Year By Year
We will share information in the tabs below that is relevant for each year. If you have any questions, please contact your counselor. For a general sense of what you should be focusing on each year of high school, take a look at High School Year-by-Year: A Guide for Parents and Students.
Quick Links
Direct Admission Next Steps
Admitted to UW colleges through the Direct Admit Wisconsin program? You should have received a letter in the mail in August telling you which universities you were admitted to. Here are your next steps:
1. Decide which of the schools you are interested in and would like more information from.
2. Fill out the Direct Admit Form, found on this website, which lets the colleges know of your interest in their offer. This DOES NOT commit you to going, just lets them communicate with you. Here is a video that walks you through the process.
3. Explore the UW universities to find which one(s) might be the best fit for you.
4. Pay attention to deadlines - the direct admit form does not necessarily connect you to their scholarship process. Go to the Financial Aid and Scholarship sections of their websites to find out the details about scholarships, and pay attention to the information they might send you via email.
5. Complete the FAFSA, which will be available starting Dec 1. Make sure to include the colleges you are interested in so they can put together a financial aid package for you.
6. Make your final decision and let the college know by May 1 via the enrollment process they have given you to follow.
If at any point in the process, if you have questions, go see your school counselor!
Senior Parent Night
Senior Parent Night was held on September 11, 2024 in the Xavier Theatre. If you were unable to attend, you can find the information shared below. Please take a look, and if you have any questions you can reach out to your student's counselor.
College Interview Tips
Whether you are meeting with a college counselor on his/her campus or in the Counseling Suite at Xavier, you'll want to make a good impression. The following articles from College Admissions Strategies share some things to keep in mind as you meet college reps on your way to choosing the college or university that's right for you.
Additional Info for Seniors
Campus Visits
Able to visit a campus in person? Watch this video for tips on what to look for while you're there.
Difficult Decisions
Deciding where to go to college can be difficult. Try using this College Comparison Worksheet to evaluate and compare each school in several areas, such as academics, admissions, campus environment, student body, cost, financial aid, etc. Here is another comparison worksheet - choose the one that works best for you!
The Wisconsin Guarantee
The Wisconsin Guarantee offers guaranteed admission to all Universities of Wisconsin (UW) universities for all who qualify. First-year applicants from Wisconsin high schools who are in the top 10% of their class at the end of 11th grade, or Wisconsin residents who are homeschooled and receive an ACT score in the national 90th percentile ranking or higher, or are a National Merit Scholarship finalist will be guaranteed to all UW universities except UW-Madison.
Additionally, first-year applicants from Wisconsin high schools who are in the top 5% of their class at the end of 11th grade, or Wisconsin residents who are homeschooled and receive an ACT score in the national 98th percentile ranking or higher or are a National Merit Scholarship finalist will be guaranteed admission to UW-Madison provided that they apply on or before the Early Action deadline.
How does the Wisconsin Guarantee differ from Direct Admit WI or traditional applications? View the chart available on this page: https://www.wisconsin.edu/wisconsin-guarantee/. And if you have questions, please contact your counselor.
Direct Admit Wisconsin Admissions Process
Please note: the following information was emailed to junior parents on 03.19.2024.
The Universities of Wisconsin are rolling out a new admissions process called Direct Admit Wisconsin that will begin with the class of 2025. Participating universities will proactively admit Wisconsin high school students who have opted in. Xavier High School, along with the other high schools in the Green Bay Diocese and over 200 public school districts across Wisconsin, have collaborated with this program to create a more seamless and accessible college admissions process. Students opting into this program will not need to apply to the participating universities through the traditional admissions process.
Based on a review of your student’s 11th grade transcript (grade point average, math coursework, progression towards graduation), you and your student will be notified in July regarding which UWs are providing them guaranteed direct admission, and the next steps they are to take to learn more about enrolling within the Universities of Wisconsin. Students will need to ensure that the universities that have offered admission have the programs of study they wish to pursue. Admission is to the university alone, not to specific programs within each admitting institution. Students may need to complete other admissions criteria if wishing to apply to specific programs (ex: programs that need a portfolio or audition). Participating in the Direct Admit Wisconsin program does not commit your student to attending the Universities of Wisconsin.
To facilitate the administration of this program, we have the following data-sharing agreement with the Universities of Wisconsin: Name, WiseID (WI enrollment ID), Local Student District ID, contact information, legal sex, race/ethnicity, GPA, and high school transcripts. With the exception of theWiseID and the local district ID, all of these items are things that the student would have had to enter on their UW system application.
Participating UW Universities
- UW-Green Bay
- UW-Milwaukee
- UW-Oshkosh
- UW-Parkside
- UW-Platteville
- UW-River Falls
- UW-Stevens Point
- UW-Stout
- UW-Superior
- UW-Whitewater.
For further information on Direct Admit Wisconsin, please see the following FAQ.
The deadline to indicate your choice to participate in this program is May 1st, 2025. We are asking that EVERY family respond by filling out this Google form, letting us know of your decision to participate or decline.
Questions? Please contact any of the following members of the administration team:
Matthew Parish
Kim Hammen
Lori Schuh
Carie Kollat
We are excited to be offering this new opportunity to our students!
Helpful Handouts for Your College Search
Check out these helpful handouts on college visits and finding the right fit when searching for your future school.
College Interview Tips
Whether you are meeting with a college counselor on his/her campus or in the Counseling Suite at Xavier, you'll want to make a good impression. The following articles from College Admissions Strategies share some things to keep in mind as you meet college reps on your way to choosing the college or university that's right for you.
Campus Visits
Able to visit a campus in person? Watch this video for tips on what to look for while you're there.
Youth Apprenticeship Meeting Recording: Info for Parents
If your student recently attended an informational meeting about Youth Apprenticeship, they may have brought information home, including something about an online information night that was on February 1st. In case you did not see that information, or were not able to attend, we have a link to the recording for you. Visit the Youth Apprenticeship page for more information.
ACT Prep Classes
Need some help studying for the ACT? Check out these classes scheduled before each test date in the coming school year. Questions? Ask Mrs. Jones!
Sophomore Parent Conferences
Sophomore parents and guardians should look for a letter in their mail about the meeting that will occur with you, your child, and your child’s counselor. In this conference, which is tailored to address the needs of students at the midpoint of high school, we will discuss your child’s talents, educational development, and career interests. We will also share information helpful in your planning for the rest of high school, including graduation requirements, standardized testing, course selection, and post-secondary options. The conferences generally last 45 to 60 minutes and occur during the school day. Your involvement is very important and we hope for 100% participation by the parents/guardians of our current sophomores.
You will receive the letter in late January with details about scheduling your conference during the second semester. We look forward to seeing you.
PreACT Results
PreACT assessments are done in October, and results are handed out at the end of term 2 or beginning of term 3 as counselors meet with sophomores in classroom visits regarding registration for next year's classes. Here is a helpful guide on “Using Your PreACT Results” for you to refer to once you receive your results.
Parents of Current Freshmen
01.25.2024
Parents of current freshmen, here is information about helping your students register for their sophomore year courses. An email was sent to you that included the course selection sheet. After watching the videos below, please feel free to reach out to your student's counselor with any questions you may have. The deadline to register for classes is February 12th.
(Last names beginning with)
A-H Mrs Schuh
I-M Mrs Hammen
N-Z Mr Neiswender
PreACT Results
Your PreACT results are being handed out as counselors meet with you in classroom visits regarding registration for next year's classes. Here is a helpful guide on Using Your PreACT Results for you to refer to once you receive your results.
- Using Your PreACT 8/9 Results (English)
Incoming Freshman Registration
Information regarding registration for incoming freshmen for the 2025-2026 school year will be posted in January.
This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.