College, Career & Military

What you need to sign up for both college entrance exams:

1. About 40 minutes; 
2. Credit card for payment; and
3. Headshot photo.

Need financial assistance with SAT and ACT registration fees? Request a fee waiver. And, don't forget to study for the SAT and ACT using the official, exam-specific and exam-endorsed tools.

Got Accommodations?

Do you normally have testing accommodations through 504 or an IEP? Make sure to submit for SSD (Services for Students with Disabilities) to make sure your accommodations are approved for all College Board exams [PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, AP, TSIA2 Accuplacer] and the ACT well in advance of your test date.

College Board

• Parent Consent form for SSD English 
• Parent Consent form for SSD Spanish

ACT

• Request Accommodations or English Learner Supports 

Transcript Request

• Parent and Students: Please use this form to request an official or unofficial transcript. Complete the form and Mrs. Alley in the main office will receive the request for processing.

Request a Transcript

• Please allow 3-5 business days for the transcript order to be filled but be advised that peak times (end of the year) may take longer due to high volume.
• All transcript orders can be mailed to the address provided or sent electronically to Texas educational institutions: colleges, universities, or other high schools. 

Fee Waiver Request  

• Students: Please use this form to request an SAT/ACT, College Application, or NCAA fee waiver. Complete the form and your alpha counselor will receive the request for processing.
• Please allow 3-5 business days for the fee waiver order to be filled.

Request a Fee Waiver 

Student Success Sheet  

• Students: Please use this form to provide information about yourself for recommendation letters. 

Access the Student Success Sheet Form (PDF)

College Visit Request

• Junior and Seniors: Please use this form to request a college visit and turn the form into the attendance office prior to the visit in order to be approved.

Request a College Visit (PDF)

• A Timeline for Applying to College (beginning 12th grade) from College Board
• Application Options/Portals
  • ApplyTexas* (learn about which schools use ApplyTexas)
  • CommonApp (learn about which schools use CommonApp)
  • Coalition for College Application (learn about which schools use the Coalition for College application)
• Questbridge (matching high-achieving, low economic students with opportunities)

Overview

View the Financial Aid Requirement for graduation per Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0256 for students enrolled in 12th grade. In order to graduate, each student must:  

• Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);

• Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA); or

• Submit a signed opt-out form in English (PDF) or Spanish (PDF).

What is FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form you need to fill out to get any financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college. Each year, over 13 million students who file the FAFSA get more than $120 billion in grants, work-study, and low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education.

Remember, FAFSA will open for the class of 2025 during the 2024-2025 school year. 

Lots of states and colleges also use the FAFSA to determine which students get financial aid—and how much they’ll get. The FAFSA asks for information about you the student and your family’s finances, including tax returns, so you’ll need your family's help to complete it.

Complete the FAFSA Form Online

Important FASFA Deadlines

What are the different types of aid?

What is TASFA?

The Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) is a free application that collects information to help determine eligibility for state (or institutional) financial aid programs administered by institutions of higher education in the state of Texas.  

Complete the TASFA Form Online

TASFA or FASFA?

Resources

• http://savingforcollege.com - college information, including a scholarship search
• https://studentaid.gov/ - comprehensive information portal providing answers to questions on education, career, scholarships, and more

WHS Scholarship Listing

Please check the scholarship spreadsheet weekly to check for new scholarships posted for the Senior class.

View the WHS Scholarship Listing

Additional Resources

• College Board BigFuture Scholarships (now available for C/O: 2024, 2025, & 2026!)
• Earn MicroScholarships for College on Raise.Me beginning in 9th grade! (Learn how it works.)  

Support for Special Populations      

• http://e4fc.org/home.html - great information to help DACA and undocumented students, includes scholarship opportunities  
• http://www.hsf.net/ - Hispanic Scholarship Fund scholarships
• http://lulac.org/programs/education/scholarships/index.html - scholarships and resources
• https://www.maldef.org/resources/scholarship-resources/
• www.migrant.net
• https://www.migrantstudents.org/
• http://www.thedream.us/ - resources for DACA and undocumented students

Helpful Information 

• http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml

Differences Between Scholarships and Loans

• Scholarship/Grants: Merit-based "free money."
• National Scholarships: Scholarships in which students across the nation will compete. These scholarships have a tendency to be more competitive and offer higher amounts of financial support.
• Local Scholarships: Scholarships that are generally offered to students in a specific region or county, which narrows down the applicant pool and competition. 
• Collegiate Scholarships: Scholarships offered a particular institution or by a particular college. These scholarships are usually found on the college or institution's scholarship page.
• Unsubsidized Loans: Interest starts accruing from the time the funds are disbursed and students are responsible for paying back all interest. 
• Subsidized Loans: The federal government pays interest while the student is in school and during the grace period and deferment periods. 

Jobs Board

The Willis High School Jobs Board is located outside room B205 (College & Career Center). If your student is looking for a job, have them stop by! If you are or know a local business that is hiring and would like to post on the Jobs Board, please email tneumann@willisisd.org. 

Academic Opportunities

In Texas (Currently closed for Summer 2024)

• Youth Leadership Academy sponsored by Education for Tomorrow Alliance (rising 10th and 11th grade) DEADLINE TO APPLY 5/1

• SHSU College of Health Sciences Summer Camp (rising 11th and 12th grade) FLYER

• Bearkat STEM Summer Camp at Sam Houston State University (current 9th-12th grade)

• Texas A&M's Texas High School Ideas Challenge (students interested in Business)

• Texas Christian University: Neely Analytics Academy (current 10th-11th grade)

• Texas Tech Engineering Camp (current 9th-11th grade)

• Business Analytics Camp at the Neeley School of Analytics @ TCU - one week, on-campus 

• High School Investor Challenge Program @ TCU - Juniors only, includes one week, on-campus residential, focusing on finance.

• University of Houston Hilton College Summer Camps - 4 day residential camp geared for students interested in hospitality, hotels, restaurants, catering, clubs, casinos and related fields

• University of Texas Computer Science Academies:
  • Academy for Women (free for all students)

  • Academy for All - STEM (free for all students)

  • Academy for Robotics - one week residential

  • Academy for iOS App Development - one week residential

  • Academy for Game Development - one week residential

Outside of Texas

• West Point’s Summer Leaders Experience (SLE) (rising seniors, current 11th grade) Apply Now!

• Columbia University Pre-College Program
• Questbridge College Prep Scholars Program
• US Naval Academy Summer STEM & US Naval Academy Summer Seminar (current 8th-11th grade) 
• Boston University Summer High School Programs (programs for rising 8th-12th grade)
• Cornell University Precollege Studies 
• Norwich University Summer Camps (lots of content area options, online or in-person)
• Penn Summer High School Programs (many options)
• University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis - Health Care Summer Immersion Program 
• Duke University Pre-College Programs (many options)
• Carnegie Mellon University Tech-Based Summer Programs: AI4ALL, Computer Science, and Math & Science Academy (in-person & no cost for those that qualify!) Application Deadline 3/9/2022
• Boston University's Summer Journalism Academy 
• Gettysburg College Summer Programs (many options) 
• Pratt Institute Precollege Summer (Intensive or Explore options) - Sts build their art and design skills, create a portfolio of their work, and explore possibilities for study and employment in creative fields - ongoing applications
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Pre-Collegiate Program - six-week, arts-focused summer residential program for students entering their junior or senior year at one of the most prestigious art schools in the country
• Davidson Institute Summer Programs for Gifted Students' - in-person, residential options for ages 8-16
• Rider University Pre-College Summer Programs:
  • Musical Theater Institute
  • Westminster Organ Institute
  • Composition Week (musical composition)
  • Solo Vocal Artist
  • Game Design
  • Westminster Vocal Institute
• American Musical & Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and AMDA College of Performing Arts:
  • High School Summer Conservatory (online and residential summer arts program in NYC or LA)
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Adult & Youth Summer Art Programs
• Columbia University Pre-College Programs
• The University of Toledo’s Beauty of Science Virtual Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design Summer Camp 

Other Opportunities

• Texas Farm Bureau Student Success Series (open rising 8th grade+)