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Accepted to College. What's Next?National College Decision Day is May 1st, which means that high school seniors have just under 50 days to decide where they will spend the next few years pursuing their post-secondary education. As students begin to receive their college acceptance letters, many families are left grappling with how to understand and compare financial aid award letters and make the best decision for their family. For this reason, 10 years ago MEFA developed the After the College Acceptance program, which provides free seminars, webinars, and online information and tools designed to help families analyze their award letters, determine the balance due at each school, and make a smart payment strategy. "We know that families have a lot to consider as they make the college decision and determine a plan to pay for higher education costs. Our mission is centered on guiding families through the college planning process to help them understand their financial aid awards and plan their next financial steps," said Thomas Graf, Executive Director of MEFA. MEFA in a Community near you From mid-March through mid-April, MEFA will provide seminars in 20 communities across the Commonwealth to help guide high school seniors and families through the final college selection process. Seminar topics include understanding award letters and how to compare them, finding scholarships, and making a plan to pay for college, including the use of interest-free monthly payment plans. MEFA's seminar schedule is available online at mefa.org/events/after-the-college-acceptance/. "We encourage families to consider all the factors when making the final decision of where the student will attend college, includig cost," advised Julie Shields-Rutyna, Director of College Planning for MEFA. "Cost is an extremely important factor when making this decision, so it is crucial for families to understand how to evaluate financial aid award letters, as each one can look a bit different." College Bound 2019 To learn more and find all the resources provided in this program, families can visit mefa.org/collegebound2019. Additionally, families should consider signing up on mefa.org to receive MEFA's email curriculum. For those that have questions or want to talk further about planning for college, MEFA's College Planning Experts can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (800) 449-MEFA (6332). MEFA is also on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. About MEFA MEFA is a not-for-profit state authority, not reliant on state or federal appropriations, established under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 15C. MEFA's mission, since its founding in 1982, has been to help Massachusetts students and families access and afford higher education and reach financial goals through education programs, tax-advantaged savings plans, low-cost loans, and expert guidance. All of MEFA's work aligns with the ever-present goal to support the independence, growth, and success of Massachusetts students and families. Visit mefa.org to learn more or follow MEFA on Twitter (News - Alert) @mefatweets and on Facebook (News - Alert) at mefaMA.
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