COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
Keep working hard on those college applications if you have a December or January deadline!
If your school requires a School Counselor recommendation for a January deadline:
Please contact your Counselor ASAP to request a letter of recommendation.
COUNSELORS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO WRITE LETTERS OVER WINTER BREAK.
BE SURE TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY!
A few additional details to remember:
- If you are sending ACT or SAT scores, those go directly to the colleges through the ACT or the College Board (for SAT) websites.
- Be conscientious in pursuing housing accommodations as soon as the colleges will allow so you have a better chance of getting your first choice in housing.
- Seniors using the Common App should review this document.
SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID
Seniors (and their parents) seeking scholarships should check out the Scholarships and Financial Aid Booklet for an overview of the financial aid and scholarship search process.
Seniors should also check out our district's directory of local scholarships by logging into Xello and clicking on "College Resources." This scholarship list is continually being updated.
Finally, West also offers a number of scholarships to graduating students. The West HS scholarship application will be shared with seniors via email in January. The application window will run from Wed Jan 10th and close on Fri Feb 2nd.
Scholarship Spotlight: Xello & Method Learning Scholarship
The Wisconsin School Counselor Association (WSCA), in partnership with Xello & Method Learning, has established the WSCA High School Scholarship Program to assist students with their post-secondary education.
FOUR $500.00 Scholarships Will Be Awarded
ELIGIBILITY:
Are you eligible to apply for the WSCA high school scholarship?
Unless otherwise specified, you must:
- Be a Wisconsin resident. Residency is defined by WSCA when:
- An independent student or the parents of a dependent student have continuously resided in Wisconsin for the previous 12 months.
- A student has continuously enrolled a minimum of one academic year within the past 12-month period at a Wisconsin high school.
- Be a graduating Wisconsin high school student during the current academic year.
- In the state of Wisconsin for any reason, other than a temporary purpose (ie. student visa, travel visa, etc.)
- Are attending a public or private high school in Wisconsin
- Will be attending a post-secondary education program during the 2024-2025 school year.
Find more details and the application HERE
MADISON COLLEGE SCHOLARS OF PROMISE
We can help pay your college tuition!
The Scholars of Promise program provides low-income, graduating high school students an opportunity to access a college education without worrying about how to pay for it.
Program benefits include:
- Tuition Assistance: We cover tuition and fee costs that grants and scholarships do not for up to six consecutive semesters - summers excluded.
- Mentorship: Work with a mentor your first year, become a mentor your second year.
- Financial Aid Application Assistance: Dedicated support through focused application completion workshops.
- Academic Support: Academic advising and career counseling focused on SoP students.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Our newsletter helps you complete the required eight hours of service per term.
- Promise to Promise: Direct college transfer opportunities with UW-Madison's Scholars of Promise program.
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has typically been available on October 1. Due to changes to the FAFSA this year, FAFSA will not be available to students by the end of December. The exact date has not yet been released.
The changes to the FAFSA form for the 2024–25 aid year include expanded eligibility for federal student aid and a more streamlined application process.
A Financial Aid Toolkit can be found at the following link: financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov
FAFSA Support with College Goal WI
College Goal Wisconsin provides free information and assistance to families completing the FAFSA. College Goal Wisconsin is offering both in-person and virtual FAFSA Completion Events in January and February 2024.
To register for a FAFSA Completion Event or to request additional information, please refer to collegegoalwi.org.
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Students interested in being considered for membership in the National Honor Society at West must meet the following criteria:
earned a total of at least 45 service hours by the time of the application. (students may use any hours accumulated from the summer of 8th grade through March 2024)
earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.50
demonstrated their character and leadership and have a positive school record
NOTE: All eligible Juniors will receive an email about the NHS application process mid-March 2024.
More information on NHS can be found HERE
High School Science Research Internship Program
The 11th Grade High School Science Research Internship Program is a partnership between MMSD and the UW-Madison. 11th grade students from MMSD are partnered with researchers at UW-Madison each summer. The goal of the program is to provide an authentic science research experience for the intern. As the summer ends, interns design a scientific poster and the concluding event of the program is a scientific poster session. This allows the interns to communicate their findings to a larger audience and also to celebrate the completion of their internship with associates from the university, teachers, friends and family.
Students who successfully complete the internship program receive three separate types of credit.
One full college credit awarded by the University of Wisconsin-Madison
One quarter high school science credit awarded by Madison Metropolitan School District
One quarter credit of high school experiential learning awarded per 45 hours of lab work
Requirements
- Junior status at an MMSD high school at the time of application
- Available for lab work 20-25 hours per week for 9 weeks during the summer
- Attend an orientation meeting with a parent/guardian in March
- Attend all group seminars on campus during the summer
- Complete and present a formal scientific poster
- Complete all requirements and documentation for the Wisconsin Youth Leadership Skill Certificate
Application Information
- What is Science Research Internship? (Screencast)
- Application Tips
- Application Preview for Preparing Answers
- Sample Early College Credit Program form
Application Links
- Student Application
- Recommendation Form
- Parent/Guardian Reference and Consent Form
- Early College Credit Program Form (return to school counselor)
DEADLINE TO APPY: Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024.
Please address questions to Pete Jaeger, sriprogram@madison.k12.wi.us.
Early College Credit Options
If you are interested in taking a college course for Summer or Fall 2024 through MMSD’s Early College Credit or Start College Now programs, be sure to visit the program’s website HERE for important information about the application process.
Start College Now (SCN) allows high school students the opportunity to take college courses at Wisconsin Technical Colleges in the Fall or Spring terms.
The Early College Credit Program (ECCP) allows high school students the opportunity to take college courses at Wisconsin public (University of Wisconsin) and private universities in the Fall, Spring or Summer terms.
Deadlines:
Applications for the Summer 2024 term are due to your school counselor by February 1, 2024.
Applications for the Fall 2024 term are due to your school counselor by March 1, 2024.
The application process involves multiple steps, but begins with the student completing the application for MMSD approval. Please visit the ECCP website for links to the application.
MMSD approval does not mean course approval by the college. Each college/university has its own process which may vary, though most require an additional online application. MMSD decisions are communicated to a student’s MMSD email address. If approved, students will receive information about next steps in the process. Please see your school counselor with any questions.
Early College STEM Academy
We are excited to release information for the 2023-2024 application to the Early College STEM Academy. This continued partnership with Madison College expands access to college courses in science, technology, engineering and math in order to increase opportunities for students to earn college credit as high school students at no cost to them or their families. We hope to increase students underrepresented in STEM related careers, including students of color, females, first-generation students, and/or students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
Students are selected to participate in the STEM Academy as a 2-year cohort, attending 11th and 12th grade at Madison College. Students will have access to expertise and state-of-the-art STEM labs and equipment for hands-on learning with Madison College and Madison school district instructors.
Students will earn high school and college dual credits at no cost to them and their families. With those credits, students can be more competitive when applying to four-year colleges. We know from research that students who participate in dual credit courses have greater success going to and staying in college, as well as achieving higher GPAs and college graduation rates.
Eligibility Requirements (for Current 10th grade students)
- Minimum 2.25 grade point average
- 90% attendance rate
- Submit application by January 26, 2024 at 3:00 PM
We encourage you to attend an information session with Madison College to learn more about this opportunity. You may also contact your student’s counselor with questions.
- November 14, 2023 6-7pm via Google Meet
- December 6, 2023 6-7pm, via Google Meet
- Jan 17, 2024 6-7pm, via Google Meet
You may also view the website for more information, including a link to the application.
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA)
Potential Division I and II athletes must meet NCAA academic eligibility requirements in high school prior to entering a college. Students must apply junior or senior year.
Go to the NCAA website at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net to register and learn about the eligibility requirements.
West Tutoring Program
The West Tutoring Program has recently expanded to a full day! Students can now request a tutor for a study/resource hall any hour of the day, as well as during lunch.
In addition, Ms. Schumacher is looking for more peer tutors! If you have an interest in volunteering your time, please complete the tutor interest form below. Especially in need of peer tutors, DLI tutors for the morning classes and LUNCH!
'23-24 Tutor Request Form (this form has a link for Spanish translation)
23-24 Peer Tutor Interest Form (this form has all the periods listed 1-8)
UW ProCSI Summer Camp 2024
Are you a high school student interested in math, science, and engineering? Check out this free summer camp opportunity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison:
ProCSI (Promoting the Computational Science Initiative, pronounced "proxy"), is an annual, week-long residential program that is offered, free of charge, on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While the camp is open to all students, we hope you’ll encourage first-generation and/or minority high school students going into their 10th, 11th, or 12th grade to apply – in our experience these students are most likely to overlook opportunities such as this. ProCSI participants attend lectures on a range of engineering-related topics, go on tours of the campus, and experience campus life during this fun-filled week. Students will be provided with meals at a university dining hall and reside in the dorms, both at no cost.
ProCSI-H1 will be held from July 14th to 19th 2024
ProCSI-H2 will be held from July 21st to 26th 2024
Instructions for the application form are available online at https://sbel.wisc.edu/procsi/.
Deadline to apply: Sunday, March 24th, 2024 at 11:59pm (CST)
