VSAC events highlight career planning, college financial aid
March 4, 2022 | By Waterbury Roundabout The Vermont Student Assistance Corp. is hosting free online events this Saturday, March 5, and Thursday, March 10, for high school students thinking about college and careers, and those navigating financial aid and college offers.
Saturday: College and Career Pathways fair and workshops
VSAC’s annual College and Career Pathways fair is Saturday, March 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event for high school students and their parents/guardians offers live virtual workshops, tips on free resources, expert advice, and opportunities to meet with local reps from colleges and training programs across the state.
“High school students and parents/guardians, whether you are college-bound, training-bound, or not sure, this event is for you,” said VSAC special events organizer Anna Telensky. “It will help you discover free resources and get expert advice on planning for your next steps after high school.”
College and Career Pathways 2022 workshop topics include: Navigating the Admissions Process; Non-degree Pathways to a Great Career; Exploring MyFutureVT’s Career Resources; Scholarships and Managing College Costs; Supporting Your Teen’s Career Search; and Writing Admission Essays.
The event opens with 30 minutes where participants can connect with some two dozen colleges, training programs, and organizations across Vermont. Each exhibitor will be in a breakout room to chat with participants directly.
The schedule has two workshop sessions; students and parents are asked to register for workshops in advance. All workshops will be recorded and available for viewing online after March 5. Workshops from 2021 are also available for viewing online on the VSAC website.
The event’s website offers a resource page aimed at 10th- and 11th-grade students covering topics to help students and families begin the planning process. It includes short videos and guided reflection exercises.
For more information, call 877-961-4369 or e-mail collegepathways@vsac.org.
Financial aid webinar March 10
On Thursday, March 10, from 6-7 p.m., the “VSAC Shows You How” webinar is aimed at upcoming high school seniors to understand college and post-graduate financial aid offers.
At this time of year, students bound for college and training programs next fall are in various stages of the financial aid application process: Many students have applied to schools and have submitted their financial aid applications, while others are still working on completing all their paperwork.
High school seniors who chose the college route may be anxiously awaiting an acceptance offer or may have already received one. Students typically apply to between two and seven schools. It’s important to compare offers before making a decision and many schools expect a decision and a deposit for next fall by May 1.
Marilyn Cargill, vice president of financial aid services, research, and marketing, is joined by Soren Dews, a VSAC outreach counselor in Chittenden County, for this presentation.
The financial aid experts will explain:
Costs to plan for and the differences between advertised costs and what students might expect to pay (“net costs”).
How schools decide what they estimate students can afford to pay.
The range of financial aid programs available to help maximize aid and minimize borrowing.
Steps needed after submitting financial aid applications while awaiting an answer.
Tools to compare offers and resources to help make a decision
There will also be time for questions. For more information, see the event info or email info@vsac.org.Register here to get all your questions answered by financial aid experts at Vermont Student Assistance Corp. You can also watch from the VSAC Facebook page.
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For more information on college and career planning and help with financial aid, go to www.vsac.org/FAFSAfirst and check out our online workshops and events. You can also give us a call at 800-642-3177, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and online at info@vsac.org.