College application fees vary, but generally it costs from $35 to $50 to apply to each college. Fees are nonrefundable. Many colleges offer fee waivers to students who cannot afford to pay; however, you would need to contact the college to see what the qualifications are. 

The college essay matters. Your essay reveals something important about you that your grades and test scores cannot—your personality. It can give admission officers a sense of who you are in regards to your character and strengths, as well as showcasing your writing skills. The number one piece of advice from admission officers about your essay is “Be yourself.” The number two suggestion is “Start early". For more helpful tips please visit the BigFuture website, created by the college board. 

The record of the classes you have taken and your grades is one of the most important parts of your application. Your high school should send your transcript, along with a school profile, directly to the colleges you are applying to. Ask your counselor or principal how to arrange for this. And be sure to check the transcript for errors before it is sent. ALSO at the end of your senior year, your high school will send a final transcript to the college you have decided to attend. This shows your college what classes you took and whether you kept your grades up during your last year in high school. Please visit our Transcript Request page for more information.

Many colleges require letters of recommendation from teachers or other adults who know you well. Ask your references well in advance of the deadlines to write you a recommendation. You may want to give them a short written summary of your achievements to help them write about you. Please give the person you are asking at least two weeks notice before the date you need the letter. Also, give the person a resume or student profile about yourself so he/she can write you an exceptional letter of recommendation. Below you will find a student PDF profile form for students to fill out, save, and distribute to those writing the recommendation letter. 

• Student Profile Form for Letters of Recommendation
• Student Profile Google Doc for Letters of Recommendation

The ACT exam is a national college entrance exam. The ACT is widely accepted at 4 year universities throughout the United States and is required by many Wisconsin and mid-western campuses. Students can take the ACT as many times as they like. Colleges use the highest score.