Counselor's Desk

December 2024

FROM THE COUNSELOR – Mrs. Nelson 

Happy December! Now that we are in the middle of the Holiday season, it is easy to put things on hold.  This is a very important time of year to be preparing for life beyond high school.     Here is a quick look at several items to take note of and put on your calendar.  

College Application Deadlines

Please be aware that college application deadlines vary (i.e. University of Idaho priority deadline is typically December 1 and Lewis-Clark State College priority deadline is March 1).  Check each website to find the deadlines for your students’ college of choice.  It is very important that your child applies for college now.  Students can obtain a transcript request form from my office and submit it to me when they are ready for me to send their transcripts. 

Virtual FAFSA Night

The University of Idaho will be hosting a Virtual Financial Aid Night on Wednesday, December 4 starting at 6:00pm. The main focus of this event is to introduce the FAFSA layout and learn the step-by-step process of creating your FSA ID. For more information and to register for this event, follow this link: https://futurevandals.uidaho.edu/portal/financial-aid-nights 

FAFSA

The FAFSA application will be open by December 1, 2024. This should be completed by March 1, 2025 and usually needs to be completed in order to receive scholarships, grants, work-study and other financial aid from universities.  In order to complete the FAFSA, you will need to create an FSA ID.  You may create your FSA ID now. The link to create an FSA ID is: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch   

FAFSA Night is Monday, January 13, 2025!               

• We will meet in Mr. Stoner’s classroom, Room 229, from 6:00 – 7:00 pm.
• We will have pizza available for dinner.
• There will be a couple of Financial Aide reps. from the University of Idaho present to guide you with the process of filling out the FAFSA and answer any questions.
• Both parent and student will need an FSA ID. Apply for this before you come to FAFSA night. 
• Students should come with parents if possible.  This is something they will need to do for every year of college.
• Please let us know if you and your student will be coming to FAFSA night.  Thank you! 

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. 

Ed Ramsdale Scholarship

Ed Ramsdale was a long-time resident of Troy, ID. He donated money to create a Scholarship fund with the intent of encouraging Troy High School students to continue their education beyond high school. The scholarship money is to be used to assist in educational expenses incurred through the pursuit of a higher education. To receive a full share of the scholarship, students need to attend Troy High School continuously from grade 8-12. Partial scholarships are awarded to students who have not attended school in Troy for the required five years. Applications have been handed out to the students and are due to Mrs. Nelson by Tuesday, November 26. The Ramsdale committee will be meeting in December and May to review scholarship applications and determine award amounts. 

Idaho LAUNCH Program

Initial applications are due by November 30, 2024. The application can be found with this link: https://scholarships.idaho.gov/. The first round of contingent award letters will be sent by December 31, 2024. Students will receive an email with their contingent offer and they will need to follow the steps in order to receive the scholarship. They will need to accept this by January 15, 2025. 

College and Career Choices

For students who are unsure of what their post-secondary plans may be, whether that is selecting a college, a major, or a career training program, they should come visit with me. I have options available to help find a good fit for a career.  Students also have access to Nextsteps.idaho.gov to explore careers.

I hope everyone has a restful holiday season! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Ashley Nelson
Troy High School Counselor