Education 
Alternatives to Getting a High School Degree
I'm not sure what I want to do...
High School
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Make graduating from high school one of your biggest priorities. Talk to your school counselor about what courses you need to graduate. You must also earn a high enough grade point average to graduate. Graduating from high school will open doors for you and is well worth your time and effort.
Alternatives to getting a high school degree
If you are out of high school or never received your high school degree, it’s not too late. Call the University of Wisconsin System HELP office at 1-800-442-6459 to speak with an advisor.
One option is to receive your General Educational Development (GED). The GED is an “equivalency certificate” that some, but not all, colleges and employers treat the same as a high school diploma. You are required to pass a series of tests in five academic subjects to receive your GED. Learn more about the GED and take practice tests by clicking here. The YWCA of Greater Milwaukee Community Adult Learning Lab offers a GED program, which is free and open to the public.
If you are over 18 and would rather get your high school diploma than GED, try the Adult High School Program at MATC.
“I’m not sure what I want to do…”
If you don’t know what you want to do once you graduate from high school or college, you are not alone—most people don’t know! The key is to discover your interests and the things you are good at.No matter what age you are, you can start exploring school and career options now. Tell your case manager about some careers or jobs that interest you, and see if he or she can connect you with individuals in those fields. The Kids Matter staff may be able to connect you with caring adults, too – call us at 414-344-1220.
Preparing for College
Most foster youth want to go to college, but many never attend. Foster youth who do not attend college have higher rates of unemployment, homelessness, and incarceration than those who were never placed in foster care.
Preparing early is the best way to achieve your dreams of going to college.If you’re in middle school, start talking with your school counselors now and develop an education plan. Find out what courses you should take once you are in high school to prepare for college. You might even be able to enroll in pre-college courses right now.
If you’re in high school, meet with your counselor every semester and make sure you’re registering for college-bound courses. Start making lists of the colleges you want to apply to and get in touch with admissions officers from these colleges. You can go to the colleges’ websites to find out information about the schools. Most colleges allow you to schedule visits or talk with current students. You can also request brochures on the websites.
It will also help if you become involved in activities that interest you, such as clubs or volunteer work. Extracurricular activities are fun and look good on college applications, but don’t go overboard. One or two activities may be enough. The most important thing to concentrate on is your school work. Get the best grades you can and consider tutoring programs offered through your school or in your community, or call the Kids Matter staff at (414) 344-1220 for help finding a tutoring program.
Types of Colleges and Degrees
You can get a bachelor’s (four-year or undergraduate) degree from most state and private universities and some community colleges. Bachelor’s degrees are available in many subjects,
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On average, people with college degrees will earn more than those who only finish high school. It may cost money now, but higher education is worth it later in life. |
If you think you might want to attend law or medical school, you’ll need a Bachelor’s degree first. Some graduate programs require specific majors.
You might also want to consider starting at a community college and transferring to a larger university after a year or two.Another option is technical college or vocational school. These types of schools emphasize skills and hands-on learning over academics. You can usually earn an associate’s degree from technical or vocational schools in two years. You can get an associate’s degree in fields like computers and technology, nursing, and child care. Depending on the type of work you want to do, some employers require a Bachelor’s degree, but Associate’s degrees can provide great opportunities. Check with your counselor to see what he or she recommends, and learn more about technical schools by visiting WItechcolleges.com or by calling (800) 320-8324.
Applying to college
The first step to applying is taking the ACT or SAT. The ACT and SAT are standardized admissions tests most colleges require. Find out which test the schools you are interested in accept. Most students take the ACT or SAT during their junior year, but you should start preparing your freshman or sophomore year.
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Jerome works on the computer. Jerome graduated from high school in 2008. |
If you don’t get the scores you want the first time, you can take the ACT or SAT again, but remember that the tests cost money. You have to pay each time you take them, and you can’t get your money back if you don’t like your scores. Find out from your school guidance counselor if you are eligible for a fee waiver, or ask your case manager for assistance with payment.
At Collegeboard.com, you can find more information on the SAT and ACT. You can also learn more about the ACT at ACTstudent.org. For FREE classes on the ACT in Milwaukee click here.
After you take the ACT or SAT, it’s time to start thinking about which colleges you are interested in. You’ll want to apply to a few “dream schools” (your top choices) and a few “safety schools” (schools you have a good chance of getting into based on your grade point average and ACT or SAT scores). Your counselor can help you come up with a list.
More Resources
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It usually costs money to apply to college, but as a foster child you often won’t have to pay if you request a fee waiver from the school and provide documentation that proves you are a foster child (your case manager can provide you with this documentation). Call each school before you send in your applications and ask about the fee waiver process.
College Preparatory and Pre-College Programs
Upward Bound
Upward Bound is a pre-college academic achievement program designed to help students develop the motivation and skills that are required to graduate from high school and successfully complete a college degree. Call (414) 229-5399 or (414) 229-6799 for more information.
Goals of Upward Bound:- To improve academic skills by getting tutored and earning money for your progress.
- To teach effective study strategies
- Explore career choices Students are recruited for Upward Bound during their freshman or sophomore year of high school.
You must have a 2.0 or higher to be accepted or have potential to succeed in the program.
Talent Search
Talent Search identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have potential to succeed in higher education. The program focuses on post-secondary dropouts and high school students to help them get a G.E.D. and/ or reenter the education system and complete their education. Call (414) 229-4162 for more information.
Goals of Talent Search:
- To increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in the post secondary education institution of their choice. Students are recruited for UWM Talent Search from the Target Schools during September and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You must have a 2.0 or higher to be accepted in the program or must show potential to succeed in the program. No fee charged.
Upward Bound Math & Science
Upward Bound Math & Science is academic support pre-college program. The program works
Youth Advisory Council President Jonathan Boyd talks about the importance of planning for life after foster care. |
Goals of Upward Bound Math & Science:
- To improve academic skills during the school year.
- Career exploration
- Assistance with college admissions etc…
Future Success Program
Future Success Program You must be enrolled in the 8th-11th grade at time of application and must have a 2.0 or higher to register. In order to be eligible for the DPI Scholarship students will have to eligible for free or reduced lunch. Students are recruited for the future Success Program throughout the school year. The best time to apply is in January. For more information call (414) 229-5940. No fee charged.
SES Free Tutoring
SES Free Tutoringis a no-cost tutoring program offered at seven MPS High Schools. The tutoring program helps students with their homework and offer help on college assistance. As a participant in SES Tutoring you are given a free laptop computer.
The following High Schools offer this:
- Vincent High School
- Custer High School
- Bay View High School
- HR Educational Complex
- Metropolitan High School
- Pulaski High School
Talk to your guidance counselor for more information or visit MPS webpage. No fee charged.
Financial Aid and Paying for College
You’ve taken the SAT or ACT, sent out your applications, and have been accepted to college—now what? You’re probably wondering how to pay for your education. As a current or former foster youth, there is scholarship money available to help you. Everyone who plans to attend college must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Before filing your FAFSA, you will need a Personal Identification Number (PIN), which you can get by going to http://www.pin.ed.gov. Once you get your PIN, go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov to file your FAFSA.You can call 1-800-433-3243 for help filling out the online FAFSA forms or to request paper forms. If you are in foster care or have “aged out” of the system, you are considered an “Independent Student” and can skip the “Parental Income Information” section on the FAFSA application. Claiming yourself as independent is very important – it will help you get more financial aid! You will need to obtain a letter from your county (the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare for Milwaukee residents) confirming that you are or will be in court-ordered foster care on your 18th birthday. Your case manager will help you with that.
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There are scholarships and grants specifically available to help former foster youth pay for higher education. If you have been in court-ordered foster care in Wisconsin with a relative, foster home, group home, or residential care center for at least six (6) months after your 15th birthday, you may be eligible for a scholarship from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF). You are also eligible if you were in foster care outside of Wisconsin but become a Wisconsin resident before you enter college. You can get up to $5,000 every year from DCF while you are in school, until you turn 21. If you are in school when you turn 21, you may be eligible for additional money until you turn 23.
The DCF Scholarship can be used only for tuition, fees, and book money. It does not require you to participate in Wisconsin’s Independent Living Program. Download an application by clicking here.
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Online financial aid and scholarship help
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Another program, the Education and Training Voucher (ETV), requires participation in your county’s independent living program but is a more flexible funding source. ETV funds may be used for tuition, fees, books, transportation to school, housing, child care, uniforms, or testing fees. To apply, submit a written educational plan and budget to your county independent living coordinator. In Milwaukee, Lad Lake currently accepts and evaluates applications for ETV scholarship funds. You can call Lad Lake (414-332-2690) with questions about submitting an educational plan and budget.
Please note that the total award you can receive from the DCF and ETV scholarship programs combined is $5,000 per academic year.
Both the ETV and DCF scholarships can be used at any accredited private or public college or university, technical college, or vocational program in the United States. If you have questions about either scholarship and are located in Milwaukee County, call Mary Kennedy, Program Coordinator for the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, at 414-220-7035, or Lance Jones at Kids Matter, 414-344-1220. If you are from another Wisconsin county, call Christine Lenske, Independent Living Coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, at 1-608- 267-7287. Or contact your county Independent Living Coordinator (click her for a list by county/tribe).
*Thanks to our Earn and Learn summer office assistant Jennifer W. for her research on pre-college programs in Milwaukee.
Kids Matter Inc. 2010
URL: KidsMatterInc.org
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