College Timeline for High School Seniors

Quick Access: September-October, November, December, January-May

Overview

• Take challenging courses and continue to work toward your goals. It is not unheard of for colleges to revoke acceptance based on senior year academic performance. If you have been accepted to a college or university your acceptance may be conditionally based on your senior year class schedule. You need to maintain good grades and complete a full class schedule.
   

• Attend Senior Parent Night: Oct. 8, 2025 @ 6:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room. At this event you will receive college and career planning information.  There will be a representative from the Technical College System and the UW System to present valuable information regarding the college admissions process and answer questions. This presentation will be about an hour in length.

• Apply for financial aid. All students, regardless of financial need, should complete the Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can now be completed as early as October 1st of your senior year. Contact the Financial Aid Office of the school you plan to attend, or your school counselor with questions.
   

• Apply to a Wisconsin Technical College on the Wisconsin Technical Colleges website. The Wisconsin Technical College System offers many degrees and training programs that lead to meaningful and excellent paying jobs! Moraine Park Technical College offers many programs including Nursing, Electrical Power Distribution, Welding, and Paramedic Technician, just to name a few.
   
• Apply to a University of Wisconsin school on the University of Wisconsin System Apply Now web page. Each campus sets its own priority dates and deadline. Generally, priority deadlines are set for the middle of November. You can use UWHelp: Your Guide to the College Process as a reference and to access the University of Wisconsin Online Application form.
  • You will be able to self-report your need for an application fee waiver immediately after you submit your application.
  • ACT Scores are optional in the admissions process.
     
• Apply to a Wisconsin Private College on the Wisconsin's Private Colleges website. Wisconsin's Private Colleges are nationally recognized, offer a wide variety of college majors, and a unique college experience.
   
• Regardless of what school you are applying to, CHECK CAREFULLY! Do you have all the necessary forms? Are you sure of the application deadlines? Are you required to write an essay? Submit transcript and test scores. Need help? Contact your school counselor.
   
• Request your transcripts be sent to the school(s) which you have applied through this Transcript Request Form. Students at Dodgeland High School can use Parchment Digital Credential Service to order official transcripts and have them sent to colleges and universities. Be sure to send a final transcript, at the end of senior year, if required to do so. If you have questions about sending transcripts, ask your school counselor.
   
• Begin a scholarship search. Check the scholarship information on the website of the school you plan to attend, check your Dodgeland student email regularly for scholarships received by the school counseling office, and utilize free internet scholarship search tools such as FastWeb Scholarships and Scholarships.com. The Dodgeland Dollars for Scholars and the Dodgeland Local Scholarship Program applications will become available in March - April of the current school year.
   
• Make final decisions. If you are not planning on attending college or technical school, what steps do you need to take to reach your goals? Have you inquired about apprenticeship programs or military options?
   
• If you are not going to college, trade or technical school, you are not starting an apprenticeship program, and you are not enlisting in the military, what will you do?
   
• If you are going to college, and have received an acceptance letter, confirm your decision with the school. Be sure to decline any other offers you receive.

September-October

• Start sending in college applications. If applying to a University of Wisconsin school, use the UW System online portal to complete and submit applications. Technical college bound students may complete an application through the Wisconsin Technical College online portal. Be sure to determine priority dates.
   
• Request letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, and others who can assist in your application process. Plan ahead and request letters of recommendation at least 1-2 weeks in advance. Use the Online Letter of Recommendation Request form.
   
• Attend the virtual Wisconsin Education Fair(WEF). Students can meet with approximately 100 professional admission representatives from all over the region, learn about requirements, academic programs, financial aid, scholarships, housing, and more. Check the Fair Schedule for locations, dates and times.

• Attend Moraine Park's Discover Moraine Park event. Discover Moraine Park is an opportunity to tour the campus, meet with program instructors and students, complete and submit an application and receive an application fee waiver for attending ($30.00 value). Register for Discover Moraine Park on the Moraine Park Technical College website.
  • Fond du Lac Campus: October 1st, 5-7PM
  • Beaver Dam Campus: October 15th, 5-7PM
  • West Bend Campus: October 29th, 5-7PM

• Plan to visit as many of your "top choice" colleges as possible. Junior year is a great time for college visits. Make appointments for campus tours. If possible, visit on weekdays and ask for permission to sit in on a few classes. Check out the list of UW System and Wisconsin Private Colleges preview days and campus tours. Moraine Park Technical College offers very similar options to tour their campus.

• Begin a scholarship search. Check the scholarship information on the website of the school you plan to attend, check your Dodgeland student email regularly for scholarships received by the school counseling office, and utilize free internet scholarship search tools such as FastWeb Scholarships and Scholarships.com. The Dodgeland Dollars for Scholars and the Dodgeland Local Scholarship Program applications will become available in March - April of the current school year.
   
• Apply for financial aid. All students, regardless of financial need, should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can now be completed as early as October 1st of the current school year. Contact the Financial Aid Office of the school you plan to attend, or your school counselor, with questions.
   
• Attend a College Goal Wisconsin event to receive assistance with the completion of financial aid forms. College Goal Wisconsin workshops assists high school seniors, parents, and adults returning to college with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). College Goal will be held at Dodgeland High School on Oct. 23, 2025 from 6-8 in the Commons!
   
• Retake the ACT if you want to improve your score. Due to the global pandemic, many colleges are"test optional" for admissions. Even when ACT scores are not required for admission to college, they may still be important for course placement and scholarship consideration. ACT registration materials and information is available from your counselor. Students receiving free or reduced lunch should see their school counselor for a fee waiver.
   
• Use the career and college resources at Dodgeland High School. Use your student account on the Xello website or via ClassLink Launchpad. To log in, enter your student email and password. Dodgeland students can use Xello at any time to research specific colleges, technical schools, careers, and majors of study. If you have general questions about Xello, contact your school counselor.

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January-February-March-April-May

• Consider taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). The ASVAB is the most widely used "career interest" tool in the world. The ASVAB provides valuable information on vocational aptitudes and career interest for undecided students. It is also the assessment used to determine your eligibility for specific military occupations. You can take the ASVAB and have your results interpreted without releasing them to recruiters. The ASVAB is free and available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The ASVAB will be offered at Dodgeland High School at a date to be determined.  

• If your college requests a first semester transcript, students can request your transcripts be sent to the school(s) which you have applied through this Transcript Request Form. Students at Dodgeland High School can use Parchment Digital Credential Service to order official transcripts and have them sent to colleges and universities if required by the school. Be sure to send a final transcript, at the end of senior year, if required to do so. If you have questions about sending transcripts, ask your school counselor.
   
• Ideally, by this time, you should have received your college acceptance or rejection letters. Notify your school counselor on the action taken on your application.
   
• Return housing contracts immediately. Student housing fills quickly and is limited at some schools. Timely completion and return of housing contracts is important!
   
• Compare financial aid packages that you were offered from the various colleges where you were accepted. Look at your costs, estimated contributions and how much money you have been offered in grants, loans and scholarships. Remember, grants and scholarships do not have to be paid back, as long as you remain eligible. Each loan has different terms.
   
• Watch for announcements regarding the Dodgeland Dollars for Scholars and the Dodgeland Local Scholarship Program. Expect these applications to become available in March or early April.
   
• Let your school counselor know which college you will be attending and if you received any scholarships.
   
• If you are enrolled in an Advanced Placement (AP) course, you are expected to prepare and take the corresponding AP Exam. The exam fee will be reimbursed if the student earns a score of 3, 4, or 5. Students who qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch will not have any exam costs.
   
• Request that your final high school transcript is sent to the school you plan to attend.

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