Message from the Principal
The ACT
What is the ACT and why is it important?
Created by ACT Inc., the ACT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The idea (in theory, at least) is to provide colleges with one common criterion that can be used to compare all applicants. The weight placed on ACT scores varies from school to school. Other important factors that schools consider in their admissions decisions are your high school GPA, academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, interviews and personal essays. For more specific information on the importance of ACT scores at the schools you're interested in, contact the admissions offices directly.
When is the ACT offered?
The ACT is offered nationally every year in September, October, December, February*, April and June. Beginning in 2018, the test will also be offered in July*. Additionally, the state of Wisconsin adopted the ACT as a mandated testing device. All students in the state of Wisconsin take the ACT at their resident schools in late February/early March of their junior year.
What specifically does the ACT test?
The ACT has four sections: English, Reading, Math and Science, as well as an optional 40-minute writing test. Some schools may require the writing test, so be sure to ask before you take it. Learn more about what's on the different sections of the ACT.
Should I take the ACT or the SAT?
SAT versus ACT. Is one harder? Is one better? More prestigious? More useful? If only it were that simple. Click to read more about ACT vs SAT.
How is the ACT scored?
You'll earn one ACT score (1 to 36) on each test (English, Math, Reading and Science) and a composite ACT score, which is an average of these four tests. Usually, when people ask about your score, they're referring to your composite ACT score. The composite score falls between 1 and 36. The national average is about 21. If, for example, you scored 31 on the English, 30 on the Math, 29 on the Reading and 30 on the Science, your composite ACT score would be 30.
The ACT includes an optional essay, known as the writing test. If you take the writing test, you will receive a writing test subscore and a combined English/writing score. Visit www.ACT.org for detailed information about how your ACT writing test will be scored.
ACT Test Prep
The following web sites have free or minimal fee resources for preparing for the ACT.
Free Scholarship Searches
Each of the following sites allows you to search for possible scholarships based on personal information. Once a posted application is complete, you can search for scholarships using different criteria.
Careers and Colleges offers a searchable database that has over 200,000 available scholarships. The search is performed in two comprehensive scholarship databases.
CollegeBoard enables students to match their educational goals with internships, scholarships, and loans. It offers a wide variety of facts and tips to aid students when planning for college.
Fast Web (Financial Aid Search through the Web) is a database of more than 270,000 scholarships, fellowships, grants, and loans.
Scholarships.com has good coverage of awards. The database is available to undergraduate and graduate students.
CollegeScholarships Go straight to the scholarships that interest you and begin the application process.
Schoolsoup Claims to have the world's largest scholarship database
TuitionFundingSources.com has been providing scholarship information to students for over 25 years. Sponsored by Wells Fargo
https://studentscholarships.org : A free scholarship search engine, considered to be one of the largest and most comprehensive sources for finding scholarships online.
https://www.goingmerry.com/c/kims-lyvaw Once you fill out your personal profile, you are automatically matched with scholarships you are most eligible for.
Post Secondary Resources
Guide to Online Schools provides a comprehensive list of accredited online bachelor's degrees, along with a highlighted list of non-profit schools offering online degrees. This free resource is a complete guide to an online bachelor's degree and includes information about degree programs, tuition, and accreditation, along with a Q&A feature that allows students to submit any question they might have about online schools or degrees.
A resource for students to learn about Wisconsin’s 2 and 4 year public institutions. The site contains resources and information on admission requirements, major and programs, applying online, campus tours, college costs and financial aid, housing and more. http://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu
A resource for students to learn about Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities. This site contains valuable information, including in-depth profiles of all 23 private, nonprofit colleges and universities, a majors and minors search option, and application information. http://www.wisconsinsprivatecolleges.org/
A resource for students to learn about the 16 colleges in the WTCS which offer more than 300 career programs, including two-year associate degrees, one- and two- year technical diplomas, and short-term technical certificates. http://www.wtcsystem.edu/
A resource for students to learn about the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. The MnSCU system has 31 institutions with 54 campuses conveniently located in 47 Minnesota communities that serve more than 430,000 students. www.minnstate.edu
Affordable Colleges Online began in 2011 with the mission to provide strategies and information about pursuing an affordable higher education. This free resource spans topics such as financial-aid and college savings strategies, affordability and scorecard rankings, on-line learning resources and opportunities for Veterans and people with disabilities. http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/online-colleges/wisconsin/
Guide to Business Degrees in the US is a resource from Discover Business Online with firsthand information about business degree programs. Content includes: a) general degree information, b) accreditation, c) in-state and out-of-state tuition and cost per credit, and d) availability of fully online, on-campus, and mixed classes.
Scholarships
The list of scholarships is below. You can also sign up for notifications of changes. Choose continue, then on Screen 2, choose Scholarships, and finish the form.
Scholarship Database
High School Student Services
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Today’s young people are living in an exciting time, with an increasingly diverse and mobile society, new technologies, and expanding opportunities. The high school years are full of growth, promise, excitement, frustration, disappointment and hope. It is the time when students begin to discover what the future holds for them. To help ensure that they are prepared to become the next generation of parents, workers, leaders, and citizens, every student needs support, guidance, and opportunities during adolescence, a time of rapid growth and change. Adolescents face unique and diverse challenges, both personally and developmentally, that impact academic achievement. It is important that we find some means of helping our children to make sense of their present experiences and of finding personal meaning in what they are currently being taught in school. It is important that we help children to develop the values and attitudes, to learn and practice the decision-making skills which will enable them to function in a changing society.
School counselors are vital members of the education team. They help all students in the areas of academic achievement; personal/social development and career development, ensuring today's students become the productive, contributing member of the world community and well-adjusted adults of tomorrow.
Services
*Individual Advisement
*Career/Vocational Exploration
*Academic Advisement
*Technical and 4 year colleges information
*Information on the Armed Forces
*Planned visitations and reps from the armed forces, tech schools, and college/universities
*Scholarship and Financial Aid information
*Assistance with post secondary planning
Financial Aid
Every year the U.S. Department of Education helps connect nearly 15 million incoming college students with over $150 billion in education funding, and it all starts with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). At first glance, the FAFSA can be quite complex to navigate, yet the consequences of an incomplete or inaccurate application can be devastating. To help combat this hurdle, the education experts at BestColleges.com have created a guide to the Understanding the FAFSA process that includes information on:
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What you need before you get started
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A page by page guide on the FAFSA forms
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What to do once you fill out the forms
To access the guide click on Understanding the FAFSA above.
The following web sites have all the information you need to get started with applying for federal student aid.
First, apply for your FAFSA ID here, it is required to go further. |
Then, visit the FAFSA page to apply for the free aid. |
Other Sites:
http://finaid.org
http://www.collegegoalwi.org/
http://heab.state.wi.us/ (a listing of WI financial aid programs as well as Minnesota reciprocity)
http://www.smartscholar.com/fafsa-guide/ (excellent FAFSA resource guide)
Parent Resources
www.samhsa.gov is a website developed to support the efforts of parents and other caring adults to promote mental health and prevent the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs among 7- to 18-year-olds.
theparenttoolkit.org A drug and alcohol prevention resource for parents
Student Resources
http://www.actstudent.org/regist/ Get information about the ACT, as well as register for upcoming testing dates. Cameron High School ACT code 500-335.
www.bestcolleges.com/resources/act-prep/ A comprehensive guide to taking the ACT.
http://mappingyourfuture.org/ will help you select schooling based on your career choice.
http://www.cappex.com Find your college, read student reviews, find scholarship matches.
knowhow2go.acenet.edu The KnowHow2GO Wisconsin website is a popular resource for motivating middle and high school students to plan for college. Site features include: free ACT and SAT test prep, an “Are You Ready for College?” quiz,entertaining and informative videos, and age-appropriate lists about how to prepare for college as well as numerous additional fun and helpful resources for students and families.
http://www.college-scholarships.com/wisconsin.htm The College-scholarships.com site was developed by a team of veteran professional educators and is a resource to help you quickly and easily find and learn more about the traditional colleges, online colleges, career schools and/or graduate schools which best meet your individual educational needs.
A complete directory of top schools by location or degree. http://www.bestcolleges.com
College Raptor is the best way for high school families to find college matches, discover colleges that may offer them the best financial aid and simplify the college search process—all for FREE! https://www.collegeraptor.com/
Lendedu.com: LendEDU was started in August 2014 by Nate Matherson and Matt Lenhard with a goal of helping student loan borrowers save money through transparent pricing and education. The focus of the site is to promote financial literacy through free educational resources including information on financial aid, student loans, college budgeting, cost of student debt calculators, etc.
CriminalJusticeDegreeSchools.com, A criminal justice degree and career
College is a huge first step in learning how to manage finances. Annuity.org covers things like: Filling out a FAFSA request, Merit-Based Scholarships, How Student Loans Work, Planning for life after college and much more.
High School Office -- Phone: (715) 458 4560 option 2 • Fax: (715) 458 4236