Academic & Career Planning

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Scholarships

College Admission Testing

Students may use either the ACT or SAT Reasoning Test for college admission purposes. Students taking either of these tests for college admission purposes are advised to register for the test at least two months prior to the post-secondary school’s admission deadline. Juniors typically take tests more than once, beginning with early winter test dates the junior year through fall test dates the senior year. All juniors will sit for the state mandated ACT test with a writing test March 12th, 2024 (makeup April 9th 2024). Families do not need to register for this test and more information will be sent to families closer to the date. 

Students do not need to take the ACT and the SAT but may choose to take both in order to select the test which best suits their purposes. A few highly selective colleges use the SAT Subject Tests for admission, for course placement, and to advise students about course selection. Only students applying to this select group of colleges need to take the SAT Subject Tests. Fee waivers are available for qualified students. See a counselor for more information.When registering for any of these exams, you will need the following information: VAHS School Code is 502-330

VAHS uses Parchment.com for order and delivery of transcripts. You can create an account here: Parchment.com.

This webpage from Parchment provides information and links to additional pages on the transcript process.

For those students using CommonApp to apply to colleges, your counselor completes the School Report section (which includes your Transcript and Senior Schedule). To add your counselor, you will navigate to any individual college, select "Recommenders and FERPA" and then click the button to Invite Counselor. Be sure to enter the correct email format for your counselor. For example: halec@verona.k12.wi.us

SENIORS: If you will be attending post-secondary education or participating in NCAA athletics after you graduate from VAHS, YOU MUST REQUEST YOUR FINAL TRANSCRIPT. Final transcripts are required as proof of graduation for all post-secondary institutions and the NCAA.

Final transcripts need to be requested will be released after final grades are posted in mid-June.

Financial aid comes in four basic forms. Most financial aid packages will offer one, or a combination of the following:

1. Loans: these must be repaid, with interest, at the rate determined on accepting the loan.
2. Grants: these are need-based and do not have to be repaid.
3. Scholarships are based on merit or other specific criteria, and do not have to be repaid. Most are awarded through the general admission process; some scholarships require a separate application. 
4. Work Study: these are campus jobs a school helps arrange for students to offset college costs.

Completing the FAFSA is the first step in the college financial aid process. This is a required form for any student seeking federal aid and contains financial information colleges use as the basis for offering. You can complete the FAFSA online at this site. when it opens December 31st, 2023. 

You can receive assistance and guidance filling out FAFSA with various resources including:
CollegeGoal WI
US Department of Ed Parent Guide

More general information on Financial Aid can be found at:
FinAid
FormYourFuture

CollegeBoard provides a number of tools and calculators to estimate costs and repayments at this link.

In addition some schools use the CSS Profile, a means by which to apply for nonfederal financial aid from nearly 400 schools listed here.

Senior Profile Information

Letters of Recommendation
Many colleges will require at least one letter of recommendation. With an increasing number of colleges going test optional, the letter of recommendation is another piece to give admissions a more holistic and richer sense of who you are as an applicant.

Whom Should I Ask?
Core subject area teachers usually make good candidates, however, you can ask any school staff member. Colleges generally prefer recommendations that speak to your academic abilities. Recommendations from employers, coaches, faith leaders, or neighbors may be useful in terms of scholarship applications, but these types of recommendations are not academic. Make sure the person writing the recommendation knows you personally and is able to communicate your strengths. Please be considerate: school staff are happy to provide you with letters of recommendation, and it is important that you ask in person if possible.

When Should I Ask?
Make sure you give your recommendation writers plenty of time (at least one month before letters are due) as they may be writing for multiple students. Some colleges and the Common Application require you to send an email request to your recommendation writer. In this case, please inform that person that they will receive an email link where they can submit the letter directly.

How To Get the Best Results
Talk to your recommendation writers. Remind them of your accomplishments and let them in on your future plans (a resume or portfolio would be helpful). The best letters include specific examples and stories rather than vague praise. Give them an understanding of why you are applying and possibly what your intended major is.
Make sure your recommendation writers have everything they need to write your letters and submit them on time:
● Deadline information
● Completed Senior Profile (Clicking that will prompt you to make a copy which you can then share with your recommender(s))  
● A copy of your complete essays/personal statement
● Name(s) of specific college/university that requires a letter of recommendation

Helpful Tips for You
Be polite! People are usually happy to help you with recommendations if you ask politely and give them enough advance notice.
Do NOT ask family or close relatives for letter
On the application form, waive your right to view the recommendation letters
Make sure your recommendation writer knows your deadline/s. Follow up with that person after a few weeks to make sure they are aware of your deadline
Write thank you notes to your recommendation writers, and later, tell them where you’ve decided to go to college.

Here, again, is a link to the Senior Profile. As it is a GoogleDoc, simply make a copy to fill out, which you can then share with your recommender(s).