Hats Off to the Class of 2024!
The Counseling Department wishes to extend our sincere congratulations to all our graduates. You've worked hard and accomplished so much during your time in high school. We hope that your experiences and achievements as a Regent have prepared you well for your future endeavors. We have enjoyed working with you and wish you all the best of luck in the future!
THANK YOU to all the parents, staff and community who have collaborated to support the success and achievement of all our students! See you at graduation!
Sending Final Transcripts
If you plan on attending a college or university this fall, you will need to send your FINAL Transcript to that school. You can take care of that step right now by logging into your parchment account and following these easy instructions:
Go to the West-specific parchment landing page: https://www.parchment.com/u/registration/25911/account
Select “hold for grades” and your transcript will automatically be sent once semester grades are finalized in June. Transcripts will be finalized around June 16th. Send your transcript directly to your college/university, NOT the Common Application.
Reminder that counselors do not send transcripts, it is the student’s responsibility to request them via parchment and send them to their college.
All Senior students should make sure they use a personal email to log into their Parchment account. If you are currently using your school email address, please go to your Profile, account and add another email to this account and make your personal email the primary email. School email addresses are deactivated after graduation.
Note: any fee waivers Seniors have remaining in Parchment expire 7/31/2024 so be sure to order final transcripts before then.
More information about ordering transcripts can be found HERE
Summer No-Cost College Counseling Support for High School Juniors & Seniors
Get $100 for doing steps that will help you out post high school!
In addition, every student who completes the program will be entered into a drawing for one of two $500 529 Edvest scholarships.
Available for Wisconsin graduating Seniors and rising Seniors. Here's what you'll get:
- No-cost college planning and FAFSA completion support in summer 2024
- Personalized, virtual check-ins and guidance from our team of professional summer counselors via two-way text, virtual coaching sessions and phone call support.
Students sign up here: https://www.fairopportunityproject.org/mini-boost-signup
How To Save Google Drive Documents for Graduating Seniors
Senior Google Account Transfer Information
Your MMSD Google Drive and Gmail will be shut down soon after you graduate.
- Use Google Takeout to transfer or download your files. You will probably need an empty new Google account or a portable hard drive because it will be BIG…
OR
- Email or share any items you wish to save with your personal account and then promptly go in and make a copy.
If you have any questions please email techinfo@madison.k12.wi.us
MMSD SUMMER SCHOOL
The 2024 Secondary Summer School sponsored by Madison Metropolitan School District is scheduled for six weeks
June 17 - July 25 M-Th (No class June 19 or July 4th & 5th)
Classes meet Monday-Thursday each week.
For all details related to summer school, check out the Summer School Website link below.
Writing your Personal Essay for College Applications
Continue working on your list of colleges/programs you plan to apply for this fall and WRITE YOUR COLLEGE ESSAYS!!! Summer is a great time to get that college essay rough draft finished before your fall school work & busy schedule sets in.
A few essay writing tips:
By the time you apply to college, you have gathered a long list of grades, test scores, and extracurricular accomplishments. But, while admissions officers are interested in seeing what you have done with your high school years, what they really want to know is who you are. When people read your college application, they want to know, “Is this someone who will succeed at our school?”
In your essay, you get to tell a story or two that introduces admissions officers to you as a candidate for their school. In your introduction, you want to come across as smart, thoughtful, and mature. Your essay should be deeply personal, error-free, and written in language that demonstrates you are prepared for the academic challenge of college.
Common Application
What information will roll over?
All information within the Common App tab:
* Profile
* Family
* Education
* Testing
* Activities
* Writing
* Courses & Grades
What information will not roll over?
* Answers to college-specific questions
* Recommender invitations
* Forms submitted by recommenders
* Your Release Authorization and FERPA selection
* Responses to questions that have been changed or removed
Advanced Placement (AP) Test Information
Deadline to Indicate Your Free Score-Send Recipient
June 20th is the deadline to choose the college, university, or scholarship program you want to send your 2024 AP score report to for free. You can send one score report for free every year that you take AP Exams.
EXAM SCORES AVAILABLE STARTING IN JULY
AP® Exam scores will be released on July 8. Here's how students can view their scores, also check out this blog post for more info. Before scores are released, students should confirm they have access by logging in to My AP today.
National Honor Society
For the 24-25 school year, Juniors will need to have a 3.6 GPA and 60 volunteer hours in order to be eligible for National Honor Society.
See West's NHS Website for more information.
Upcoming BigFuture Live Event
Upcoming BigFuture Real Talk Event:
Celebrate Juneteenth: Find the HBCU for You!
Tuesday, June 11, at 8 p.m. ET
Tap in during this special #RealTalkTuesday to discover the rich history of this holiday and how it relates to the invaluable educational opportunities offered by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Student Work Permits
The Department of Workforce Development has developed an online work permit application tool that is available to parents of minors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from any computer, tablet, smartphone, or similar device. The application improves accessibility for minors who live in rural or underserved areas and eliminates the difficult logistics involved in working parents having to take off work to make a trip to a work permit office.
The application is live now. A parent can access the site using these instructions. Payment is made directly to the department through the application, using a credit or debit card or by ACH direct withdrawal. Once the permit application process is complete, the Department mails a paper copy of the permit directly to the employer.
In addition, we have reorganized our employment of minors web pages. The information you need is linked at the bottom of this page, including a guide to hazardous and prohibited work, the hours and times of day restrictions for minors, and links to the appropriate statutes and codes.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at workpermits@dwd.wisconsin.gov.
VOLUNTEERING INFORMATION
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, earn hours for National Honors Society & develop your resume. Also, many scholarships ask for the number of volunteer hours you have completed in high school (including the West HS Scholarships). These activities help to maintain your current skills, as well as provide new ones and can help you explore interest areas.
Check out volunteer opportunities in Dane County:
- https://www.countyofdane.com/volunteer
- https://www.rsvpdane.org/
- https://www.cityofmadison.com/live-work/volunteer-opportunities
- https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/orgs.jsp?l=Madison%2C+WI
Do you have volunteer hours lined up for the summer? Make a copy of this spreadsheet and keep track of your hours!
NCAA Eligibility Center Webinar Recordings
View the NCAA's Eligibility Center webinar for college-bound student-athletes and their families on Initial Eligibility. Student-athletes can view the recordings to ensure they have the information they need to be ready to practice, compete, and receive a scholarship at an NCAA Division I or II school.
August 2024 Enrollment Dates
Online enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year begins August 5, 2024
Access the MMSD enrollment website HERE
Please note: The Online Enrollment Application will open for families on August 5. MMSD is supporting existing and new families of elementary, middle, and high school students to complete the enrollment process 100% virtual. You must enroll each child every year. This is the designated time for schools to be available virtually to families. If you are not available on these days please reach out to the school regarding an alternative time.
All students new to the district need to contact Ms. Jackson (Counseling Dept Secretary) to set up an appointment for enrollment/registration Phone: (608) 204-3073
Email: fjackson@madison.k12.wi.us
