The MEFA Podcast

Episode #19. Host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Jennifer Bento-Pinyoun, Director of MEFA Pathway at MEFA, Cheryl Nelson, Counselor in the Lunenburg School District, and Julie Shields-Rutyna, Director of College Planning, Education, and Training at MEFA. Jennifer explains how students and counselors can utilize MEFA Pathway, the Commonwealth’s free college and career planning portal for students in grades 6 through 12. Cheryl explains how she uses the platform with her eighth and ninth grade students, what her favorite features are, and what advice she would offer to other counselors looking to get started with MEFA Pathway. Jonathan and Julie answer listeners’ questions about applying for financial aid with international parents. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #18. Host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Mary Rubenis, Outreach Manager of Attainable® at MEFA, Sarah Lazare, Director of the Banacos Academic Center at Westfield State University, and Julie Shields-Rutyna, Director of College Planning, Education, and Training at MEFA. Mary explains how individuals with disabilities can save for qualified expenses in an Attainable® account and all the benefits the account provides. 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. Jonathan and Julie answer listeners’ questions about what happens to a 529 plan and an Attainable® account when the owner moves to another state. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #17. Host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Stephanie Wells, Director of College Relations at MEFA, and Julie Shields-Rutyna, Director of Training and Education at MEFA. Stephanie Wells explains how to compare college loan options, including the differences between Federal Direct Student Loans, the PLUS Loan, and private loans, as well as paying the college bill through a combination of past, present, and future income. Jonathan and Julie discuss the VaxMillions lottery and how fully vaccinated individuals between ages 12 and 17 can enter to win a college scholarship in a U.Fund 529 account. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #16. Host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Jennifer Ma, Senior Policy Research Scientist at the College Board®, and Julie Shields-Rutyna, Director of Training and Education at MEFA. Jennifer Ma explains College’s Board recent Education Pays report, including patterns among U.S. adults with different education levels and disparities in college participation and completion across demographic groups. Jonathan and Julie discuss new college loan rates and answer listeners’ questions about letters of recommendation. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #15. Host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Dror Liebenthal, co-founder and CEO of bold.org and Julie Shields-Rutyna, Director of Training and Education at MEFA. Dror Liebenthal explains how students can search for scholarships on bold.org, an innovative, streamlined, and secure service that matches students to exclusive scholarships. Jonathan and Julie discuss vaccine requirements at Massachusetts colleges and answer listeners’ questions about financing off-campus housing. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #14. Host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Paul Curley, CFA, Director of 529 & ABLE Research at ISS Market Intelligence, and Julie Shields-Rutyna, Director of College Planning, Education, and Training at MEFA. Paul Curley explains all you need to know about 529 accounts, including their history, how they work, what studies show about opening an account, and why it’s important to start saving for college. Jonathan and Julie discuss everything MEFA has planned to celebrate 529 Day and the benefits to having both a U.Fund and U.Plan. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #13. Host Jonathan Hughes breaks down uAspire’s recently published Beyond the College Bill report with uAspire’s Massachusetts Policy Director Anika Van Easton and Senior Vice President of Knowledge Holly Morrow. The report discusses the hidden hurdles of indirect expenses. Jonathan also answers listener’s questions about negotiating merit aid and using a student loan to study abroad. He’s joined by MEFA's Director of College Planning Julie Shields-Rutyna, who shares information about an upcoming event that will offer free help to families with completing the FAFSA. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #12. PLEASE NOTE: This podcast was recorded in 2021. As of 2022, this program has been renamed from After the College Acceptance to How to Pay for College: A Guide for High School Seniors & Families. You've received your college acceptances and financial aid offers. Now what? On this episode of The MEFA Podcast, MEFA's Associate Director of College Planning and Content Creation Jonathan Hughes explains how MEFA’s How to Pay for College: A Guide for High School Seniors & Families campaign will help you with understanding financial aid offers, making the college decision, and paying the college bill. Jonathan also answers listener’s questions about the U.Plan, applying for financial aid with international parents, and upcoming webinars. Jonathan is joined by MEFA's Director of College Planning, Julie Shields-Rutyna, and MEFA’s Director of College Relations, Stephanie Wells. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #11. Did you know that in Massachusetts there are opportunities to reduce college costs as you earn your degree? The program is called MassTransfer, and it provides several benefits for students transitioning from a Massachusetts community college to a Massachusetts 4-year public college or university. On this episode of The MEFA Podcast, MEFA's Associate Director of College Planning Jonathan Hughes explains how MassTransfer guarantees transfer admission from an associate to a bachelor's degree program and the powerful savings it offers for students and their families. Jonathan also answers listener’s questions about the CARES Act, tax forms related to the U.Plan, and if saving for college will affect your financial aid. Jonathan is joined by MEFA's Director of College Planning, Julie Shields-Rutyna, Holyoke Community College’s Coordinator of Transfer Affairs & Articulation, Mark Broadbent, and University of Massachusetts Amherst student, Liuginsa Rosa. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #10. The BabySteps Savings Plan is Massachusetts’ first statewide seeded college savings account program. BabySteps jumpstarts families into saving for their children’s future college and vocational costs as soon as they enroll. On this episode of The MEFA Podcast, MEFA's Associate Director of College Planning Jonathan Hughes discusses the first year of the BabySteps Savings Plan, what was learned in the pilot program, how to program makes saving for college more accessible, the work done with community-based organizations, and why it’s important to start saving for college early. Jonathan also discusses changes to the SAT®, including the discontinuation of subject tests and the optional essay, and answers listener’s questions about finding an academic fit for college and applying for fall semester student loans. Jonathan is joined by MEFA's Director of College Planning, Julie Shields-Rutyna, and Deputy Treasurer and Executive Director for the Office of Economic Empowerment, Alayna Van Tassel. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.