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Free postsecondary planning events!

Let VSAC be your guide.

High school students and parents/guardians, whether you’re college-bound, training-bound, or not sure, these events and resources are for you. All resources and recordings from the 2023 events are available in the tabbed content below. Find recordings from past events on our YouTube channel. 

Details about the Spring 2024 events for high school students and parents will be available later this fall.

What is College & Career Pathways?

On Saturday, March 18, 2023, families were invited to join us in-person at the UVM Davis Center or online via Zoom to take part in live workshops, discover free resources, and connect with local experts to help prepare for education or training after high school.

High school events:

We also offered four events for high schools around the state:

  • Tuesday, February 7, 9:00 am–2:00 pm at Bennington College
  • Thursday, February 23, 8:45 am–1:45 pm at Vermont State University Lyndon Campus
  • Thursday, March 16, 9:00 am–2:00 pm at Saint Michael's College
  • Wednesday, April 5, 9:00 am–2:00 pm at Vermont State University Castleton Campus (in partnership with the College Fair) this event is at capacity

High schools registered to bring students to these events during the school day. Please connect with your school to find out if they will be participating in future events. 

If you’re a school interested in bringing students to one of these events in the future, reach out to collegepathways@vsac.org for more details.

Below you can find more details and resources for the resource fair and each of the live workshops that were offered at the March 18, 2023 event. Please note that the resource fair was offered in-person only. All workshops were offered both in-person and virtually.

View the full playlist of workshops from our 2023 event, or click on workshop names below to find the recording for that session.

You can also view the in-person program for more details on the 2023 event.

Click on each green bar below for event details and additional resources.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Workshop Recording

Exhibitors at the In-Person Resource Fair

Session 1  | 9:55 – 10:40am

The College Search: Finding the Right Fit  

Know you want to continue your education after high school, but unsure how to choose a school or training program? Learn what to consider and reflect on what you want from your postsecondary experience so that you can narrow down the search to institutions that match your needs.

Audience: Best for 9th–11th grade students alone or with their parents/guardians (less appropriate for parents/guardians alone)
Presenter: VSAC Career & Education Outreach

Resources:

Money After High School

As you head off to college or into the workforce, you'll be taking on greater responsibility in managing your own money. Learn how to start off right for a financially successful future. This workshop will cover budgeting, credit, paying for college, and creating a spending plan that you can stick to.

Audience: Best for 11th & 12th grade students and their parents/guardians
Presenter: Opportunities Credit Union Money$ense Financial Education Programs

Resources:

Strategies for the SAT & ACT 

Want to make yourself a stronger candidate for college admissions and merit-based financial aid by earning a high score? Get “best practice” strategies and free test-prep resources from a professional test prep tutor.

Audience: Best for 10th & 11th grade students
Presenter: Matthew Shagam, Tutor

Resources:

Supporting Your Teen’s Career Search 

How can you help your child figure out what they want to do, without telling them what to do? This workshop will cover what your high schooler needs from you in their career search, and how to help them explore and identify their career interests.

Audience: Best for the parents/guardians of 9th–12th grade students
Presenter: Kathi Terami, Executive Director, Careers CLiC

Resources:

Session 2  | 10:50am – 11:35am

Financial Aid & Managing College Costs

Find out how families cover college costs. We'll explain:

  • the types of financial aid available (grants, scholarships, loans)
  • the basics of financial aid applications
  • ways to compare college costs before you apply

Audience: Best for 10th & 11th grade students and their parents/guardians
Presenter: VSAC Career & Education Outreach

Resources:

I Wish I Knew That! Programs to Pursue Before You Graduate

Participants will learn about the Flexible Pathways opportunities available to students and how participating in one or more of these programs in high school can help you get a jumpstart on your future.

Audience: Best for 9th–11th grade students and their parents/guardians
Presenter: Student Pathways Division, Vermont Agency of Education

Resources:

Navigating the Admissions Process

Overwhelmed by the college admissions process? Hear directly from college admissions counselors about the steps involved in applying, what they look for in students, and how they can support you through the process.

Audience: Best for 10th & 11th grade students and their parents/guardians
Presenters: Office of Admissions, University of Vermont & Vermont State University

Resources:

Vermont Career Outlook

What careers and skill sets will be in demand as you enter the workforce? Come learn more about current economic conditions in Vermont, including employment by industry, occupational trends, and skills in demand.

Audience: Best for 9th–12th grade students and their parents/guardians
Presenter: Kevin Stapleton, Vermont Department of Labor

Resources:

 Session 3  | 11:45am – 12:30pm

College Options for Students with Developmental Disabilities and Autism

Learn about a number of inclusive college programs in Vermont designed for students with developmental disabilities and autism.

Audience: Best for 10th–12th grade students and their parents/guardians
Presenter: Bryan Dague, Ed.D., Director of Think College at the University of Vermont & Chris Kennedy, Regional Director, College Steps

Resources:

Exploring Career and Education Pathways with MyFutureVT

Learn about MyFutureVT, the free, one-stop online resource you can use to explore Vermont’s most promising careers and the education and training programs to get into these jobs.

Audience: Best for 9th–12th grade students and their parents/guardians
Presenter: Tom Cheney, Executive Director, Advance Vermont

Resources:

Scholarships: Free Money!

Learn how to find and apply for local, state, and national scholarships.

Audience: Best for 11th grade students and their parents/guardians
Presenter: VSAC Career & Education Outreach

Resources:

Writing the Admissions Essay

Find out what colleges look for in the admissions essay and discover how to craft an essay that sets you apart.

Audience: Best for 10th & 11th grade students and their parents/guardians
Presenter: University of Vermont Department of Admissions

Resources:

 

Below you can find more details and resources for each of the live workshops that will be offered at the four weekday events. Click on each workshop name to find the description and resources for that session.

Click on each green bar below for event details and additional resources. 

Event Schedules

Bennington College on Tuesday, February 7
  • 9:15–9:45am: Welcome & opening activity
  • 10:00–10:45am: Breakout workshop 1
  • 10:55–11:40am: Breakout workshop 2
  • 11:50am–12:30pm: Lunch or breakout workshop 3
  • 12:40–1:20pm: Lunch or breakout workshop 3
  • 1:30–1:45pm: Closing & door prizes
Vermont State University Lyndon Campus on Thursday, February 23
  • 9:00–9:30am: Welcome & opening activity
  • 9:40–10:25am: Breakout workshop 1
  • 10:35–11:20am: Breakout workshop 2
  • 11:30am–12:10pm: Lunch or breakout workshop 3
  • 12:20–1:00pm: Lunch or breakout workshop 3
  • 1:10–1:30pm: Closing & door prizes
Saint Michael's College on Thursday, March 16
  • 9:15–9:45am: Welcome & opening activity
  • 10:00–10:45am: Breakout workshop 1
  • 10:55–11:40am: Breakout workshop 2
  • 11:50am–12:30pm: Lunch or breakout workshop 3
  • 12:40–1:20pm: Lunch or breakout workshop 3
  • 1:30–1:45pm: Closing & door prizes
Vermont State University Castleton Campus on Wednesday, April 5
  • 9:00–10:30am: College Fair & campus tours
  • 10:40–11:25am: Breakout workshop 1
  • 11:35am–12:20pm: Lunch or breakout workshop 2
  • 12:30–1:15pm: Lunch or breakout workshop 2
  • 1:25–1:50pm: Closing & door prizes

Workshop Details

Career Search: Finding the Right Fit

What careers and skill sets will be in demand as you enter the workforce? Come explore how your unique skills and interests match up with promising careers in Vermont.

Presenter: Careers CLiC

Resources:

The College Search: Finding the Right Fit

Know you want to continue your education after high school, but unsure how to choose a school or training program? Learn what to consider and reflect on what you want from your postsecondary experience so that you can narrow down the search to institutions that match your needs.

Presenter: VSAC Career & Education Outreach

Resources:

Managing Your $$$: Tips for Students (offered at Bennington event)

As you head off to college or into the workforce, you'll be taking on greater responsibility in managing your own money. Learn how to start off right for a financially successful future.

Presenter: BROC Community Action

Resources:

Money After High School (offered at Lyndon, Saint Michael's, and Castleton events)

As you head off to college or into the workforce, you'll be taking on greater responsibility in managing your own money. Learn how to start off right for a financially successful future. This workshop will cover budgeting, credit, paying for college, and creating a spending plan that you can stick to.

Presenter: Opportunities Credit Union Money$ense Financial Education Programs

Resources:

Navigating the Admissions Process

Overwhelmed by the college admissions process? Hear directly from a college admissions counselor about the steps involved in applying, what they look for in students, and how they can support you through the process.

Presenter: Host Campus Admissions Department

Resources:

Non-Degree Pathways to a Great Career: Short-Term Training & Apprenticeships

Short-term training can be a great way to increase skills or jump-start your career. With a wide variety of options available both in-person and online throughout Vermont, it can be challenging to find the right fit. This workshop will help you understand the range of options available.

Presenter: VSAC Educational Opportunity Center

Career Exploration Resources:

Vermont Career Training & Industry Recognized Credential Programs:

Resources to find and pay for career training:

Paying for Education After High School

Nervous about how you’ll afford to pay for college or career training? Learn about how others make it work, the types of financial aid available and how to apply for them, and what you should be doing now to set yourself up for success.

Presenter: VSAC Career & Education Outreach

Resources:

Scholarships: Free Money!

Learn how to find and apply for local, state, and national scholarships.

Presenter: VSAC Career & Education Outreach

Resources:

Writing the Admissions Essay

Find out what colleges look for in the admissions essay and discover how to craft an essay that sets you apart.

Presenter: Host Campus Admissions Department

Resources:

 

Click on the titles below for the videos and guided questions on this topic. You can also save a copy of the overview sheet with descriptions and links for each topic.

Learn how to navigate videos & guided questions

Short-Term Training & Apprenticeships: Short-term training can be a great way to increase skills or jump-start your career, and apprenticeships enable you to earn while you learn. Discover the wide variety of training options available both in-person and online throughout Vermont.

Intro to Résumé Writing: Find out what employers look for in a résumé and walk away with a checklist for creating a job application that will improve your odds of getting an interview.

Interviewing Success Strategies: Find out how to prepare for a job interview and show off your best self to potential employers. While structured around applying for a job, these tips can also be applied to a college admissions interview.

The College Search—Finding the Right Fit: Learn what to consider and then reflect on what you want from your postsecondary experience so that you can narrow the search to institutions that meet your values and preferences. While structured around the college search, these questions can also be helpful in thinking about what you might want in a future employer or non-degree training program.

Strategies for the SAT & ACT: Want to make yourself a stronger candidate for college admissions and merit-based financial aid by earning a high score on the SAT or ACT? Get “best practice” strategies and free test-prep resources from a professional test prep tutor.

Navigating the Admissions Process: Overwhelmed by the college admissions process? Hear directly from college admissions counselors about the steps involved in applying, what they look for in students, and ways they can support you through the process. 

Writing the Admissions Essay: Find out what colleges look for in the admissions essay and discover how to craft an essay that sets you apart.

Financial Aid & Managing College Costs: Nervous about how you’ll afford to pay for college or career training? Learn about how others make it work, the types of financial aid available, how to apply for them, and what you should be doing now to set yourself up for success.

Scholarships—Free Money: Learn how to find and apply for local, state, and national scholarships.

The Postsecondary Experience—Student Voices: Find out what current college and non-degree training students think you should know about education after high school.

Going to College—How to Stick with It and Graduate: Going to college and dropping out before receiving your degree can be expensive and disheartening. Find out the most common reasons why college students leave school, and what steps you can start taking now to help you make it to graduation. 

Gap Year 101: Learn about the benefits, challenges, and opportunities surrounding the gap year option.

Identifying Your Career Interests: Discover how your interests relate to clusters of nearly 900 occupations.

Showcasing Essential Skills: Learn which skills are critical to success after high school, how to highlight the skills you already have, and how to build new ones.

Navigating Your Own Career Path: Connect your interests and skills with promising careers in Vermont and explore a broad range of career and education pathways.

Questions?

Call 877-961-4369 or e-mail us at collegepathways@vsac.org.

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