The MEFA Podcast

Episode #35. Host Jonathan Hughes has two conversations about unique paths when planning for college. He first talks to Ellen Ullman. She is the mother of a student who is enrolled at Michigan State University. After learning the cost difference between in-state and out-of-state tuitions the Ullmans decided to move to Michigan. After, he talks to Gracie Rosenberg, who was a dual enrollment student at Franklin County Technical High School and Greenfield Community College. You’ll first hear their initial conversation from a previous episode and then a follow-up from this past summer. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #9. ***Please note that some details about the FAFSA in this episode are now outdated. Please reference mefa.org for updated information. *** If you’re divorced or separated, you may have questions about completing financial aid forms. On this episode of The MEFA Podcast, MEFA's Associate Director of College Planning Jonathan Hughes breaks down how to complete these forms, including maintaining confidentiality between parents, which parent completes the forms, how to determine the custodial parent, and how to keep the financial aid office involved. Jonathan also answers listener’s questions about changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, adding additional colleges to the FAFSA, and applying your student loan when you transfer schools. Jonathan is joined by MEFA's Director of College Planning, Julie Shields-Rutyna, and Wheaton College’s Director of Student Financial Services, Susan Beard. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #34. The college experience can feel daunting for new and current students. Host Jonathan Hughes speaks with MEFA Pathway Coordinator Ajea Stupart about how to manage your college life. Ajea breaks down her blog series on the topic as well as some of her favorite features from MEFA’s college and career readiness tool, MEFA Pathway. Jonathan is also joined by Julie Shields-Rutyna, MEFA’s Director of College Planning. They discuss the parent side of students adjusting to college life as well as the financial side of paying for college. They also, as always, answer a question from the MEFA Mailbag. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #33. Join co-hosts Jonathan Hughes and Julie Shields-Rutyna as they discuss features of mefa.org, including how to sign up for MEFA emails and where to find the MEFA blog post and webinars about financial aid, as well as all of the different services MEFA has to offer. Then they talk to MEFA’s Digital Creative Content Manager, Lauren Patten, about college scholarships, including how to apply for them, where to find them, and strategies for using them. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #32. In this rebroadcast for National Able to Save Month, host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Sarah Lazare, Director of the Banacos Academic Center at Westfield State University. Sarah explains how students with disabilities can prepare for college success and what specific programs Westfield State University offers to help students with disabilities navigate college. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #30. Host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Drew Carter, Deputy Director of Admission at College of the Holy Cross, who explains how students can present their best college admissions application. Factors include letters of recommendation, the college essay, and demonstrated interest. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #31. In this bonus episode of The MEFA Podcast, host Jonathan Hughes talks to the President and Founder of TISLA (The Institute of Student Loan Advisors), Betsy Mayotte. Here, Betsy talks to Jonathan about the recent temporary changes made to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and walks us through the program itself. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #29. Each student has a different track in the post-high school journey. Recently, a parent wrote to us asking for advice for her daughter in college, who isn’t sure she is on the right path. In this episode, host Jonathan Hughes speaks with Jan Combs of Bright Horizons College Coach to address this situation and others that may come up for students deciding what to do after high school. Also in this episode, Julie Shields-Rutyna, MEFA’s Director of College Planning, joins Jonathan to talk about the Federal Student Loan Repayment pause. Finally, in the MEFA Mailbag, Julie answers a question about how and when to apply for their private student loan. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #28. Saving for college may seem like an overwhelming task, but with the U.Fund 529 College Investing Plan, you can save in an account that offers affordability, flexibility, and powerful tax advantages. Host Jonathan Hughes speaks with Massachusetts guidance counselor and U.Fund account owner Kate Ryder about how she selected the U.Fund, her experience opening her account, how she’s able to save on a regular basis, and why saving for college is important to her. Jonathan is also joined by Julie Shields-Rutyna, MEFA’s Director of College Planning, who discusses how she used funds from her U.Fund account to pay the college bill for her two children and how families can begin saving for college with the BabySteps College Savings Plan. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #27. Host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Chris Peterson, Founder and Director of Penny Forward, who discusses growing up with a disability, how he got involved in the personal finance community, and how people with disabilities can save for expenses and plan for the future with ABLE accounts. Jonathan is also joined by MEFA’s Director of College Planning, Education, and Training, Julie Shields-Rutyna, and Attainable expert Mary Rubenis, who discuss what Attainable accounts are and the benefits of saving in one. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.