Since 1965, VSAC has helped Vermont students of all ages save, plan, and pay for college or career training.

From 2018-2021 SHS is working with VSAC’s Aspirations Project with the goal to build a Spaulding’s capacity to graduate all students with a plan for obtaining the education or training needed to achieve their life goals.  

Financial Aid -  Financial aid is money that a student receives to help pay  for college or career training, including grants and scholarships (that don’t have to be paid back), work–study, and loans. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used by colleges, universities, and VSAC to provide financial aid. This section will help you with everything from creating your very own FSA ID to searching for eligible scholarships. 

• FSA ID You need this to complete the FAFSA. The student and one parent will each need their own FSA ID to sign the FAFSA electronically. Create an FSA ID, Video on how to create an FSA ID. 
• FAFSA - Available Oct. 1st. Complete the FAFSA Form, 7 Steps for Completing your FAFSA Application, FAFSA First. FAFSA Now, What will I need to fill out the FAFSA?, FAFSA FAQ. 
• Vermont Grant - Available Oct. 1st. You can link directly to the Vermont grant from the FAFSA confirmation page, or you can apply at www.vsac.org/grants. Grants are awarded on a first come, first-served basis, so apply early.  
• Scholarships  
  • VSAC-Assisted Scholarships - Available Oct. 1st. - Deadline Feb. 11th. - VSAC’s Unified Scholarship Application (USA). USA  is a single application that you can use to apply for multiple VSAC-assisted scholarships. Create a MyVSAC account to apply and submit documents online. Find Scholarships for Vermonters, VSAC Scholarship booklet, VSAC Scholarship Tip Sheet. 
  • SHS Scholarships - Available in February. Fill out one application that qualifies students for over 50 different SHS Scholarships. SHS has one of the largest endowments in the Northeast. SHS larger scholarships require a specific application in addition to the regular application: Dante Bogni Memorial Scholarship, Ronald J. York Memorial Scholarship, Dr. Ernest V. Reynolds Scholarship. More information here.
  • Other Scholarships - Some deadlines may be in early fall, so apply as soon as possible. Check with your library, town office, local businesses and/or organizations. Check on the websites of colleges on your list to find out whether they offer scholarships that you’re eligible for. Collegeboard Scholarship, Fastweb Scholarship search, Cappex Scholarship search, Horatio Alger Scholarship, Coca Cola Scholarship, Coolidge Scholarship, The Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship
• Additional Financial Aid Resources: Financial Aid Checklist, CSS Profile schools, Questions to ask the financial aid office, Financial Aid Terms, Financial Aid and Managing College Cost Video 
• Financial Aid Help with VSAC
  • Call VSAC FAFSA helpline at 1-833-8722, Mon-Fri, 8:00am-4:30pm
  • Sign up to get 1:1 Financial Aid Help with a VSAC Counselor
  • Attend a Financial Aid and Managing College Cost Workshop

Paying for College - Once you’ve been accepted into a college or training program you will need to understand your financial aid offer/award letter and decide whether you’ll need more money to cover the cost of college/training program. You’ll need to decide what types of loans work best for you, apply for them, and make a plan to cover any additional costs. The resources below will help you with everything from understanding your financial aid offer to saving for college. 

• Student Aid Report (SAR) Gives you basic financial aid eligibility information, after you submit the FAFSA, to review it for accuracy and make corrections if needed. SAR FAQ

• Financial aid offers/award letters tells you what type of financial aid you can receive from a college. If you’ve applied to multiple schools compare your offers.  Sample financial aid offer, Paying for College Guide, Financial Aid Budget Worksheet, Frontin’ the College Bill

• Education loans - Most Vermont students will have to borrow to cover some of  their college or training costs, and there’s a lot to understand. Education loans are not created equal: there are federal loans from the U.S. Department of Education, and non-federal loans (also known as alternative loans or private  loans) that are issued by VSAC and other nonprofit agencies, your college, banks, and credit  unions. There are loans that students can take out on their own, and loans that parents can take for their students. Each has different application requirements, different interest rates, and terms. Never borrow more in four years what you would make in one year out of college (if you get a job in your career field of course). Learn About Loans, My Education Loans: What to know before you borrow, Comparing Loans, Apply for VSAC Loans, Debt Wizard Calculator

• Saving for college - Save for college with VHEIP 529 Savings Plan for college deposits (usually due May 1)—saving a bit each month is great!

Freshman and sophomore years are an exciting time in your life to become acquainted with your new school and all that it has to offer. Both years are a great time to develop successful study habits, create a high school plan, and explore interests as they align with possible post-secondary paths. We suggest you use the Planning Guide by Grade (page 2) along with the resources below to guide you.

Academics

When planning for your future it is important to focus on your academics. Focusing on your academics helps you learn valuable skills for life after high school.

• 9th grade counts - 9th grade guidance
• 10th grade counts - Why is Sophomore Year in High School Important?, How to Beat the Sophomore Slump
• Picking courses and extracurriculars - 4 Year Course plan and Filling Out Your 4 Year Course Plan, Why Extracurriculars Matter
• Growth Mindset - Developing a Growth Mindset, Growing Your Mind
• Study Skills - How to Practice Effectively, Pomodoro Study Technique, Cornell Note Taking Method
• Goal Setting - How to Write a Smart Goal, Write Your Own SMART Goal
• Attitude matters - Self-Compassion
• PSAT - Inside the Test, Taking the Test
• Resume & Cover letter - My Resume Ideas: Getting Started, Sample Cover Letter and Resumes, Visualizing Your Resume, Visualizing Your Cover Letter, Steps to Creating a Cover Letter
• Flexible Pathways - SHS Flexible Pathways Website
  • Dual Enrollment, Dual Enrollment Step by Step
  • Early College Program
  • Work-Based Learning - Work-Based Learning courses are offered at SHS. Find out more here. 
  • Career and Technical Education - Central Vermont Career Center

Self & Career Exploration

It is hard to think about your future and what you want to do without exploring possible careers and understanding yourself a bit better. Starting with your interests and skills is an important first step in the planning process because then you can match with possible careers and then choose post-secondary education based on certain career pathways.  This section of resources will help you learn more about yourself and will give you opportunities to envision yourself in certain careers. 

• Self-Exploration -  Personality Test, Self-Assessments, What is Success? You Decide, Why Some of us Don’t Have One True Calling Video
• Career Exploration - Careers Out There Videos, VSAC Career Videos Playlist, Pathways to Promising Careers, Career Exploration Resources, Jumpstart Reality Check, Career Videos in Southern Vermont, Explore Careers, What do you look for in a job?, Career Interest Checklist, Career Cluster Interest Survey, 16 Career Clusters
• Getting a job - A Guide to Jobs You Can Work as a High School Student

Post-secondary Planning

It may be difficult to think about life after high school right now but it is important to start exploring trades and majors as well as talking with others to begin planning for your future. 

• Planning for Post-secondary - Education by Degrees, Introduction to College and Careers (Sophomores)
• Benefits of Postsecondary - Life After High School,  Learn More to Earn More, More Education Means More Options
• Majors - Tips for Choosing a Major
• Trades - The Trades: Is One Right for You?
• Consulting Others - Tips for Talking with Parents About College, Family Career Questionnaire 
• Summer Opportunities - Medquest, Governor’s Institute of Vermont

Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are important skills that you are building and practicing right now while in school. These skills are useful and can be helpful in school as well as after high school no matter what your path may be. 7 Competencies You Need to Be Career Ready, Career Competencies, VT Department of Labor’s Employers’ Hierarchy of Needs (bottom of page 5)

• Time Management - Manage Your Time More Effectively
• Communication - How Miscommunication Happens
• Citizenship - Student Volunteering Guide, Community Service

Junior year is a year to focus on academics and next steps. In your Junior year you could be taking AP classes and enrolled in Dual Enrollment, or planning for Early College or AP courses for your Senior year. Junior year is a good year to define your goals and make a plan of how to reach those goals. Use your Junior Checklist and this list of resources to help you organize your Junior year and meet helpful milestones to plan for your future. 

Academics

When planning for your future it is important to focus on your academics. Focusing on your academics helps you learn valuable skills for life after high school.

• Plan for senior year - Tips to Building a Senior Schedule
• Goal Setting - How to Write a Smart Goal, Write Your Own SMART Goal
• Study Skills - How to Practice Effectively, Manage Your Time More Effectively, Pomodoro Study Technique, Cornell Note Taking Method
• Get Involved - National Honors Society, Student Volunteering Guide, Community Service
• PSAT, SAT, ACT - PSAT, SAT Test Center Closings, ACT and COVID, “Test Optional” Schools, Sign Up for Tests and Study, Free ACT Practice Test, SAT Practice, Strategies for the SAT & ACT Video
• AP Courses - Choosing AP Courses
• Flexible Pathways - SHS Flexible Pathways Website
  • Dual Enrollment, Dual Enrollment Step by Step
  • Early College Program
  • Work-Based Learning - Work-Based Learning courses are offered at SHS. Find out more here. 
  • Career and Technical Education - Central Vermont Career Center

Interests & Career Exploration

As you begin to plan for life after high school, it’s important to begin with interest and career exploration.

• Interest Exploration - What do you look for in a job?, Career Interest Checklist, Career Cluster Interest Survey, 16 Career Clusters
• Career Exploration - SCOIR, My Next Move, Vermont’s High Demand and High Pay Jobs, Best Bet Career Training Programs, My Career Project, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Search & Selection

So, you’re thinking about attending college or a training program and would like to know more. Below you’ll find a number of resources from finding out what college is right for you to attending virtual college fairs. 

• College Search - College Scorecard,  Big Future college search, VSC Certificates and Training Programs
• College Comparison -  Comparing Colleges/training Programs Tips, College Comparison Chart, College Navigator to Compare Colleges, NEBHE Programs (Tuition Break)
• College Fit- College Fit Kit, Finding Colleges that Fit, College Fit Video, Choose the College that’s Best for You
• College Fairs -  NEACAC (New England Association of College Admission Counseling) college fairs are online this year. Connect with college reps through Zoom sessions,  Q&A, and 1-on-1 meetings. Most colleges offer some type of college tour and/or information session from their websites as well. Each college/university website should have a page for open house, tours, and making appointments with admissions counselors. EDNavigator Virtual College Tours, YouVisit on SCOIR
• College Major - Choosing a College Major

Skilled Trades Careers

Skilled trades careers are jobs that require specific training like carpentry or plumbing. Great, you’re interested in the trades pathway and below you’ll find useful resources from how to decide what career is right for you to how to find the most high paying jobs in Vermont with openings now. 

• Trades - The trades: Is one right for you?, Career Self Assessment, Skilled Trades and Apprenticeships, Occupational Outlook handbook, Vermont Workforce Development, Vermont Department of Labor, Informational Interviewing and Job Shadow Guide, Career Fair interview Questions, Vermont Career Expo
• Apprenticeships -  An apprenticeship is an employer sponsored training program that provides both supervised work experience and related instruction - Vermont Department of Labor: Apprenticeships, Apprenticeship Finder
• Resume & Cover Letter - Vermont Department of Labor Tip Sheet, Cover Letter Tip Sheet,  Visualizing Your Resume, Visualizing Your Cover Letter

Post-secondary Planning

It may be difficult to think about life after high school right now but it is important to start exploring trades and majors as well as talking with others to begin planning for your future. 

• Planning for Post-secondary - Education by Degrees, Introduction to College and Careers (Sophomores)
• Benefits of Postsecondary - Life After High School,  Learn More to Earn More, More Education Means More Options
• College Application - The College Application Process
• Consulting Others - Tips for Talking with Parents About College, Family Career Questionnaire 
• Summer Opportunities - Medquest, Governor’s Institute of Vermont

Senior year is an exciting and busy time full of opportunities, decisions, and planning. There are many choices for after high school, including a “gap” year, trade school, two-year college, four-year college or university, and apprenticeships. Students will need support and guidance as they sort through these options to find the one that best matches their interests.  Remember that if you haven’t used your Dual Enrollment voucher yet then you may want to do that this year. Use your Senior Checklist, this list of resources and  the “Financial Aid and Paying for College” tab to help you organize your senior year and meet necessary deadlines to plan for your future. 

• Interests & Career Exploration - You may not know if college or a training program is right for you and that’s okay! The following resources will help you get a better picture of what your interests are and how they relate to a possible career. 

  • Interest Exploration - What do you look for in a job?, Career Interest Checklist, Career Cluster Interest Survey, 16 Career Clusters

  • Career Exploration - My Next Move, Vermont’s High Demand and High Pay Jobs, Best Bet Career Training Programs

• Search & Selection - So, you’re thinking about attending college or a training program and would like to know more. Below you’ll find a number of resources from finding out what college is right for you to attending virtual college fairs. 

  • College Search - College Scorecard,  Big Future college search, VSC Certificates and Training Programs

  • College Comparison -  Comparing Colleges/training Programs Tips, College Comparison Chart, College Navigator to Compare Colleges, NEBHE Programs (Tuition Break)

  • College Fit- College Fit Kit, Finding Colleges that Fit

  • College Fairs -  NEACAC (New England Association of College Admission Counseling) college fairs are online this year. Connect with college reps through Zoom sessions,  Q&A, and 1-on-1 meetings. Most colleges offer some type of college tour and/or information session from their websites as well. 

  • College Major - Choosing a College Major

• Skilled Trades Careers - Skilled trades careers are jobs that require specific training like carpentry or plumbing. Great, you’ve decided to follow the trades pathway and below you’ll find useful resources from how to decide what career is right for you to how to find the most high paying jobs in Vermont with openings now. 

  • Trades - The trades: Is one right for you?, Career Self Assessment, Skilled Trades and Apprenticeships, Occupational Outlook handbook, Vermont Workforce Development, Vermont Department of Labor, Informational Interviewing and Job Shadow Guide, Career Fair interview Questions, Vermont Career Expo

  • Apprenticeships -  An apprenticeship is an employer sponsored training program that provides both supervised work experience and related instruction - Vermont Department of Labor: Apprenticeships, Apprenticeship Finder

  • Resume & Cover Letter - Vermont Department of Labor Tip Sheet, Cover Letter Tip Sheet

• Applying & Preparing for College - Great, you’ve decided to go to college but there are quite a few steps in the process before you can officially announce that you’ve applied. Don’t worry! The Senior checklist and this resource section should have you covered on everything you’ll need from taking the SAT to submitting your Common Application.

  • Standardized Tests  (SAT, ACT, AP Exams ) Check with the colleges on your list to find out whether they’re waiving their test requirements. List of test optional schools, SAT Tips and Resources, Official SAT Practice.

  • Common Application - Common Application that most colleges accept for admission. Add schools to your “My  Colleges” list and review the supplements to identify additional info you may need to send.  First Time Applicant Guide

  • College Admissions - Questions for the Admissions Interview, College Admissions Checklist, College Admissions Toolkit, Tips & Resources for Applying to College, The College Application Process, VSAC College & Career Pathways Youtube Playlist

  • Brag Sheet - You and your parents can submit one through SCOIR.  Helpful tips for your brag sheet

  • Recommendation Letters - Ask through SCOIR and give at least two weeks notice to recommenders.  Get effective college recommendation letters in 3 steps 

  • Admissions Essay - For tips on how to approach the essay, 5 Steps to Critique Your Essay, Characteristics of Effective Writing

  • Deferred College Application -  How to Deal with a Deferred College Application

  • Thinking about taking a Gap Year?  Check out EF Gap Year on the gap options that are available to students.

 

If you are planning to apply to college after a Gap year- you must inform your school counselor that you are applying to colleges and what their deadlines are- we have no way of knowing where you apply unless you inform us. If you need a letter of recommendation from your school counselor, please use the email below to contact them to make this request with at least two week’s notice.

Dr. Laurie Berryman, lberrshs@buusd.org

Emily Graham, egrahshs@buusd.org

Ashley Kellett, akellshs@buusd.org

Peggy Roy Portelance, pportshs@buusd.org

Kelly Young, kyounshs@buusd.org

If you do not see your former counselor below you may contact Anna Ryan in the School Counseling Department at aryanshs@buusd.org

Common App does not inform us when you apply so you must be in communication with SHS in order for both transcripts and letters of recommendation to be sent.

The link to our former student transcript request form can be found here.