Authored Blogs by
University of Massachusetts
Bachelor's in Economics
Tufts University
Master's in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
I came to College Coach with close to 10 years of experience in college financial aid offices. I began my career at Boston University, where I counseled students and their parents on the financial aid process and reviewed undergraduate financial aid applications. At Tufts University, where I served as assistant director of financial aid, I developed expertise in the field of health professions financial aid. I was responsible for financial aid application review, grant awarding and loan processing, and college financing and debt management counseling for both pre- and post-doctoral dental students. I have also served as an active member of the Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator’s Early Awareness and Outreach Committee, coordinating early college awareness activities for middle school students; as a trainer for the Department of Education’s National Training for Counselors and Mentors, educating high school guidance counselors on the financial aid process; and as a volunteer for FAFSA Day Massachusetts, aiding students and parents with the completion of online financial aid applications.
Watch this helpful video, updated for 2024, on how to apply for financial aid.
Shannon Vasconcelos, a former Financial Aid Officer at Tufts University, tackles the question "Does Where You Go To College Matter?"
Our college finance experts have compiled a list of colleges in the U.S. that offer the most financial aid. Check it out!
To make your scholarship search efficient, our experts recommend looking locally, checking with your prospective colleges on available funds, and using merit-aid-focused search engines.