Check the calendar for updates!
College representative visits are a great way to learn more about a college you might apply to and to show interest in their program.
Admission Reps - College/Career Reps interested in scheduling a visit can find us on RepVisits or contact Amanda Mussa acmussa@madison.k12.wi.us.
Creating a College List and Understanding Application Deadlines Slides
College Search Engine Links
Xello (accessed by logging in to Classlink)
College Board’s Big Future search
Encourage App - college and scholarship search resource, ACT test prep
The Hundred-Seven HBCU Listing
College Fairs
Midwest Student Exchange Program : Over 50 colleges and universities in the Midwest offer tuition discounts to Wisconsin residents.
Guide to International Admissions for schools outside of the U.S.
LGBTQ friendly campuses from CampusPride
The College Tour - watch students’ experiences at many different colleges
Transferology: See how your college-level classes transfer to over 400 schools across the country.
12th grade Family Presentation: College Apps & Financial Aid (9/15/25): Video Recording
The Fair Opportunity Project Guide - a FREE download that gives a detailed overview of the college application process and financial aid.
College Board’s Big Future site offers a college search engine, and resources about the college application process and financial aid process
A Beginner’s Guide, from College Essay Guy (video)
10 Commandments of the college admissions process, from Bierer College Consulting (part 1) and (part 2)
College Essay Guy’s College Application Hub
Sending Transcripts to Postsecondary Programs
To send transcripts, students must create an account at Parchment.com. Check out these resources for more details:
Transcripts: When and How do I send them? Slides
Click HERE to create a Parchment account. Use a personal (non-MMSD) email address. @icloud, @me, and @mac addresses are not compatible with Parchment.
Wisconsin Guarantee: Students who need a ranked transcript for a UW application MUST apply using the UW application (NOT Common App) and MUST request a transcript via Parchment. Click HERE to create a Parchment account. More info here.
Do not attach a transcript to your application.
Wisconsin Guarantee students applying to UW Madison must apply by the early action deadline of November 1st.
Need more help?
If you are using the Common Application, counselors will send your initial transcript and midyear transcript to Common App. Students must send transcripts to any other colleges they apply to, and ALL students must send their final transcript to the college they attend.
Sending ACT/SAT Test Scores to Colleges Slides
Check College websites for testing requirements. Over 1600 4-year colleges have test-optional policies for students applying for Fall 2025 admission.
If a school requires an official score report, students must order that score report directly from the ACT or SAT website. Counselors do not send scores.
The ACT offers students the option of sending a Superscore report.
Students can send a score report from 1 test session as well
West All Things ACT Page: ACT Testing information and Prep Resources
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation Overview: Slides
Teacher Brag Sheet (ask your teacher before completing this sheet - some teachers have their own)
Contact your counselor for their own brag sheet, if a counselor recommendation is required
Personal Essay Writing
Personal Essay Writing presentation from UW Madison (presented during West’s Senior College App Launch event)
Writing College Essays presentation from DePaul University
DePaul also offers Free personal essay editing for seniors
Get Schooled offers Free personal essay feedback
College Board Blog How to Write a College Application Essay
Essay Writing tips from Purdue (see section on Undergraduate Applications)
College Essay Guy offers many free articles & exercises on College Essay writing
Thoughts on AI generated essays
The Common Application
Overview of the Common Application Slides
Creating an account, filling out the application, completing college supplements and adding recommenders
Common Application 2024-25 Essay Prompts
Common App Questions/Suggestions: Step by Step
Common App AXS Companion - Step by step video resource from Oregon State U
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Intro to Financial Aid and Scholarships (slides)
Financial Aid & Scholarships Guide from the West Counseling Dept.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website
Start Here: FAFSA Resources and Workshops (updated frequently)
FAFSA opened October 1st this year!
FAFSA workshops at Madison College Goodman South
FAFSA workshops with College Goal WI (locations at local high schools)
FAFSA Updates collected by Higher Education Resource Hub (created by MMSD’s AVID/TOPs staff)
Resource from the WI Department of Public Instruction
CSS Profile website (only required by some colleges, including UW Madison for class of 2026)
Local scholarship list on Xello - (to access your Xello account, click on the xello icon in classlink. Click on “College Resources”to see the list of local scholarships.)
Encourage App - college and scholarship search resource
College Board’s Scholarship Search
West Scholarship Application - Seniors will receive a link to the online application via email on January 7th, 2026 at 8:30AM. The application closes on January 30th at 4:00PM. Visit this page for more info on West High Scholarships.
Wisconsin Scholarships listing
Scholarships for Undocumented Students:
DREAMer’s Roadmap - download their app to search for scholarships
Madison College Scholars of Promise is available to undocumented students, as are many of their in-house scholarships
United Negro College Fund scholarship information for HBCUs
HBCU Money Guide
College Essay Guy: Paying for College in Four Steps
Universities of Wisconsin schools offer 3 Paths to Admission: traditional application, Direct Admit, and Wisconsin Guarantee
UW Admission Portal: houses traditional application & direct admit form
Students can apply to one or multiple UW schools via this portal.
UW Eau Claire, UW Madison, UW Stout, UW Stevens Point, UW Milwaukee, UW River Falls and UW Whitewater also accept the Common Application.
Wisconsin Guarantee Students who need a ranked transcript for a UW application MUST apply using the UW application (NOT Common App) and MUST request a transcript through Parchment. Do not attach a transcript to your application. More info here.
Wisconsin Guarantee students applying to UW Madison must apply by the early action deadline of November 1st.
Find a Program page allows students to search which UW schools offer my major
MyMajors assessment
Universities of Wisconsin essay prompts
All UW schools require 1 common essay; Madison and La Crosse require 1 additional essay prompt
Universities of Wisconsin Financial Aid info and School Specific Scholarships
*New for Graduating Class of 2026: UW Madison requires both FAFSA AND the CSS Profile as part of their Financial Aid application
Wisconsin Tuition Promise - full tuition scholarships for income-eligible students going to the Universities of Wisconsin
UW Madison financial assistance programs: Bucky’s Tuition Promise, Tribal Education Promise Program, Bucky’s Pell Pathway
UW Milwaukee Tuition Promise
UW Parkside Tuition Promise
Book a 1:1, 15-minute virtual appointment with Go Wisconsin Team to ask application questions
UW Parkside: the only Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)
UW Stevens Point: Discover Your Purpose quiz
UW Whitewater: #20 in the nation for Disability Friendly campus
Searchable List of Madison College’s programs
Madison College offers 2 year associate degree programs, certificate programs, apprenticeships, and a Liberal Arts Transfer program (for students who want to start at Madison College and transfer to a 4 year program later)
Madison College application
Find out if you qualify for a full tuition scholarship! Scholars of Promise Info & Application
Learn more about HBCUs
United Negro College Fund college readiness resources
Should you go to an HBCU? Check out this video
Check out the short video entitled Black Colleges: Choosing an HBCU
Common Black College Application - allows students to apply to 64 different HBCUs using one $20 application fee
No HBCU in your state in-state tuition program: Coppin State and University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Trade Apprenticeships Intro Video
Video Slides
Websites to learn more about each trade and to explore apprenticeship programs:
Wisconsin Dept of Workforce Development Apprenticeship Page
Madison College Apprenticeship Programs
Building Trades Council (for Construction Trades)
Check out videos about different trades at WI Build’s webpage
How to Build a Resume Lesson Slides
Making an Excellent Resume Guide from former West Counselor
Summer Opportunities for High School Students - 2025
Black Men Coalition - Employment Services and Education Program
CareerOnestop & Careers in the Military
Sites exploring military branches and career options
Visit the military branch site you are interested in to learn more & contact a recruiter:
Army / Navy / Coast Guard / Air Force / Marines
Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) - college program that prepares students to become U.S. Military officers
ASVAB resources:
Practice Test: https://nationalguard.com/practice-asvab
Study Guide and Practice Tests: https://www.asvabpracticetests.com/asvab-free-online-study-guide/
A gap year might include work, volunteering, internships, college courses, travel, or a combination of these activities. Having a specific plan will ensure that you have a positive, productive experience. Many students taking a gap year will apply to colleges in 12th grade and then defer their start date for a semester or year if their college allows them to defer. Some resources include:
Americorps - many work or gap year opportunities (participants receive stipend + education grant that can go towards college tuition)
What is AmeriCorps video
Schools of Hope Americorps program working w/ MMSD elementary schools
Volunteeryourtime.org allows students to search for local volunteer opportunities
Gap Year Association has a Directory of structured Gap Year programs
Gap Year Solutions* runs a blog and resource page on Gap Years
Please note that we have not vetted the private counseling services associated with these organizations.