Last week financial aid awards were in the mail. Every admitted student with a complete application (FAFSA, VLS Institutional Application and 2007 Federal Tax Return) was packaged. We are now working on the next round of awards which should go in the mail by this Friday. It is not too late to get in your financial aid paperwork. If you have questions, please feel free to call, email or stop by.
Archive for the 'Admissions' Category
What a day to write my first financial aid blog of the year. It is beautiful and I find myself looking outside and thinking Spring is coming! Inside, the Financial Aid Office is really busy, which is expected. Visitors are stopping by and the phones are ringing off the hook.
The award process has begun and by next week, we will have all applicants awarded who have complete files. Remember, a complete file requires you to submit a FAFSA and Institutional Application. We also need a copy of your 2008 Federal Tax Return.
We will continue updates on this blog as where we are with awarding. Please feel free to call us if you have questions. Enjoy your weekend!
The Admissions Open House on Saturday was a great success!! Our visitors included over 50 prospective candidates along with another 30 or so partners, parents, friends, etc. The day began with campus tours about 9:00 and did not end until almost 3:30. The weather cooperated beautifully; fall foliage is still glowing with color.
Thank you for coming to visit our campus, we enjoyed talking with you and look forward to greeting you as applicants in the near future.
Finally . . . last night the Red Sox won the American League division title. Could the series have gone on any longer ?? Now I can’t decide who I am really supporting in the World Series. Being a New Englander for 6 years now, I have to cheer for the Red Sox. After all, this is the center of Red Sox Nation. But I have been a National League Braves fan my whole life, so part of me wants the Rockies to do well - especially because this is their first Series. We should have a good series this year. Go Baseball !!
I have been on the road quite a bit this week, driving back and forth from Burlington. Normally I would mumble something about using too much gas, complain that the airport is too far away, etc. but this week has been special. The foliage season is peaking and the scenery is beyond description. Leaves are all the colors of our childhood crayola box - from light yellows to vivid orange to deep scarlet - and mixed with the rich greens and blue/greens of the evergreens. Today, as I flew into Burlington from Chicago, it was fun to listen to the passengers on the plane ooh and aah as we descended over Lake Champlain toward the airport. Of course the roads are full of cars with out-of-state tags as the “leaf-peepers” enjoy the beauty - and enrich the economy of the state, thank you very much.
My hope is that much of the color holds on this week as we prepare to welcome visitors to campus on Saturday for the Admissions Open House. It’s not too late to RSVP!!
Snow showers are predicted for late tonight and early tomorrow morning. Temps will rise into the high 40’s, so snow will melt by mid-day. We always receive our first snow of the fall the week of the Open House - just part of the tradition. Husband is taking the car in next week to have the tires switched to the snow tires, windshield washer fluid changed, etc. Tis the season!
The fall travel season is in full swing. One of our recruiters, Becky Garland, has been on the road for a week - participating in events in Florida. Another recruiter, Kara Godfrey, starts in Chicago on Saturday for the Chicago Forum, and then moves on to DC and New York City next week.
I fly out to Anchorage tomorrow to spend a week doing college fairs and alumni events. We have about 40 alumns in Anchorage, the Kenai Penninsula, Fairbanks and Nome. It is always great fun to visit with them - and they love for someone from VLS to bring them the newest VLS goodies. We have 3 students in the entering class from Alaska - the college fairs always attract strong applicants; this is always a great trip.
Will tell you all about it when I return!
This weekend is the Tunbridge Worlds Fair - I hate to miss it, but am sure that there will be fun reports on the student blogs next weeks.
See you in a couple of weeks when I return to campus.
Today (Tuesday, March 6th) says “Vermont”. At 5:10 am, the temp is -4 with wind gusts of over 40 mph. Light snow is predicted. However, the big event across the state is Town Meeting Day – a very special Vermont tradition on the first Tuesday of March. Many businesses and schools (including VLS) are closed so that all can participate.
To quote the Burlington Free Press, “It’s that time of year again, when Vermonters gather in town halls, school gyms and fire stations around the state to conduct the people’s business. It’s an example of direct democracy that is as much a part of Vermont as maple syrup and fall foliage . . . Town meetings still remain a central part of governing most communities here.”
The first town meeting in Vermont was held in Bennington in 1762. According to the Burlington Free Press, some topics considered at early town meetings included whether to let pigs run free or to allow smallpox vaccinations in the town (some thought vaccinations were dangerous). Voters also decided what goods or labor could be used as payment for taxes. Today, we are more likely to vote on town budgets, local school budgets and various referendum and resolution measures.
I may be a considered a “flatlander”, but I am proud to live in Vermont!
This has been quite the interesting month of February – both in terms of the weather (always providing good commentary) and in Admissions and Financial Aid.
Weather first – we had “the” snowstorm a bit over a week ago. According to those who keep records, Vermont had the second heaviest snow storm ever. Our area received over 30 inches of snow in 24 hours – and it did snow! It was the light powdery kind that blows around and you sink right into. I tried going out in my snowshoes, but the snow was too soft and too deep. I sunk down to my knees. The dog, who is very large, sunk down to the top of his back - so resorted to tunnelling. Afer a few days, the snow has packed down, perfect for winter sports of all kinds! Also, the temps have warmed up a bit, to the high 20’s – making playing outside even more fun.
We had a heads up on the snow storm, so I took home a large box of files on Tuesday night and did not even attempt to get to the law school during the bad weather. It was much more sensible to stay at home and review applications.
The state supreme court held their arguments on campus this past Thursday – postponed from the snow day. One of our professors from the Environmental Clinic, David Mears, argued a case before the court. He said later that he was more nervous arguing in front of his students than in front of the justices.
Black History Month is always recognized with numerous events on campus, coordinated by the Black Law Student Association. Several of the presentations this year addressed race in higher education. The students also celebrated through music, dance, film and theatre – magnificently beautiful.
The Financial Aid Office has been busy. In addition to collecting application materials from applicatants, the staff has held several workshops for current students. Since it is tax time, this series has focused on assistance with tax returns and deductions that are of benefit to graduate students.
Onward to March . . .
An integral component of the VLS program is the South Royalton Legal Clinic. 2nd and 3rd year students, under the supervision of faculty, represent indigent clients from all over Vermont.
One of the members of the clinic faculty, Alex Banks, sent out the following message on the campus e-mail this morning. I deleted the 3rd year student’s name for this blog posting.
I just thought this was pretty cool and wanted to share it:
I drove a brief to Montpelier this morning to file with the Supreme Court. (student) almost exclusively wrote this brief. As I sat in my office this weekend doing final edits, I just couldn’t find a thing to change. It was absolutely a superlative effort that (student) turned out principally over her Holiday vacation. It was so tight and on point, I ended changing very very little. So win lose or draw, CONGRATULATIONS (student).
But something else happened. (student) was at least thoughtful enough to leave me a small section to do myself. As I was checking for the most recent cite on a particular point, know what I found ? The most recent cite was one of my earlier cases; the brief on that case was similarly produced by a student who did just an incredible job. Who knows if the quality of the brief had anything to do with the outcome, some things we will never know. But it occurred to me that the students at this tiny law school are putting their imprint on Vermont Jurisprudence in a way that might not happen anywhere else. OK maybe I am making too much of this, maybe I should have just gone home and watched the Patriots game, but I still think it was pretty cool.
WAY to go (student)
We’re back from the holiday break . . . it was nice and quiet. It finally snowed for real about 10:00 on Christmas night, and then we got several more inches on Saturday. It was enough to take the dog out and tromp around on the snowshoes. Dog goes crazy in snow. He is a big black furry 3 year old, half golden retriever and half border collie. He rolls around like a maniac and then takes off running with his nose buried in the snow. He leaps and jumps like a fool - a very happy boy.
The bowl games are going well – Georgia beat Virginia Tech !!
Not much to talk about in Admissions. We are incredibly busy processing all the mail coming in from applicants, downloading apps from LSAC, etc. Thank you very much!
A new voice will soon join me on this blog – but because of technical issues beyond my control, I cannot add his photo to our front page. The new blogger will be Dino Koff, the Director of Financial Aid and Admissions. He’ll have lots to talk about regarding financial aid issues – of some minor importance to law school applicants and students.
Fair warning though – he is a Red Sox fanatic !!
I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a healthy and happy holiday season with family and friends. Please be safe in your travels (yes, I’m a Mom).
Vermont Law School closes this afternoon for the holiday break and will re-open on Tuesday, January 2nd.
No snow yet, but the storm that is currently in Missouri is headed our way – snow is predicted for Saturday (fingers crossed!!).
