outside of school)?
- The most challenging thing I have had to do in school is…
- The most helpful thing a teacher has ever done for me is…
Students who participate in PACE typically have been successful and interested in classwork related to their course selection(s). They are motivated to attend an academic program focusing on one specific subject per week.
Admission process
Each application is reviewed on a rolling basis by a committee which takes into consideration the student’s academic achievement and motivation for participation in their choice of course(s). The comittee will review the question responses, grade reports, and any supplemental materials submitted to demonstrate interest, achievement, or speak to extenuating cirumstances. The committee may request further information to make a determination.
After committee review, a student may be Admitted, Conditionally Admitted, or Denied. When a student is Conditionally Admitted, they may have been waitlisted or need to provide additional information for the Committee to make a final decision. Students will be given an amount of time to complete needed steps. Waitlists are generated on a first-come, first-served basis. If the student is unable to complete the additional steps or the additional documentation does not meet required standards, Badger Precollege reserves the right to determine when and how denial is communicated.
We are pleased to offer full and partial scholarships to students who participate in the Accelerated Learning Program on a first-come, first-served basis. Please review the information below to see if you qualify. At this time no scholarship assistance is available to international students. Funds available for scholarships are limited and are distributed throughout the month of January-March on a rolling basis.
Prior to applying, a student may request a waiver for the application fee in writing to [email protected].
All materials supporting your application for scholarship assistance must be submitted with your application or received within two weeks of program application submission. Documents not included on the application can be sent to [email protected]. Application for scholarships should be received no later than April 1, 2026. We encourage you to submit scholarship information early to maximize your chances of receiving aid. Please note that scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, and funds may run out before the deadline.
Please visit our financial information page for more information and to review the full scholarship policy.
Scholarship Application Process
Full Scholarship: Available to WI Residents Only
To qualify for a full scholarship you must:
- Receive free or reduced lunch in the state of Wisconsin during the current school year
- Upload a Badger Precollege Scholarship Form to your online program application or to [email protected] with your school’s Authorized Representative signature (ex: Food Service Director, Principal, Counselor) and the checkbox verifying your free-reduced lunch status.
If you don’t qualify for a full scholarship or are not a resident of Wisconsin, you may qualify for a partial scholarship of up to 50% of the tuition cost.
Partial Scholarships:
To qualify for a partial scholarship you must:
- Provide an alternative document verifying income. For domestic students the recommended alternative is to submit the first page of the U.S. 1040 Tax Form of the most recent year’s tax return. For international students, please submit the first page of the Income Tax Report of the most recent year’s taxes. For security purposes, all personal information like Social Security or other identity numbers should be redacted before submitting the form. If extenuating circumstances (i.e. loans, loss of employment) are not reflected on tax return but are impacting your family’s finances, please also submit your financial need story.
Additional information (essay, interview, phone conversation, etc.) may be requested from students and/or families prior to notification of aid.
Notification of Aid
Families will be notified of decisions via email. Badger Precollege is committed to making an allocation of financial aid funds to allow the largest possible number of students to attend our programs. Families will be required to submit their intent to accept financial aid. Failure to do so by the deadline posted in your award letter may result in a loss of partial or full aid award.