I'm starting in the Fall

The following checklist items are broken down into three categories: Required, Recommended and Bonus Points. Required are your must do steps – you won’t be able to enroll in classes without completing them. Recommended items are steps that our most successful students complete. Finally, Bonus Points are steps that will be helpful to your transition to UWM, but will not have any direct bearing on your enrollment.

REQUIRED:

1. Check your Paws account - often!
Your PAWS account is your connection to important information about your application and enrollment at UWM. On PAWS, you’ve got a To Do List, which lists steps you need to take care of to get admitted and enrolled; your Financial Aid award, where you accept your grants and loans; Finances, where you pay tuition and fees; and Enrollment, where you register for classes. Access your account at uwm.edu/paws and check it often for updates!

Never been on PAWS? You must first activate your ePanther ID and create a password. You’ll use this login for PAWS, your UWM email (assigned just before New Student Orientation), and all other online UWM resources.

2. Pay your $150 Confirmation Deposit
This deposit confirms your intent to enroll at UWM. You can pay on your PAWS account by clicking on ‘Make a Payment’ in the Finances section. For other payment options, visit the Bursar’s Office website.

Make sure you commit to UWM by National Decision Day, May 1st and show your school spirit!

*Please note this deposit is not refundable if you attend a New Student Orientation (NSO) program or fail to cancel your NSO registration at least 10 days before your scheduled program.
3. Determine Living Arrangments
As an adult student, you have lots of options for housing. You can choose to live on campus in University Housing, reside in the vibrant UWM neighborhood, or commute from home.

If you’re interested in living in one of our residence halls, you’ll have to submit a Housing Contract and pay a $100 pre-payment/deposit. University Housing will send you an email when you are able to access to your online contract via the myHousing portal (about two weeks after you’ve been admitted). When you’re completing your contract, be sure consider our Living Learning Communities. The priority deadline for Housing Contracts and payments is May 1st.

Looking to rent a place in the neighborhood? Check out our Neighborhood Housing Office! We can help you find quality housing, roommates, and other resources.

If you’re going to commute to campus, learn about transportation options, parking permits, and other commuter student resources.

4. Take your placement Tests
Placement tests determine which courses you are ready for and maximize your chances for success. All incoming New Freshmen must complete placement testing in Math and English (there are options for both native and non-native speaker English testing). Students interested in taking Chemistry and/or Foreign Language courses who would like to try and place beyond introductory college levels are encouraged to take placement tests in these areas as well. Registration for placement tests opens February 1st and testing dates begin in March.

You can take your placements tests here at UWM or at other locations. Please note that chemistry and English placement for non-native speakers are only available at UWM on designated dates; they are not available at other testing locations.

The priority deadline to complete placement tests is May 1st. Get more information about testing options and register at uwm.edu/freshmanplacement.

5. Register for Transfer and Adult Student Orientation
After you have paid your Confirmation Deposit and taken your Placement Tests, you will be invited to register for Transfer and Adult Student Orientation (TASO). Orientation is required for all New Freshmen and is a great opportunity to become more acclimated to campus, meet your fellow Panthers, meet with your advisor, and register for classes. If you are ready to sign up for Orientation, you’ll see it as a To Do List item on your PAWS account.

TASO is a great way to take care of business prior to starting classes. At TASO, you can familiarize yourself with campus resources, meet with staff and students from your school/college, receive financial aid counseling, and tour campus. TASO is held several times throughout the summer and registration opens in April.  Register today!

6. Submit Your ID Photo

All UWM students are required to have a photo identification card. Skip the inconvenience of having it taken on campus and send us your selfie!

Download the “Get Mobile” App or upload it here: https://uwm.edu/retailservices/use-your-selfie/[Make sure to complete this at least 48 hours prior to your Orientation program.] 7. Complete your University Credit AgreementEvery student must electronically sign the University Credit Agreement. This will appear on your To Do List on your PAWS account in the spring and must be signed before you can register for classes. For more information, visit the Bursar’s Office.

8. Pay your tuition fees
In July, and after you’ve registered for classes, tuition and fees will be posted to your account. One of those fees is the $100 New Freshman Fee which covers various costs for campus resources such as your campus ID and Fall Welcome programming.

Tuition and fees are due by the first day of classes, though installment plans are available. For more information, visit our Bursar’s Office.

RECOMMENDED:

1. Tour campus...See Milwaukee
Whether you are still considering several schools or you’ve already made your decision to attend UWM, planning a visit is the best way to experience all that UWM and the city of Milwaukee have to offer! Our See Milwaukee guided tours are open to all who want to get acquainted with UWM and Milwaukee. While on a UWM campus tour, you will have the opportunity to meet with an Admissions Advisor, take a tour with a current student to see our beautiful campus and its surrounding community, and pair your tour with information sessions about your potential area(s) of academic interest. For more information on all of our visit programs, head to visit.uwm.edu.
2. Consider financial options and complete FAFSA
College is an investment – well worth it, but many students need help with the costs. To apply for financial aid, including grants (gift money you don’t have to pay back) and loans, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA. File this online at www.fafsa.gov. Our school code is 003896.

For the 2018-19 year, the FAFSA is available as of October 1, 2017. You will use your 2016 tax information—which you most likely completed months ago. Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to import your tax information makes completing the FAFSA easier than ever. However, to make sure the process is secure, you won’t see the information that is imported. Apply as soon as possible to be given maximum consideration for funds that may be limited. The Financial Aid Office will use the results of your FAFSA to determine what kind of aid you’re eligible to receive, and notify you via email once we put together an award package for you. Having this information earlier should help you make important decisions about how to pay for college, building a budget, and determining housing options.

We also have lots of great information under the Finances section of the One Stop website! Learn about the different types of financial aid, how to apply, and read important announcements. Make sure to check out our cool budgeting tool, the UWM Total Cost Estimator. Still have questions? Please contact the Financial Aid Office for help.

3. Research Scholarship Options
Scholarships are a great way to help fund your education since they’re money you don’t need to pay back. They’re competitive but well worth the effort. Research potential scholarship opportunities at scholarships.uwm.edu.

BONUS POINTS:

1. Connect with UWM and fellow students on social media
Connect with other future Panthers by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also, don’t forget to follow our Tour Guides, and connect with other future Panthers in your class on the Class of 2021 Facebook group.
2. Think about getting an on-campus job
UWM is committed to professional development of our student workers, so an on-campus job is more than just money in your pocket, it’s a chance to learn and grow as a young professional. Plus, many offer flexible hours and are easy to get to in between classes. While you can’t start working until you’re officially a student, check out what kinds of jobs are out there and prepare yourself at Panther Jobs.
3. Find a Student Organization (or two, or three, or…)
UWM has over 300 Student Organizations on campus! You’re bound to find one (or several) that interest you. Whether you’ve been participating in an activity for years and want to keep it up or you’re looking to venture out and try something new, our student orgs are a great way to get involved!

I'm starting in the Spring

Welcome to the Spring semester! While all the steps to enrollment are the same as students who start in Fall, the timeline is a bit different. The following checklist items are broken down into three categories: Required, Recommended and Bonus Points. Required are your must do steps – you won’t be able to enroll in classes without completing them. Recommended items are steps that our most successful students complete. Finally, Bonus Points are steps that will be helpful to your transition to UWM, but will not have any direct bearing on your enrollment.

REQUIRED:

1. Check your Paws account - often!
Your PAWS account is your connection to important information about your application and enrollment at UWM. On PAWS, you’ve got a To Do List, which lists steps you need to take care of to get admitted and enrolled; your Financial Aid award, where you accept your grants and loans; Finances, where you pay tuition and fees; and Enrollment, where you register for classes. Access your account at paws.uwm.edu and check it often for updates!

Never been on PAWS? You must first activate your ePanther ID and create a password. You’ll use this login for PAWS, your UWM email (assigned just before New Student Orientation), and all other online UWM resources.

2. Pay your $150 Confirmation Deposit
This deposit confirms your intent to enroll at UWM. You can pay on your PAWS account by clicking on ‘Make a Payment’ in the Finances section. For other payment options, visit the Bursar’s Office website.

*Please note this deposit is not refundable if you attend a New Student Orientation (NSO) program or fail to cancel your NSO registration at least 10 days before your scheduled program.
3. Determine Living Arrangments
As an adult student, you have lots of options for housing. You can choose to live on campus in University Housing, reside in the vibrant UWM neighborhood, or commute from home.

If you’re interested in living in one of our residence halls, you’ll have to submit a Housing Contract and pay a $100 pre-payment/deposit. University Housing will send you an email when you are able to access to your online contract via the myHousing portal (about two weeks after you’ve been admitted). When you’re completing your contract, be sure consider our Living Learning Communities. The priority deadline for Housing Contracts and payments is December 1st.

Looking to rent a place in the neighborhood? Check out our Neighborhood Housing Office! We can help you find quality housing, roommates, and other resources.

If you’re going to commute to campus, learn about transportation options, parking permits, and other commuter student resources.

4. Take your placement Tests
Placement tests determine which courses you are ready for and maximize your chances for success. All incoming New Freshmen must complete placement testing in Math and English (there are options for both native and non-native speaker English testing). Students interested in taking Chemistry and/or Foreign Language courses who would like to try and place beyond introductory college levels are encouraged to take placement tests in these areas as well. Registration for placement tests opens October 1st and testing dates begin in November.

Get more information about testing options and register at newfreshmentesting.uwm.edu

5. Register for Transfer and Adult Student Orientation

After you have paid your Confirmation Deposit and taken your Placement Tests, you will be invited to register for Transfer and Adult Student Orientation (TASO). Orientation is required for all New Freshmen and is a great opportunity to become more acclimated to campus, meet your fellow Panthers, meet with your advisor, and register for classes. If you are ready to sign up for Orientation, you’ll see it as a To Do List item on your PAWS account. Registration begins in November. We encourage you to register by December 1.

Register today!

6. Submit Your ID Photo

All UWM students are required to have a photo identification card. Skip the inconvenience of having it taken on campus and send us your selfie!

Download the “Get Mobile” App or upload it here: https://uwm.edu/retailservices/use-your-selfie/[Make sure to complete this at least 48 hours prior to your Orientation program.] 7. Complete your University Credit AgreementEvery student must electronically sign the University Credit Agreement. This will appear on your To Do List on your PAWS account in the spring and must be signed before you can register for classes. For more information, visit the Bursar’s Office.

8. Pay your tuition fees
In January, and after you’ve registered for classes, tuition and fees will be posted to your account. One of those fees is the $100 New Freshman Fee which covers various costs for campus resources such as your campus ID and Fall Winter Welcome programming.

Tuition and fees are due by the first day of classes, though installment plans are available. For more information, visit our Bursar’s Office.

RECOMMENDED:

1. Tour campus...See Milwaukee
Whether you are still considering several schools or you’ve already made your decision to attend UWM, planning a visit is the best way to experience all that UWM and the city of Milwaukee have to offer! Our See Milwaukee guided tours are open to all who want to get acquainted with UWM and Milwaukee. While on a UWM campus tour, you will have the opportunity to meet with an Admissions Advisor, take a tour with a current student to see our beautiful campus and its surrounding community, and pair your tour with information sessions about your potential area(s) of academic interest. For more information on all of our visit programs, head to visit.uwm.edu.
2. Consider financial options and complete FAFSA
College is an investment – well worth it, but many students need help with the costs. To apply for financial aid, including grants (gift money you don’t have to pay back) and loans, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA. File this online at www.fafsa.gov. Our school code is 003896.

Beginning with the 2017-18 academic year, the FAFSA is available three months earlier—October 1, 2016. You will use your 2015 tax information—which you most likely completed months ago. Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to import your tax information makes completing the FAFSA easier than ever. Apply as soon as possible to be given maximum consideration for funds that may be limited. The Financial Aid Office will use the results of your FAFSA to determine what kind of aid you’re eligible to receive, and notify you via email once we put together an award package for you. Having this information earlier should help you make important decisions about how to pay for college, building a budget, and determining housing options.

We also have lots of great information on the Financial Aid website! Learn about the different types of financial aid, how to apply, and read important announcements. Make sure to check out our cool budgeting tool, the UWM Total Cost Estimator. Still have questions? Please contact the Financial Aid Office for help.

3. Research Scholarship Options
Scholarships are a great way to help fund your education since they’re money you don’t need to pay back. They’re competitive but well worth the effort. Research potential scholarship opportunities at scholarships.uwm.edu.

BONUS POINTS:

1. Connect with UWM and fellow students on social media
Connect with other future Panthers by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also, don’t forget to follow our Tour Guides, and connect with other future Panthers in your class on the Class of 2021 Facebook group.
2. Think about getting an on-campus job
UWM is committed to professional development of our student workers, so an on-campus job is more than just money in your pocket, it’s a chance to learn and grow as a young professional. Plus, many offer flexible hours and are easy to get to in between classes. While you can’t start working until you’re officially a student, check out what kinds of jobs are out there and prepare yourself at Panther Jobs.
3. Find a Student Organization (or two, or three, or…)
UWM has over 300 Student Organizations on campus! You’re bound to find one (or several) that interest you. Whether you’ve been participating in an activity for years and want to keep it up or you’re looking to venture out and try something new, our student orgs are a great way to get involved!