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College Planning

DISCOVER  | Transcripts  |  Test Scores |  Application Process   
Admissions Info  |  Helpful Internet Sites  |  Specific College Sites

DISCOVER: [Back]
At La Follette High School, we believe it is our mission to provide all students with the opportunities, guidance, and education necessary to develop skills for the world of work.  We are partners in what benefits all students, not just some students.

To assist with this mission, La Follette provides a computer based career guidance and information system called DISCOVER.  This system meets the critical needs of effective career and educational planning that is necessary in today’s global economy. 

DISCOVER provides students with career planning tools such as assessments of students’ interests, abilities, and job values as well as a comprehensive, updated database of occupations, schools/training institutions, scholarships, majors, and military options.

The DISCOVER program is accessible to La Follette students after requesting and receiving a pass code from student services.  Students may also receive information about the program at 9th grade and/or 11th grade conferences.  Students who have a pass code and are registered with the DISCOVER program are able to access the program through the internet at http://www.act.org/discover/index.html Registered students may use the DISCOVER program at any site equipped with internet access or at the La Follette Guidance Career Center.

Transcripts: [Back]
Madison Metropolitan School District provides two transcripts free of charge. A fee of $1.00 per transcript is charged for additional transcripts. You must have a Transcript Request Card on file in the Student Services Office before La Follette can send your official transcript. If you are 18 you may sign the card; if you are not, your parent(s) must sign. "Official transcripts" are signed by a La Follette staff member and are sent from La Follette to another institution. Any transcript handed directly to a person is marked "unofficial".

Test Scores: [Back]
It is your responsibility to see that the appropriate SAT I, &/or ACT, &/or SAT II scores are sent to colleges directly from the testing agencies.

Application Process:  [Back]

• Simple Application
  If you are applying via paper-and-pencil to a UW System campus (including UW-Madison), a technical school such as MATC, or an out-of-state public or private institution that has a one-step, simple application, please complete the following steps:

1. It is to your advantage to submit your completed application as early as possible.
2. Attach the application fee to form where indicated.
3. Include/attach any additional information (resume of activities, letter of special circumstances, etc.) requested by the institution.
4. Give the completed application directly to your counselor.

• Multiple-Part Application:  
  You will need to ask for paper copies of private and out-of-state applications or download them from the schools' web sites if you choose not to apply electronically. If you are applying to a school that has a multiple-part application, please follow these guidelines:

1. It is to your advantage to submit your completed application as early as possible.
2. Students are encouraged to include a personal resume with all applications.
3. If your application includes teacher recommendations, include a stamped, addressed envelope and give all of this material to the teachers you are asking to provide recommendations. (September is not too early!)
4. The "Secondary School Report" section and the "Mid Year Report" must be given personally to your counselor - the earlier the better. Your name and other identifying information must be filled in, and you must be sure to sign if the application requires it. If you are applying for early decision or early admission, include a note indicating deadlines. Counselors complete the reports and pass them on to the receptionist, who attaches your transcript, schedule, and a school profile. Applications are logged into the computer and sent to admissions offices.
5. Please remember that any one paper item in a multiple-part application may be sent at any time; there is no special order in which they must arrive. Once the admissions office receives one of the items (application, secondary report form, transcript, test scores), the student's file is started. All items need to be in the student's file before the application deadline for the particular college. Usually the admissions offices send a postcard to the student indicating either that the file is complete or that certain items are missing. This can vary from 3-4 weeks for those institutions with rolling admissions, to 4-6 weeks for those with regular admission.

• Electronic Application:  
  Students may elect to apply on-line to any college or university offering that service. Many colleges require you to submit a form from the on-line application to your counselor to request that your high school transcript, schedule, school profile, and/or counselor recommendation be sent. Other colleges do not require this. WHENEVER YOU APPLY ELECTRONICALLY, you must notify your counselor so that the information listed above may be sent.
  • UW System, Including Madison 
    UW campuses prefer electronic applications. If you prefer not to go on-line, paper applications for all UW System campuses are available in the Student Services Office. The application should be completed and submitted to your counselor along with a $35 check made out to the specific UW campus. We will attach a high school transcript and send the application to the designated school. Refer to the Application Timeline for recommended dates to submit your applications to your counselor.
• Early Decision Candidates Applications:  
  Because applications are due between October 1 and December 1, you need to arrange an appointment immediately to talk with your counselor about your application.

Please Note: it is your responsibility to furnish addresses with all applications turned in, except for the UW System and MATC.

Admissions Updates: [Back]

UW Madison Admissions Update:

1. You must include a thoughtful, well-written Personal Statement with your application. Admissions staff say they are looking for 1-2 typed pages. Suggestions for writing the Personal Statement include being especially careful with your grammar and spelling. Write about your extracurricular activities. Notice that admissions staff are looking for a degree of involvement and commitment in a few activities, rather than merely a list of activities. Include a paragraph about which activity is/was most meaningful to you and why.
2. Request a letter of recommendation from an English or social studies teacher and one from a math or science teacher. Remember to follow the directions regarding teacher recommendations that counselors gave recently in your English class.
3. UW-Madison is serious about schedule changes and about your senior-year grades. They state, "Admission is based on our evaluation of a number of factors, including senior year courses. If admitted students change any of their current courses without our approval, their admission may be canceled. We strongly advise students not to change their course list. However, if extenuating circumstances prevent a student from pursuing the current course list, the student will need to write a letter of appeal explaining and justifying the course change(s). Any course change must be approved by our office, or the student's admission may be canceled. Admitted students who have school work in progress must provide us with a copy of their final transcript showing senior year grades and certifying graduation. It is important for them to do the best work they can during their senior year. Their admission will be made final only if their senior courses are completed with grades of the quality they presented for admission consideration.”

University of Minnesota:  

Applications are available in the Student Services Office. Completed applications should be submitted to your counselor along with a $45 check made out to the University of Minnesota covering the application fee. The priority freshman application deadline for the fall semester, 2005, is December 15, 2004. U of M has notified us that all applicants will be evaluated on a variety of criteria. See your counselor for more specific information about the General College. Student Help-Line: (800) 752-1000.

Tuition Reciprocity Agreement: The University of Minnesota System and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System campuses have a reciprocity agreement whereby residents of one state pay in-state tuition in the other state. In the spring students must complete a Reciprocity Application in order to be eligible for in-state tuition. Students must file the application on-line. The site is http://heab.state.wi.us.

Madison Area Technical College (MATC):  

MATC offers an excellent variety of one-year diploma and two-year associate degree programs. MATC offers a two-year college transfer program that is accepted by the UW System. Brochures and catalogs describing all programs are available in the Career Resource Center. See the MATC link on the Guidance homepage.

Applications for admission to MATC for the fall of 2005 will be considered on a first-come-first-served basis. Applications will be available in the Student Services Office in early October and must be completed and returned to your counselor along with a $30 check made out to MATC for the application fee. Several programs at MATC fill up on the first day applications are accepted (November 17); therefore, early application is advised. Applications received by MATC after the third Monday in November will be considered on a program availability basis. The ACT is required in the following fields at MATC. Animal technician, Associated Degree in Nursing Technical, Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Technician, Occupational Therapy Technician, Optometric Technician, Respiratory Therapy, Radiography. Students applying for these programs

Helpful Internet Links: [Back]
College Search Sites

1. DISCOVER: Our preferred college search site.  See above for access instructions.
2. Peterson's College Guide:  Comprehensive college search resources.
3. Princeton Review:  Comprehensive college planning site.
4. Studentaid.ed.gov: New and comprehensive U.S. government site for planning.
5. College Planning for International Students:  Fin Aid Corp.   
6. Collegenet:  This CollegeBot search engine looks at college-related websites.
7. USNews.com:  Annual rankings of colleges by US News and World Report
8. SchoolsintheUSA.com:  Search for business, engineering, fine arts colleges.
9. Why Plan for Life After School? Comprehensive planning site.
10. Collegeboard.com: Comprehensive planning site by the SAT people.
11. ACT.org: Comprehensive site by the ACT people.
12. Canadian University Website Locator: Learn about colleges in Canada!
13. Two (2) Year College Search Site: Finding 2 year colleges.
14. Go College: Search by test scores, class rank, tuition, or major.
15. WiredScholar.com: Another popular comprehensive college planning site.
16. Mymajors.com: Fun new site offering a new way to decide on your college major.
17. Hobsons College View:  College search, career center, financial aid questions, virtual campus tour.
18. Checklists: Help prepare for college planning, college fairs and nights, applications, interviews, college visits, financial aid, FAFSA, and going to college.

**For information on SCHOLARSHIPS please see the FINACNCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS page.**

Specific College Sites: [Back]

1. Find a College Homepage Quickly (Alphabetical):  alphabetical listing
2. Find College Homepages Quickly (by State):  A state by state listing.
3. University of Wisconsin System:  Find all UW campuses here.
4. University of Wisconsin-Madison:  Just UW-Madison here.
5. Wisconsin Private Colleges:  21 private colleges.
6. Wisconsin Technical College System:  All WI tech colleges.
7. Madison Area Technical College:  MATC homepage.
8. Minnesota State Colleges: Find Minnesota state campuses here.
9. University of Minnesota: Find Minnesota university campuses here.
10. Minnesota Private Colleges:  Find all Minnesota private colleges here.
11. Associated Colleges of the Midwest
12. College Visits For Hire: You pay them to take you on college tours.
13. Project Success at UW-Oshkosh: Learning disability support program.
14. Project Assist at UW-Whitewater: Learning disability support program.

On-line Applications:

1. How to Get the Common Application On-line: The Common Application is the recommended form of 255 selective colleges and universities for admission to their undergraduate programs.