Systematic Approach to College Choice for Students & Parents
This webinar, presented by Dr. Amanda Sterk, Director of Accelerated Programs, Florida Southwestern State College and Dr. Timothy Poynton, Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston, two experienced educators with a passion for bringing tools and strategies to school counselors, help you assist your students with the college choice process using a strategy called LEADS. You can be able to take the strategies and tools shared during this webinar and immediately start using them as your work with students and families.
MEFA Institute: Learn About FAFSA Completion Reports
In partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has created near real-time school and student-level FAFSA completion reports within Edwin Analytics. These live reports allow schools and districts to monitor whether seniors have completed and submitted their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which they must submit in order to apply for federal and state financial student aid for college. The Department encourages all school counselors to have access to Edwin. Join in this webinar with presenter Nyal Fuentes, College and Career Readiness Coordinator at DESE, to learn about this important tool and how it can help your school and your students.
FAFSA Simplification for College Officials
FAFSA Simplification, including the delayed availability of the FAFSA, has brought unprecedented changes to the financial aid process this year. The college admissions and financial aid cycle has been upended, with significant impact on the work of admissions, financial aid, and enrollment management administrators. Three higher education leaders and FAFSA experts provide guidance on how your institutions can manage these FAFSA changes and revised timeline this winter and spring while continuing to serve your prospective and current students.
The MEFA Institute<sup>™</sup>: A Deep Dive into the FAFSA
This webinar for school counselors and college access professionals provides a detailed overview of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), including step-by-step instructions on completing the application, helpful tips on answering questions correctly, and important next steps.
MEFA Institute: Entrepreneurship as Postsecondary Path
This webinar provides key information about the entrepreneurial mindset, showcases how entrepreneurship is a viable pathway for students after high school, and explores tools and resources that can be utilized in and out of the classroom. Hear from Adanma Ude, Regional Director of Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a global educational nonprofit focused on bringing the power of entrepreneurship to youth. She is joined by NFTE alumni who share their postsecondary experiences.
Counseling Students with Unique Financial Aid Needs
This webinar, presented by Suellen Dean, Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Assumption University, Kevin DeRuosi, Associate Director of Special Programs and Compliance at Salem State University, and Karensa DiFonzo, Director of Student Financial Services at Wellesley College, provides guidance for school counselors and college access professionals in working with families with unique circumstances throughout the financial aid process. Topics include independent students, undocumented students, nontraditional parent families, and financial aid appeals.
The MEFA Institute<sup>™</sup>: Understanding MA State Financial Aid
This webinar provides an overview of the state-based financial aid programs in Massachusetts. Join Constantia T. Papanikolaou, Chief Legal Counsel at MA Department of Higher Education, and Dr. Clantha McCurdy, Senior Deputy Commissioner of Access and Student Financial Assistance at MA Department of Higher Education, as they discuss each of these programs and highlight some initiatives by the Commonwealth of MA and Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA).
The MEFA Institute<sup>™</sup>: A Deep Dive into the CSS Profile
This webinar for school counselors and college access professionals, presented by Gail Holt of Amherst College, introduces the nuts and bolts of the CSS Profile®, a financial aid application required by roughly 200 colleges, universities, and scholarship agencies across the country. Topics include tips on completing the CSS Profile, specific financial and household data collected, and how colleges and universities use the application information.
MEFA Institute<sup>™</sup>: FAFSA Simplification Overview & Updates
If you’ve been overwhelmed by all the FAFSA Simplification information that has trickled out and want an overview of the details you need to know, or you haven’t had the time to learn all the new updates, we’re here to help with our FAFSA Simplification overview webinar for college administrators. We discuss new terms, the updated formula, Pell calculations, the concept of contributors and the FSA ID, foreseen challenges, and best practices.
MEFA Institute: Career & Academic Plan (MyCAP)
Interested in learning more about MyCAP, DESE’s My Career and Academic Plan, and how this approach is beneficial to students’ postsecondary pathway? This webinar is for you. Hear middle school and high school counselors share their experience and insight on implementing the MyCAP model in their district. Invite your principal, school counseling team, administration, and anyone else who wants to hear about the process and the tools used to support and guide students on their journey.