College Admissions: Three Student Experiences

Jonathan Hughes: [00:00:00] Hi everyone and welcome to the MIFA Podcast. My name is Jonathan Hughes and we have a special treat for you on the show today. This is the third installment of what has gotten to be something of an annual tradition here on the show. Of course, this is the time of year when students are getting their decisions from colleges and typically their financial aid offers as well.

Now, of course, this year has been different in that respect, but not different enough. So we still thought that this would be a great opportunity to hear from students. about their journey through this process. So what it was like searching for colleges, applying, filing financial aid forms, all of that stuff.

And to help us out, we were very fortunate to have the assistance of a fantastic partner of ours, Northeast Metro Technical High School. And this is great, because not only [00:01:00] do we get to talk about everything that I just mentioned, but we also get to talk about vocational high schools, co-op programs, and the specific and very real benefits that come with them.

But listen, the real story here, of course, is the students themselves. So every year we do this. It's so much fun. It's great to get to meet these students, and I always walk away impressed. And this year, of course, is no different. So you're going to get to meet them in just a minute. But first, I wanted to let you know that if you have any questions about planning, saving, and paying for college, you can contact MIPHA at 800 449 MIPHA.

You can email us at collegeplanning@mefa.org and you can reach us over social media as well. So on Facebook, that's @MEFAMA, on X, that's @MEFATweets, and on Instagram, that's @MEFA_MA. So now, let's meet our seniors at Northeast Metro Technical High School.

Iliana: My name is Iliana I'm a senior at Northeast Metro Tech, and [00:02:00] I am trying to pursue a law.

David: My name is David Umana, and I'm 17 years old, and I go to Northeast Metro Tech. And after high school, I'm trying to continue my career as an electrician, try to go into the electrical field, either as an engineer or in the workforce.

Gino: I'm Gino. I'm a senior, and my end goal is to be a pediatrician.

Jonathan Hughes: I guess I'll, I'll ask you, what influenced you and your plans?

Iliana: For me, it was when my mom came to this country, and back in El Salvador, she tried to pursue a law degree, but couldn't, because she tried to find a better life here, so I just wanted to follow in my mom's footsteps and stuff, so yeah. The education is something that is really important to her.

Jonathan Hughes: Did she talk about that?

Iliana: Yeah she's very, she tries to encourage us a lot with her education and stuff. Even I have a four year old little brother and she like goes and buys some workbooks and stuff about the alphabet and stuff. Education is very important in our household. My parents are from here, [00:03:00] so they're the ones who just motivate me to stay in school and just continue.

Jonathan Hughes: What about a electrician or electrician specifically interested.

David: I like, like the math and like the science behind it and the physical work too.

Gino: I didn't really know what I wanted to do initially, but then I came here. I got into dentistry. And then that gave me a general idea that I wanted to do something in the health field. And then I also got a job as a summer camp counselor. And then all of a sudden coming together, I wanted to work in the health field and work with children. I ended up in pediatrics.

Jonathan Hughes: I heard you mentioned something Yeah. What do you mean by that?

Gino: So basically here at Northeast, we call them shops. Yeah, we just say it. So I'm from business tech and this is my shop, or I'm an early child care. That's my shop.

Jonathan Hughes: Oh, okay. And your shop is business tech?

Iliana: Yes.

Jonathan Hughes: And your shop is?

David: Electrical.

Jonathan Hughes: And your shop is?

Gino: I'm in Dentistry.

Jonathan Hughes: Oh, okay. How many shops are there?

Iliana: There's 16.

Jonathan Hughes: Oh, [00:04:00] okay. And when do you have to choose which shop?

Iliana: By the end of our freshman year.

Gino: You revolve through a certain number of shops weekly, or alternating weeks you get to do one of each shop, and you get to decide based off I think you get to try 10, something like that.

Iliana: My shop has helped me a lot. through figuring out my career path because it's business tech, there's such a wide variety of stuff that I can do. But yeah, like my shop has really helped me throughout the years. At first I did go into it wanting to own my own hotel and stuff, but my shop actually offers a law class my, this year actually.

And it actually got me thinking like the business aspect, cause I do DECA, it's like a business competition and stuff. Yeah, it actually like it guided my entrepreneurial mindset and like, when I grow up, I want to own my own law firm and stuff. So like business tech really fit my my endeavors.

David: I say our shop really does help us learn how to really do the work and understand the work. [00:05:00] To do like the math and the science, I'd say you would have to continue studying because there's a lot to it. Because anybody can really do the work. It's just the difference between somebody who doesn't know and someone who does know is how to prevent fire, how to prevent heat.

Jonathan Hughes: Something else that makes this high school special is the co op program. I was wondering if you could explain David working co op.

David: Yeah, I'm on co op. I work at MTH co op. There's one week you come to school as a normal student and next week it's like a program where you actually go to work in the field and it counts as your hours for your license. So then when you get out of school, you already have a head start of someone who hasn't even worked at all. And sometimes it can be stressful because you have to wake up really early. It's like a real job. You're getting paid. And I feel like quitting every day, but it's still part of my education, so I have to go, one week you go to [00:06:00] school, one week you go to work. And basically it's just, you got to act like a sponge. Just learn everything. You don't really do much because you're an apprentice, but you just watch, ask questions, all of that.

Jonathan Hughes: So what do you do then? What are you learning?

David: So in MGH, it's more like the math and science, like I said. It's like a lot of generators. You can get ASTs. And sometimes you do like simple stuff like fix a light bulb. But most of the times it's like coding, it's all that stuff. And I'm just watching because I can't really touch anything. Like I said, just ask a lot of questions because they'll always be down to teach you.

They'll always be there and There's a lot of people there that have had their own businesses been in the union. It's a really good learning experience

Iliana: It's the same for me. I also Participate in the co-op program. I work at an accounting firm and Although accounting may not be the path that I [00:07:00] may choose when I took up the job I saw the office life in certain areas of it.

And right now tax season is like very stressful at our office right now. And so it actually helps me learn how to work under pressure and stuff and getting things on time. My time management skills definitely are at its peak right now. Yeah, I think co-op has really helped me see different options in my life.

Gino: I did co-op last year, and it's definitely a good way of learning. I learned you learn things on paper, but once you do it hands on, in the actual practice, it's completely different, and it just shows you a little bit of what the real world's and your real job.

Jonathan Hughes: Do you think that you have a leg up going to this technical school, or a technical school, A hundred percent.

Gino: If I wanted to right now, I don't have to go to college. I could have a pretty good career, be a dental assistant, have a high paid job.

David: Yeah, there's definitely an advantage being in a tech school because, let's say, [00:08:00] nothing works out, you still have some learning experience from here that you can just, you already have something to like, look after. Even if everything else goes wrong, you still have what you learned in school, and you have a head start.

Iliana: I also agree. I think being a student at a vocational school definitely has its advantages. I'm learning stuff that people are learning at the middle of their college career and stuff. Since I'm studying, wanting to study law, I may already know stuff that other people don't because I've already learned it in high school.

Jonathan Hughes: So you've done the college search by now. How did you do that search? What factors were important to you when you were looking at various colleges that you might want to apply to?

Iliana: I think some factor for me was I'm really close with my family and stuff. So I wanted to stay close I wanted to go and I growing up. I wanted an education in Boston. So yeah, so that was like I didn't apply to any colleges out of state. They were [00:09:00] all in state and stuff so yeah, and then like cost was also a factor in mine as well because I have my sixteen-year-old brother, like just two in two years, he's going to be in the same position I am, so I don't also want to go to such a high expensive college that way, like my parents have to

Jonathan Hughes: And how many colleges did you apply to?

Iliana: I applied to close to around like 12 or 13.

Jonathan Hughes: Were they all close by?

Iliana: Yeah, they were all close by. Most of them were like just like in the heart of Boston and stuff. Like Suffolk University and there was UMass and UMass Boston. Have you heard back from colleges? Yeah So far I've gone into seven out of what I applied to and stuff.

Right now Like I, my career, like right now my path is looking at towards Suffolk University. Yeah. Haven't gotten any financial aid in office yet, have you? Not yet, no. But they did offer me a scholarship.

Jonathan Hughes: And where did you apply?

David: I wanted to [00:10:00] stay in a local area, so I applied to UMass Boston, Bunker Hill, and UMass Lowell.

Jonathan Hughes: Do you have any acceptances?

David: Yeah, I got direct admission to UMass Lowell, and I got into UMass Boston with a scholarship.

Jonathan Hughes: What was that like, getting that direct admission?

David: Direct, learning that I got direct admission?

Jonathan Hughes: Yeah.

David: I was happy. Yeah. I was so like, wow. I told my mom, I was like, We did it man.

Jonathan Hughes: Was she happy?

David: Yeah, she was happy. Was that a surprise? Yeah.

Jonathan Hughes: Do you think that made it easier to apply to other jobs? Because I know I'm in here.

David: Yeah. I I just had the mindset I'm going to just apply. If I don't get in, I don't get in. I still have this one as an option to get in. But I did apply, and I got direct admission. But at first, I wasn't planning to apply there because it's far away from where I live, but I'd say I could still make the trip back and forth, because I don't really want to dorm because I want to stay with my parents.

Jonathan Hughes: Are you [00:11:00] heading towards any particular school?

David: More to the Boston side. I'm going to stay more local.

Jonathan Hughes: And what about you?

Gino: Biggest factor was just staying in state and just the price of tuition and stuff. And also campus a little bit because I do want to do a lot of extracurriculars. A lot of things I've been told like going to pre-med meetings and stuff with the colleges. They say you need a lot of extracurriculars, good grades is like the two biggest things, and research, so I've been looking around there. I was thinking UMass Boston just because in state and the tuition is pretty affordable compared to other places.

Jonathan Hughes: Did any of you take a visit on campuses?

Iliana: I've only visited two colleges. I visited Northeastern University, and then I also visited Northeastern University.

Jonathan Hughes: And did you like seeing the campuses?

Iliana: Yeah, like both campuses. I thought like at first like Gino was saying, I thought I would like the campus environment. And I was like, it was like Suffolk, their campus is [00:12:00] the city so I thought that would like, I wouldn't, that wouldn't interest me, but once I got there and I saw it, I was like, no I actually like it maybe better than just like the campus and stuff, so yeah.

David: I only visited UMass Lowell, and when I went there, it was just a big surprise, because I thought it was going to be like a high school, but here, it's like the whole city, it's like a school. You have to take like buses, it's like the buildings. It's one side, south side, north side. It's crazy. Yeah, I toured a couple schools.

Gino: I toured UMass Lowell, Austin, and Emanuel. And, I couldn't say what I liked the best. Yeah. Did you enjoy all of them? Or were they Yeah, they were all enjoyable. Yeah. I know that you use MIFA Pathway in your school. Northeast Metro uses MIFA Pathway. So I was wondering how, I don't know.

Jonathan Hughes: You used MEFA Pathway in your college search.

Iliana: I actually I began using MEFA Pathway from like my junior year I think [00:13:00] looking for colleges because I knew like my seniors coming up like my application like applying to colleges like that's something soon So I use like the search your colleges. I use like that little thing where you like match me to like certain colleges and stuff.

And it really helped me out a lot to see like my different options and stuff. In the Boston area, I put wanted instate. I put what I'm looking towards to like to major in and stuff, it does really help with the list of colleges in the field too to really figure out where you're trying to go.

Jonathan Hughes: Okay, now it comes time to file your, not just your, Admissions applications, but your financial aid applications. So what was that process like? What was the surprise about that? Or what was stressful about that? What was your experience?

Gino: First thing was I heard it was like a first one there, get the most or like you have to apply as soon as possible. So yeah, for financial aid. So I was like on the website every single day because it said it dropped. But it was just like, a beta or whatever only allowing so many people in. And all my friends [00:14:00] are like, constantly texting me like, Did you get in yet? Did you get in yet? I was stressing.

And then the, my mom and dad's account were like, messed up somehow. So we didn't know if we got it. But we were like, on the website. I think I checked at least once an hour every single day until I got in. Have you been able to file it yet? I got my like, oh it was like a number.

They gave me that the other day. I don't know what is, I don't know exactly what filing is. The SAI got a while ago. They emailed me that a while ago, but then like when you go on the website, it tells you like a range of like where you're at and like a number.

Jonathan Hughes: What about you, David? Have you been able to file yet?

David: I did like at the end of February, cause I was like struggling with my parents accounts, it was weird. I had to get help from like older people that already graduated. From here too, from this school, and from college. But they said that the FAFSA has changed a lot. Yes. They were confused as me, so

Jonathan Hughes: Iliana?

Iliana: Still in the process of filing because the problem with my parents [00:15:00] account just got resolved literally just a couple days ago. We're working on filing it up right now.

Jonathan Hughes: I know, it's tough, but can you explain what the issue was? That prevented you from filing him. What did you, how did you try to fix that?

Iliana: For me, it was like the activation of their accounts and stuff. And I got delayed and I was on customer service, like calling them up two times and stuff. And at first they're like, it's going to take a couple of business days. And I was like, okay, that's fine. And then it still wasn't activated and stuff and then I called back and then they said it was going to take two weeks like business days and stuff and I was like, Oh my gosh.

Jonathan Hughes: When did you start filing?

Iliana: So I tried to start filing it like right when it came out, but like Gino said, it was like causing a lot of problems and stuff. So I just decided I heard it But then my cousin told me like, oh yeah, I applied a little bit late too, but they still gave me a good amount of money, so I'm like, I'm just going to wait a little bit, and wait for the for them to like, try to fix some aspects of the website and stuff, and-

Jonathan Hughes: Was it like weeks, or?

Iliana: Like a couple [00:16:00] weeks, yeah, and then I started talking to my mom about it and stuff, so we were able to get her part done, it's just like my dad's account that was like, causing problems. I started doing it like January, the beginning of January, and the activation part is where like mess everything up and I would try to call customer service, but it would just put me on hold.

I just stayed there waiting for 15 minutes, never got back to me, so I just hung up. I kept trying that with the people that were helping me and eventually we just got it on our own. We even emailed them, nothing.

Jonathan Hughes: And did you file February you said?

David: I finished it in February, but I started it January 4th. I got it in like the third day after it was like, after it started, but it took like multiple tries. Every time you go on the website, like you get halfway through and then just crash. And then it was a mess, but I eventually got in and yeah, I filed it like three days in.

Jonathan Hughes: Now, did you apply to any colleges that require additional financial aid applications?

Iliana: So I [00:17:00] applied for I also applied for Northeastern and stuff and like Boston College, Boston University And I tried to get as much financial aid out of them, but I know they also require the CSS profile and stuff. So yeah, but the CSS profile was easier for me to fill out just because there wasn't so many people on the website at the same time and stuff.

Gino: Comparing the FAFSA and the CSS, it definitely took longer to do the CSS if it was just like, strictly just doing it, but the FAFSA took way longer, just because it was failing.

Jonathan Hughes: What was it like for your parents? Was it stressful for them too, filing these forms?

Gino: Yeah, my mom was like, pulling the customer support every day at work. She was on hold of them. She was not happy. My mom was just like, everyday just asking me, did you do it yet? Did you do it yet? Did you do it yet? No, not yet. For me, my parents Yeah, like they were a bit stressed about it and they could see the amount of stress it had on me too, so They were more like of a support system they were like, it's okay we'll [00:18:00] get it done, and then

Jonathan Hughes: Okay, so you have some acceptances just to run down again, Iliana, you applied to twelve schools? And we're accepted to seven. David, you were accepted to, you applied to three and were accepted by two. And Gino, you applied to Six.

Gino: I'm waiting for one more and then we get back. It's Brandeis. And then we'll see.

Jonathan Hughes: Okay, so you get some scholarship information from colleges. But obviously with the FAFSA, I haven't not reached them yet. You don't have full financial aid offers yet. Is it stressful to wait?

Gino: Yeah. My parents are like waiting for an answer on where I'm going. They keep like asking me, I just, I don't have the full information yet, so I can't decide. Yeah, same thing. Let's see, let me hear.

Jonathan Hughes: Typically, college deposit dates are May 1st. How are your [00:19:00] colleges handling that, the FAFSA delays?

Iliana: Yeah what they did for some schools that I applied to, first it was May 1st but then they saw how delayed FAFSA was and stuff, so they pushed, some schools pushed it back to June 1st.

Jonathan Hughes: Do you have a similar experience about, in, in yourself, about deposit dates

Gino: Yeah, I see like emails saying they're pushing everything back because financially it is late. I want to go to school for a long time, so I think that's a really important factor for me personally. I want to try to get into Bunker Hill, just because it's a community college. So I can save a little bit more money and then transfer into a university. Yeah, cost definitely for colleges. Like I said, I have like my younger siblings so we can go back and stuff.

Jonathan Hughes: Are you concerned about loans?

Iliana: Yeah. A bit, yeah. Yeah.

Gino: One of my teachers really likes to talk about like financial information and stuff like that. So we walked into a documentary class about a guy, or a bunch of people, [00:20:00] that are like in crazy college debt. And like statistics about college debt.

And it's like I wouldn't say it scared me, but it's like it really got me like thinking about where I'm going to go with that, yeah, I've heard from like people that already graduated that there's like the loans, they're worth it. You just got to like really try to pay it back because there's some that have interest, there's some that have no interest.

David: They can give you as much as you want, we got to pay back with interest. I know people that graduated years ago and they're still paying and it's people that already paid it off. It really all depends. How much you can support on your own and how much support you really need from others. Financial literacy is actually a part of the business technology.

Iliana: And so we did go over loans and like stuff. And at the beginning of this year we actually talked about student loans and we actually went through the simulation of going like you living in your college life and stuff. It goes over social, your social life, all that stuff. And then [00:21:00] it, your costs, and then it shows how much debt, like the estimated debt college students have after graduating.

And I wanted to avoid that as much as possible, which is why loans are, like, a kind of a scary thing for me, because I don't want my credit score to take a huge hit to that because of it. And I also want to go on to law school and stuff I just want to get out of the first four years with just little to no debt.

Jonathan Hughes: If you have any advice for any students who come back to you throughout this whole process, what would it be?

Iliana: For me, I just say when looking for any career path that you may choose, I think it's very, research is really good. And seeing if that certain career path fits your wants and needs and stuff. So yeah, I feel like finding a perfect match, or a good match to a certain career is a really just a huge achievement after high school.

David: I'd say start now. Start early, because the year goes by quick. Sometimes you don't even know what you want to do. So [00:22:00] once you have something in mind, just start.

Gino: Just start, and network. Try to make connections with a lot of people. They can really help you. You never know. They can tell you things. Not make the same mistakes as them. And yeah. I'd say be open minded to where you want to go, and what you want to do, because things can change and Apply for scholarships as early as possible very much.

Jonathan Hughes: Best of luck to all of you and I'd love to check in with you later on if you're Up for that to see how things are going with the major choice. It was great to meet you. so much. Nice to meet you too

To our students Iliana David and Gino, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for participating It means so much to us that you're willing to do that and hearing you talk about everything that's ahead of you is really exciting. The best of luck to you. [00:23:00] Of course, we wouldn't have met them if it hadn't been for our friends at Northeast Metro in the guidance department.

So thank you, Helen Rouse. Thank you, Rosemary Ruiz. And thank you, Jean Mills. And folks, if you liked what you heard today, and you want to hear more from us on planning, saving, and paying for college and career readiness, check Then you can follow us wherever you get your podcasts and please remember to review us because that helps us And tell your college and career minded friends and family about the show.

I'd like to thank our producer Shaun Connolly I'd like to thank our friend Jen Bento-Pinyoun I'd like to thank AJ Yee, Lisa Rooney and Lauren Danz for their assistance in getting the show posted Once again, my name is Jonathan Hughes and this has been the MEFA Podcast.