Career and Counseling News

JUNIORS - ACT/SAT Registration and Testing

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Taking an ACT or SAT Test is mandatory for any student who plans to attend a 4-year college or university. It is also required for some 2-year colleges and for eligibility for most scholarships. It is recommended that current Juniors take their ACT or SAT this spring or early summer so applications for schools and scholarships can be completed next fall. Contact schools you are interested in attending to determine which test should be taken. The ACT Test is the test of choice for schools in the Midwest. A list of dates and registration deadline for the spring and summer tests are below. Registration is done online at www.act.org. Please note that West only hosts the June testing date. Our school coded is 242-208.

Test Date	Registration Deadline	*(Late Fee Required)*
April 14, 2012	March 9, 2012	March 10 – 23, 2012
June 9, 2012	May 4, 2012	May 5 – 18, 2012

Seniors � It�s Not Too Late To Apply For Financial Aid!

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

As we approach the end of the school year it would be a good idea to review your Financial Aid options for next year. Here is a checklist you can use to make sure you have explored all of your options:

File for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
File the financial aid and scholarship forms your college or university requires
File the appropriate state program applications
Investigate local and employer-based sources of financial aid. A number of scholarships are currently being advertised on the Guidance board at West.
Investigate scholarships specialized to you or your college major or career choices. Check out these web sites for a list of scholarship opportunities pertaining to you.

www.collegenet.com
www.fastweb.com
www.scholarships.com

Sophomore Career Guidance Program

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

All Sophomores will soon begin using an online database to research colleges, majors, and occupations. Mr. Wiechmann will be guiding students through this process. Each student will be given a login ID and will develop his/her own password for accessing this database. Although high school graduation is over two years away, it is not too early to start spending time with your child discovering the plan God has for him/her after WLHS. If you have questions please contact Mr. Wiechmann.

File FAFSA Applications Now!

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

All seniors planning on attending college next fall should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application makes it possible for colleges to determine a student’s Financial Aid Package. It also allows students to receive Federal Student Loans and determines whether Federal Grants can be received on a need basis. Applications can be found on the U.S. Department of Education website. Filing an application online is the easiest way to submit an application and it allows the application to be processed faster. As of January 1st, applications for the 2012-2013 school year will be accepted. The sooner the application is processed, the better chance you have of receiving adequate financial aid. Please note that federal income taxes should be completed before FAFSA can be filed.

ACT Troubleshooting

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Some Colleges and Universities require that students take the ACT Writing Test (an optional portion of the ACT) while others do not. It is in your best interest to talk to Admissions Representatives of the Colleges and Universities in which you are planning to apply and ask if this Writing Test is required for admission. If a college choice has not yet been made, it is a good idea to take the writing test. Also, ACT allows you to send official reports regarding the results of your test to four schools at no cost. Take advantage of this opportunity by listing all the colleges and universities in which you are interested. Planning ahead in these ways can help you avoid hassle and save you time and money.