April 16, 2013
By Meredith Barnhart
Between deadlines for college financial aid applications and tax returns, families juggle a lot of numbers and forms this time of year. That’s why the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) allows families to estimate their 2012 income when they submit the FAFSA, and come back later to update the information after they file their tax returns.
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April 10, 2013
By Meredith Barnhart
Between deadlines for college financial aid applications and tax returns, families juggle a lot of numbers and forms this time of year. That’s why the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) allows families to estimate their 2012 income when they submit the FAFSA, and come back later to update the information after they file their tax returns.
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March 28, 2013
By Peter Wyatt
This past December I had the opportunity to partner with MEFA and present Financial Aid Night Seminars to two local high schools. While these presentations were intended to be general and wide-ranging in content, two areas seemed to generate the most interest and follow-up questions.
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March 27, 2013
By Martha Savery
As I sat at the luncheon at the MASFAA conference, I was taken back 30 years ago when I attended my first one. I came to the profession of financial aid from the admissions “side” of higher education and was so totally captivated by the incredibly dynamic and committed group of aid professionals I came into contact with at that conference.
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Jan 30, 2013
By Angelina Mancini
In my senior year of high school, the guidance counselors gathered us all into the auditorium to hand out a packet with scholarship announcements. The scholarships were from local business, community organizations and some from the high school. As she passed out the packets, one counselor told my graduating class of 200 to “Apply for everything. Even if you don’t meet the criteria, apply!” I decided to take her advice.
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December 21, 2012
By MEFA Staff
We’re getting great questions submitted to Ask the Expert, where MEFA’s staff can answer your questions about financial aid and college admissions. We plan to share some of the best ones here, along with our answers. (Of course, we’re protecting the privacy of the people who submit questions so some personal details maybe omitted or altered.)
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November 20, 2012
By Kendra Lider-Johnson
Many families have a few extra days off this week because of Thanksgiving. For college-bound seniors, the extra down time is perfect for getting a head start on the process of applying for financial aid. Follow our easy instructions and in just half an hour, you’ll have peace of mind going into the financial aid application season.
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October 3, 2012
By Christina Matthew
Fall in New England offers exceptional ways to enjoy the season – crisp, refreshing breezes; brilliantly colored leaves and sunsets; melt-in-your-mouth apple pies – just to name a few. To experience the best of autumn this year, I decided to join a team of MEFA employees in a 4k trail run on Thompson Island.
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July 9, 2012
By Kendra Lider-Johnson
Few things in life are certain, but the trend of rising college costs is unlikely to disappear anytime soon, and procrastination costs. Saving for college is the best thing you can do to prepare for your child’s future education, and one of the safest ways to do that is by prepaying tuition and fees with the U.Plan. Make sure you understand how the U.Plan works before time runs out on this year’s enrollment period.
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June 20, 2012
By Kendra Lider-Johnson
Today is the first day of summer, the Summer Solstice, which means we have more daylight today than any other day of the year. If you haven’t decided what to do with your extra time, here are a few suggestions.
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May 24, 2012
By Kendra Lider-Johnson
As the first long weekend of the season, Memorial Day Weekend has become known as the unofficial start of summer, featuring first-of-season barbeques, home improvement projects, parades and other outdoor activities. And it’s hard to ignore the fact that summer vacation is around the corner. Children grow more excited with each passing day, knowing that they’ll soon be done with another year in the classroom. Parents get ready to switch gears into a new family routine that’s not governed by the school-day schedule. With these three tips, your family can make the most of this great spring weekend, prepare for the transition to summer, and maybe even start some new family traditions.
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May 4, 2012
By Kendra Lider-Johnson
By now, your son or daughter has made a decision about which college to attend in the fall. First of all, congratulations! Now you can take a deep breath and start to look forward to high school graduation. But keep the college financing process simmering in the background, since the more planning you do now, the less anxiety you’ll have in the summer.
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April 23, 2012
By Kendra Lider-Johnson
This spring, we’ve been talking to hundreds of college-bound seniors and their families about getting ready to pay for college. So many families have found that they didn’t receive as much financial aid as they had been hoping for, and many are now wishing that they had started saving sooner and saving more. Even if you do have some savings set aside, you may still be uncertain about your next steps. Someone at a recent MEFA After the Acceptance seminar asked me: Should we borrow the whole amount to pay the college bill and keep the money we have saved?
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April 12, 2012
By Kendra Lider-Johnson
Are you ready for a family roadtrip? Spring break is a great time to hop in the car with your high school junior and learn about colleges by visiting campuses. Researching colleges and discovering what you like doesn’t have to be a chore. Whether you’re checking out one college or ten, driving five miles or five hundred, it’s important to plan ahead so you can have a smooth and enjoyable trip.
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March 29, 2012
By Penny Hauck
My nephew’s 4th birthday party was a few weekends ago. A few days before, I checked in with my sister to see what I could do to help her get organized, and we decided I could bring a fruit salad for the kids to share. Then I asked that essential question we all ask before a birthday party.
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January 25, 2012
By Kendra Lider-Johnson
Intimidated by financial aid application forms? Nervous you might make a mistake that will cost you thousands in financial aid eligibility? Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert to complete your applications, and you don’t have to pay for assistance or rely on word-of-mouth either. If you get stuck on a certain question or section, there are many free expert resources available to help you navigate obstacles. That’s right, free.
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January 12, 2012
By Kendra Lider-Johnson
A recurring question among families applying for financial aid is whether parent information really needs to be included on the FAFSA. Folks sometimes wonder if they can simplify the process and maybe get more financial aid by filing with only the student’s information. Unfortunately, it’s not usually that simple.
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January 5, 2012
By Kendra Lider-Johnson
The FAFSA is the most common financial aid application form. If you’re interested in going to college and you want to receive grants, scholarships, and other types of financial aid, you’ll probably find that all the colleges on your list require this important form. So how do you know if you’re eligible to complete it?
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December 22, 2011
By Kendra Lider-Johnson
Winter is the season for most college-bound families to start working on their financial aid applications. When you’re organized and prepared ahead of time, you can minimize stress and mistakes during this important process.
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