Welcome to Madison
On the shores of Lake Mendota, Madison is a cosmopolitan state capital and renowned college town. It has the excitement of a large city, but on an intimate, user-friendly level. Surrounded by great hiking trails and bike paths, not to mention some of the best golfing in the Midwest, Madison is the perfect place for anyone looking for an active summer. You can even go sailing, swimming or canoeing on Lake Mendota! All while enjoying Madison’s idyllic summer weather!
The University of Wisconsin - Madison represents the very best the Big 10 has to offer, excelling in academics, research, recreational facilities and athletic achievement. It is an ideal environment for students who want a real look at top-caliber college life.
The Statesider – The Ultimate Place to Stay!
With ACA, you stay in style, enjoying the finest residence accommodations of any pre-college summer program. ACA’s newly renovated residence hall, The Statesider, features deluxe suites, complete with refrigerators, microwaves, Ethernet connections, weekly housekeeping, linen service and of course – air conditioning! You’ll also like the computer center and state-of-the-art workout facility, complete with plasma-screen televisions. At the end of the day, relax in fully furnished lounges. Catch your favorite program on cable TV, play some Xbox, or watch a DVD. And rest easy, because the front-desk staff and ACA office is on-site to ensure your safety 24 hours a day.
Academic Advantages
A world-class campus means access to world-class faculty and facilities. Tackle an academic challenge, or try something for fun. Try Kaplan or Princeton Review SAT Prep, learn college survival skills, and even pursue internships and community-service options. ACA has the perfect opportunities to fit your interests!
Playing it Safe
At ACA, we know safety comes first. Our ten-to-one student-to-staff ratio (one of the lowest in the industry) lets us provide each student with unmatched attention and supervision. The Statesider, our exclusive residence, features a front desk staffed 24 hours a day with trained personnel for your comfort and convenience. ACA staff members also live on every student-occupied floor and accompany students on all activities and excursions. ACA takes extra care to use private transportation for our weekday activity and weekend adventure trips – never public transportation. ACA staff members also carry cell phones for emergency contact.
Excellent Eats
Choices, choices, choices! From home-style meals served at breakfast and dinner to lunch options that let you enjoy favorite restaurants - no pre-college summer program gives you as many dining options as ACA!
Our residence hall breakfast buffet features made-to-order morning specials like omelets, pancakes and waffles, and there is plenty of fresh fruit, cereal, bagels, yogurt and pastries too. If you’d rather take your breakfast on the run, don’t worry. There are Einstein Bros. bagels and fresh fruit ready and waiting for you to grab before you go!
Thanks to ACA’s exclusive Dining-on-the-Town-Plan, you have amazing lunch options every day. Visit your favorite restaurants like The Famous Potbelly’s Sub Shop, Ian’s Pizza, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Five Guys Burgers and more!
Dinners, served up Monday through Thursday at the residence hall, feature a choice of kitchen-fresh entrees, a selection of side dishes, a soup-and-salad bar, beverage bar, frozen yogurt and fresh-baked breads and pastries. Fridays you enjoy a fun dinner at a great restaurant. And don’t worry; we make sure everyone eats just as well during our exciting weekend adventures!
Amazing Activities
Afternoons and evenings are yours to enjoy. Play some tennis, head to the beach, get in a round of golf. From semi-private sports instruction to creative arts workshops to cool shows, outings and special events, there are new options to pursue every day!
Incredible Weekend Adventures
Every weekend, you’ll explore exciting cities and tour top college campuses. From famous restaurants and amazing cultural events to Major League Baseball games and all-star summer concerts, each weekend brings an unforgettable adventure! Our Signature All-Inclusive Weekends Include:
• Windy City Weekend in Chicago
• World-Class Weekend in Minneapolis
• Big 10 College Tour Weekend
• Wisconsin Dells Weekend Adventure
• SummerFest and Six Flags Weekend Adventure
First-Rate Fitness Facilities
At The Statesider, you’ll have access to a remodeled and updated fitness center, complete with Nautilus strength machines, Stairmasters, treadmills and Lifecycles. Of course, you’ll have full use of UW’s world-class athletic facilities, including the running tracks, basketball courts, outdoor playing fields and weight rooms. If you’d prefer some fresh air, the campus is surrounded by scenic running and cycling paths, and Lake Mendota beckons for a canoe trip or leisurely swim.
Travel to Madison*
We recommend that students fly nonstop to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. There they will be met by ACA staff members, who will escort them to comfortable, air-conditioned shuttles for the two-hour drive to Madison.
If necessary, students may fly directly to Madison’s Dane County Airport. Upon arrival, they will be met by ACA staff and escorted directly to the Wisconsin campus.
Of course, parents are also welcome to drive students to ACA directly. Contact our office for further information on any of these travel options.
Please contact our office before making your travel plans to insure that we can accommodate your arrival and departure times.
*Transportation charges are not included in tuition.
