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Counseling Presentation for Juniors & Parents.
• Keep your grades up! Junior year is an important year to communicate your abilities in rigorous courses. If you had marginal grades the past two years, improve your grades to show how you have become a good student ready to take on post high school studies. Continue to develop good study habits like reading textbooks, taking good notes, doing your homework well and on time, and studying prior to quizzes and tests.
• In fall, take the PSAT, (register through the Whitnall High School Counseling Office. Excellent scores on this exam may put you in the running for college scholarship monies. Do some research on the scores needed for your post secondary school admission or scholarships. Identify scores you want to achieve on the ACT test. Whitnall will give the ACT + writing test in spring to all juniors.
• Students interested in laboratory science should consider applying for the Marquette University Young Scholars program offered in fall each year. Participate in three Saturday classes and earn 1.0 credit in a Marquette transcript. Three students from each area high school will be chosen to attend. Applications are mandatory.
• Meet with admissions representatives from colleges who visit Whitnall - see the calendar in the Counseling Office - and take virtual tours online to begin assessing the right fit for your post high school plans
• Take on leadership roles in your co-curricular activities. Become a team captain, organize an event, think about ways you can contribute to your school and community, and do them! Colleges and employers are looking for leaders and students who can bring something positive to their establishment.
Other helpful research links:
• UW Help - compare and find info on public universities in Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin Private College - research and compare Wisconsin Private Colleges and Universities.
• Apprenticeship - Learn how to become an apprentice in Wisconsin.
• College Board - national college search engine
• Peterson's guide - national search tool
• US News & World Report - University & College rankings
• Consider part-time employment preferably in an area of interest. Resume builder in Career Cruising is an excellent tool to help write that first resume.
Spring Semester:
• Look at the WHS Curriculum Guide in making decisions.
• Register to take a rigorous course load of classes Senior year. Make sure you are taking the English, Math, Science, Social Science and Global Language classes needed for your college admission. Request courses based upon your 4 year plan of study.
• Students wanting to take Youth Options classes at a tech school or university during their Senior year need to request "Youth Options Class" for the appropriate semesters when requesting classes in January. Additionally, students must submit all paperwork to their school counselor by March 1st for fall courses and October 1st for spring semester courses. Required forms include the Whitnall request form, DPI form, and the college/tech school application. See your counselor for more information.
• All juniors will take the ACT + writing test as part of the required state testing in March. Students may take the ACT more than once. Students who want to take the ACT a second time will need to register for the test online at ACT. The Whitnall High School code is 500-838. Some schools require the writing portion of the test (currently in our area: Marquette, Minnesota Twin Cities). Students who participate in the Free or Reduced Lunch Program should request a fee waiver for the ACT from their school counselor.
• Register for the SAT if needed by your school/scholarship (PSAT finalists). Most Midwest schools prefer the ACT. Prepare for the ACT by enrolling in a study session, prep class or online program.
• The U.S. Service Academy nominations process begins for students interested in attending one of the U.S. Service Academies following graduation (U.S. Airforce Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, or the U.S. Naval Academy). Congressional nominations begin March 1 (junior year) to October 15 (senior year) http://house.gov.ryan/academy.
• Draft a list of 5-10 schools/programs to which you want to apply. Visit the schools/programs of study in summer. Contact the school's admissions office and ask for an official tour.
• In spring, meet with your parents and counselor in a FALCON SUMMIT. Discuss the next action steps in your post high school plans with your parents.
• Summer is an excellent opportunity to visit colleges and enroll in a summer enrichment opportunity. Visit your top 4-5 schools. Consider attending the Private College week in July. Wisconsin Private schools will waive the application fee if you attend.
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