1. Enjoy it! Because it’s happening.
Senior Presentation

2. What are my postsecondary options
College
Four-year & Two-year
Career
Military
These are the three post-secondary topics that we are going to discuss. At the end of this presentation, there is a resource sheet with hyperlinks to all of the sites that we mention as well as links to directions. If time is left after the presentation, we can look at these links together.

3. College Application Process (2yr or 4yr)
Complete the online application
Complete general application
Additional essay, if applicable
Pay application fee
2. Send your transcript (Career Cruising is FREE)
3. Verify that your ACT score score was sent directly to college (if required). If you indicated a specific college during the ACT registration process, they have your ACT scores already. If not, then you will need to log into ACT Student and pay to have your scores sent.
* Note: make sure students create or have an appropriate address.
* Discuss how long it takes to write a good recommendation letter- let students know to be aware of deadlines and give recommenders sufficient time
*Check that all work is done neatly and spelling is correct - admission counselors do read essays

4. College Application Deadlines
Each school is different when it comes to deadlines, so please check the university/college website
ALL four-year university applications should be filed by December 1st at the latest
Be aware of deadlines; especially if applying for early action (non binding) or early decision (binding)
Two-year college applications should be filed by March 1st; however, certain programs have earlier deadlines

5. Letters of Rec (LOR)
Only send a LOR if it is requested by a university or scholarship. Not all applications require an LOR.
Complete Activities and Experiences via Career Cruising (Directions)
LORs should be written by core academic teachers (Math, English, Science, Social Studies), unless otherwise noted.
Send teachers your ‘Activities and Experiences’ plan through Career Cruising (Directions)
Once complete, teachers will forward your LOR to Mrs Portz who will place your letter in a file and notify you that your LOR is ready to be sent out.
You will then notify Mrs Portz of where you want your LOR sent to which college or University
Requesting Letter of Recommendation Instructions

6. Explore different options: Take the ASVAB:
Army
Army National Guard
Navy
Marines
Air Force
ROTC (college & military training)
Take the ASVAB:
There is no cost to take the ASVAB
This test is required by the military in order to determine which military occupations you are best suited for. Notify your counselor if you’re interested in taking the ASVAB.
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7. Entering the Workforce!
If you are a student who plans to work right after high school, here are some things to know!
Paid/non-paid Internships/Apprenticeships (companies often times will help pay for schooling if needed)
Linkedin for networking
Career Cruising
Resume builder (Directions)
Job search
Matchmaker for career interests
Activities and Interests on Career Cruising- fill it in!
Interview tips
Job board - located in the Student Services office
Department of Workforce Development

8. Financial Aid
Financial Aid is any grant or scholarship, loan, or paid employment offered to help a student meet his/her college expenses. Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
College Goal Wisconsin helps with completing the FAFSA, click for dates and locations
School District of Waukesha Financial Aid Night: Monday, September 25th at Waukesha West High School, 6:00 p.m.
October 1st, First day you can apply for FAFSA
List of UW schools and their preferred FAFSA filing dates
EARLIER COMPLETION OF THE FAFSA CAN TRANSLATE INTO GETTING YOUR FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE BACK SOON, TO MAKE A MORE INFORMED DESCISION

9. Scholarships - 3 avenues to pursue scholarships
1. Local/Community - scholarships for School District of Waukesha students (only) that are determined by a scholarship committee based on the criteria given by the donor. These scholarships will be provided on the Waukesha West website in October.
2. National - scholarships for students anywhere that are determined by the company/business/organization that is offering the scholarship, using their criteria. These scholarships can be found using the Career Cruising Financial Aid Selector or other independent search engines. Log into Career Cruising to access.
3. College/University - individual colleges offer scholarship opportunities. Some universities automatically qualify you for scholarships, others require you to fill out an additional application. Please research your college of interest to understand their unique process.
TELL STUDENTS TO ASK PARENT/GUARDIAN’S PLACE OF BUSINESS/CHURCH/EMPLOYERS IF THEY OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS.

10. NCAA
Students interested in playing a D1 or D2 sport must create an account on the NCAA clearinghouse and submit their transcript and ACT score ASAP!
NCAA will review your transcript and notify you if you are eligible to play a D1 or D2 sport.
NCAA Clearinghouse
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11. Reach out if you need support!
Mr. Harttert (A-G)
bhartter.youcanbookme
Mrs. Abruzzo (H-N)
abruzzo.youcanbook.me
Mrs. Paulin (O-Z)
kpaulin.youcanbook.me

12. Resources College application Links Common Application
Common Application Essay Prompts
UW System
Fall 2019 Application Essays
Transcripts
ACT.org
How to access my ACT ID
Early Decision vs Early Action
Letters of Recommendation
Inserting Activities and Experiences through Career Cruising (visual)
Send portfolio to teachers through Career Cruising
Scholarships/Financial Aid
How to search for scholarships in Career Cruising using the Financial Aid Selector
Heading directly into the workforce?
Department of Workforce Development