"It's not the winter that bothers me - it's the summers."-- Walt Alston
I can't remember the last time I took a proper summer vacation. You know, the kind when you pack up the kids into the station wagon, pack a cooler with sandwiches, and head out on the open road to visit a place like the Grand Canyon or the world's largest ball of string. Since joining the world of student financial aid, summers have mostly consisted of long hours and piles of forms. Not that I'm complaining, taking vacation in the fall is a great way to avoid the crowds, get a less expensive airfare and relax after working hard to ensure students start the school off on the right foot. All those hours in the summer pay off in late August when you hear a student say "thank you".
Today is July 31st, application deadline for the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant. Make sure to get your envelopes postmarked today to ensure consideration for category 1 or 2. The state grant is an excellent program designed to help Virginia residents attend a Virginia private school. Awards for the 2008-09 year are projected to be $3,200 for undergraduates and $1,900 for graduate students. Students must take 12 (undergrad) and 9 hours (graduate) per term respectively.
So, enjoy the rest of your summer (and get your VTAG application in). As for me - I'm looking forward to the fall!
Interesting Links for the Day:
SCHEV's Page about VTAG
SCHEV's New Financial Aid Blog
View from my office on a sunny summer morning.