Planning tips for parents
April: Help your student plan for the season ahead.
Parents of seniors: Look for financial aid award letters and continue to update financial aid paperwork.
- In mid-spring your student will begin to receive financial aid award notifications from the colleges to which he or she has been accepted. Each school will contact you with details regarding its individual award. No two awards are alike, so compare them carefully to determine the offer that best meets your family’s financial needs. Make sure you understand all the obligations associated with each type of offer. Call the school’s financial aid office or a VSAC representative if you have any questions. Use VSAC’s Award Letter Comparison Tool (XLS) to help compare your student’s award letters.
- Update your FAFSA as soon as you have completed your 2008 taxes.
- Respond promptly to all requests from colleges and VSAC for additional information. Remember to make copies of all correspondence for your files.
Parents of all high school students: Investigate summer opportunities.
Don’t let your student’s summer become boring! With a little planning now, your student can enjoy opportunities designed specifically for high school students. Opportunities include:
- MedQuest — an intensive week on a VT college campus learning about health care careers and talking to people in the health care profession
- Lake Champlain Maritime Museum — learning opportunities and sailing expeditions
- Volunteers for Peace — international volunteer work camps in the United States or abroad
- Putney School Summer — programs in visual and performing arts, writing, or ESL in an independent and creative environment in Putney, VT
Learn more about summer opportunities in Vermont.
September | October | November | December | January | February | March | April | May | summer
May: Time to help your student plan ahead
Parents of seniors: Finalize financial aid and college arrangements.
- Once your student has chosen a college, notify the college’s admissions office and send back all required documents, including a signed financial aid award letter, if applicable.
- Look for your student’s Vermont Grant eligibility notification to arrive this month. Make sure your student notifies the college if he or she has received a state grant.
- Make loan arrangements. If the college your student will attend suggests a lender other than VSAC, contact VSAC first to find out about our money-saving loan options. We offer federal Stafford loans for students, federal PLUS loans for parents, private education loans that can supplement other forms of financial aid, and some of the best borrower benefits in the nation. VSAC loans can be used at Vermont and out-of-state institutions.
- If your student was not admitted at any of the colleges to which he or she applied, have your student make an appointment with the school counselor immediately to discuss alternate plans.
Parents of all high school students: Investigate summer opportunities.
With a little planning now, your student can enjoy opportunities designed specifically for high school students.
- MedQuest — an intensive week on a Vermont college campus learning about health care careers and talking to people in the health care professions
- Lake Champlain Maritime Museum — learning opportunities and sailing expeditions
- Volunteers for Peace — international volunteer work camps in the United States or abroad
- Putney School Summer — programs in visual and performing arts, writing, or ESL in an independent and creative environment in Putney, Vermont
Learn more about summer opportunities in Vermont.
Summer: Tips for parents of high school students or recent graduates.
Tips for parents of high school students
Keep the brain active.
Help your student stay on track academically by encouraging him or her to exercise the brain during summer break.
- Check out Vermont summer camps that help keep the brain and the body active: www.vermontcamps.org and www.vtliving.com/summercamps.
- Help your student find books of interest. Few things can help boost academic success like reading. Plan a trip to the bookstore or library to find challenging and fun reading material.
- Schedule a summer tutor to provide support and encourage progress during the relatively non-stressful summer months.
Review the school schedule.
Look over your student’s course schedule for the fall to make sure that he or she is taking challenging college prep classes that meet graduation requirements.
Assess the challenges of the past year.
Discuss the past school year with your student. What can be learned from last year to help with the upcoming year? What should he or she do differently or continue to do? Be sure to praise successes and encourage problem solving.
Tips for parents of graduated seniors
Finalize college costs.
Make final decisions about how your family will cover the cost of your student’s college education. Make sure that you understand the advantages and disadvantages of the following payment options:
- federal student loans
- federal PLUS loans
- private loans
- tuition payment plans
Help your student pack for college.
Take advantage of back-to-school sales to help your student pack all the essentials. Don’t forget:
- desk supplies
- laundry supplies (including quarters)
- odds & ends – hangers, extension cords, hammer, clock, and any other useful items.
September: Each year provides new challenges for students. Help them start on the right foot by keeping the following tips in mind.
Monitor academic progress.
- Look over your student’s course schedule to make sure that she is taking challenging, college-prep courses.
- Discuss the course load with your student to ensure that he does not feel overwhelmed.
- Encourage your student to meet with a school counselor to develop a “course map" for high school.
- Monitor your student’s academics. Make sure homework gets done and your child has a good place to study. Don’t assume that someone will contact you if there is a problem; progress reports don’t always make it home.
Encourage participation in extracurricular activities.
Extracurricular clubs and sports keep students involved, help them meet new people, and allow them to learn outside of the classroom. Encourage your student to get involved in outside activities that support her interests.
Get involved. If you are the parent of a junior or senior…
- Attend a VSAC Paying for College night with your student. These presentations help students and their families understand the financial aid process. Ask your school counseling office when VSAC is coming to your school or check out the schedule of Paying for College presentations in high schools throughout the state.
- Encourage your student to start the college exploration process. Programs such as VT Guidance Central help students determine what to look for in a college. VSAC's College Selection Process: Factors to Consider handout (PDF) can help your student compare colleges.
- Help your student get organized. Your student will receive a blizzard of paper during the school year. It is essential that important documents — such as applications and financial aid forms — be kept where you and your student can find them easily. Deadlines can also become overwhelming. Keep track with the VSAC Planning Calendar. It is full of important dates, including registration and test dates for the ACT and SAT, and open house dates for Vermont colleges. E-mail info@vsac.org to obtain a copy. Help us route your message to the right area by including the topic in the subject line of your message.
October: Keep your student on track.
Attend a VSAC workshop.
VSAC offers several FREE workshops on everything from the financial aid process to test preparation for the SAT and ACT.
- Ask your high school's counseling office for the date of VSAC’s Paying for College night at your high school, or view the Paying for College presentation schedule.
- Check out the list of VSAC Resource Center workshops.
Help your student stay on top of college applications.
Applying to college involves an admissions process and a financial aid process. Each requires a series of steps to reach your goal.
- If your student wants to visit colleges this fall, make sure he plans ahead. Interviews with admissions and financial aid staff are always a good idea, but they must be scheduled in advance. Consider scheduling a college visit during the teacher in-service days this month, and read more advice on campus visits.
- Most regular admission college applications are due in January or February. Deadlines for early admission and early decision are sooner. Check with specific schools for exact dates.
- Your student will probably need to write a personal essay and obtain letters of recommendation as part of the application process. Make sure she doesn't wait until the last minute to tackle either of these two requirements!
- VSAC's Scholarships booklet is available online now and will be at your student's high school counseling office by the end of October. Visit VSAC's scholarships page for advice on applying for scholarships and helpful tips.
- Make sure your student is registered for any standardized tests required by the colleges in which he is interested. For information on the tests, registration, dates, cost, and more, visit each test’s Web site.
- ACT Web site
- College Board Web site for the AP exams, SAT, and SAT subject tests
November: Help your student examine test results and plan for improvement.
Look for standardized test score reports.
If your student took the PSAT, the PLAN, the SAT, or the ACT in October, start checking your mail for the score report, which will provide some indication of your student’s college readiness. Before you review the report with your child, check out the section for parents at www.collegeboard.com (for the PSAT and the SAT) and www.actstudent.org (for the PLAN and the ACT). Once you’ve discussed possible next steps with your student, encourage her to meet with her school counselor to plan for the future.
Ask for first quarter report cards.
In many schools, the first quarter ends in November, so a report card should be coming soon. Review your student’s report card with him as soon as possible. How did he do on exams? How can he keep on track or improve in the second quarter?
- Encourage your student to come up with ideas for improvement; ask him to evaluate what helped and what challenged him during the first quarter.
- Contact your student’s teachers for advice and ideas on ways to help your student improve.
- Talk with your student’s school counselor to see if there are tutoring services or study skills classes available.
Attend a VSAC workshop.
VSAC offers several FREE workshops on everything from SAT and ACT test preparation to the financial aid process.
- Ask your school counseling office for the date of VSAC’s Paying for College night at your high school. If you’ve missed the presentation at your local school, consider attending one in a nearby community. View the statewide Paying for College presentation schedule.
- Check out the list of VSAC Resource Center workshops.
Prepare for financial aid paperwork.
- Though you cannot file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) until after January 1st, you can obtain your personal identification number (PIN) now. The PIN is used as an electronic signature on the online FAFSA, and your family will need two — one for you and one for your child. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to obtain your PIN now (it will save you time later!).
- Begin organizing financial information from the 2008 tax year so you can submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. If you cannot include final income figures on the FAFSA, it will help to have gathered information so you can estimate figures; you can submit revised figures after your tax return has been filed.
December: Get organized.
Prepare for financial aid paperwork.
- Your student can begin filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on January 1st. This application is required by colleges to determine your eligibility for many types of financial aid. You’ll need to gather several financial documents from your student’s records and your own. Visit the FAFSA Web site for a list of required financial documents.
- Go to www.pin.ed.gov to obtain a personal identification number (PIN) now — it will save you time later. The PIN is used as an electronic signature on the online FAFSA, and your family will need two — one for you and one for your student.
- Some colleges require the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®. Ask your student’s target colleges whether they need it, and if so, fill it out online at www.collegeboard.com. Fill out the PROFILE only if target colleges require it, since unlike the FAFSA, the PROFILE requires a fee.
Attend a VSAC workshop.
VSAC offers several FREE workshops on everything from SAT and ACT test preparation to the financial aid process.
- Check out the list of VSAC Resource Center workshops.
- Plan to attend VSAC’s 2009 College Pathways conference, a free college planning event for high school juniors and their parents. Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 14 at Saint Michael’s College; Saturday, March 28 at Castleton State College; or Saturday, April 4 at Lyndon State College. Visit www.vsac.org in early February for online registration.
January: Plan for the new year.
Investigate Vermont’s Higher Education Investment Plan (VHEIP).
VHEIP is designed to encourage Vermonters to invest for college or other post-high school programs. You can contribute even small amounts. Favorable tax treatment may help boost the growth of your contributions and earnings. Learn more about VHEIP.
Prepare financial aid paperwork (parents of high school seniors).
- Your student can begin filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on January 1. This application is required by colleges to determine your eligibility for many types of financial aid. You’ll need to gather several financial documents from your student’s records and your own. Visit the FAFSA Web site for a list of required financial documents.
- Go to www.pin.ed.gov to obtain a personal identification number (PIN) now — it will save you time later. The PIN is used as an electronic signature on the online FAFSA, and your family will need two — one for you and one for your student.
- Some colleges require the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®. Ask your student’s target colleges whether they need it, and if so, fill it out online at www.collegeboard.com. Fill out the PROFILE only if target colleges require it, since unlike the FAFSA, the PROFILE requires a fee.
- Obtain a VSAC Scholarships booklet (PDF) online or from your high school counseling office. This booklet is a great financial aid tool, containing information on more than 150 VSAC-assisted scholarships. With only one application for all the scholarships, this booklet is a great financial aid tool.
- Complete the Vermont Incentive Grant application with your student. Any Vermonter who plans to attend college in Vermont or out-of-state, and doesn’t already have a bachelor’s degree, is eligible to apply for the Vermont Incentive Grant.
Attend a VSAC workshop.
VSAC offers several FREE workshops on everything from SAT and ACT test preparation to the financial aid process.
- Check out the list of VSAC Resource Center workshops.
- Plan to attend VSAC’s 2009 College Pathways conference, a free college planning event for high school juniors/sophomores and their parents. Mark your calendars for one of the following dates:
- Saturday, March 14, at Saint Michael’s College
- Saturday, March 28, at Castleton State College
- Saturday, April 4, at Lyndon State College
Visit the College Pathways site in early February for online registration. Register early for the best workshop selection.
February: Encourage your student’s progress.
Investigate Vermont’s Higher Education Investment Plan (VHEIP).
VHEIP is designed to encourage Vermonters to invest for college or other post-high school programs. You can contribute even small amounts. Favorable tax treatment may help boost the growth of your contributions and earnings. Learn more about VHEIP.
Parents of seniors: Continue working on financial aid paperwork.
- Your student can begin filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January 1. This application is required by colleges to determine your student’s eligibility for many types of financial aid. You’ll need to gather several financial documents from your student’s records and your own. Visit the FAFSA Web site for a list of required financial documents.
- If your student has already completed the FAFSA, you should soon receive his/her Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Federal Student Aid Programs by mail or e-mail. Review the SAR for accuracy and follow all instructions. If you need to make corrections, submit them on the FAFSA Web site at www.fafsa.ed.gov or on paper.
- Update your student's FAFSA as soon as your 2008 taxes have been completed.
- Respond promptly to all requests from colleges and VSAC for additional information. Remember to make copies of all correspondence for your files.
- Obtain a VSAC Scholarships booklet (pdf) online or from your high school counseling office. This booklet contains information on more than 150 scholarships. With only one application for all the VSAC-assisted scholarships, this booklet is a great financial aid tool.
Parents of juniors and sophomores: Sign up for College Pathways.
Plan to attend VSAC’s 2009 College Pathways conference, a free college planning event for high school juniors/sophomores and their parents. Mark your calendars for one of the following dates:
- Saturday, March 14, at Saint Michael’s College
- Saturday, March 28, at Castleton State College
- Saturday, April 4, at Lyndon State College
Visit the College Pathways site in early February for online registration. Register early for the best workshop selection.
Use spring break wisely.
Visit college campuses with your student. A visit is one of the best ways to find out if a college is right for your student. Contact colleges for schedules of campus tours and information sessions, and try to arrange overnight visits. Use VSAC's Visiting a College handout (PDF) for tips on how to arrange a visit, things to do on campus, and questions to ask. If you cannot travel, try virtual campus tours at www.ecampustours.com and www.campustours.com.
March: Eyes on the future.
Parents of seniors: Continue working on financial aid paperwork.
Your student can begin filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January 1. This application is required by colleges to determine your student’s eligibility for many types of financial aid. You’ll need to gather several financial documents from your student’s records and your own. Visit the FAFSA Web site for a list of required financial documents, www.fafsa.ed.gov/before003.htm.
- If your student has already completed the FAFSA, you should receive his/her Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Federal Student Aid Programs by mail or e-mail. Review the SAR for accuracy and follow all instructions. If you need to make corrections, submit them on the FAFSA Web site at www.fafsa.ed.gov or on paper.
- Update your student's FAFSA as soon as your taxes have been completed.
- Respond promptly to all requests from colleges and VSAC for additional information. Remember to make copies of all correspondence for your files.
Mid-spring, each college will send your student a financial aid award letter/e-mail (also called an award notification) detailing your student’s financial aid package at that school. No two awards are alike; it’s important to compare them carefully to determine the offer that best meets your family’s needs.
- Call the college’s financial aid office if you have any questions about the types of aid or the amounts awarded.
- Use VSAC’s Award Letter Comparison Tool (XLS)
- If you need additional help comparing award letters, contact VSAC's Customer Relations Department or stop by the VSAC Resource Center in downtown Winooski.
Parents of juniors and sophomores: Sign up for College Pathways.
Plan to attend VSAC’s 2009 College Pathways conference, a free college planning event for high school juniors/sophomores and their parents. Mark your calendars for one of the following dates:
- Saturday, March 14, at Saint Michael’s College
- Saturday, March 28, at Castleton State College
- Saturday, April 4, at Lyndon State College
Visit the College Pathways site for online registration. Register early for the best workshop selection.
Parents of all high school students: Investigate summer opportunities.
Don’t let your student's summer become boring! With a little planning now, your student can enjoy one or more amazing opportunities designed specially for high school students. Opportunities include:
- MedQuest — Spend an intensive week on a VT college campus learning about health care careers and talking to people in the health care profession.
- Lake Champlain Maritime Museum — Enjoy learning opportunities and sailing expeditions.
- Volunteers for Peace — Join an international volunteer work camp in the United States or abroad.
- Putney School Summer Programs — Pursue an interest in visual and performing arts, writing, ESL, or farming, sustainability, & horsemanship in an independent and creative environment in Putney, VT.
Learn more about summer opportunities for Vermont students.
