West HS Counseling Newsletter

The West High School Counseling Department welcomes all new and returning students and families to West High School for the 2024-25 school year. We look forward to a positive and productive year!

We feel that in a large metropolitan high school, it is important to communicate information in a timely and effective manner. This newsletter is intended to give you a summary of important grade-level counseling information which should be useful in making plans and navigating high school, as well as preparing for life after graduation. It is published monthly, so be sure to check the counseling website for the latest edition (or subscribe and get the newsletter delivered right to your inbox!)

If you have specific questions please contact your assigned counselor. Counselor assignments are listed at the bottom of your schedule in Row 9.

Front Row Left: Ms Anderle (AVID & Van Hise) & Ms. Williams (Highland & Van Hise)

Middle Row Left: Ms. Glynn (Regent & Ash), Ms. Monteiro (Bilingual Counselor), Ms. Dyer (Highland) & Ms. Coombs (Regent)

Back Row Left: Mr. Snyder (Ash) & Ms. Alvis (Van Hise)

Students needing to meet in-person with their counselor may schedule appointments through their counselor's youcanbookme calendar (found on the West Counseling Website).

Students should attempt to schedule appointments during a study hall or lunch whenever possible.

After booking your appointment, you will receive a confirmation email. Use this email as your pass to come to your appointment.

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a standardized test administered by the College Board and cosponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in the United States.

This year, MMSD will offer one group administered testing session for all MMSD students on Tuesday, October 29th at the Alliant Energy Center. Priority registration will be for current Juniors, with other grades allowed to test if space allows. Bus transportation to/from the Alliant will be provided. There is no make up test. See flyer below for registration link.

West families/students with questions can reach out to:

Amanda Dyer acdyer@madison.k12.wi.us or

Karen Coombs kecoombs@madison.k12.wi.us

This year all Madison Metro buses will again use Regent Street for drop off and pick up. Only specialized transportation vans will use Van Hise Street.

The schedule for the Metro school supplemental ‘W-routes’ can be viewed at this link.

Students can purchase Metro bus passes at this link. District-provided Metro passes are available for students who:

1-Reside within the boundaries of the school attendance area

2-Reside more than one and one-half (1.5) miles from their attendance area school.

3-Have demonstrable financial need, including qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Students who qualify for a district-provided bus pass will be able to pick them up at West during the first week of school and will be allowed to ride for free until bus passes are distributed.

All 9th graders will automatically be assigned a locker and do not need to request one on the form.

All other grades can request a locker using this form.

• Important Timeline for AP Exam Registration for the 24-25 School Year
  

  The College Board's Advanced Placement exam registration period continues to occur in the fall this school year.
  
  WHO: All MMSD students seeking to take Spring 2025 AP Exams
  WHEN: MMSD's registration dates are September 9 – October 20, 2024 for this spring's final exams. Exam fees are $125/exam or $160 for Seminar/Research exams, but please note a $40/exam deposit per exam is due at this time. The remaining balance will need to be paid between January and February 23, 2025.

  WHERE: Full registration details are found at aptsusa.com/mmsd
  WHY: Studies have shown students who commit earlier in the school year have a higher engagement and commitment, as well as an increase in scores of 3 or higher across multiple groups.
  HOW: Specific registration information regarding MMSD's exam sign up, fee payment and AP updates can be found at https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/assessments/high-school-assessments-for-families/ap-testing-in-madison"

Attending a rep visit session is a great way for students to meet face to face with the colleges/universities, special programs and career opportunities they are interested in.

All visits are held in the College & Career Center. Students will be asked to sign in upon arrival for a college visit and attendance will be updated by the end of each day.

We have many College and Career Reps lined up for fall visits. See the full calendar below. Remember to check back often for updates as we continually schedule rep visits throughout the school year.

If you are interested in taking a college course in Spring 2025 through MMSD’s Early College Credit/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 current students in grades 11 and 12 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 (please note that most participating universities have restrictions for students in grade 10 or lower) the opportunity to take college courses at Wisconsin public (University of Wisconsin) and private universities in the Fall, Spring or Summer terms.

Applications for the Spring 2025 term are due to your school counselor by October 1, 2024.

Have questions about Early College Credit or Start College Now? Join a live virtual session:

• Monday, September 16th - 6:30 - 7:30pm (Link to join or pass along)
• Tuesday, September 24th - 6:30 - 7:30pm (Link to join or pass along)

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.

Students at West High School are on a journey to discover what the future will hold when they graduate. Through Academic and Career Planning (ACP) they are beginning to answer the questions:

• Who am I?

• Where am I going?

• How will I get there?

• Who are we together?

Students will set goals, make plans, and continue to think about their future through ACP activities supported in the classroom and through Developmental Guidance through the counseling department.

Students will have opportunities to:

• Explore interests, skills, educational opportunities & careers

• Attend post-high school fairs and career fairs

• Create a resume

• Develop a personal statement

• Develop a post-high school plan

• Create a portfolio of work that they are proud of

ACP will kick off on October 17th this year with specific grade level lessons.

More info on ACP can be found on the ACP Website (linked above).

Questions? Reach out to West's ACP Co-Coordinators:

Sarah Quinn sequinn@madison.k12.wi.us

Amanda Dyer acdyer@madison.k12.wi.us

12th Grade Family College Application & Financial Aid Presentation
Monday, September 22, 2024
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Virtual Meeting Link

12th graders received their progress toward graduation letters (credit checks) from their counselor in August. These letters outline which graduation requirements they need to complete this school year in order to meet MMSD graduation requirements. Reach out to your counselor with any questions.

As a reminder for students in all grades, transcripts are viewable in Infinite Campus and should be verified after each semester for accuracy.

• Please encourage your students who have received direct admit offers to view the next steps checklist and complete the Direct Admit form via the UW Admissions Pathway Portal as soon as possible. The form must be submitted no later than May 1, 2025. After May 1, 2025 the direct admit offer(s) will expire and the student will need to complete a traditional admission application.
• Students who need help with account creation or completion of the Direct Admit form may contact the UW HELP team for assistance.

DIRECT ADMIT FORM WALKTHROUGH FOR STUDENTS

Join UW HELP for a walkthrough of the Direct Admit Form for students and families participating in the Direct Admit Wisconsin program. This webinar will walk through the Universities of Wisconsin Admissions Portal and how to submit Direct Admit Forms. Please share with your students!

• Tuesday, September 24 from 4:00-5:00 PM - Register Here

https://wisconsin-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ihwiqS3kQTCmCQqy0e8ZUg

• Thursday, October 10 from 3:30-4:30 PM - Register Here

https://wisconsin-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mYUWCEXFSGm7yYXcwbVs_g

College Application Tips

• Common App Essay Prompts
• “Why This College?” Essay – 7 Tips for Success
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• How to Write a Why This Major Essay
• How to Write an Overcoming Challenges Essay
• How to Write the UC Activities List
• How to Complete the Common App Activities Section

HONORS SECTION PRO TIPS:

When completing the Honors Section of the Common App, students need to be aware of how to best utilize the five blank fields before them. These “Do’s” and “Don’ts” will serve as a solid starting point.

Do:

• Include honor roll and other school-based awards.
• Wisely use your space to communicate the precise criteria for the award.
• Abbreviate only well-known organizations.
• Utilize the Additional Information section if absolutely necessary.

Don't:

• Leave the section blank if you have legitimate school-based awards to include (e.g. Honor Roll).
• List lesser-known distinctions without an explanation of the award criteria.
• List acronyms for groups that no one outside of your zip code knows about.
• List honors from 7th grade or “space-fillers” that really don’t add anything to your application.

The Department of Education announced that the 2025 - 2026 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available to all families by December 1, 2024. The FAFSA is an essential tool for families looking to receive financial aid to pay for college, unlocking access to grants, scholarships, and Federal student loans.

This year, the Department of Education will be having a soft launch of the FAFSA on October 1 to allow for testing and error correction. They will then begin allowing more and more users, until the full launch that’s now set for December 1.

Families with students heading to college need to be ready to fill out the FAFSA as early as possible. Many need-based grants and scholarships are dependent on the FAFSA, and some are first-come, first-serve.

Right now, families should plan on a December 1 FAFSA opening date.

More information regarding FAFSA changes and timelines can be found at this link.

Register for a live demonstration of the UW System Application for Fall 2025 and walk through the application as a new freshman applicant. Learn how to create an account, list course information, and more!

• • Monday, September 23 from 3:30-4:30 PM - Register Here

  https://wisconsin-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3ASMcyRlTS-wjhA1ousj1g

  
  

  • Wednesday, October 9 from 4:00-5:00 PM - Register Here
  https://wisconsin-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_184qeC9gQPWKHAcw4_Bz3g

  
  

In the News:

A Shorter and More Flexible ACT

The ACT and the SAT (College Board) have long battled for supremacy as two not-for-profit companies; that has changed, at least on one side of the battle. A few months ago, Nexus Capital took ownership of the ACT and major changes are already afoot. Here are key items you need to be aware of:

• Beginning in Spring 2025, the Science section will be optional, just like the Writing section.
• The ACT will be an entire hour shorter, featuring 44 fewer questions.
• Cost will be impacted as well, with the promise of a lower price tag for the shortened test. However, no specifics have been released on this front.
• While the SAT switched to an exclusively online format this year, the ACT will continue to be offered in both an online and pencil-and-paper format.

ALL WEST JUNIORS WILL TAKE THE ACT IN SPRING 2025

The virtual NACAC Hosted Fair is coming up on Sunday September 15. This virtual fair is a great opportunity for you and your students to connect with college representatives from across the country, all from the comfort and convenience of their computers.

All high school students, transfer students, high school or college counselors, and families are welcome to register for this complimentary event.

Date and Time:
Sunday, September 15, 2024
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET

View the list of exhibiting colleges and universities.

The new 2025 Wisconsin Tuition Promise is an initiative created by the Universities of Wisconsin to ensure underserved Wisconsin students can attend any UW university without paying tuition or fees. The 2025 Wisconsin Tuition Promise applies to new undergraduate students who first enroll starting with the Fall 2025 term.

More information can be found at the following link: www.wisconsin.edu/tuition-promise/

Check out the following free BigFuture tools to guide you on your college-going journey:

College Search—Exploration tool for students as they research colleges based on such preferences as location, majors, type, and campus life.

Scholarship Search—Matches students to scholarships based on the student’s background, achievements, and future plans.

College Board Opportunity Scholarships—Guides juniors and seniors through college planning steps with chances to earn money for college. No application or essay. No GPA or test score minimum. No citizenship requirement.

Student Search Service—The way thousands of colleges and scholarships connect with more than five million students. Students can opt in online or when registering for a College Board assessment to receive information from colleges and scholarship organizations.

Career Finder™—Career exploration tool that helps students make informed academic and career decisions based on what truly drives them and connects them to compatible schools.

Note: Students will use their College Board accounts to access all these free tools. Go here to create a free College Board account

ACT & SAT Test Scores

If you need to submit test scores to your college or university, it is the student's responsibility to have the appropriate test scores (i.e., ACT or SAT ) sent directly from the testing service to colleges. West High will not send test scores. Most colleges (including UW System Schools) require that your score be sent to the admissions office directly from the ACT or SAT testing company. You can request that your scores be sent when you register for an ACT or SAT by filling in the appropriate college codes. If you took the ACT or SAT as a junior but did not send your scores to colleges at that time, you now need to go online or call the testing company to have your scores sent for an additional fee. (ACT 319-337-1270; SAT 866-756-7346).

Many colleges and universities have continued test-optional admissions for the 2024-25 application season. Please check individual school websites for the latest update on their test policy. Students who wish to take the ACT or SAT can register on their own through the test agency's website and search for nearby test locations that are offering testing on their preferred date.

WEST High School Transcripts are ordered and delivered electronically (online). The Madison Metropolitan School District has joined the Wisconsin e-transcript initiative to bring you a quick, confidential, and paperless way to send your transcripts directly to colleges, the NCAA, the Common Application and other destinations of your choice.

Seniors using Common App: your counselor will upload your Initial and Mid Year transcript for you. Students are responsible for sending their final transcript at the end of school year.

Transcripts can also be viewed in Infinite Campus under the "Documents" tab, scroll down to "Transcript by Grade".

A message for student athletes from NCAA: As we head into a new school year, please encourage any student-athletes wanting to play sports in college to create an EC account at eligibilitycenter.org . Incoming freshman and undecided student-athletes may want to register for a free Profile Page account. These accounts can be transferred to paid a Certification account at any time. Profile Page account registrants also get an NCAA ID and important reminders from the EC as they complete high school.

Any student-athletes planning to compete at an NCAA Division I or II school need to create a Certification account.

Click here to learn more about which account is right for you.

The 2024-25 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete is now available for download! The guide is designed to assist students with understanding the NCAA, NCAA Eligibility Center registration and academic requirements, and how student-athletes can work toward their collegiate dreams.

The PDF version is available via the High School Portal's Resources page or click here to download.

New! Eligibility Center YouTube Channel

The Eligibility Center is now on YouTube! Our channel includes helpful videos that walk your student-athletes through their questions.