Class of 2027: SENIOR YEAR!

College can mean many things! Post-Secondary Learning that we call college:

• 4 Year Colleges and Universities- Bachelor Degrees
• 2 Year Colleges- Associate's Degrees
• 1 year or less- Workforce, Short-Term, and Long-Term Certificates

All of these programs require the same college admission process of applying, sending high school transcript, and completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Financial Aid).

Use this College Planning Timeline to help you prepare for College Application Season and Senior Year!

https://canva.link/1snmc89khftc693 (it's two pages so be sure to slide to the left!!!)

Step 1: Apply

Make sure you have your counselor's email address for your applications. This is very important so that your counselor can process out your transcript and counselor form.

Applications typically open end of July/beginning of August.

Large universities such as Ball State, IU Bloomington, Butler, Purdue West Lafayette, etc have an early admission deadline of November 1. This is the deadline you want to meet if you would like to have the best chance of being offered admission to the program of your choice and to be considered for school based merit scholarships based on your GPA and test scores. Some programs could have earlier deadlines so be sure to check on your college websites.

Local colleges such as PNW and IUN have a deadline of December 1 to be considered for school based merit scholarships but be sure to check the college websites!

The Common Application is the only application that Purdue University West Lafayette will accept but most colleges have the option of using the Common Application OR their own school based application. School based applications are often shorter and less complicated. The Common Application makes sense if you are a student who is applying to several schools who use it AND/OR Purdue West Lafayette that requires it but the school based application might make more sense for you if the Common Application won't save you time.

Be sure to pay the application fee. Larger schools are usually around $65. Students on free/reduced lunch should ask their counselor for a fee waiver application.

Step 2: Check to see if your school requires letters of recommendation. Be sure to ask recommenders early to give them enough time to write a great letter! It is helpful for them to have something to look at from you that describes you in a nutshell. You can use this Wheeler High School Senior Brag Sheet This link will ask you to make a copy for yourself. Be sure to share it back to your counselor! We have paper copies in the Guidance Office as well. If you are using the Common Application you will need to provide the recommender's email address in the application platform. The Common Application will email the recommender the form to fill out.

Step 3:

Send your SAT score reports if you are including them in your application package. Many schools are now test optional. Purdue West Lafayette still requires test scores. You have to log into your account at www.collegeboard.org to send your scores officially. Click on the send scores tab in your score report dashboard. The cost is $15 per score report if you are ordering scores after the 9 day window from your test date. You get 4 score reports for free if ordered during test registration or within 9 days from the date you tested. Students who receive free/reduced lunch qualify for a fee waiver. Student on free/reduced lunch should see their counselor if the College Board website is showing a fee to send score reports.

Step 4: Send your transcripts. If you are using the Common Application the transcript is sent from the counselor as a PDF attachment with your school report so no action is needed on your end.

If you are using the school based application then you will need to order your transcript from Parchment. The invitation to register for your Parchment account is in your Wheeler High School email.

Colleges will take about 7-10 Business days to update your application status to show they have your materials once you have sent them in. Check your application portals and/or call to check on your application package 7 - 10 Business days after submission to ensure that the college has everything they need from you.

Step 5: Does the application require an essay from you? The purpose of essays on college applications is to allow you to show the college your personality. The college wants to see more than what can be pulled off of your transcript. Use the opportunity to show a college who you are and why they should want you on campus! Write about what you are passionate about, experiences that make you who you are, why you are interested in that campus, why you are interested in your major... you can list your awards and achievements in other areas on the application. The essay is whHere are some tips for writing college application essays https://www.nacacnet.org/top-ten-tips-for-writing-a-college-essay/

The SAT will be offered during the school day for the Class of 2027 for a second time on October 7, 2026. Do NOT sign up on the College Board website for the School Day SAT. Sign up here and payment is due to Guidance by September 4, 2026. Our school will order your test for you.

https://forms.gle/8GKE6C6eGHGTVNko9

Tests will only be ordered once payment is collected. The cost is $60. Checks should be made out to WHS. Cash is acceptable. Payment should be turned into the Guidance Office. Students who receive free/reduced lunch should see his/her counselor.

If you'd like to take a weekend SAT instead of testing during the school day, you need to follow regular registration procedures on the College Board website.

You should check the SAT policies of the colleges you are interested in. Most colleges will super score. This means if you take the SAT more than once then the college will take the best English score and the best math score from any of your test dates in order to give you the benefit of the best score.

Many colleges have a test optional policy. This is a good option for students who have a strong transcript of high school grades but maybe don't perform well on standardized tests. If you think you fall in this category then you don't have to send scores to test optional schools. Be aware that some schools still require SAT scores for admissions and MOST schools still need SAT scores in order for you to be considered for college based scholarships.

Advice from the College Board about sending scores below:

Is it a good idea to send my SAT scores to colleges?

Yes. For several reasons, the College Board always recommends that students submit scores to the schools they are interested in attending.

• First, if your SAT score isn't as high as you hoped or you feel your GPA is "better" for colleges to see, that's okay! Your SAT score is only one part of your application, and it's helpful for the admissions committee to understand the full picture of your academic and personal strengths. Choosing to send your scores to a particular college or university communicates that you're serious about attending that school.
• Secondly, submitting your SAT score helps schools accurately represent their freshman class. If only the students with the highest scores submit those scores to colleges, the admissions data won't reflect the actual average SAT scores of the students on their campus. For more information on this, check out What Is A Good Score?
• Most importantly, sharing your SAT scores with colleges and universities sets you up for success in your first year on campus. Your SAT scores can help your advisors recommend the best courses for you.

Student athletes who are interested in playing their sport in college must register with the athletic eligibility association that governs that school. NCAA would like their prospective athletes registered by the end of junior year at the latest. NAIA is more flexible with registration. Many students wait until they are sure they are playing for an NAIA school before they register.

NCAA: Register Cost $100 The NCAA has very specific academic eligibility requirements based on what division you plan to play in. Please see the Academic Eligibility Brochure

NAIA: Register Cost $100 Students with a 2.3 GPA are eligible or must meet 2 of these 3 requirements:

• 2.0 GPA
• Class rank top 50%
• 970 SAT score or 18 ACT score

Your student can submit athletic interest forms or prospective athlete questionnaires to colleges they would like to play for. This gets your students name out to the coaches for the programs.

You can find these forms by visiting the college's athletic page and entering Prospective Athlete or Interest Form in the search bar. These forms can sometimes be hard to find so reach out if you have trouble!

You can sign up online to tour cosmetology programs! Visit the websites of the schools you are interested in. Did you know that most programs offer scholarship opportunities and may accept financial aid? Do you have questions about what training is like? This article has information about training and requirements to work in cosmetology:

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/careers/what-does-a-cosmetologist-do

Cosmetology schools in our area include:

Paul Mitchell The School https://paulmitchell.edu/merrillville

7990 Broadway Merrillville, IN

Tricoci University Highland https://www.tricociuniversity.edu/campuses/indiana/highland/

2549 Highway Ave Highland, IN 46322

Aveda Institute Chicago https://aveda.edu/locations/location/chicago-il/

2828 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL 60657

The ROTC program combines traditional college coursework with military leadership training, all while you continue to major in the academic field of your choice and enjoy campus life. It is offered at more than 1,700 colleges and universities across the country. It is college life plus career training, all while helping reduce or remove college tuition costs. Many students choose ROTC because it offers community and instills confidence that carries well beyond campus life, with leadership skills that both military and civilian employers value.

More information about ROTC is available here:

https://www.todaysmilitary.com/education-training/rotc-programs

Find schools that offer ROTC programs here:

ROTC School Finder

The FAME (Federation of Advanced Manufacturing in Education) is a national organization that organizes internship opportunities with students to obtain both work experience and education in a two year commitment. Industry leaders, such as Hitachi, Winndeavor, Michigan City PaperBox, and BNutty, will interview applicants and make selections to invite to this program. Selected students will enroll in IvyTech courses that work around their work schedules starting in Fall of 2027. Ideally, this is a two year commitment, in order to complete the Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Technology at IvyTech WHILE earning a paycheck. More information will come in the fall regarding dates and deadline for the application and interview process but I wanted families to be aware of this opportunity to make a GOOD salary while earning an Associate's degree from Ivy Tech.

Next Level Jobs is a program that gives you the opportunity to earn a FREE credential from Ivy Tech, thanks to the Workforce Ready Grant, setting you up to take your next step towards a high-paying, high-demand job in Indiana. Students take classes to earn credits towards a short-term certificate (known as a certificate) or long-term certificate (known as a technical certificate) like any other Ivy Tech student—the difference is the Workforce Ready Grant pays for your tuition and fees.

Ivy Tech offers free certificates in the fields of advanced manufacturing, building and construction, health sciences, information technology, business, transportation, and logistics as part of the Next Level Jobs program.

These certificates are stackable. You can earn a certificate for free and continue on to earn an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, etc. The grant only covers the courses required for the certificate but this allows a portion of your degree to be covered. The certificates give you option of going out into the workforce with training in careers that NEED people and pay well. You could also choose to continue your education after earning the certificate.

For example: A student is interested in a bachelor's degree in nursing

Step 1: Use the Next Level Jobs grant to earn a Practical Nursing Long Term Certificate at Ivy Tech (cost $8,027 for 3 semesters) for free.

Step 2: Student can move on to earn the remaining credits (about two semesters) for the Transition to Associate of Science in Nursing at a significantly cheaper cost at Ivy Tech. Student is already a Licensed Practical Nurse and can work while earning the Associate's Degree.

Step 3: Student can transfer to finish a Bachelor's degree (about two years) at another university. Student can still work as a Licensed Practical Nurse while finishing a Bachelor's Degree to become a Registered Nurse.

Our local Next Level Jobs provider is Ivy Tech. There are other Next Level Jobs providers across the state.

Ivy Tech Next Level Jobs information is available here:

https://www.ivytech.edu/programs/signature-opportunities-for-students/next-level-jobs/

Next Level Jobs Training across the state at all providers:

https://www.in.gov/dwd/nextleveljobs/workforce-ready-grant/available-job-training

WeBuildNWI.com is a resource for students interested in union trade careers. This website links to all the union apprenticeship programs so you can check out application dates and deadlines, union trade descriptions, and program requirements. Did you know many of the apprenticeship programs offer an associate's degree from Ivy Tech in partnership with your training?? You can walk out of your apprenticeship program as a trained union worker WITH a degree!

We will host the Skilled Trades Fair in the WHS Fieldhouse November 17th. Experience mock worksites, hands-on activities, and learn about apprenticeships in up to 15 different trades—including carpentry, plumbing, painting, roofing, and more! Get inspired. Get connected. Build your future.

Are you interested in enlisting in the military? Please visit this article to find out about enlistment requirements, taking the ASVAB, and what to expect. Military Enlistment Information

We will host an ASVAB exam here in the winter so you can take the test here with us and use it for military enlistment purposes.

We will be hosting our annual College & Career Fair on September 30, 2026 in the Field House from 12 - 1pm during lunches and homeroom/resources. Students will have the opportunity to visit with representatives from colleges, businesses, and community organizations.

If you'd like to be a presenter and have a table at our fair please RSVP at the link below! We'd love to have you and our students would LOVE to meet you!

Presenter RSVP Wheeler HS College & Career Fair 2026