Find an Advisor
Find Your Assigned Advisor(s)
Here are two ways to find your assigned academic advisor as a current UW-Madison student:
Academic Navigator
Click on the “Advisors” button to see the names and contact information for your assigned advisors.
Starfish
In Starfish, the University’s scheduling system, you’ll see your Success Team, which includes names of your assigned advisors. You’ll also see some Advising Services that you can quickly access.
Browse a list of available UW-Madison advising units below.
Newly admitted student?
Depending on timing, your advisor assignment may not yet show in MyUW. If so, please use the links below to connect with the advising unit you worked with at SOAR.
Prospective student?
We’re so glad you’re exploring UW-Madison! Please visit our prospective students page to see the resources available to you.
Academic Advising Units on Campus
Advising for undecided or exploring students
Students who are still exploring majors most often work with Cross-College Advising Service (CCAS). We encourage you to make an appointment with CCAS if:
- You’re interested in multiple majors across different schools and colleges.
- You want to switch majors to one that is in a different school or college than the one you’re in now.
- You’re completely undecided and want some help getting started.
- You have some ideas about a major but need help narrowing your options.
- You were not admitted to a Limited Enrollment program and are looking for other majors.
School and college advising units
Each school and college provides academic advising that is specific to their field of study or the majors within that school or college.
Specialized advising units
The units or programs below serve specific student populations, offer specialized types of advising, or provide dedicated support to members of cohort and scholar programs.
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Athletics
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Center for Academic Excellence
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Center for Educational Opportunity
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Center for Pre-Health Advising
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Center for Pre-Law Advising
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First Wave Program
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International Student Services Advisors
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McNair Scholars Program
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Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program
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Native American Center for Health Professions
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Study Abroad Advising
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PEOPLE Program
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Posse Program
Helpful Info for Scheduling Advising Appointments
Scheduling an advising appointment in Starfish
Once you log in to Starfish you will see the “My Success Network” page where you’ll find a list of your assigned advisors.
- Click on the person you’d like to schedule with.
- Select the type of appointment you’d like to schedule, as well as your reason for scheduling. Do your best answering these questions – your answers will help advisors to prepare for your meeting!
- Choose a date, time, and location/modality (online or in-person) if more than one option is available.
Note: If you see a message that says there are no appointments available, try looking for a later date in the advisor’s schedule. If you continue having issues, please contact the advisor or the advising office directly.
Navigating multiple assigned advisors
If you have more than one assigned advisor in Starfish or Academic Navigator, you might be wondering, “How do I choose who to meet with?”
The answer depends on what you’re planning to discuss. If you have questions about selecting courses for your major, for example, a major advisor is your best bet. If you’re having issues with a certificate course, schedule with your certificate advisor.
And if you’re just not sure, pick one! All academic advisors are prepared to answer a variety of questions or refer you to someone who can.
Connecting with an advisor not on your assigned list
If you’d like to get information about different academic areas or are interested in specialized information about something like study abroad, you can schedule with advisors who aren’t assigned to you. There are a few ways to do it in Starfish:
- Search by name: If you know the name of the advisor you want to meet with, you can search for them in Starfish. Many advisors have appointments open to all students.
- Search by service: If you aren’t sure exactly who you want to schedule with, you can look for specific advising services in Starfish. When you find the right one, you may be able to select a specific advisor or look for the first available appointment.
- Reach out to the office: If you aren’t sure who to meet with, whether they have open advising for all students, or want clarification on the scheduling process, start on the advising unit’s website or their Starfish profile.