ADDISON COUNTY —Vermont Student Assistance Corp. (VSAC) will offer free workshops at over 50 local high schools from October through November to help families learn how to manage college costs and to fill out financial aid forms.
In Addison County and Brandon,  the following workshops will take place:
•  Otter Valley Union High School, Thursday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m., Computer Room.
•  Mount Abraham Union High School, Thursday, Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m. Space is limited. Call Guidance in advance to register.
•  Vergennes Union High School, Thursday, Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m. Space is limited. Call Guidance in advance to register.
•  Middlebury Union High School, Monday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m., Library. Space is limited. Call Guidance in advance to register.
Each year, Vermont families leave millions of dollars of financial aid on the table by failing to file either the federal or state financial aid forms — $4.5 million last year, according to NerdWallet.com.
At the Financial Aid & Managing College Costs workshop, families will get an overview on how pay for college costs and the different types of financial aid available. VSAC will also share with families several resources and websites that offer additional tools to file financial aid forms.
VSAC’s Financial Aid Forms workshop offers guidance on filling out the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and the Vermont State Grant application. The FAFSA is the basis for determining eligibility for federal Pell grants, the Vermont State Grant, financial aid from the school that the student attends, and for student loans. Income-eligible students average nearly $6,000 between the Pell and Vermont grants — that’s money that doesn’t need to be paid back.
Students and parents will each need to create their own FSA ID a few days prior to the workshop by visiting fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm. Check out the VSAC website  at tinyurl.com/VSACwkshops2019 for a list of other information to bring to be ready to successfully complete the applications.
Students and parents also can ask questions and learn about the college financial aid process, including how to apply for scholarships. Internet access will be available and space is limited.
Information on VSAC’s college planning resources can be found at vsac.org.