Guidance Department
NEW: Scholarship for Seniors! Due May 1st: Winona Smith Scholarship
Three scholarships, in the amount of $2,000 this year, were established to honor Winona Smith, a leader and a long time member of the League of Women Voters of Vermont, who devoted her energies to ensuring that Vermont students receive the best possible education. The awards are presented to a Vermont resident in his or her senior year of high school who has demonstrated an interest in civic participation and community service, who has a stated need for financial aid, and who is highly recommended by a teacher or mentor.
More information here: https://lwvofvt.org/winona-smith-scholarship/
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NEW: Scholarship for Seniors! Due April 16th: Vermont Golf Association Scholarship. Requirements are:
- A resident of the State of Vermont and graduating from high school
- Enrolled in, or accepted as a full-time student at a college, university or technical school of university grade
- Have a current and active affiliation with the game of golf such as competing on a golf team, working at a golf course, and/or participating in golf programs or events
Apply Here
NEW: American Legion Auxiliary Green Mountain Girls State June 23-28, 2024
Champlain’s Pre-College Summer Programs offer academically rigorous residential summer programs for high school students interested in getting hands-on experience and developing tangible skills in some of our most exciting areas of study - all while getting a taste of what it's like to live and learn on our gorgeous campus. Now’s the time to explore these exciting options. Registration is open and space is limited!
Animation Academy
Art & Design Portfolio Course
Audio Engineering, Sound Design & Music Academy
Biotech Academy
Champlain Game Academy
Creative AI Academy
Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics Academy
Digital Media Production Academy
Filmmaking Exploration Academy
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Students can explore different career paths and majors, live on a university campus, and challenge themselves with Rochester’s Pre-College Programs. Our summer programs give students the freedom to experience Rochester’s unique curriculum and join others from around the world. Pre-College Programs not only give students a taste of the college experience, but they also introduce them to unique perspectives, cultures, and ways of thinking about the world.
Learn more about our programs:
Contact us at (585) 275-3221 or precollege@rochester.edu
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Cancer Unwrapped Teen Writing Contest is open for 2024! Cancer Unwrapped is a writing contest for any teen around the country touched by cancer. I'm reaching out to counselors/educators in Vermont high schools in an effort to ensure any teen touched to cancer is aware of our contest. The attached flyer includes a QR code to post at your school or forward via email or social media to anyone in your area that has contact with teens. This annual event encourages teens in grades 9-12 to write about their experience with cancer for the opportunity to win one of several $1,000 prizes. The deadline for entries is March 1, 2024. I appreciate your consideration!
Our goal is to make sure any teen in the US touched by cancer has access to the contest information. Cancer Pathways also has a Cancer Prevention online program for high school students, and a Cancer Pathways Teen Hub that describes our teen programs including Student Ambassadors, Teen Cancer Education and support groups.
Norwich University is offering a virtual webinar as an opportunity to share about their Early College Program, including some updates on the application process. Everyone, including students, family members, school staff, is welcome to attend!
Registration is required in order to get the meeting link. You can find more information about Flexible Pathways at NU and the event here: Flexible Pathways | Norwich University - On Campus
Please note that students who have already been accepted are welcome to come, but they will have a specific event for accepted Early College Program students in April/May.
Senior Scholarship from Vermont Federal Credit Union
Visit Sterling College in Craftsbury, Vermont
February Open House
Saturday February 17th 2024
Sterling College's Winter Open House on February 17th invites visitors to experience the enchanting winter wonderland of Vermont. It's part of our commitment to showcasing our campus in every season, highlighting the adaptability of our environmentally focused education. Guided tours, workshops inside and out as well as one on one interactions with Faculty offer a taste of Sterling's immersive learning.
- Take a hands on mini class with Sterling College Faculty
- Eat some Vermont-made foods at Sterling’s top-rated farm-to-table dining hall
- Meet current Sterling students and make new friends!
- Engage with the beautiful Vermont scenery!
Link to sign up here
For 9th-10th-11th Graders: The Governor's Institutes of Vermont (GIV) will host a presentation about their Summer 2024 session during Solon Block on Friday, February 16! Please email Diana (dianakoliander@mpsvt.org) if you want to be signed up.
Introduction to GIV
The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont creates life-changing learning experiences on college campuses for Vermont high school students. Each Institute is an adventure that focuses on a topic and offers an in-depth experience built around learning, interacting, and sharing. Students live on a college campus and have access to all the resources the college provides, including state-of-the-art labs and studios, all tailored to a student’s passions. Each Institute offers a unique, collaborative and hands-on experience bursting with creative learning and boundless fun! Students can attend for as little as $10. Learn more at GIV.org.
GIV Applications 2024
The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont (GIV) is now accepting applications for the 2024 offerings of their residential summer programs. Passionate and curious Vermont 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students are invited to apply for the learning adventure of a lifetime!
GIV Institutes take place on Vermont college campuses and give their attendees the opportunity to dive deep into a topic of interest for an intensive 1-2 weeks. Each Institute is focused around a career-oriented topic including Arts, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Science & Technology, Global Issues & Youth Action, Health & Medicine, Mathematical Sciences, and Technology & Design.
At GIV, students learn from industry professionals, participate in hands-on projects, and explore career options; all while having fun and making friends! These programs are designed to be affordable to all Vermont families with a sliding scale tuition that allows students to attend for as little as $10.
“GIV was a catalyst for ongoing personal and collective growth,” said GIV Alum Pankti Desai, who attended the 2023 Global Issues & Youth Action Institute. “It provided not only an educational platform, but also connected me with invaluable individuals who have become my collaborators, mentors and friends.”
Last summer was one of GIV’s biggest years ever, welcoming almost 500 students from 80 different schools across Vermont. This past year, GIV celebrated its 40th Anniversary by commemorating over 13,000 alumni who have attended a GIV Institute and gone on to do incredible things.
To learn more about GIV’s 2024 Summer Institutes, please visit https://giv.org or email
hello@giv.org with any questions. Students can visit www.giv.org/apply to fill out a simple application before the deadline on March 31st, 2024.
Topic: How Can We Increase Hope For Our School? Prepare and deliver a five-minute speech which relates this topic to your life, school and Rotary Values. More information and Registration form HERE.
Round One is Noon-1:00 pm on Monday, February 12, 2024 at City Hall.
Free Tuition Guarantee with Vermont State University!
Beginning in the fall semester of 2024, qualified Vermont residents can attend Vermont State University tuition free! Who is eligible? How do students apply? What are further requirements for eligibility? * The Vermont State University Free Tuition Guarantee covers standard program tuition only. Program tuition for Engineering and Technology; Nursing and Respiratory Therapy; and Dental and Radiologic is not covered by this program. Please connect with any questions. We look forward to continuing to work with you and your Vermont scholars!
Delivering high quality and affordable education is our number one priority. With locations spanning across the entire state, Vermonters can be sure to have greater access to our programs going forward. VTSU will close the standard tuition* gap with institutional aid after all federal, state, institutional, and employer supported aid is applied to a student’s account.
Applying for Financial Aid and VSAC Scholarships
VSAC News You Can Use and Share:
Less Than a Month Until the VSAC-Assisted Scholarship Deadline
Remind your seniors to submit their scholarship application required documents! We recommend encouraging your seniors to submit their documents at least a week before the scholarship deadline, Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
REMINDER: if using MyVSAC to submit documents, MFA is now in place on all MyVSAC accounts (see below for additional information).
The 24/25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is Here
Applying for financial aid to attend college or trade school can be an overwhelming experience. This year’s FAFSA received an overhaul for the first time in decades and, after a three-month delay, is now available.
FAFSA Tips and Tricks
- Students or Parent/Contributors - Having trouble getting past the Contact Information screen when setting up your studentaid.gov account (FSA ID)? Fill in the form without your address and you will be able to proceed to the next screen. Once FSA verifies your account, you can then go in and update your address on your FSA ID dashboard (Settings – Contact Information tab).
Need help setting up your FSA ID or completing the FAFSA? Schedule a one-on-one meeting with a VSAC representative.
Multi-Factor Authentication Now in MyVSAC
As an added level of security, VSAC has implemented Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to all MyVSAC accounts, including school personnel. Users will be prompted to set up MFA the first time they log into their account and can use an app or a text/call number as the authentication method.
The SAT is now digital, and dates for 2024 are open. Many students in the class of 2025 will take the SAT for the first time this spring. While the SAT is optional for many colleges, it can help you stand out on college applications and identify strengths as you explore your career options.
HERE are the upcoming Spring 2024 SAT Dates:
March 9
May 4
June 1
THE NEW FAFSA: 9 BIG CHANGES YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND
Changes are coming to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – the form students and families use to apply for federal financial aid for college. Here’s what you need to know.
The FAFSA Simplification Act represents a significant overhaul of the processes and underlying formulas used to award federal student aid starting with the 2024-2025 award year and includes multiple changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application form. Here are some key changes to be aware of in the 2024-2025 FAFSA.
1. THE FAFSA WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER THAN USUAL
In the past, students and families could access the FAFSA form online every year on October 1. The FAFSA for the 2024-2025 school year is expected to be available in December 2023. According to the Department of Education, it intends to move the FASFA opening back to October 1, 2024 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
For students subject to state and/or college-specific filing deadlines that are earlier than the federal deadline, the delayed FASFA open date could make it harder for them to complete their aid application on time. Be sure to check your state and college filing deadlines.
2. THE FAFSA FORM WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTER
You’ll see fewer questions on the 2024-2025 FAFSA, only about 36 instead of the previous 108. The online FAFSA application is dynamic, and the number of questions users see will depend on their financial situation and the answers they provide as they proceed through the form.
3. AUTOMATED TRANSFER OF TAX DATA WILL BE REQUIRED
Previously, students and parents had the option to enter their tax information manually into the FAFSA form or to download it directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA, users of the online FAFSA will be required to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to provide their tax information.
4. THE EFC IS NOW THE SAI
As part of the FASFA changes, the term “Expected Family Contribution” or “EFC,” which has been used for many years to calculate students’ expected financial need for college, will be replaced with the term “Student Aid Index” or “SAI”. Both are used to determine a student’s financial need by subtracting the EFC or SAI from the cost of attendance (COA).
However, there is a notable difference between the two. Unlike the EFC, which could only be as low as $0, the SAI can be a negative number, as low as –$1,500. The fact that the SAI can be negative will help make it easier for colleges to determine a student’s financial need — as well as identify students with high levels of need — and account for expenses not included in a school’s published COA. Also, the new name, SAI, is intended to eliminate the misconception that “Expected Family Contribution” represented how much a family was expected to pay for one year of college, rather than an index used to calculate financial aid eligibility.
5. STUDENTS MAY AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR PELL GRANTS
The 2024-2025 FAFSA changes how eligibility for Pell Grants (which are a type of need-based financial aid) is determined. Students will now automatically qualify for Pell Grants based on family size and income and will know the amount of their Pell Grant much earlier in the process — before they apply to colleges. Previously, students weren’t aware of their Pell eligibility — or the amount of the grant — until they received their financial aid offers from colleges. Having this information earlier may encourage students to consider colleges that might otherwise seem too expensive.
According to an Urban Institute analysis, the changes to Pell Grant eligibility are expected to increase the number of students who are eligible for the maximum Pell Grant by 16 percent.
6. STUDENTS CAN SEND THE FAFSA TO MORE COLLEGES
On the online FAFSA application, students will be able to list up to 20 schools to receive their FAFSA information. Previously, the limit was 10 schools. Now, students with long college lists will be able to send their FAFSA information to all their schools at the same time, instead of adding some schools later in the process. For students who fill out the PDF version of the FAFSA, the limit is still 10 schools.
7. THE INCOME PROTECTION ALLOWANCE IS INCREASING
Beginning with the 2024-2025 FASFA, the income protection allowance (IPA), which is the amount of income that is excluded from determining a student’s financial aid, will be increased. For dependent students, the IPA levels for the parents of dependent students with one student in college will increase approximately 20 percent above their current levels. For dependent students themselves and independent students without dependents, the IPA levels will increase about 35 percent above their current levels.
8. FAMILIES WITH MULTIPLE CHILDREN IN COLLEGE WILL NO LONGER GET A BREAK
The new methodology for calculating aid eligibility required by the FASFA changes no longer considers the number of family members attending college. This means families with multiple college students could receive less aid for the 2024-2025 school year. However, individual colleges can consider the financial burden of having many students in school and can adjust offers at their discretion.
9. STUDENTS MUST REPORT THE INCOME OF THE PARENT WHO PROVIDES THE MOST SUPPORT
In the past, dependent students of divorced or separated parents were required to report the income of the parent they lived with most of the year. The updated FAFSA requires dependent students of divorced or separated parents to report the income of the parent who provides the most financial support.
DON’T FORGET TO FILE THE FAFSA!
It’s important to stay in the know about updates to the FAFSA and to keep track of the FAFSA deadlines for your colleges and your state. Colleges often award financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s important to complete and submit the FAFSA as soon as you can after it becomes available. Even if you think your family will not qualify for federal student aid, you should complete and submit the FAFSA to be considered for federal student loans and possibly scholarships or other financial aid provided by your college. For more information about the upcoming changes to the FAFSA and the availability of the 2024-2025 form, visit the Federal Student Aid Website.
WYATT is a digital advisor available 24/7 to help complete financial aid applications. See more information here: https://www.getfafsahelp.org/about-wyatt/
FSA ID and FAFSA Help from Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
- VSAC is offering 30-minute appointments through January 2024 with virtual and in-person options available. Visit our Calendly page to sign up for a meeting.
- FAFSA filing appointments will be offered after the FAFSA becomes available later this year. For more information, visit the VSAC calendar of events in December.
In the meantime, explore these VSAC infographic flyers for snapshots of the changes expected with the new FAFSA form:
- Focus on FAFSA one pager
- Focus on FAFSA with VSAC two pager
Junior Scholarship Opportunity:
2024 Horatio Alger Scholarship Application
PROGRAM DEADLINE: March 15, 2024 at 12:00 PM EDT (Noon)
DESCRIPTION
As one of the nation's largest need-based college scholarship programs in the country, the Horatio Alger Scholarship Programs specifically assist high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives. While many programs are directed primarily to recognizing academic achievement or leadership potential, the Horatio Alger Association seeks students who have exhibited determination, integrity, and perseverance in overcoming adversity, as well as have critical financial need.
Notice: This is a TWO part application.
The first part of the application is to collect your profile information. You will need to press submit at the end of this section to be directed to the second part that contains application questions.Please note, your application is NOT complete unless you submit the second part of your application.
REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible to apply for any of the Horatio Alger Undergraduate Scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be enrolled full time as a high school student in the United States; be progressing normally toward graduation with plans to enter a college in the United States no later than the fall following graduation
- Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor's degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)
- Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
- Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities
- Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
- Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; and
- Be a United States citizen
The UVM Extension 4-H Teen & Leadership Program is pleased to offer the following programs:
Vermont Science Olympiad - Teams Wanted: UVM will be hosting the Vermont Science Olympiad on Saturday, April 6, 2024, and we are looking for teams to join us for this exciting day of science competition! We encourage all high schools to form a team (or two, or three!) to participate. Students and teachers alike say it was one of the most inspirational and memorable experiences of their educational life.
Discover Engineering: A FREE full day event with workshops at UVM to promote the field of engineering and help youth understand different pathways they can take to pursue a future as an engineer. More information coming soon. Save the Date! Saturday, February 17, 2024.
What is Naviance?
Naviance is “The Hub” for students and families to start the search for colleges and majors. In senior year it is also the portal the School Counseling staff uses to send students' recommendations and transcripts to the colleges. It is very important that students continue to update their Naviance accounts as they begin applying to schools, including making sure they have set the accurate deadlines (early action, early decision, or regular decision). Naviance is also a tool to use for career exploration. Students can research job descriptions and salaries, related occupations, and the knowledge, skills, and preparation needed to pursue those careers. It can be helpful for parents to access their student’s account so if you are trying to register for the first time, please email dianakoliander@mpsvt.org or call 225.8050.
What is the Common App?
Common App is a single, online college application form used by over 900 colleges and universities. Instead of filling out the same general information—like your address, GPA, and extracurriculars— a dozen times, you only have to do it once. As students prepare to apply, it’s very important to check to see if the schools they are applying to use it. It must also be linked to their Naviance account so that the materials we submit (transcript, mid year grades, final transcript, letters of recommendation, etc) reach the correct schools. Students have been given instructions about how to link their Naviance and Common App accounts, but they can always ask for help with this, or any portion of the process, in our office.