College Planning
Steps to Applying for College
Take high school courses that will help you prepare for college and your future.
Research schools to find out which ones meet your needs.
Visit campuses and/or go to college fairs.
Select three to five schools to apply to by the start of your senior year. Colleges are encouraging prospective students to apply online. Most colleges begin accepting applications in early September and some may have strict deadlines. If you have any questions, please see your counselor.
Apply for financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Upon receiving an acceptance letter students should begin to think about Regional Placement Testing. Registration for placement testing starts on February 1st.
UW Campus News - Updates about UW campuses and related information, such as admissions, scholarships, campus visits, and campus news.
Advanced Placement Examination Transfer Credits
Board of Regents Policy requires all UW System institutions to grant credit for scores of 3 and above on all College Board Advanced Placement examinations. Each UW System institutional policy for award of credit can be found within the UWHelp website. For a list of the AP courses we offer students, please refer to our Course Catalog.
College Search
Many factors will likely enter into your college decision, such as location, majors, tuition, organizations, sports, housing, and college ratings. Take the time to explore your options and determine what you really want. Answers to questions below can help you find the best fit.
What type of school do you want to attend?
Where is the school located?
What majors does the school offer?
What is the cost to attend?
What organization do they offer?
What athletics do they offer?
Do they offer credit for AP courses?
Is studying abroad an option?
Are freshman required to live on campus?
A great website to explore these questions is the BigFuture website. Within this website you can select different filters to help find a college that suits you best.
Campus Visits
Visiting a college campus helps you get a sense of what a college and life at that college is like. This can help you decide whether the college is right for you.
When planning your campus visits, make sure to allow time to explore each college. While you’re there, talk to as many people as possible. These can include college admission staff, professors, students and coaches. Be sure to check out the freshman dorms, dining hall, fitness center, library, career center, bookstore and other campus facilities and walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus.
The College Application
Source: bigfuture
Application Forms
Most colleges begin accepting applications in early September. College campuses are stressing and encouraging prospective students to apply online. There are also services that let you complete one application online and submit it to several colleges
Wisconsin Private Colleges: Apply on the specific college’s website
For application deadlines, we encourage our students to go out to the college's website and search for application deadlines. For further resources please see below:
New Applicant Statements for the UW System
Admission Guidelines for the UW System
Sample of What to Expect on an Application (UW-Madison)
Sample of What to Expect on an Application (Any Other UW System Campus)
Application Fees
College application fees vary, but generally it costs from $35 to $50 to apply to each college. Fees are nonrefundable. Many colleges offer fee waivers to students who cannot afford to pay; however, you would need to contact the college to see what the qualifications are.
High School Transcripts
The record of the classes you have taken and your grades is one of the most important parts of your application. Your high school should send your transcript, along with a school profile, directly to the colleges you are applying to. Ask your counselor or principal how to arrange for this. And be sure to check the transcript for errors before it is sent. ALSO at the end of your senior year, your high school will send a final transcript to the college you have decided to attend. This shows your college what classes you took and whether you kept your grades up during your last year in high school. Please visit our Transcript Request page for more information.
Testing and Test Scores
The ACT exam is a national college entrance exam. The ACT is widely accepted at 4 year universities throughout the United States and is required by many Wisconsin and mid-western campuses. Students can take the ACT as many times as they like. Colleges use the highest score.
The SAT exam is another college entrance exam that is given seven times a year. It is widely accepted at universities throughout the United States and is required or preferred by some selective schools and some non-mid-western campuses.
For more information on dates, deadlines, and registration materials please refer to our ACT/SAT Testing page.
Letters of Recommendation
Many colleges require letters of recommendation from teachers or other adults who know you well. Ask your references well in advance of the deadlines to write you a recommendation. You may want to give them a short written summary of your achievements to help them write about you. Please give the person you are asking at least two weeks notice before the date you need the letter. Also, give the person a resume or student profile about yourself so he/she can write you an exceptional letter of recommendation. Click here for a link to our Letter of Recommendation Form.
The college essay matters. Your essay reveals something important about you that your grades and test scores cannot—your personality. It can give admission officers a sense of who you are in regards to your character and strengths, as well as showcasing your writing skills. The number one piece of advice from admission officers about your essay is “Be yourself.” The number two suggestion is “Start early". For more helpful tips please visit the Essays page on the BigFuture website.
Transfer-Wisconsin
If you are planning to transfer to a University of Wisconsin (UW) or a Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) campus, use this site to take the next steps to achieve your college education goals. There’s much more to Transfer Wisconsin than just seeing how your credits transfer.