New Freshmen

Get Started as an Admitted Student at UWM
Ready to enroll? Review essential steps.

  1. Check Your Accounts — Often! 

    Your Admissions Portal and PAWS account contain important application and enrollment information. You will receive information about your application and admission status in your Admissions Portal. In PAWS, you have a To-Do List, which lists steps you need to take to enroll. There you will receive information from the Admissions and Financial Aid offices. 

  2. Complete Your Intent to Enroll

    Your Intent to Enroll is a one-question survey in your Admissions Portal. It’s your way to let UWM know if you plan to be a student in the fall. Click on the Intent to Enroll item as it appears in your Admissions Portal and follow the instructions. The priority deadline to complete your Intent to Enroll for Fall is May 1.

  3. Determine Living Arrangements (only for freshmen under 21)

    New full-time freshmen under the age of 21 are required to live on campus their first academic year or ask for an exemption. 

    Living on campus: Living in University Housing is a great way to transition to college life. Whether you’re taking part in a volunteer project or just relaxing with friends in your room, you’ll discover that our residence halls sit at the intersection of classroom, campus and community. And research has shown that living on campus contributes positively to a student’s overall success. 

    Review the details of the housing contract and learn how to submit your University Housing contract. After submitting your contract, you’ll be billed the $100 Housing Prepayment/Deposit. Be sure to pay this deposit in PAWS to secure your spot in University Housing. 

    Living off campus: If you’d like to request an exemption from living on campus, you’ll need to fill out the exemption request form and submit required documentation. 

    If you commute from home, don’t worry! We’ll help you get connected to campus. You’ll hear from your Peer Mentor, a student from the Student Success Center who helps you meet other students, shows you around campus, and assists you with your academic success. You can also visit the Commuter Student Lounge located within the Inclusive Excellence Center in the Union. 

    The priority deadline for all University Housing paperwork is May 1. For more information, visit University Housing. 

  4. Course Placement

    Your course placement can be satisfied by submitting your ACT/SAT scores to UWM or by completing our free UWM online placement tests in math and English. For those who may need placement testing, options including online placements are available. Students starting in Fall 2022 need to wait until Feb 1 to complete math placement. Learn more about course placement at UWM.

  5. Register for Orientation

    Starting in March (October for spring admits), you’ll be invited to register for Orientation one to two days after you’ve completed your Intent to Enroll. 

    Orientation is a required program for all new freshmen and is a great opportunity to get acclimated to campus, meet fellow UWM Panthers, connect with an advisor and enroll in classes. You must register for this program. 

    When you’re eligible to register for Orientation, you’ll see it as a To-Do List item in your Admissions Portal. You won’t be able to enroll in classes until you complete the Orientation experience.

    For more information and to register, visit the New Student Programs website. 

  6. Submit Your ID Photo

    All UWM students are required to have a photo identification card. Download the Get Mobile App to upload your photo or directly upload a selfie to the Panther Card Office.  Make sure to complete this at least 48 hours prior to your orientation program. 

  7. Complete Your University Credit Agreement

    Every student must electronically sign the University Credit Agreement. This appears on your To-Do List on your PAWS account and must be signed before you can register for classes. For more information, visit the Bursar’s Office. 

  8. Send in Your High School Transcripts

    Work with your counselor to send us your final high school transcript once your final grades and graduation date have been posted. Transcripts can be sent electronically or mailed to:

    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    Office of Undergraduate Admissions
    P.O. Box 749
    Milwaukee, WI 53201

  9. Pay Your Tuition and Fees

    After you’ve registered for classes, tuition and fees will be posted to your account. Two of those fees are the $150 Orientation Fee (not refundable if you complete Orientation) and the $100 New Freshman Fee, both of which cover various costs for campus resources and programs, such as Fall Welcome. 

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

  10. Attend Panther Academic Welcome

    Panther Academic Welcome (PAW) is a required in-person program for students starting in the fall where you’ll get acclimated to academic expectations at UWM and learn more about how to succeed in college. PAW is a part of the Fall Welcome experience. Learn more here: uwm.edu/welcome 

    Students starting in the spring should attend Winter Welcome events to help acclimate them to campus.