The MEFA Podcast

Episode #96. Host Jonathan Hughes talks with Dr. Monnica Chan, Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, about college affordability and student loan repayment. They discuss Dr. Chan’s educational background, what made her interested in college affordability, the results from a recent study of students on repayment, and what she sees as the biggest factors in student loan repayment. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #90. Host Jonathan Hughes talks with Stephanie Wells, MEFA’s Director of College Relations, about MEFA Loans. They discuss how to apply, the different loan terms, how families can determine the best option, and the differences between a MEFA Loan and the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #88. Host Jonathan Hughes talks with MEFA’s own Julie Shields-Rutyna to answer a MEFA Mailbag question about the different ways families can pay the college bill. Then, MEFA’s Lauren Danz joins to share details of some available scholarships with August deadlines as well as a few scholarships specifically for adults learners. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #77. Host Jonathan Hughes talks with MEFA’s Director of College Relations, Shawn Morrissey, about the new FAFSA, including updates and changes to the FAFSA, what students and families need to know about their FAFSA statuses, and what families can do now and in the coming months. They also discuss the FAFSA correction process, college deposit deadlines, and making a plan to pay the college bill. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #75. Host Jonathan Hughes and co-host Julie Shields-Rutyna first answer a MEFA Mailbag question about MEFA’s U.Fund, the 529 College Investing Plan, and MEFA’s UPlan Prepaid Tuition Program. Later, they talk to MEFA’s own Lauren Danz, who shares scholarship tips and highlights some scholarships with April deadlines. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #70. Host Jonathan Hughes talks with the founder of The College Investor, Robert Farrington. Robert is a leading expert on student loan debt with a goal of getting students out of debt and helping them build their wealth. Jonathan and Robert discuss student loan debt, how to get out of it, the new SAVE plan offered by the federal government, and much more. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #69. Host Jonathan Hughes and co-host Julie Shields-Rutyna talk with Director of College Relations at MEFA, Shawn Morrissey, about the new FAFSA form and the challenges and delays families have been experiencing. They discuss current FAFSA issues, how families can manage them, what to look for to make sure the form has been submitted correctly, and how colleges are reacting to these setbacks. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #68. Host Jonathan Hughes sits down for a conversation with Jonathan Paz of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugees Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition. They discuss the struggles immigrant students have had receiving college financial aid in the past, how state legislation offers them a new path forward, and the steps required to file for state financial aid using the new form for immigrant students, the MASFA. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #66. Host Jonathan Hughes and co-host Julie Shields-Rutyna discuss the most common issues that have come up for families while trying to file the 2024-25 FAFSA. Topics include FSA ID creation, filing the FAFSA without an SSN, delays in FAFSA Submission Summaries, adjustments to the family’s Income Protection Allowance, and more. They also answer a MEFA Mailbag question about parent assets and the FAFSA. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #65. Host Jonathan Hughes answers a MEFA Mailbag question with co-host Julie Shields-Rutyna about if 529 plans owned by non-parents need to be claimed on the FAFSA. Then MEFA’s own Lauren Danz describes 3 upcoming scholarships that have February deadlines including The Christopher’s High School Poster Scholarship, the Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship, and the Scholars Helping Collars Scholarship. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.