Counselor's Desk

FROM THE COUNSELOR – Mrs. Nelson                                                                                                                                                              November 2026

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.

• 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.

   

• 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, 2027.  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, 2026. 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. 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 senior students wish to retake the SAT they need to do so as soon as possible and register on their own. If students wish to retake the SAT, they will have to pay for the test

      on their own unless they qualify for a fee waiver. If they pay for the test on their own,

      there are Advanced Opportunities funds available to use. Please reach out to Mrs. Nelson on how to claim this. SAT retakes are not available to be taken at the high

      school. October is the recommended last time seniors should take college entrance

      exams so there is time for the scores to reach the colleges before their priority deadlines.  Registration and other information about the SAT can be found at https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat?navId=gh-sat

       

    • Virtual FAFSA Help: November 5 and 23 @ 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

       

      • LCSC College & Career Application Support Night – November 5, 3:00-7:00pm LCSC is sponsoring an event at the William Conference Center that will offer hands-on assistance with Apply Idaho, Scholarship Idaho, FAFSA, and Idaho LAUNCH.

        If you plan to attend, students will need to bring their own computers, as on-site computer availability is limited. Financial aid and admissions representatives will be

        available at both locations to answer questions and assist with applications. The Idaho

        LAUNCH team will also attend both events to help with all things LAUNCH.

         

    • Discovery Day at Lewis-Clark State College – November 6 and 14

      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

       

    • LCSC Health Professions Day: November 13

      Hear from LC State Alumni who are experienced professionals in various healthcare
      careers, get hands-on experiences and simulations in our healthcare laboratory spaces,
      and connect with LC State faculty to be inspired in the healthcare field. For more
      information and registration link: https://www.lcsc.edu/visit/events/health-professions-
      day?_eid=66da0f1342a0aadeec08cc20

       

      • 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