VSAC Shows You How to Compare Financial Aid Offers

WINOOSKI – Join the Vermont Student Assistance Corp. (VSAC) on Thursday, March 10 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. for the next VSAC Shows You How webinar to help you better the financial aid offers you get from colleges — and how to take action if needed so you don’t miss a step.

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. Marilyn Cargill, vice president of financial aid services, research, and marketing, is joined by Soren Dews, a VSAC outreach counselor in Chittenden County, to walk you through the process.

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. You’ll want to compare all your offers before making a decision. Because many colleges expect a deposit for the coming school year by May 1, this time of year includes some tough thinking.

It’s a hectic, exciting — and, yes, nerve-racking — time while families wait for schools to make admissions and financial aid decisions.

Our financial aid experts will explain:

• the costs you’ll need to plan for and the differences between advertised costs and what students might expect to pay (“net costs”).
• how schools decide what they estimate you can afford to pay.
• the range of financial aid programs available to help you maximize every free dollar you can get (called “gift aid”) and minimize your need to borrow (in education loans).
• the steps you may need to take after you submit your financial aid applications (while you wait for your financial aid offer to arrive).
• tools to use to compare your offers and resources to help you make your decision

Then, we’ll turn things over to you to ask your questions. We know you have a lot of them.

For more information, see the event info or email info@vsac.org.

For more information, email info@vsac.org.

Reminder: College & Career Pathways workshops on Saturday, March 5

If you have a high school student in your life who’s looking for guidance on college or professional training options, this Saturday’s College & Career Pathways event will put your family in touch with dozens of local experts, essential resources, and some of Vermont’s best-known postsecondary programs. And you won’t even have to leave your living room to attend. 

The virtual event, called College & Career Pathways, takes one of VSAC’s highest-attended informational events to a Zoom format. On Saturday, March 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., participants can learn about scholarships and the FAFSA process from VSAC’s financial-aid expert, get free last-minute SAT tips from a professional test-prep tutor, and connect with representatives from schools they may be interested in attending. Neurodiverse students will also find two brand-new workshops focused on opportunities for students with learning difficulties, developmental disabilities, and autism. 

Students and parents are asked to register for workshops in advance. For details and registration, visit https://www.vsac.org/plan/college-career-pathways.

If more than two workshop topics appeal to you, or if you’re unable to attend, the entire event will be recorded and available for viewing online after March 5. Workshops from 2021 are also available for viewing on the College and Career Pathways website.  www.vsac.org/plan/college-career-pathways. 

College & Career Pathways is funded by VSAC; Vermont State GEAR UP, a federally funded program; and the J. Warren and Lois McClure Foundation. 

For 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.