Educational Talent Search (ETS) at UC Davis is a federally funded program managed by the U.S. Department of Education. Its objective is to encourage and assist middle school and high school students from low-income families pursue a post-secondary education.

History of the Federal Program

ETS is one of eight TRIO programs that were authorized by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 in response to President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty. Over 1,200 colleges, universities, community colleges and agencies now offer TRIO Programs in America. There are more than 475 ETS programs in the U.S. serving more than 389,000 students.

Federal TRIO Programs provide outreach and support programs to help low-income, first-generation college students progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs. Get a more in-depth explanation and understanding of TRIO programs at the federal government’s TRIO website.

History of our UC Davis Program

In 1994, UC Davis ETS began providing services to students from local middle and high schools in Sacramento, Yolo and Solano counties. UC Davis ETS now serves 1,700 students annually.

ETS serves students in grades 8 through 12. ETS identifies and assists students from disadvantaged backgrounds and communities who have the potential to succeed in higher education. In addition to counseling, participants receive information about college admissions requirements, scholarships and various student financial aid programs. ETS helps students from families where neither parent graduated from college to better understand their educational opportunities and options.

TRIO and ETS’ goals can be summarized as a pledge to provide educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, economic or ethnic backgrounds.