[O]ctober has been christened financial aid filing month by Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., Gov. Peter Shumlin and Vermont’s education leadership. The governor challenged college-bound high schoolers to take advantage of new early filing deadlines that use last year’s tax returns for the federal application.
“Vermonters will need to continue their education after high school if they are to be qualified for the majority of careers in Vermont’s new economy,” Shumlin said in a news release. He noted that financial resources are available. “It begins with the (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). And now it begins in October,” he said.
Other participants in the news conference were Jeb Spaulding, chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges; Scott Giles, the president and CEO of the Vermont Student Assistance Corp.; and representatives of Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
This is the first year that the federal application can be filed beginning Oct. 1 — three months earlier than in the past. The change means families will have more time to find out how much financial aid they can receive.
Just over half of Vermont students file the form, according to Holcombe. “The purpose of today is to reinforce that completing the FAFSA form must be part of every student’s plan for paying for college. For some, FAFSA will be the difference between getting or not getting a credential that leads to a good job with a good wage,” Holcombe said.
Giles said students who apply by the end of the month will be eligible to win a scholarship to certain Vermont colleges. He also encouraged students to apply for a state grant after filing their federal paperwork.
VSAC will be hosting workshops that explain the financial aid forms and process at more than 60 high schools between October and January.
Later in October, VSAC and various Vermont college campuses will have free FAFSA clinics for families.
Those who can’t attend can call VSAC at 800-642-3177 on the evenings of Oct. 18-20 to speak to a counselor.
