Types of Advising
Major & Prospective Major Advising
Advising appointments for students declared in or considering the mathematics major are made via Starfish. You may meet with any advisor, regardless of who MyUW shows as your advisor.
To declare the Mathematics major, you must schedule a meeting with a Mathematics major advisor through Starfish.
Students with complicated questions or issues are encouraged to schedule a meeting with Dr. Mitch Keller or Prof. Andrew Zimmer if at all possible.
We also have a page for international students with advising-related visa questions (return from leave of absence, program extension, and reduced course load).
Information is available for Mathematics majors interested in study abroad and internship abroad opportunities.
Honors in the Major Advising
Students looking for Honors in the Major advising are welcome to make an appointment with Dr Mitch Keller or Prof Simon Marshall via Starfish.
Before your meeting, be sure to prepare a basic plan of how you would like to fulfill the requirements for the honors program. You do not need to have a complete plan laid out, but a basic outline will be a good place to start.
300-level Course Selection Drop-in
What: Drop-in quick advising chats on choosing linear algebra, differential equations, probability, and intro to proof courses
When: Fridays from 11am to noon (Sept 13 through Dec 6, except Nov 29)
Where: Math Learning Center (Van Vleck room B224 and then to the MLC upper level, Table 1)
Who: Dr Mitch Keller, math teaching faculty and advisor or Morgan Adams, Math Certificate and AMEP advisor
Description: Do you need some help choosing which differential equations, linear algebra, probability, or prerequisite for advanced math course is best for you? Come by for a quick chat! We can help you better understand the differences between these courses (and if taking MATH 234 might be worthwhile even if your major doesn’t require it).
Certificate Advising
Students interested in declaring the math certificate or who have questions about it can book an appointment with a math certificate advisor through Starfish. If you are undecided between the math major and the math certificate, please book an appointment with a major advisor, as they can also help with certificate advising. However, our certificate advisors do not advise math majors.
You can also register for a group certificate declaration session. We will be hosting virtual sessions on:
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January 28 at 5:30pm
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Students can register here
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February 17 at 5:00pm
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Students can register here
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April 2 at 6:00pm
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Students can register here
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Placement and Non-Major Advising
This advising is primarily meant for non-math majors (and students that are not interested in the math major) and math certificate students. Questions that are most appropriate for discussing with this person—the placement/undergraduate advisor—are those regarding math course placement, placement testing and retakes, transfer credit questions, enrollment, and course prerequisites. Please email enrollment@math.wisc.edu with such questions, and we will arrange a meeting if your question cannot be resolved by email.
Career Advising
There are a number of career services offered at UW-Madison tailored specifically to provide career advising and support to undergraduate students. Some career centers are specific to a particular school, college, or department, while others are for broader populations or specified to particular fields. For example, a math major in the College of Letters & Science may consider connecting with SuccessWorks for some career advising and resources, while a math major in the College of Engineering may instead consider Engineering Career Services.
Students interested in career opportunities are also encouraged to use Handshake.
We Use Math and the American Mathematical Society (AMS) both provide some examples of careers that students can pursue with a math major.
The Math Department also maintains an opportunity board for math majors with career and research opportunities as well as upcoming career fairs and links to relevant job boards. You must be logged in to your UW-Madison Google account to access this board.
Before Contacting an Advisor
It is a good idea to run your DARS report before your meeting. For help using DARS, see this helpful page from the Office of the Registrar. If you are nearing graduation and have questions about if you are on track, please review our graduation information page before contacting an advisor.
AMEP Advising
For AMEP advising, consult the AMEP advising page.