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Free events for families to plan for education and training after high school!

If you aren’t sure what to do after high school, or if the decision feels overwhelming to you, you’re not alone. Or perhaps you have a plan, but are wondering how you’re going to pay for it. Education and training after high school can open doors and help you achieve future goals. College & Career Pathways is a series of free events hosted around the state to help high school students and parents/guardians discover resources and connect with local experts so that you can better understand options and prepare for future success.

What is College & Career Pathways?

On Saturday, March 8, 2025, families were invited to join us in person at the University of Vermont (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.

March 8th Event Schedule:

  • 1:00 – 2:00 PM Registration & Resource Fair (In-person only)
  • 2:00 – 2:15 PM Welcome (In-person & online)
  • 2:25 – 3:10 PM Breakout Workshops #1 (In-person & online)
  • 3:20 – 4:05 PM Breakout Workshops #2 (In-person & online)
  • 4:15 – 5:00 PM Breakout Workshops #3 (In-person & online)

 

High school events:

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

  • Thursday, March 13, 9:00 am–2:00 pm at Landmark College
  • Thursday, March 20, 9:00 am–2:00 pm at Saint Michael's College
  • Monday, April 7, 8:45 am–1:45 pm at the Vermont State University Lyndon Campus (in partnership with the Northeast Kingdom College Fair)
  • Wednesday, April 9, 8:45 am–2:00 pm at the Vermont State University Castleton Campus (in partnership with the Rutland Area Guidance Counselors’ College Fair)

High schools were invited to register to bring students to these events during the school day. 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 information.

Workshop descriptions and resources from the 2025 events are available in the tabbed content below. Watch any of the 2025 workshops on VSAC's College & Career Pathways YouTube playlist, or click on workshop names below to find the recording for that session.

Below you can find more details and resources for the resource fair and each of the live workshops that were offered at the March 8, 2025 event.

Please note that the resource fair was offered in-person only. All workshops were offered both in person and virtually.

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

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Join VSAC and special guests, Sarah Hobart, UVM Senior Associate Director of Admissions, and Mike Pieciak, Vermont State Treasurer, from 2-2:15pm to kick off the day.

Exhibitors at the In-Person Resource Fair, 1-2pm
Resource Fair Handouts

In-person Attendee Folder Handouts:

College Search Handouts:

Admissions Handouts:

Financial Aid & Managing College Costs Handouts:

Scholarships Handouts:

Career Exploration Handouts:

Session 1  | 2:25 – 3:10pm

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? This interactive workshop will help you consider what you want from your post-high school experience, and provide strategies and tools to start narrowing down the search to institutions that meet your needs.

Audience: Best for 9th–11th grade students alone or with their parents/guardians (less appropriate for parents/guardians alone)
Presenter: Sara Vargo, VSAC GEAR UP Assistant Manager

Resources:

Navigating the College Search for Students Who Learn Differently

This workshop will give neurodiverse students and their families the tools you need to determine fit and prepare for the transition to education after high school. We will discuss what to consider, the questions to ask, the legal landscape, and the wide range of accommodations, supports, and programs that exist in post-secondary education today. The presenter will also share some details about the specific expertise of Landmark College, which specializes in educating neurodiverse high school and college students.

Audience: Best for 9th–12th grade students and their parents/guardians; also appropriate for college access professionals
Presenter: Lori Harding, Director of LC Online Partnerships, Landmark College

Resources:

GENERAL

SPECIFIC

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 identify and explore their career interests.

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

Resources:

Session 2  | 3:20 – 4:05pm

Apprenticeship Opportunities

Enrolling in a registered apprenticeship program is a smart investment in your career. It provides hands-on training, mentorship, and a path to a rewarding career with long-term stability and growth opportunities. Come learn about the opportunities that exist in Vermont, and how to pursue a registered apprenticeship to take the first step toward your dream career. 

Audience: Best for 10th & 11th grade students and their parents/guardians
Presenters: Sarah Ballou, Program Manager, VTSU Electrical and Plumbing Apprenticeship Programs & Christopher Laflam, Vermont Department of Labor – Workforce Development

Resources:

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: Matt "Beagle" Bourgault, VSAC Talent Search Director

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: Amy Dodge, Post-Secondary Programs Coordinator, Vermont Agency of Education (Please note that the presenter will be joining this session virtually)

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: Elga Gruner, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions, Vermont State University & Anna Dechert, Senior Associate Director of Admissions, Dartmouth College

Resources:

 Session 3  | 4:15 – 5:00pm

MyFutureVT: Your Guide to Success After High School

Planning for life after high school can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Come explore MyFutureVT, a free resource for career exploration, education options, and financial planning. Plus, learn about the Vermont Employment Pathfinder, a new tool that will help you connect the dots between your skills/interests and education/job opportunities. Gain the confidence and tools to confidently chart your path to success!

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: Matt "Beagle" Bourgault, VSAC Talent Search Director

Resources:

Taking a Gap Year: How to Build an Intentional Path to Your Future

What if you could take time after high school to explore your interests, gain new skills, and not fall behind—but get ahead? Taking an intentional gap year offers a chance to build confidence, develop independence, and gain clarity about future goals. Gap year expert Julia Rogers will lead an eye-opening session showcasing how a well-planned year can help students thrive—socially, professionally and personally—no matter what post-secondary option comes next. You'll explore the range of opportunities a gap year offers, get tips on how to plan for college deferment or reapplication, strategize how to finance gap time and learn how to design a meaningful and fun gap year.

Audience: Best for 10th-12th grade students and their parents/guardians
Presenter: Julia Rogers, President Emeritus, Gap Year Association

Resources:

Writing the Admissions Essay

The admissions essay brings your unique voice to your college applications – this session will provide you with strategies to approach this important piece of writing and a better understanding of how it will be reviewed.

Audience: Best for 10th & 11th grade students and their parents/guardians
Presenter: Carrie Pratt, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions, University of Vermont

Resources:

 

Below you can find more details and resources for each of the live workshops that were offered at the 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

Landmark College on Thursday, March 13
  • 8:45–9:15am: Bus arrival & check-in
  • 9:15–9:45am: Welcome & opening activity
  • 10:00–10:45am: Breakout workshop 1
  • 10:55–11:40am: Breakout workshop 2
  • 11:50am–12:35pm: Breakout workshop 3
  • 12:45–1:25pm: Lunch
  • 1:35–1:45pm: Closing & door prizes
  • 1:45–2:00pm: Schools depart
Saint Michael's College on Thursday, March 20
  • 8:45–9:15am: Bus arrival & check-in
  • 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: Groups switch for lunch or breakout workshop 3
  • 1:30–1:45pm: Closing & door prizes
  • 1:45–2:00pm: Schools depart
Vermont State University Lyndon Campus on Monday, April 7
  • 8:30–9:00am: Bus arrival & check-in
  • 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: Half the group head to NEK College Fair, other half to lunch
  • 12:20–1:00pm: Groups switch for NEK College Fair and lunch
  • 1:10–1:30pm: Closing & door prizes
  • 1:30–1:45pm: Schools depart
Vermont State University Castleton Campus on Wednesday, April 9
  • 8:30–9:00am: Bus arrival & check-in
  • 9:00–9:30am: Welcome & opening activity
  • 9:45–10:35am: Half the group head to Rutland Area Guidance Counselors' College Fair, other half to breakout workshop 1
  • 10:50–11:40am: Groups switch for Rutland Area Guidance Counselors' College Fair and breakout workshop 1
  • 11:50am–12:35pm: Half the group head to lunch, other half to breakout workshop 2
  • 12:45–1:30pm: Groups switch for lunch and breakout workshop 2
  • 1:40–1:50pm: Closing & door prizes
  • 1:50–2:00pm: Schools depart

2025 Event Workshop Details

Career Search: Finding the Right Fit

What career fields 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 & Vermont Department of Labor

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? This interactive workshop will help you consider what you want from your post-high school experience, and provide strategies and tools to start narrowing down the search to institutions that meet your needs.

Presenter: VSAC Career & Education Outreach

Resources:

Friends & Family Challenge: Credentialing Up Together in Vermont (offered at Lyndon event for adult attendees)

A workshop for adults to explore career and educational opportunities. Join VSAC EOC Counselor, Marti Kingsley, and learn about options for adults seeking further education and training. This workshop will cover career information, educational options, and how to access funding. The “challenge” is to enroll in further education or training and to encourage family and friends to do the same.

Presenter: VSAC Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)

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:

Navigating the College Search for Students Who Learn Differently (offered at Landmark event)

This workshop will give neurodiverse students the tools you need to determine fit and prepare for the transition to education after high school. We will discuss what to consider, the questions to ask, the legal landscape, and the wide range of accommodations, supports, and programs that exist in post-secondary education today. The presenter will also share some details about the specific expertise of Landmark College, which specializes in educating neurodiverse high school and college students.

Presenter: Landmark College Admissions Department

Resources:

GENERAL

SPECIFIC

Pathways to a Great Career Without a College Degree

Career and Technical Education (CTE) can be a great way to increase skills or jumpstart your career. Through CTE, students can pursue a valuable license or credential during or after high school. This workshop will help you understand the range of options available.

Presenters: Vermont Adult Career & Technical Education Association, Vermont Department of Labor, and VSAC Educational Opportunity Center

Resources:

Career Exploration Resources:

Vermont Career Training & Industry Recognized Credential Programs:

Resources to find and pay for career training:

Pathways to Service: Exploring Military Options (offered at Saint Michael’s event)

Considering military service? We'll discuss the possibilities, from type of service (active, reserve, or national guard) to different branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force) to how to consider officer candidacy versus enlistment.

Presenter: James Yepez, Lt. Col. (Ret.), USAF and School Counseling Coordinator, Burlington Technical Center

Resources:

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:

Personal Finance Challenge (offered at Landmark, Lyndon, and Saint Michael's events)

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 (joined by Opportunities Credit Union at Saint Michael's event) presenting activity developed by WSECU

Resources:

Real World, Real Money (offered at Castleton event)

Learn to manage your money and achieve your goals as you enter the “Real World.” You are going to be facing more responsibilities, now. Learn to manage your money effectively and learn how to avoid any potential financial pitfalls. This workshop will cover budgeting, credit and more!

Presenter: Heritage Family Credit Union

Resources:

Scholarships: Free Money!

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

Presenter: VSAC Career & Education Outreach

Resources:

Student Voices: Life Advice from Recent Grads

Join recent high school graduates as they walk us through their journey, what they learned along the way, and begin talking about what you can do to prepare for you path ahead - it's coming up fast!

Presenter: VSAC GEAR UP Alumni

Taking a Gap Year: How to Build an Intentional Path to Your Future (offered at Saint Michael’s event)

What if you could take time after high school to explore your interests, gain new skills, and not fall behind—but get ahead? Taking an intentional gap year offers a chance to build confidence, develop independence, and gain clarity about future goals. Gap year expert Julia Rogers will lead an eye-opening session showcasing how a well-planned year can help students thrive—socially, professionally and personally—no matter what post-secondary option comes next. You'll explore the range of opportunities a gap year offers, get tips on how to plan for college deferment or reapplication, strategize how to finance gap time and learn how to design a meaningful and fun gap year.

Presenter: Julia Rogers, President Emeritus, Gap Year Association

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.