College costs , even at state colleges and universities, are soaring and causing students and families to worry whether they can afford a college education. The state of Massachusetts offers several programs through the MASSTRANSFER program. MassTransfer program offers three options: Gen Foundation, MASSTRANSFER A2B and MASSTRANSFER A2B +COMCOM.

With the Gen Foundation option, students enroll and complete the 28 general education foundation courses, at any Massachusetts community college, state university or University of Massachusetts campus. There are a few exceptions such as Mass Maritime and Mass College of Art. Students can save 11% of the tuition costs of a public four year degree by transferring those credits to a Mass State University or UMASS. Because students are only taking the foundation courses, no Associates degree is awarded when participating in this program. Credits are guaranteed to be accepted as transfer credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Admission is not guaranteed to the state four year institution.

A 28% savings can be realized when students enroll in the MASSTRANSFER A2B degree program. Students in this program attend a Massachusetts community college for two years and receive an Associate degree, then transfer to a Mass. state university or UMASS campus to complete their Bachelor’s degree.

For an even greater savings — 40%, students may choose to participate in the MASSTRANSFER A2B + COMCOM. COMCOM stands for Commonwealth Commitment. The Commonwealth Commitment requires the student to start their college career at a Mass. Community college, then transfer to a Mass. state university or UMASS campus to complete the last two years of their Bachelor Degree. MASSTRANSFER Students must attend full time and complete their bachelor degree courses in two years, while maintaining a 3.0 GPA. In return the state guarantees a freeze on all tuition and mandatory fees, a 10% rebate on tuition and fees at the end of each completed semester.

With the MASSTRANSFER A2B and MASSTRANSFER A2B +COMCOM programs students are guaranteed that their credits will transfer from the community college to the state university and UMASS as long as students achieves a GPA of 2.0+. With a GPA of 2.5+ students are guaranteed state university or UMASS admission.

Students must apply for each of these programs and complete an application and MASSTRANSFER A2B +COMCOM applicants must complete a participation agreement.

Both of these are available on-line at

MASSTRANSFER

If you are considering transferring colleges and are unsure of your options, need help identifying colleges that fit your needs, or have a weak academic history, contact me at shashmc@gmail.com to schedule a private consultation.

Setting up your college dorm room or apartment can be overwhelming. If you are sharing a dorm or apartment trying to decide what to bring and who brings what can be unruly. It is advisable to reach out to your roommate over the summer before school starts to make sure you are not duplicating items unnecessarily.

Of course you will also need to find out what is available in the dorms and what is not allowed in the dorms. Most colleges will provide you with information about dorm size fridge rentals. Certain appliances may be banned, such as toaster ovens or room heaters. Common areas on your dorm floor may have a stove, small refrigerator or microwave.

When creating your list of things to bring to college break down the list in to categories such as:

Bedding

Laundry

Personal care (including prescriptions and OTC medications)

Clothes for fall (for the climate you will be living in)

Study/school supplies

Room essentials (lamps, waste basket, storage containers, extension cords,flashlight, batteries, & shelving)

Food and snacks

Kitchen essentials

I have found some very comprehensive dorm checklists online that you will find helpful when compiling your list of things to take to college.

Teen Vogue has a list of 97 things to take to college. Link to it here:

http://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-every-freshman-should-bring-college-dorm-packing-checklist

Her Campus has a list also:

http://www.hercampus.com/life/campus-life/what-bring-college-best-college-packing-list-ever

To make sure you have what you need to prepare breakfast or a light meal or snack I recommend these Pampered Chef products, which I sell at Sharon’s Pampered Chef.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR MY FOLLOWERS:

To help you get your dorm room or apartment set up, I am

offering FREE SHIPPING to my followers would order from Sharon’s Pampered Chef by September 15, 2018.

Offer valid in the US only. You must email me at shashmcl@gmail.com to claim your free shipping.1

For those of you with high school seniors, you should be aware that the 2018-2019 FAFSA is available October 1st. You can complete the form as early as that date, particularly if your child is applying for EARLY DECISION or EARLY ACTION. If for those students applying for college through REGULAR Admission, the FAFSA may be completed later. My suggestion would be to survey the colleges your child is likely to apply to for their FAFSA deadline for incoming freshmen. Remember that any student applying for federal or state financial aid, including student loans, must complete a FAFSA. There is no fee for submitting a FAFSA.

Note that when completing the 2018-19 you will need your 2016

Federal Tax Returns (parents’ and student’s) to complete the income section.

Also available October 1st is the College Board’s 2018-2019 CSS Profile. This is the additional form that many private colleges and universities use for determining eligibility for institutional grants and scholarships. There is a Registration fee, as well as, a fee

for each college you request be sent the results. Students applying to private colleges will fill out the FAFSA as well as the Profile.

To complete the FAFSA click this link FAFSA.

To register for the CSS Profile click this link CSS Profile.

Today’s Boston Globe reported on ServiceCorps, a new service program that has partnered with GE and Citigroup. ServiceCorps allows corporate-bound college grads to defer for-profit careers for a year to work full-time at non-profits.  

The  college grads receive a salary between $35,000 and $40,000, health benefits and a 401k. Another great feature is that any student loan payments are also covered during the service year.

Read the full article on ServiceCorps.

There are two big changes coming to the FAFSA, Free Application For Student Aid, on October 1st. The FAFSA will now be available 3 months earlier than it traditionally has been. No longer will you have to wait until January 1st to complete the form. Now you can apply as early as October 1st. In addition, the federal tax return you will use to complete the form will be the “Prior-Prior” Year (PPY) return, as the Department of Education is calling it.  For the 2017-2018 FAFSA you will use your 2015 return. (If you applied for aid during 2016-2017, you also used your 2015 return.)

What is the significance of the changes? The earlier FAFSA availability assists students applying for Early Decision and Early Action Admissions. Currently families have to use the CSS Profile for ED and EA. There fees associated with the CSS Profile (registration and for each college/university the results are sent to in your behalf). The FAFSA is a free application. 

In addition, because the tax return used is the PPY, you will not have to wait until you complete your federal return or estimated your income. Also, business owners, will not be disadvantaged if they typically file tax returns later in the year. They would have their completed PPY return by October.

This chart from the USDepartment of Education shows the changes for 2017-2018  and 2018-2019 FAFSA.