November 2025 FROM THE COUNSELOR – Mrs. Nelson Now that Quarter One has ended, it is important to make sure students are preparing for next year. Here are some important dates and deadlines to be aware of and a quick look at several items to take note of and put on your calendar. - Virtual FAFSA Help: November 19 @ 6:00pm
The University of Idaho is hosting free FAFSA workshops that you can attend virtually. Even if you are not attending the UofI but plan to fill out the FAFSA for a different college, it may be helpful to attend to get help navigating the FAFSA form and financial aid process. To register, use this link: https://futurevandals.uidaho.edu/portal/financial-aid-nights - College Visits
Admissions Representatives from Lewis-Clark State College, University of Idaho, Boise State University and Idaho State University have been coming throughout the first few months to visit with students. If your student is hoping to attend a different school then one mentioned above, November would be a good time to reach out to those interested schools and schedule a visit. - Discovery Day at Lewis-Clark State College – Friday, November 7 & 15, 2025
Join LCSC to see what the Warrior Way is all about! Meet fellow future Warriors, talk with professors, explore campus, learn more about programs students are interested in, and discover everything LC State has to offer! For more information and to sign up, follow this link: https://www.lcsc.edu/visit/events/discovery-day - College Application Deadlines
Please be aware that college application deadlines vary. For example, Lewis-Clark State College has a financial aid priority deadline of March 1, 2026. Check each college website to find the deadlines for your college of choice. - Single Application to Idaho Public Colleges:
Apply Idaho opened on October 1st, 2025. It allows Idaho students to submit a free application to 10 in-state public colleges and universities. Students can utilize 8th hour (the last 89 minutes of school on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and zero hour (the first 20 minutes of the day, Monday-Friday) to work on college applications and/or post-secondary plans. Here is the link to use Apply Idaho: https://apply.nextsteps.idaho.gov/Account/Login Students can also utilize the Common App (https://www.commonapp.org/) or a college/universities direct website to apply. - Scholarships
Current scholarship lists are now available and are posted in Mrs. Nelson’s office and Mrs. Burch’s classroom and will be sent digitally to each student. Please encourage your student to check monthly for an updated list. Scholarship information can also be found online at the school website https://ths.troysd287.org/counselordesk in the Academics section under “Counselor’s Desk.” The scholarship list is attached to this email and is also sent in an email to the students. - Scholarship Application Time
Students can utilize 8th hour (the last 89 minutes of school on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and zero hour (the first 20 minutes of the day, Monday-Friday) to work on scholarship applications and post-secondary plans. Please check with your student to see if they are using this time wisely to prepare for the coming year. - Video Resource: Scholarship Idaho & LAUNCH Applications, Next Steps Idaho & Career Pathway Plans
This video walks students through how to make an account on Scholarship Idaho and how to complete a LAUNCH application on the platform: Scholarship Idaho LAUNCH Application.mp4 This video walks students through how to make an account on Next Steps Idaho and how to complete the LAUNCH Career Pathway Plan: Next Steps Idaho Account Creation and LAUNCH Bundle.mp4 - SAT for Seniors
If students need to take or retake the SAT assessment, it is given every couple of months. For the SAT, you can find more information at https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat. For student’s expecting to continue their higher education Fall 2026, these tests need to be completed sooner rather than later. - Doc for a Day: December 6 (Registration closes November 25)
Students in grades 7-12 can participate in this free event and learn about the pathway to becoming a physician. They will learn the different specialties in medicine while practicing hands-on skills like ultrasound, physical exam, and suturing.
- Not interested in college? Looking for resources for next steps for a career? Here are some ideas/resources to look at:
- O*NET Interest Profiler (https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip): This is a free website that helps you explore jobs. You can look up what different careers do, what skills and education they need, how much they usually pay, and whether those jobs are growing. You can take an interest survey and it will suggest careers that might be a good fit for your personality, strengths, and interests. - CareerOneStop Career Explorer (https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/explore-careers.aspx?frd=true): This is a free tool from the U.S. Department of Labor. It will answer questions about your skills, interests, and experience, and it matches you with careers that might fit you. This will also connect you with local training programs, apprenticeships, and job openings. - Idaho Works (https://idahoworks.gov/): Explore jobs, resumes, or training programs in our area - Idaho Dept. of Labor (https://www.labor.idaho.gov/): Explore jobs, job training opportunities, career exploration, and more - NextSteps Idaho (https://nextsteps.idaho.gov/browse-careers/intro): Use this interactive search tool to research careers. Filter through hundreds of jobs according to industry demand, wages, job descriptions, and training/education requirements.
Ashley Nelson
Troy School District Counselor |
Troy Junior / Senior High School is dedicated to the empowerment of students to become responsible and productive members of society through education for a lifetime. PRIDE HONOR TRADITION |
