"Preparing to apply for college can be a confusing undertaking for high school students and parents, so we put together a detailed program to walk families through this process step by step," says MEF Executive Director Melanie Perkins. "The sole purpose of our MEF Advisor program is to help families apply for college and find financial aid, and this seminar is a great way to help educate the community on the college planning process."

The seminar will be presented by the McKinney Education Foundation Advisors, trained college-admissions and financial-resource counselors who are housed at each of the three McKinney high schools. It is free and open to anyone interested in the college admission process.

"College 101" topics include:

1. how to select a college,
2. benefits of a university, junior college or vocational school,
3. SAT vs. ACT, and finding help preparing for each,
4. the college application package,
5. costs,
6. deadlines,
7. tips for essay writing,
8. scholarship searches,
9. and much more.

The MEF Advisors help hundreds of students and parents each year to enroll in and find funds for college. In the last five years, the MEF Advisors have helped MISD families secure millions of dollars in funding for higher education.

The MEF Advisors:

1. help students locate and apply for scholarships and financial aid
2. assist students with essays for college admission
3. meet with parents to educate them about colleges and the college admissions process
4. establish and maintain relationships with admissions and financial aid departments of colleges
5. assist students with financial aid and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms