West High Counseling News
April 2018
General Information
We would like to suggest you encourage your student to be checking their school email for important news items and updates.
We would also like to encourage you to sit down with your student so they can share their Career Cruising portfolio with you. You may login to Career Cruising at www.careercrusing.com/login/mmsd with the following:
User name: MMSD-Student ID # (Example: MMSD-717171)
Password: Six digit birthdate and first and last initial. (Example: 071398ja)
Looking for summer opportunities for your student, click here to see the listing on the Counseling Web Page: SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
AP Exam Information
Advanced Placement
Registration has closed for AP Testing. Here are the next 2 steps for the AP Exams:
#1 - Attend 1 of the mandatory pre-administrative meetings listed below:
Date: Tuesday, April 17
12:03 - 12:48 (Lunch)
Back of the Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, April 17
3:40 - 4:20 (after school)
Counseling Office Rm 2003
Date: Wednesday, April 18
12:03 - 12:48 (Lunch)
Back of the Auditorium
Date: Wednesday, April 18
3:40 - 4:20 (after school)
Counseling Office Rm 2003
Date: Thursday, April 19
12:03 - 12:48 (Lunch)
Back of the Auditorium
#2 - Take the AP Exam:
See the schedule of the dates and times on the AP homepage (May 7, 2018-May 18, 2018) Direct Link to AP Exam Dates & Time
All exams will be administered at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way in Madison; students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Alliant Energy Center. Parking is free.
Junior Developmental Guidance
Eleventh grade students had the opportunity to meet with their counselor for a junior conference to develop their personalized post high school plan. Juniors also came to the Counseling office the week of March 12th with their Social Studies class to continue their post high school plans. They worked on their resumes, research, college and other post high school options and looked at essay prompts with a counselor.
COLLEGE REP VISITS
Most college reps schedule visits to West between October and January but some of these reps follow up with a spring visit. Check for college visit notices posted outside the Counseling Office, as well as on our Counseling website. Students should receive a pass from the counseling office if they are interested in attending a visit. Upcoming college rep visits are also posted in the announcements and emailed to students.
Senior Information
SENIOR HONORS CONVOCATION
The Senior Honors Convocation is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, May 30 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Invitations will be mailed home in May to seniors who will graduate with Honors (3.5-3.84) or High Honors (3.85 and up), and also to West H.S. scholarship recipients. Please mark this date on your calendars and plan to attend!
SCHOLARSHIP SCOOPS
A reminder that Scholarship Scoops are issued periodically; they are posted in the Counseling Office, posted on the website and emailed to seniors. These bulletins contain information about scholarship opportunities outside of West High School. Additional information and/or applications can be found in our Scholarship Files. Students are also reminded to check with individual colleges for scholarships offered directly by the college or university you plan to attend.
Financial Aid
TIP Grants for Students Attending Wisconsin Schools
The purpose of the TIP (Talent Incentive Program) is to provide grant awards to uniquely needy students who plan to attend school in Wisconsin. The grant is designed to help improve the opportunity for access, retention, and to lessen the burden of student debt. The minimum award a freshman can receive is $600 with the maximum award being $1,800. To be eligible for an initial TIP Grant award, a student must be a Wisconsin resident, a first-time freshman student, and meet certain financial need or disadvantaged criteria. Eligible students can receive up to 10 semesters of eligibility for most State of Wisconsin college grant and federal financial aid programs. More information as well as TIP applications are available in the Counseling Office. The sooner you complete the process, the greater opportunity you have of securing a TIP Grant. You can find more information regarding the TIP Grant/GEAR UP Scholarship here.
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is used to apply for federal and state student grants, work-study, and loans. You must go online to complete the FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.gov.