What is Talent Search?

Talent Search is a federally funded program through the U.S. Department of Education. We are hosted at Western Carolina University. The Talent Search program identifies and assists individuals, many of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds, who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to the post secondary school of their choice.

Talent Search also serves high school dropouts by encouraging them to reenter school and complete their education. Our goal is to assist students from this area by enrolling them into the post secondary educational institution of their choice. Services include tutorial services, career exploration and interest assessment, classroom workshops, assistance with financial aid forms and college applications, and providing information on post secondary institutions. ETS serves low-income, first-generation college students.

How do I enroll? Easy. Call us for an application. We are limited to 900 spots and they fill quickly, however we enroll about 120 new students each year in September.

Some Facts:

Nearly one-third of all low-income high school graduates who enrolled in college have been served by a TRIO program

Students from families with incomes below $22,000 have only a 4% chance of completing college.

Students from families with incomes over $72,000 have a 53% chance of graduating from college

More than 75% of Talent Search students enroll in a program of post secondary education.

The Talent Search program at WCU serves 900 students in 11 target schools here in the western counties of N.C. and the Qualla Boundary.

Sixty six percent (66%) of Talent Search participants will meet the economic and first generation guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Education for Talent Search programs.

More than 95% of Talent Search students graduate from high school.

More than 95% of Talent Search students receive help with college application procedures.

More than 95% of Talent Search students receive help applying for Federal Financial Aid with the FAFSA.

Most students are enrolled in Talent Search in the 6th or 7th grade and remain in the program through their graduation from high school.

There are more than 300 ETS programs nationwide serving more than 280,000 students.