Post-Secondary Planning

• Check upcoming ACT Test Dates
• If you choose/need to submit college admissions test scores, you will need to do so from your online account through the testing website
  • ACT: www.act.org
  • SAT: www.collegeboard.com
• There is a fee per score sent.
• Many colleges require scores directly from the testing agency. The high school will not send test scores to colleges.

Most college applications can be completed online and submitted electronically.

Types of Applications

Institutional Applications

• Institutional applications are applications supplied by each college. At many public colleges and universities, an institutional application can be shared with other campuses within that system (Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, etc.). Visit the admissions page of the college website to access an institutional application.
• If applying to college through an institutional application, students must request transcripts through Parchment. 
  • There is a cost of $5 per transcript
  • You will receive email updates on the status of your requests
  • WHS does not have access to your login/password information for Parchment once you create it. Please record that information somewhere, so you have easy access to it.

Common Application (CA)

• Commonly known as the Common App, the Common Application can be used when applying to some colleges. You can find out if the school you are applying to uses the common application by checking the school website. Students can “share” this application with any participating institution without having to complete general application information more than once. Individual institutions may require supplemental materials (additional essays), but all requirements can be accessed in one place. Recommenders also submit evaluations and letters of recommendation through their own account. 
• If applying to a college through the Common App, an official high school transcript will be sent as a part of the Secondary School Report completed by your school counselor.
• VIDEO: Completing the Courses & Grades Section in the Common App

What Makes a College Application Complete?

• Submitted Application (activities, essay, supplements)
• Application Fee Paid
• Transcript Sent (if not using Common App)
• Standardized Test Scores Sent if required

Cost of Applying

Application fees can be as high as $90. When you pair that with transcript fees and fees associated with sending your ACT scores, it can be a very expensive process. Make sure you are choosing wisely and thinking of things ahead of time.

Regular Decision: Application deadline where students get a response within a “normal” window of time. No special provisions are given to receive a decision earlier.

Early Action (EA): Application deadline that allows a student to receive a decision by a certain date as long as all application materials are submitted by a certain date.

Early Decision (ED): Application deadline that assures a decision by a certain deadline. This decision is “binding” meaning students must agree to attend that school if they are accepted. Students can only apply to one school using the ED option.

Rolling Decision: Admission process in which students are accepted as long as room remains for enrollment and the students meet the admission requirements set by the institution.

Teacher Recommendation: Feedback given to colleges by a teacher = through the Common App. Students assign a teacher as a “recommender” and teachers electronically submit feedback and possibly a letter on the student’s behalf. Students should confirm their recommendation requirements before requesting and allow at least two weeks for it to be written.

School Report (SR): Report completed by school counselor and electronically submitted to colleges about a student as part of the Common App. It includes a student’s GPA, course rigor, school profile and copy of the student’s transcript.

Midyear Report (MR): Report used by the Common App to collect first semester information about a student including any changes to their GPA or course schedule.

FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is the starting point for any need-based financial aid.

CSS Profile: Supplemental financial aid application that is required by some colleges. It allows families to be more specific about their financial history and need. The cost is $25 to apply and $16 for each additional report.

Cost of Attendance: Total cost to attend a college or university including living, academic and tuition expenses.

Student Aid Index: Amount of money a family is likely responsible for paying out of pocket towards a child’s education through the FAFSA process. This is subtracted from the Cost of Attendance to calculate need based aid qualification.

Student Aid Report: A basic report of your overall financial aid upon completion of the FAFSA.

FSA ID: Serves as the legal signature required to confirm and submit your FAFSA.

Most seniors say they wished they would have visited more campuses before deciding where to attend. Campus visits can be scheduled through the school’s admissions page. They also offer virtual tours/sessions, and MANY colleges visit WHS during fall and spring.

Check the School Counseling Calendar for upcoming college visit dates.

• Most counselor forms and secondary school reports are completed online by providing your counselor's email on the college application.
• Please provide the @westonka.k12.mn.us email when inviting your counselor to complete a form on your behalf

• Complete the Recommendation Form and provide this completed form when asking a teacher/advisor/coach/counselor to write a recommendation for you.
• Be sure to ask the recommender if they are willing to complete the recommendation prior to entering their email address. Once the email address is entered, the recommender will automatically receive a request.  
• Plan ahead – make sure to allow at least two weeks for the letter writer.
• Write a thank-you note!

Trade schools in Minnesota prepare learners for high-wage, high-demand careers in diverse sectors. While vocational education prepares students for jobs in both traditional trade positions such as plumbing, auto mechanic, and electrician, and more modern vocations involving robotics, cybersecurity, and engineering.

CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Dunwoody College of Technology offers monthly in person open houses.

Hennepin Technical College offers weekly tours and a virtual tour on their website.

ICATT Apprenticeship Programs offer local apprenticeships in high tech and manufacturing careers with a pathway to an associate's degree.

Completing the FAFSA is the first step in the college financial aid process. This is a required form for any student seeking federal aid. Many colleges require students receiving scholarship funds to complete a FAFSA. Additionally, some families complete a FAFSA in order to get access to unsubsidized federal loan funds that are not income dependent.

The CSS Profile is the College Board’s financial aid application that about 260 mostly private colleges and universities, use for their undergraduate admissions. In addition to filing the FAFSA, the CSS Profile application is required for participating schools. 

All PROFILE schools use the FAFSA to determine which of their applicants will qualify for federal and/or state financial aid. Most public and private colleges and universities also rely upon the FAFSA to determine who is eligible for the institutions’ own need-based financial aid. The PROFILE schools, however, want to dig deeper than the FAFSA allows when assessing who qualifies for money from their own institution.

The Midwest Student Exchange Program enables residents of Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska to enroll in designated institutions and programs at reduced tuition levels outside of their home state. Some schools in the province of Manitoba also participate. The Midwest Student Exchange Program is an interstate initiative established by the Midwestern Higher Education Commission (MHEC) to increase educational opportunities for students in its member states. This program enables residents at reduced tuition (150% of resident tuition) levels. The basic core college prep courses apply for many of these schools' requirements.

Minnesota residents may attend public institutions in Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Manitoba and pay tuition at a rate lower than non-resident or, in some cases, comparable to resident rates. For more information, visit the Minnesota Office of Higher Education's reciprocity website.

Class of 2026!!

Counselors met with senior students during WIN on Thursday, February 12th in the PAC to cover important information about the local scholarship application process.  We also sent a follow-up email and Schoology announcement for any student who was not able to attend.  There is over $400,000 worth of scholarship money available to graduating seniors with a plan for ANY formal education beyond high school (4-year, 2-year, technical, trade, certification, etc).  Please reference this handout for all available information.  The application deadline is Friday, March 13th by 3:00 PM.

Seniors should make sure that they have applied to every available scholarship at the colleges they are considering. Some colleges will award scholarships automatically when students apply. However, other scholarships from colleges will require an additional application. It is a good idea to check with college admissions or financial aid offices to see if there are other scholarship applications to complete. 

In the United States, there are five military training academies, which are sometimes collectively known as the “Five-Pointed Star":

1. The United States Military Academy is known as West Point. It is a four-year, coeducational military academy whose “cadets” graduate as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.
2. The United States Naval Academy is often referred to as USNA, Annapolis, or Navy. It grants bachelor’s degrees to students based on academic, militaristic, and athletic performance.
3. The United States Air Force Academy is the youngest of the five academies, and its graduates are commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force.
4. The United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, offers eight majors and, like its four counterparts, requires graduates to complete five years of active duty service.
5. The United States Merchant Marine Academy trains “midshipmen” in marine engineering, maritime law, and other subjects related to military and civilian sea transport. 

For students who would like to experience a military environment while getting a first-class education, these service academies offer an outstanding education and full four-year scholarships, including fully paid tuition, books, room and board, and medical and dental care. If you’re unsure which branch of the military to pursue, you can explore the history, admissions procedures, and eligibility requirements for each at their respective websites.

Admission into military academies is highly competitive. The admissions criteria include:

• Outstanding high school academic performance
• Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT)
• Athletics and extracurricular activities
• Leadership experience and community involvement
• Congressional letter of recommendation (not required by the Coast Guard Academy)

It is important to understand all of the requirements early so you have time to accomplish all the necessary components. Graduates of all five academies receive a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned officers in their respective Branch. In all cases, there is a service obligation of a minimum of five years.