Senior Year!
Welcome, Class of 2015!
Counseling Office Staff
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Mrs. Lilja: Health Academy
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Mrs. Wagner: Engineering, Technology, and
Manufacturing Academy
Mrs. Wass: Human Services Academy
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Ms. Watters: Performance Based Diploma Academy
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Mr. Winter: Arts, Communication, Business Academy
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Mrs. Kleinendorst: Counseling Office Manager….helps
all students
College Reps and Military Recruiter
Visits
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Many will visit West H.S. throughout the year.
Listen to the announcements or go to
twitter.com and search for @west_counseling
for visit dates.
Sign up with Mrs. Kleinendorst in the
Counseling Office.
College Campus Visits
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You are encouraged to visit schools which you
are considering.
Contact the admissions office of the school in
which you are interested.
Secure a PRIOR APPROVAL through the
Attendance Office.
PSEO & Concurrent Courses
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College classes taken while in high school.
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PSEO Courses on HCC or UNI campus
Concurrent Courses at West
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COMPASS/ACT/IA Assessment scores needed.
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It is the start of a college transcript.
Selected classes can be paid for by district
(your counselor has a list).
Must have all paperwork completed by
November 30th deadline.
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College Entrance Exams
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ACT or SAT: Check with the 4 year colleges
in which you are interested to see which test
they require.
Registration date information available in
Counseling Office. Student is responsible for
registration. Fall ACT test dates: 9/13, 10/25,
12/13 (www.act.org)
COMPASS: Hawkeye utilizes this as their
entrance/placement exam.
UNI ETS
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Educational Talent Search: free service
helping students with many “transition to
college” services.
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ACT Registration
Tutoring
College Visits
College Applications
Financial Aid Applications
Scholarship Applications
Selective Service Registration
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Men required to register 30 days prior to or
after their 18th birthday.
Registration forms located at US Post Offices
or online.
Is required in order to be eligible for financial
aid that is provided for/subsidized by Federal
Government.
NCAA Eligibility Center
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Athletes: If planning to compete at Division I or II
institution, you MUST register with the NCAA
Eligibility Center www.eligibilitycenter.org.
Must see our Athletic Director, Dr. Pappas, to file a
release form.
SENIOR PICTURES
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November 1: deadline for submission to
yearbook.
GRADUATION
Think ahead:
Many things to take care of……
Dates, dates, dates!
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Seniors: Listen to the announcements & check
Twitter daily during your senior year. Dates included
in your senior handbook are accurate as of the time of
posting; these may change.
Many, many deadlines for submission of different
documents related to graduation.
Failure to plan on your part does not mean an
emergency on our part.
THINK AHEAD!
Mid-Year/December Graduates
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December 23: end of 1st
semester.
CAN participate in:
Prom, Post-Prom, and
Commencement.
CANNOT participate
in: athletics, band,
dances, Swing Show,
other school activities.
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Must pick up a CheckOut Sheet in
Counseling Services to
take to teachers and the
library.
All-Clear Card from
Business Office.
No records sent unless
you have correctly
checked out and taken
care of financial issues.
DIPLOMA
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Complete a Diploma Name Sheet: Completed
during Futures assembly in December.
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A list will be posted with diploma spellings.
Check this list. If incorrect, you must correct
it. If an incorrect diploma is printed, you will
be responsible for the cost of the reprinted
diploma.
GRADUATION MATERIALS
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October 8: assembly held with Herff Jones
Rep. providing ordering instructions for
announcements, cap and gowns, etc.
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Measurements and orders taken during ParentTeacher Conferences on October 21 & 23.
Deposit required.
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Cannot pick up Cap & Gown until on official
Graduation List.
COMMENCEMENT
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McLeod Center (UNI): Saturday, May 23
at 7:00 p.m.
Mandatory practice will be held at the
McLeod Center at1:00 p.m. on Friday,
May 22.
Must take part in the entire graduation
practice in order to be in the actual
ceremony.
SENIOR HONORS PROGRAM
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Program is scheduled for 9:00 AM, May 13th.
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Invitations are sent to parents of students who
will be honored on stage.
APPLYING TO
POST-SECONDARY
INSTITUTIONS
Don’t wait until the last minute….
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
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Start applying this fall/winter to the
schools in which you are interested.
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Paper or online apps: some are free, some
require application fee.
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Create a resume as you will need this for
applications, letters of recommendation,
etc.
Letters of Recommendation
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Check to see if the school or scholarship
requires letters of recommendation.
Ask adults who know you well (not relatives)
to write a general letter of recommendation.
Provide those people with your resume so that
they can fully comment on your qualifications.
GIVE PLENTY OF NOTICE!
Write a thank you note!
TRANSCRIPTS
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Transcript: a record of your grades in high
school.
WCSD Transcript policy:
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1st three (3) mailed by Counseling Office are free.
After three, additional transcripts mailed by
Counseling Office cost $1.00 each.
Scholarship apps are free.
All transcripts picked up in Counseling Office are
free.
FINANCIAL AID
Start early and check often
Financial Aid Night
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Thursday, October 23 at 6:30 pm in the
Little Theater.
John Holland, Iowa College Access
Network Rep, will present information to
assist you and your family in the process.
Must complete the FAFSA to receive
financial aid. Available online beginning
January 1.
Scholarships
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All scholarships through our office are
posted under the “Seniors” tab on the
West High Website.
Scholarships are updated continuouslycheck often!
Be wary of any organization which
claims, in exchange for a fee, to assist in
obtaining scholarship money.
Many, many options are free!
Scholarship/College Application
Help Sessions
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October 1
October 15
November 5
December 3
February 4
1:30 PM in IMC
Senior Handbook
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Located on West High website under
“Seniors” tab.
Thank you for attending!
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If you have questions, please make an
appointment with your counselor.
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We are here to help you successfully complete
the application process!
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Pay attention to announcements and
deadlines….and please, for your own sake,
don’t wait until it’s too late!
Start Strong!
Finish Stronger!