VSAC can help you navigate the way.

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Putting the final touches on admissions

applications? Way to go — you’re taking

an important step toward education plans

past high school.

Once your applications are in, the

focus (while you wait to hear back

on those decisions) turns to financial

aid (and, yes, more forms!). But

don’t worry about getting lost in

a paperwork blizzard: the Vermont Student

Assistance Corporation (VSAC) is ready to

guide you safely through the process.

As your local, Vermont nonprofit, we’re

committed to helping you find the information

and resources to plan and pay for college or other

education programs ... wherever you’re headed!

Our tips and checklists will keep you on track,

and we’ll explain your options for financial aid,

including:

•VermontstateGRANTS

•publicandprivateSCHOLARSHIPS

•federalEDUCATION LOANS for students and parents

Since 1965, VSAC has helped Vermont families

achieve their dreams of higher education. We’re

here to guide you to your destination, too.

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Applying to college or other programs?

Winter forecast: forms ahead

Get the traction you need for college or other education.

www.vsac.org

VSAC can help clear the way.

Visit www.vsaccollegepays.org to learn more about grants, scholarships, and loans. Your partner on the pathway to college

I spy ... scholarship$!Research and apply. Receive consideration for merit- or need-based

awards at your college or through other sources.

VSAC’s scholarships booklet lists more than 150 private and public scholarships available to Vermont residents. View the listings online, or e-mail publications@vsac.org for your copy.

Starting out: the FAFSAThe Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in the financial aid process. It’s used to apply for federal aid — including Pell grants, work-study programs, and education loans — as well as to determine eligibility for most state and college (or program) aid.

Apply for PINs. The easiest way to submit the FAFSA is online. In December, apply for a personal identification number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov so that you’ll be able to complete the FAFSA online in early January. You and a parent each need a separate PIN to file your application.

Complete the FAFSA on or after January 1 at www.fafsa.ed.gov. (Tip: Be certain you use the .ed.gov site and not .com! Other URL domains will bring you to commercial sites. The FAFSA and PIN are free — you should never have to pay to file.)

Fuel up: understanding the basicsFinancial aid is assistance provided to students and families to supplement what they are able to contribute toward the cost of higher education. How much you’ll be expected to pay is determined mostly by the school’s cost and by a federal financial “need” calculation of your family’s finances. However, you may be eligible for “merit” aid awarded for academic achievement, community service, residency, athletics, extracurricular or career interests, or other criteria. To be considered for funding, it’s critical that you apply by the financial aid deadlines!

Plan ahead for what you’ll need.Put VSAC on board. Visit www.vsac.org to learn about financial aid and how to apply. You can also request a free copy of the paying for college guide by e-mailing publications@vsac.org.

You’re in the driver’s seat for financial aid!

Sign up for myVSAC at www.vsac.org.

DID YOU ATTEND ONE OF VSAC’S FrEE PAYINg FOr COllEgE PrESENTATIONS?

If you missed it, view the info online at www.vsaccollegepays.org.

Gather your papers. Use estimated tax information if you need to file financial aid applications before your family has completed 2009 tax returns. You can update the applications after the tax forms are filed.

BE PrEPArED WITH ...•SocialSecuritynumbersforyouandyourparentsAND, asapplicable,alienregistrationnumberorpermanent residencecard

•student’sdriver’slicensenumber(ifapplicable)

•federalincometaxreturnsfrom2008(parent&student)

•finalpayrollstubsfor2009(parent&student),to estimateincome

•mostrecentbankstatementsandinvestmentrecords (parent&student)

•mostrecentbusinessand/orfarmrecords(ifapplicable)

TYPES OF FINANCIAl AID•grants:awardedbasedonfinancialneed;donotneed toberepaid•scholarships:awardedcompetitivelyfromacollegeor othersource(merit-and/orneed-based)•work-study:campus-basedjobearnings•education loans:borrowedmoneythatmustberepaid•benefits for special circumstances:tuitionbenefitsor loanrepaymentassistanceavailablefromanemployer, fromthemilitary,orthroughcommunityservice

Keepinmindthatfundingisn’tjustforcollege:financial aid can be used for many types of education after high school.CheckwithVSACformoredetails.

Discuss costs. What are the plans for paying for your education after high school? You may be expected to share responsibility in the form of student loans or work-study. Talk to your parents now!

VSAC’s online road map provides instant access to planning tips for high school students (and parents). Put our checklist where you’ll see it. Click “Get widget” at www.vsacroadmaps.org and load it to your iGoogle page, Facebook, and more!

NOTE:Evenifyourfamily’sincomemaybetoohightoqualifyforneed-basedaid,you’llneedtofillouttheFAFSAsothatyouandyourparentsmayapplyforfederaleducationloans.

First stop: the Vermont grantVermont grants can be used to attend schools in state, out of state, or even in Canada. This “gift aid” is given to Vermont residents who qualify based on their financial need.

Apply online at www.vsac.org. Applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funds are available, so submit yours early! Check your application status by creating a myVSAC account.

Rest stop: missing anything? Ask now!Find out what other documents may be required, and when they are due. Some schools ask for the CSS Profile (https://profileonline.collegeboard.com) or have an additional financial aid form. Know the deadlines and apply on time!

VSAC is with you all the way.•collegeandcareerplanning•assistancewithfinancialaid•Vermontstategrants•publicandprivatescholarships•federaleducationloansforstudentsandparents•privateeducationloans

VSAC EArlY-BIrD SCHOlArSHIPS: WIN $1,000!Postmarkyourcompletedapplication(andallrequireddocuments)forVSAC-assistedscholarshipsbyFebruary 12, 2010,andbeenteredinadrawingforoneofthree$1,000scholarships! See details at www.vsac.org/scholarships. (TheregularscholarshipsdeadlineisMarch5.)

OFF-rOADINg TO YOUr FUTUrE?Collegeisonlyonepathtotakeafterhighschool.Didyouknowthatyoucanbeconsideredforfinancialaidformanyeducationprograms—includingvocationalandcertificateoptions?ContactVSACforinformationaboutfundingpossibilitiesavailabletogetyouwhereyouwanttogo.

You can get there from here.

Seniors: Gain traction this winter.

Your partner on the pathway to college

review your Student Aid report (SAr), which you’ll receive after you submit the FAFSA. make any corrections. expect to receive financial aid notifications in march and April.

Service check. make sure all financial aid materials were received. log-in to myVSAC to see your Vermont grant status. Questions? Contact VSAC.

Continue searching for scholarships. But beware of scams — you should never have to pay to seek funding. Scheduled maintenance due. Follow up on admissions applications.

did recommendations, test scores, and first-semester transcripts arrive on time? respond promptly to any requests.

detour: the CSS Profile. Some schools use the Profile and/or other institutional forms for financial aid consideration. Check each college’s requirements and deadlines.

Don’t fall asleep at the wheel! There may be december deadlines (and extra essays) for college-based scholarships or other honors. Check requirements for all applicable awards.

Obtain personal identification numbers (PINs), needed for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online, at www.pin.ed.gov. enlist your parents’ help to gather tax info for financial aid forms.

Arrange for test scores to be sent to schools or programs. December 5 is the last SAT test date for 2009. December 12 is the final ACT test date for 2009.

Application alert! Complete applications (and any required documents). Early decision or early action notifications may arrive this month, but don’t wait: prepare your backup plan.

www.vsacroadmaps.org

Fill out the FAFSA — the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — and submit it during the first two weeks of January. Use estimated income figures if needed (you can make updates later). The FAFSA is required for college financial aid, the Vermont grant, scholarships, and federal education loans.

Presenting: Paying for College. View online at www.vsaccollegepays.org.

Take a test drive. Visit campuses during winter break to get the information you’ll need to make your final choice.

For better mileage, keep winter idling to a minimum. Your grades still matter! Admissions offices will want to see your current work. Consult VSAC’s online road map at www.vsacroadmaps.org to stay on track and informed about what’s ahead.

Win a scholarship! Postmark your application (and all required documents) for VSAC-assisted scholarships by the early-bird deadline of February 12, 2010 to be entered in a drawing to win one of three $1,000 awards. Go to www.vsaccollegepays.org for info, and e-mail publications@vsac.org to request a copy of the VSAC scholarships booklet, detailing more than 150 private and public scholarships for Vermonters. (Regular application deadline: march 5.)

Need directions? Attend free workshops at the VSAC Resource Center in Winooski, if convenient. January 9: Understanding the Financial Aid Process January 13: Understanding the Scholarships Process

Vermont grant applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply at www.vsac.org as soon as possible after January 1. log-in to your myVSAC account to check your application status.

VSAC’s mission is to help Vermonters achieve their dreams of education beyond high school. Check with VSAC to explore all your options. Our goal is to make sure you have the information and education financing you need to pursue your goals — whether you’ll be attending college in Vermont or out of state.