Employers, colleges, military recruiters and scholarship selection committees are all looking for students who have a good work ethic, good attendance, do their best, write, speak and listen well, respect and work well with others, are responsible and accept responsibility for their actions, follow directions, problem solve, do accurate, neat work, are healthy, motivated and honest. Work on all of these skills throughout high school.
- Get involved with extracurricular clubs and/or sports (refer to the Rhinelander High School Student Handbook)
- Attend the WI Education Fair
- Schedule your Hodag Conference with your school counselor
- Talk to post-secondary representatives when they are visiting the high school during lunch shifts. Check announcements.
- Consider taking the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) to help you with career choices
- Sign up with your parent/guardian for your individualized HODAG conference in Student Service
- Start preparing for your ACT test, given statewide in March
- Register online if you plan on taking the ACT before the statewide test date in March
- Consider taking the PSAT/NMSQT to qualify for the National Merit Scholars
- Review the Rhinelander High School Career Course Description Booklet as it applies to your educational four year plan
- Enhance your academic skills by choosing challenging classes for next year
- Become a volunteer for community service – choose areas that interest you
- Take Advanced Placement exams, as applicable to your courses
- Look online at the military, WI technical colleges, WI 4 year private universities and WI 4 year public universities
- Explore your potential careers with areas of study and potential schools at Wisconsin Career Pathways
- Continue using Xello to develop your Academic and Career Plan (ACP). Xello is rich with information on careers, education, employment trends and more. Each student has a personal Xello account with an e-portfolio. The e-portfolio holds assessment results, favorite information on schools and careers, and the student's Academic and Career Plan
- For a wealth of information on upcoming opportunities and post high school planning, visit the Rhinelander High School Student Services website
- Preview the FAFSA application www.fafsa.ed.gov/
- Begin exploring different avenues for scholarships by visiting the Student Services Nonlocal Scholarship link.
- Become a volunteer for community service – choose areas that interest you; see your school counselor for information about earning credit
- Visit postsecondary schools that interest you and make arrangements for campus tours
- If planning on Division I or II college athletics, register online with NCAA Clearinghouse the end of your junior year
- Turn your work experience into a Youth Apprenticeship opportunity. See your school counselor for more information
Planning for more school AFTER high school may seem like a long way off, but if you start planning today, you’ll be one step ahead!
POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION ADMISSION
High school graduation requirements are different from the entrance requirements for specific colleges and universities. The requirements listed below are minimum requirements for students to be eligible for admission to these institutions. Students are encouraged to exceed these minimum requirements and to challenge themselves by taking rigorous courses, including Advanced Placement courses, to be competitive in the collegiate admissions process.
Students must meet the following minimum requirements in order to be eligible for admission:
English, 4 credits
Mathematics (Algebra 2a/b), 3 credits
Science, 3 credits
Social Studies, 3 credits
Fine Arts/Electives/Language, 4 credits
Two years of a single foreign language are required for admission to some UW System campuses.
The following are recommended high school credits for adequate, comprehensive preparation for success in technical college programs:
English, 4 credits
Mathematics, 3 credits
Science, 3 credits
Social Studies, 3 credits
Technical Courses, 3-4 credits
Technical college programs have admission standards. Some programs have waiting lists. Apply early and seek to talk to the school's admissions for advice regarding your chosen program.
Students must meet the following minimum requirements in order to be eligible for admission:
English, 4 credits
Mathematics (Algebra 2a/b), 3 credits
Science, 3 credits
Social Studies, 3 credits
Foreign Language, 2 credits
Considerations for admission include ACT or SAT scores and grades earned within the context of courses taken, as well as the challenge level of the courses.
Nation’s Top Universities
Students must meet the following minimum requirements in order to be eligible for admission:
English, 4 credits
Science, 3-4 credits
Foreign Language, 3-4 credits
Mathematics, 4 credits
Social Studies, 3 credits
Considerations for admission include ACT or SAT scores and grades earned within the context of courses taken, as well as the challenge level of the courses.
PLANNING YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COURSES
A key step to planning for your future is selecting the correct high school courses now. Your future plans should influence the courses you choose to take. If you are not sure what you want to do after high school, explore resources, consider job shadowing, talk to your teachers and/or high school counselor.
Types of Post-Secondary Education
Four-Year Baccalaureate
These schools offer courses leading to a four-year Bachelor of Art or Bachelor of Science degree. Universities can be public (example: UW-Eau Claire) or private (example: Marquette University). Wisconsin has over 20 private colleges and universities and 13 public universities. Although the tuition at some private schools may seem too expensive at first glance, they are usually able to offer enough financial aid and scholarships to make the cost more closely comparable to that of a public university.
Proprietary Schools
Schools that specialize in a specific trade or skill. Examples would be truck driving, art, or culinary school. Entrance requirements are generally open, although art schools for example, may require you to submit a portfolio. They may offer certification, licensing, or associate degrees.
Technical
Technical schools have programs that can lead to a certificate, a vocational (one year) degree or an associate degree (two years). Most technical colleges also have a liberal arts transfer program that allow students to earn college credit in general courses for two years and transfer to a four-year school to complete their bachelor’s degree. Other individual courses may also transfer to a four-year college or university. An example of a technical college is Nicolet Area Technical College. There are 16 technical colleges across the state with a variety of career-oriented programs that last from a few months to two years. Students with a high school diploma that seek admission to a Wisconsin technical school may need successful completion of specific courses in high school.
Two Year College, Junior and Community Colleges
The University of Wisconsin has 13 two-year extension campuses located throughout the state. UW-Marathon in Wausau is an example of a UW college campus. These campuses have more liberal admission requirements and slightly lower tuition. Credits specifically transfer to any four-year college and typically to any four-year college or university. Depending on the location, campuses may offer housing and a limited range of extra-curricular activities. Admission requirements for the UW colleges are the same as those listed for UW four year campuses.