Scholarship Money – How to Write a Winning Essay

Archive for the ‘Federal Grants’ Category

Scholarship Money – How to Write a Winning Essay

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

Scholarships are the most convenient way to pay for college, because the money you are awarded doesn’t have to be repaid. Applying for both federal and private grants should be a priority and only when these options are exhausted, students should think about other sources of financing such as loans. Filing FAFSA is the prerequisite for being eligible for both grants and loans and those who qualify for a grant will be informed in an official letter. Not all scholarships are need-based and even some of those who are, demand the student to write an essay and convincing the judges is a big challenge.

With so many students competing for a handful of grants, the way in which the essay is written can make the difference and that’s why students should pay attention to this task. After locking in on a scholarship, students should commit themselves completely to write a convincing essay that will help them stand out from the crowd. The competition might be intense, but the prize is worth fighting for, and those who respect a simple set of guidelines are favorites to win.

Start on the Right Foot

You need to keep in mind the purpose of the award and the reason the organization is offering the scholarship in the first place and choose the theme accordingly. The message you try to transmit needs to be clear and concise, because judges don’t always have the time and disposition to dig deep into the essay trying to find relevant information. It is also important to respect the directions given, because if you stray too much from the subject and ignore the requirements, you will swiftly get disqualified.

At the same time, you should try to understand what exactly the jury expects you to answer, because the underlying question can be more important than the formal one. Most essays start from a seemingly arid issue and then grow naturally, as students share their opinions on a broader subject. There is a fine line that separates a free-flowing essay from one that wavers from the topic, and this line should never be crossed. Some students make the mistake of trying to showcase all their knowledge and talk about subjects that are not relevant or have very little to do with the topic, and they get penalized for that.

On the other hand, answering the questions in a formal way and in a manner that looks more like a rehearsal for a contest, won’t bring you many points. You need to remember that those who compete with you for the scholarships might have the same arguments, so you need to present your case in a convincing manner. The committee seeks the best applicant, and your task is to prove the judges that you are that person, and it is worth investing the money in your education.

It is not a mistake to share something about your life while trying to emphasize an idea, because as long as you stick to the topic, this trick will make your essay more memorable. Pretty much all students aim the same objectives and the subjects they intend to study in college are shaping their answers, but they add very few personal thoughts into the mix. By presenting the reason that brought you in the position to apply for the scholarship and highlighting the ways this financial aid will fuel your ambitions, you have a better chance to convince the committee.

Prove your Dedication and Ambition

Those who award the scholarships tries to find those students who will go to great lengths to succeed and who regard this money as a springboard to higher goals. They seek people who have an unswerving enthusiasm and who will never give up, so make sure you write an essay that highlights your passion. The manner in which you write the paper is of critical importance, and every phrase should convey eagerness, without sounding artificial.

That’s why students should choose a topic that they are interested in, so writing about it won’t turn into a chore and affect the quality of the paper. A thesis statement can help you keep in mind what’s the cornerstone of your essay, so that you won’t stray too much from the theme when presenting your case. While informative and revolving around the directions given, the paper shouldn’t look like a school essay that is bland an unappealing, but should capture the author’s enthusiasm and radiate positive energy.

Merit based scholarships are awarded to those who can prove the fact that they deserve help and have something to show for it. If you have accomplished something in the past, don’t hesitate to present one of the most remarkable achievements, in a manner that flows with the theme of your paper. You can use this opportunity to put one of your accomplishments into context and convince the jury that you could build on this financial support and achieve even better results in the future.

Financial need is also a determining factor in the awarding of many scholarships, but it is important to resist the temptation of turning the essay into a sad story. Granted you might have encountered hardships, there is no point in building the entire paper around them, because this will not convince the committee. One reason is that there are many students who do the same thing, therefore the money wouldn’t be enough to solve everybody’s problem and second, the judges seek people who can find solutions for their problems, not whine about them.

After the essay is complete, don’t forget to show it to somebody else and get a second opinion, even if it doesn’t come from a professional editor. You need someone to proofread the text, but even more important is to have someone willing to help you improve the substance of the essay. Don’t go too far and change most of your essays due to their suggestions, but keep an open mind and try to incorporate most of the feedback you receive.

Posted in Federal Grants | No Comments »

Nursing Grants – Nursing School Grants

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

Due to scientific advances in health and medicine, the life expectancy of the average American has increased considerably from a low of 49 between 1900 and 1910 to a high of 78.32 in 2011.

While this is good news in general, there’s a corresponding increase in responsibility on the part of everyone to ensure the quality of life of those who have surpassed their productive years through better health care facilities and services. Increased life expectancy should mean more and better healthcare facilities and workers, like nurses, to attend to the needs of the elderly and the sick.

Faced with a steadily growing number of senior citizens in its midst, the government has tried to address the issue by relaxing its rules on immigration to lure in more qualified nurses from other countries, but this appears to be a quick-fix solution to the real problem of inadequate nurses.

According to a report dated April 1, 2011 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the healthcare industry continues to grow despite high percentages of job losses in almost all key industries in recent months. This is because more people are getting older and they need nurses to help them.

Many healthcare facilities created over 35,000 new jobs in the first quarter of 2011. The BLS also confirmed the addition of 283,000 new healthcare-related jobs in 2010. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has sounded the alarm over the frightening shortage of qualified nurses and is closely working with nursing schools, legislators, and the media to address the issue.

Unfortunately, the alarm appears to have been largely ignored by millions of high school graduates across the country. The AACN reported a measly 5.7% increase in enrollment in 2010, which is far from ideal to cover the projected demand for nurses in the coming years.

The passage of the Patient Protect and Affordable Care Act in 2010 translates to have more than 32 million Americans gaining access to healthcare services, including those provided by registered nurses. Unfortunately, there are not enough qualified nurses available to implement the law anytime soon.

Demanding Profession

Nursing is decidedly a noble profession, but it often requires rigorous work and long hours. Student nurses are subjected to exact and extensive training in laboratory settings and have to spend more for tuition and laboratory fees on top of other school expenses to cover their needs.

As a response to the shortage of registered nurses and the high cost of training them, both federal and local governments offer grants and scholarships as incentives to encourage students to choose this profession. Grants are useful in providing a means for more students to obtain the quality of education required to succeed in this occupation.

Federal Grants for Nursing Students

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers two major nursing grants – the Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students and the Nursing Scholarship Program.

Scholarships for disadvantaged nursing school students are intended for full-time students with demonstrated financial need and with expressed desire to pursue health sciences-related degrees, including nursing.

Students interested in this program can secure the specific application requirements from the nursing school of their choice. Successful applicants will be chosen primarily based on their financial need and their capability to finish the course.

Another nursing grant available from the federal government is the nursing school scholarship program, with over 200 scholarships awarded annually. Unlike the scholarships for disadvantaged nursing school students, the nursing scholarship program is primarily merit-based. Students availing of this full scholarship are required to work for at least two years in a priority nursing facility.

State Funded Grants

Nursing is a high priority profession all over the United States. At least, 38 states are offering some form of grant program for nursing students, with the states of Florida and North Carolina topping the list of the most aggressive thus far.

Some counties, towns, and cities within some states have their own version of nursing grants to encourage high school graduates to take up nursing and help meet the need for health workers in various nursing facilities in their respective jurisdictions. You should check with your state or county/city/town to determine the availability of a nursing grant.

Professional Nursing

Nurses with advanced degrees are assets to any nursing facility. They can be expected to provide the leadership and advanced knowledge in the management and operation of various nursing facilities. They are also usually hired to teach their specialties in nursing schools.

Like regular registered nurses, there is a dearth of RNs with advanced degrees to hold management positions in hospitals and nursing facilities, and to serve as faculty in nursing schools. In fact, the lack of registered nurses with advanced studies has been cited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing as one of the reasons why some nursing schools cannot accommodate more students.

Grants for registered nurses who wish to pursue advance studies in nursing are also supported by both federal and local scholarship bodies precisely in response to a need to produce more nurses with postgraduate degrees. Grants for this purpose are usually reserved for those who have already been pursuing advanced degrees.

If you already have a specific specialty to pursue – critical care, geriatrics, cancer, pediatrics, anesthesia, emergency, public health, etc. – then you can contact the governing association of your chosen specialty:

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. A grant applicant must be certified registered nurse anesthetist or CRNA and a member of the AANA to qualify.

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. The AANP offers special grants, usually in research, to nurse practitioners.

American Association of Critical Care Nurses. This is another exclusive members-only grant in the amount of $1500 for undergraduate and graduate nurses specializing in critical care.

Emergency Nurses Foundation Association. This is a scholarship for practicing emergency room nurses nationwide. The amount of the award varies according to funds provided by sponsors during an academic year. It’s open to undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Gerontological Society of America. This association offers educational grants from $250 for a research-based article to $10,000 for a comprehensive research on the subject aging.

In the light of the nursing shortage that’s slowly evolving into another crisis if not addressed properly, finding funding sources to finance your nursing education is not exactly like looking for a needle in a haystack. Well, if you know where to look. The following tips might help:

1. Conscientiously fill up your FAFSA

2. Regularly research possible sources of nursing grants and trim them down accordingly.
Grants and scholarships become available throughout the year. You can start by discussing your options with your school’s career center or doing online research.

3. Expand your nursing scholarship eligibility and expand your network.
School activities and community involvement efforts can play an important role in your search for nursing scholarships. These activities demonstrate your well-rounded background which you can highlight in your essay. You can also meet important contacts, like teachers, parents, and even fellow, who may have some tips for you.

4. Write an exceptional grant application essay.
If you have extracurricular activities at school and have community involvement, this should not be a difficult task. You should likewise, indicate in your essay why you deserved to be awarded the scholarship. If your family is financially, say so and explain why. Take note of the following essay writing tips:

5. Attend internships and other training opportunities in the field of nursing whenever possible.
Internship, whether paid or unpaid, can help you better understand the nursing profession. Your internship experience helps when it’s time for you to apply for a nursing grant.

More Demand Coming

With an increasing and aging population, sedimentary lifestyle, pollution, climate change, stress, unhealthy food intake, smoking, alcohol, obesity, and other health threats, the need for health workers, especially nurses, are not about to wane in the short term.

This is why more nurses are needed to take care of the elderly and the sick in our society. According to a report by the Nursing Institute of the University of Illinois College of Nursing, it sees a future of limited access to health care unless more students train to become nurses.

If you want a career whose demand will not wane in many years to come, then pursue a career in nursing. There are grants available for you, if you just look around you.

Tags: Nursing Grants, Nursing School Grants
Posted in Federal Grants, Single Mother Grants, Women Grants | No Comments »

Grants for Women Going Back to School

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

It may be true, as a wise man once said that the world makes way for the man who knows where he is going. But did you know that for a woman who knows where she is going – especially if it’s back to school – the world finds a way.

Sociologists and economists, as well as family life experts, have noted that when a woman goes back to school – and especially if that woman is a wife and/or mother – she improves not only her life, but that of her family as well.

While definitely men who have more advanced education generally have better opportunities for employment, and are thus able to provide for a comparatively higher standard of living for their family, studies on gender differences with regard to educational attainment and outcomes tend to indicate that women who go back to school fare just as well, if not better.

The reason seems to be that women tend to want to go back to school because they want to start or advance in a career, earn better and give themselves and their families a brighter future. And because of a prevailing notion that it’s generally harder for women to get an education, the woman who does go back to school tends to be more determined not just to find a way to go back to school, but to stay in school.

And that’s why so many ways have been found to encourage more women to make the move back to school, and to help her stay the course until she graduates.

Making the Move to College

We’re talking here, of course, of going back to school from the perspective of an interrupted educational path, or as a simpler way of putting it, having taken time off after graduation from high school before moving on to college.

The number of American students who belong to this group is growing. U.S. Department of Education statistics showed that since 10 years ago 75% of American college students have been in the category known as “nontraditional.” This is defined as students who are older (above 25 years); took a break after secondary school or obtained a GED or some other non-traditional high school diploma; were married and/or had children; or worked full-time and attended school part-time.

The more interesting numbers, though, are those on women. Majority (around 60%) of college students older than 29 years were women. The figures further reveal that over a 30-year period (1970-2000), the women in undergraduate programs in the United States went from being a minority (42%) to a majority (56%). More and more women, it seems, dream of more than just a high school education – and appreciating the value of a dream realized, are determined to find the means to achieve it and hold fast with the will to see it through.

If you are such a woman, who has even just considered the idea of getting back into the student ranks, hitting the books and doing homework along with home chores, it helps to know that there are organizations and individuals who are willing to support you in this quest.

Deterrents

If you’re convinced in the idea of going back to school despite your very busy schedule as wife and mom, then the usual baggage that goes with making a decision to realign your priorities becomes lighter and less formidable. Everything else, from the care of the kids to funding your education, becomes more manageable for you and your family.

The cost of going back to college will no longer be the same as when you graduated from high school and decided to start a family instead of pursuing a degree. It will definitely be higher and costlier, and both you and your spouse are certainly not inclined to use your family budget to spend for education. If at all, you worry more about the education of your children.

It’s a good idea to engage in some research and some pencil pushing just so you’ll how much it would cost to pursue your dream. While going to college is not a cheap undertaking, it’s not as expensive as some people make them to be. An expense of $50,000 per year is true, to some extent, but it’s not the general rule. From a list of over 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, not even 10 per cent of them charge that much.

Recent estimates place the annual average cost in public colleges and universities at $6000 to $7000, while private colleges and universities charge from $20000 to $50000 a year, depending on the private school and your course. But this is certainly not to say that $7000 is not a lot of money because it is. If you or your husband can’t afford it yet, there are hundreds of academic grants available not just to high school graduates and regular students, but also to nontraditional students like you.

You can ask for information from the financial aid office of the college of your choice, or you can check the website of the American Council of Education (ACE). There’s no shame in asking. A great majority of students, 70 percent according to a recent figure, seek financial assistance for college education.

Given this competition and considering your situation, you need to plan your moves ahead of time, like a head start of at least six months, not just for application purposes but to prepare yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally for the arduous tasks ahead. Yes, it’s arduous and you need the support and understanding of your family to succeed in your new endeavor.

FAFSA Application

Regardless of your source of grant, you will need to allot time to prepare and submit your FAFSA, an application form prepared by the U.S. Department of Education for purposes of determining your eligibility for financial assistance and the types of aid you can avail of.

As long as you’re a U.S. citizen or a permanent U.S. resident, then you’re qualified to receive some form of financial assistance. If you want to receive a bigger grant, then you need to demonstrate your need for financial assistance using your family’s income statement and other proofs of neediness. A FAFSA examiner can readily estimate how much you can contribute to your college education within three weeks from your date of FAFSA submission, so it’s imperative that you submit your FAFSA form at the earliest time possible.

If you submit your application too close to the deadline, then some of the juicier grants may no longer be available for you, or you lose your chance to make an appeal in case your FAFSA examiner allots you an amount not enough to meet your financial needs for college.

Federal Pell Grants

One of the favorable grants you can receive through FAFSA is the Federal Pell Grants, an all-expense college grant based on your financial need. The Federal Pell Grant is considered one the juiciest, if not the juiciest, and most sought after non-merit based grants available from the federal government.

If you’re a housewife, and you can show proofs that your husband does not earn enough to support your education, mention it right in the beginning paragraph of your college essay to draw the attention of readers. Make the most of your story to convince your readers that you deserve to win a grant.

When applying for Pell Grants and other federally-funded grants, bear in mind that you’re up against other regular students applying for the same student aid. While it’s perfectly alright to take your chances to aspire for regular federal student assistance, it’s also a good idea to consider other options where competition is less fierce, specifically grants designed for women.

Some of them are the following:

Philanthropic Educational Organization. This grant-giving body gives both merit and need based grants and loans to women of your circumstances, specifically those whose college education was interrupted.

Talbot Scholarship Foundation. This foundation is even more specific, offering grants to women returning to college to complete some unfinished college units.

Emerge Scholarship Fund. This is a merit-based grant for women who have contributed some service to her community and want to resume their college education.

AARP Foundation. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to serving older women – 40 years and above – to pursue a college degree or technical/vocational education. It gives priority to women with low-paying jobs or were out of jobs for at least five years.

Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund. This scholarship fund is for low-income women 35 and above, who wish to pursue a degree or vocational/technical training.

It’s never too late for women interrupted by family concerns and cash shortage to pursue their dream of a college education and improve their chances for a better life. Grant or “goodwill” money from the government, well-meaning individuals, and educational foundations is available to help them continue to pursue and achieve a stronger sense of purpose for her family and the community at large, while finding a whole new world for them to control and command to help improve the rest of humanity.

Tags: Grants for Women Going Back to School
Posted in Federal Grants, Single Mother Grants, Uncategorized, Women Grants | No Comments »

College Grants for Women with Disabilities

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

In recent history, we have seen a significant rise in the number of women attending colleges but even so, women are still underrepresented in many fields of work like business, science or research and this is mostly because they lack higher education. The good news is that nowadays women can benefit from a wide range of grants to help them pursue a bachelor’s degree and kick-start their career.

Unfortunately, a certain minority of women had to struggle with more than just the old tradition of men being the dominant gender in higher education and particular fields of work. The number of women who suffer from physical or attention disabilities but attend college or work in more demanding environments is almost insignificant so during recent years steps have been taken to ensure that the disabled individuals have their own fighting chance in pursuing a better career.

Women with disabilities can benefit from a number of unique education incentives created especially for them. Of course, this doesn’t mean that women suffering from disabilities shouldn’t also consider the other types of grants available to all students seeking college education, or scholarships that address all women but the best idea would be to first apply for the financial aid offered specifically to disabled students because the chances of getting the free financial aid are greater since the number of individuals applying is lower.

Organizations and Foundations

Since the separation of disabled students was made illegal by the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,” measures have been taken to help the disabled minority pursue better education and careers. Such being the case, we are seeing a rise in the number of college grants for women with disabilities.

The National Federation for the Blind offers thirty scholarships annually ranging from three thousand to twelve thousand dollars to eligible college students from the US, Columbia or Puerto Rico.

To receive this financial incentive, undergraduates who apply for it must pass the following eligibility requirements:

must be a resident of the District of Columbia, United States or Puerto Rico
must suffer from blindness in both eyes and fill out the Confirmation of Legal Blindness document.
must take part in all the grant program activities and also in the National Federation for the Blind convention.
must be planning to obtain a degree from a complete postsecondary education course in a US college during that year study with the exception of one student that may be offered the scholarship even if working full- time while studying part- time.

For the upcoming year, The National Federation for the Blind grant program will start at the beginning of November and end on the last day of March 2012. Besides the financial aid, every winner in the NFB program will get the chance to partake in the Annual Convention set up by the NFB, this being a great opportunity to meet and establish professional and friendship bonds with other blind individuals already working in different environments. To apply for the NFB grant, every entrant should start by visiting their website at www.nfb.org.

Another great resource for college grants for women with disabilities is the Jewish Guild for the blind. The JGB grant program offers a maximum of 15,000 dollars each to 16 students currently in their junior year.

To apply for this scholarship, students must go through the following steps:

complete the JGB application form which can be found online
provide legal proof of blindness and of United States citizenship like a birth certificate or passport
provide documentations that prove education achievements like a copy with SAT Reasoning Test results
provide 3 letters that recommend the student, 2 of which must confirm the individual’s academic competence. Each of these must also provide the information necessary to contact the person that wrote it. (address, tel. nr. and name)
write 2 cover letters, one detailing the future intents of the student regarding career and education (maximum 500 words) and the second portraying an important teacher that left his mark on the education of the applicant

The complete process of applying for a JGB grant is done online on their website at www.jgb.org so all the documents needed must be scanned and sent via e-mail with the application.

For students suffering from a moderate to severe loss of hearing a good place to start looking for financial aid to pay for college is the A.G. Bell Association. Here, they can benefit from the G. H. Nofer grant is they are planning to pursue a career law or public administration. High school graduates that have learning disabilities (LD) and plan on receiving higher education can apply for the Anne and Allegra Ford grant which award 10,000 dollars each to 2 students who prove to be very serious in pursuing a college degree and a successful career.

Other college grants for women with disabilities can be obtained from the Ethel Louise Foundation which offers two scholarships of 2,000 dollars each to female graduates with disabilities based on merit. The Californian Association for Postsecondary Edu. also offers 8 grants consisting of 1,500 dollars each to undergraduates with disabilities that attend a college in California.

Individuals who suffer from disabilities but are also part of a certain minority group and want to obtain a doctoral degree in biomedical science can apply for financial support from the Nat. Institute of Health Fellowship.

Universities

Campuses can provide a much better environment for students to develop their academic and intellectual skills as well as hone their social skills within the community. To encourage the involvement of students with disabilities in higher education, many Universities provide financial and technical support.

The Michigan University, for example, has fraternities for the impaired students who want to obtain a degree in rehabilitation science. Other colleges like the G. Washington one have a special support service that caters for the financial needs of students suffering from disabilities. Still, the best thing you can do if you want to know whether the college you have in mind aid undergraduates with disabilities or not, is to contact them directly.

Posted in Federal Grants | No Comments »

Undergraduate Scholarships

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Undergraduate Scholarships

Saving money for children’s college education is one of the hardest parenthood tasks. Higher education costs have been steadily rising at 5% annually or even more, far surpassing the rate of inflation. Aside from tuition costs, parents also have to worry about other related costs and take them carefully into consideration. To paint a clearer picture of this issue and really understand the financial challenges a parent has to go through in order to provide his child with the proper education a rough estimate is due.

At the rate tuition fees have been rising until now, the educational bill for a child born in the last five years will be somewhere around $100,000 in total expenses for four years at an average public college and almost triple that amount at a public university. To be able to come up with such large amounts of money parents need to do some careful financial planning, and most importantly, to be very disciplined when saving money. Actually, financial advisors suggest that parents should start saving money for their child’s college education, as soon as he is born.

To help struggling parents and offer tax-free incentives, state governments have created state-managed savings accounts, titled 529 savings plans so that parents can save money for higher education. The tax-free 529 College Savings plans have become popular among parents as they do offer important advantages over other saving methods. For example, a $3,000 yearly contribution to a growth-oriented plan, beginning at birth should be enough to pay for a child’s public education, and a $7,500 contribution for private education.

However, even with clearly advantageous ways to save money at hand, most parents still fail in providing their offspring with funds for academic tuition. As a solution to help students come up with financial means themselves, loans have been offered by private banking institutions. Unfortunately, this kind of financial aid constrains students to repay a certain amount of dollars or face the legal consequences.

Federal Grants

There are many types of grants for undergraduate available for students seeking financial aid, depending on various criteria. For example, students who are engaged in extracurricular activities and excel at them can be awarded merit-based scholarships. This kind of free tuition money is also available for undergraduates with exceptional academic results or students who possess exceptional athletic or artistic abilities.

Other methods to help youth higher education is the student-specific ones that are aimed at high school seniors who come from a certain minority, follow a particular religion or struggled with health problems in the past.

On the other hand, the government supports whoever chooses to pursue a career in a field where there is a high need for people with the proper skills and training. For example, this can include education or nursing.

Another type of financial aid is the Undergraduate Scholarships that have a specific bond requirement. Graduates that benefited from this type of grant are required to work for a particular organization for a set amount of time or be obligated to pay back the free funds they used to pay for their higher education. Others, like the people that benefited from nursing or educational scholarships may need to start their career in remote areas where there is a high demand for individuals with their training. Other grants for undergraduate are ones sponsored by the U.S.A. uniformed forces.

Last but not least are the scholarships that are granted based on the financial needs of students. Undergraduates coming from a poor background that wouldn’t normally afford the high costs of proper education can benefit from this kind of scholarships.

The most common but also one of the most important and easily available ways for students to receive free tuition funds is the Pell Grant. This method is especially good because the money does not have to be paid back, which would be the case if students would seek financial aid provided by the Stafford and Perkins federal loans.

To receive the Pell Grant, high school graduates need to go through the simple process of filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form which can be done online or at college offices.

After this first step is completed, all the information given through the FAFSA form will be interpreted, and it will result in coming up with the amount of free tuition money that will be granted to those in need. To be able to benefit from the Pell Grant, the applicants need to prove that they have a low income or come from a poor background. Grants for undergraduate can reach four thousand dollars for full time education and half for part time. It is important to note that the Pell Grant can be received each year, but students need to go through the process of renewing it.

The reasons given above making the Pell Grant the cornerstone of any efficacious education, especially for students with low financial possibilities.
Students who have already benefited from the Pell Grant can take advantage of other opportunities to receive free college money made available by the U.S. Department of Education.

The Smart Grant

One of these is the National Science and Math Access to Retain Talent also known as the SMART Grant. This option of receiving financial aid is aimed only at undergraduates going through their last two years of studies and are interested only, in particular, fields of expertise. The main purpose of the SMART grant was to ensure the future of the United States’ science and technology fields. For the undergraduate to be an eligible SMART grant candidate, he must have U.S. citizenship, be a recipient of the Pell Grant and also be in his last two years of studies while keeping a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The application process for grants for undergraduate is done through the FAFSA form, and the eligible majors range from Math and Science to Liberal Arts and important foreign language studies.

Another auxiliary grant of the same type was the Academic Competitiveness Grant also known as the ACG aimed at students in their first two years of college and with a dire financial need. Sadly, this method of getting free tuition is no longer available.

Posted in Federal Grants, Minorities, Other Sources | No Comments »

Pell Grant Qualifications

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Pell Grant Qualifications

When it comes to getting financial aid for tuition, women in the US have a wide array of options to choose from. The US Department of Education offers loans that help students raise the money needed for tuition. Unfortunately, most of these options require repayment, such an example being the Stafford, Perkins and PLUS loans.

This kind of financial aid constrains students to repay a certain amount of dollars or face the legal consequences. On the other hand, student grants given based on merit, financial need or other criteria offer free money for tuition. This is where the Pell Grants separate themselves from the aforementioned methods of monetary aid for education.

History of the Pell Grants

Today, the Pell Grant program provides financial help to undergraduates who come from a poor background and are attending college and other institutions. But for the Pell Grant to become what it is today, it had to undergo several changes.

In 1965 several efforts were made to develop a better higher education system in the US and make academic tuition affordable to a larger segment of the population. The first step in this direction was the passing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). This program was designed to help students with low and middle income through grants and loans with a low rate of interest.

In 1972 senator Claiborne Pell improved the HEA. The Opportunity Grant Program was developed to represent the basic financial help package of an undergraduate student. Furthermore, other monetary aids were added to the Basic Grant to help students but only up to a certain limit of financial need.

In 1978, president Jimmy Carter signed the Middle Income Student Assistance Act (MISAA) which would provide the means necessary for higher education to additional 1.5 million students who came from families with better than low income.

Eligibility

Pell Grants are offered to applicants who prove they are most in need for tuition money. To receive the grant each applicant must be an undergraduate student who has not yet earned a bachelor’s degree but also have United States citizenship. Women coming from minorities are also eligible to receive the Pell Grant, even if they don’t have US citizenship.

The United States Department of Education uses the FASFA ( Free Application for Federal Student Aid ) form to translate the information given by each applicant. The formula used in this form evaluates the information which results in a number (the EFC – Estimated Family Contribution ) that determines the eligibility of everyone.

If the applicant is found eligible to receive the Pell Grant, the calculation of the exact amount awarded is based on several factors: the duration of the college program, be it full time or half time, how much time the student will invest in scholastic programs during the academic year and the Estimated Family Contribution number.

Students who have a drug conviction which occurred while they were receiving federal financial aid will no longer be eligible for funding. However, this is not always the case, and the decision can be reversed if the individual takes steps to remediate his situation but this will be closely linked personal circumstances. In addition, a statement must be signed that certifies the usage of the financial aid only for educational related goals and that the applicant is not currently involved with any other student loans or refunds for other educational grants.

Millions of women benefit from the Pell Grant annually most of which come from households where the incomes are below $ 20,000 per annum. Now, given the fact that private college education is as much as $ 20,000 for each year and public tuition is about half of that, one cannot deny the difficulties faced by students who come from a poor background.

Amounts Awarded

As is the case with all grants, each applicant who is found eligible can benefit from an amount of money that cannot exceed a certain number. As an example, during the 2010 – 2011 award year, this number is $ 5,550. The maximum amount of money granted depends, for the most part, on the Expected Family Contribution ( EFC ) number but there are also several other factors taken into consideration.

One of these factors is the expenses of attendance, these including educational and several other fees like room and board, food and books. The last factor taken into consideration when deciding the amount of money awarded is the plan of attendance for each student, be it part time or full time. The exact figure of money awarded is calculated after filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA ).

It is important to note that no student can receive Pell Grant funds for more than one educational institution at a time. If the eligibility has been proven, the student can receive the funds in several different ways. The institution that the student is attending can apply Pell Grant funds to school costs or transfer the funds to the student directly, usually by check or just combine these two methods. The school must inform the student on the exact value of money awarded and on the time and way it will be paid. It is mandatory for schools to transfer Pell Grant funds to students once every semester or term or twice during the academic school year.

Other Means of Financial Aid

Any applicant who has been found eligible and received the Pell Grant can still take advantage of other means of financial aid like federal or private loans. Unfortunately, it’s common knowledge that many of the federal loans awards only a small financial aid to college bound students. Most students are involved in several financial aid programs, federal or private, to best cover college expenses.

Some examples of loan programs available to students include the Stafford, Perkins and PLUS loans. However, the first and most important thing every student must do in order to take advantage of this kind of programs is to fill out the FAFSA form. Any student who doesn’t do this is basically cutting himself out of any form of financial aid.

Posted in Federal Grants | 1 Comment »

Financial Aid for College

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

Financial Aid for College

The right to education has been earned a long time ago and in theory everyone has the same chances of attending college and build a future for himself. Unfortunately, the access to education is drastically limited not by laws or other formal restraints, but by the financial problems. While saving money for college is a challenge for most families, there are certain categories that have a particularly tough mission in coming up with the sums required. Under representation of women, African Americans and other minorities are still a serious problem that can be solved to some extend with grants and loans.

Income Sources for Students.
Working while studying is a way to increase your budget and to fund your expenses while you earn the valuable knowledge that will enable you to make the big money in the future. The problem is how to get enough money to pay for tuition in the first place and there are two main answers for this question.

The first and arguably most alluring solution would be to receive money without implied interest or reimbursement, but when you can’t find a source, loans remain the only option. Applying with FAFSA is your gateway to financial aid for college, because it will enable you to access federal student loans. These have low interest rates and the money you will receive will be sufficient to cover the tuition, which is a huge advantage if you compare them with private loans.

In the modern society college usually means debt, but if you are to take a loan, then it is very important to find a partner that will offer the best conditions. Filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid will cost you nothing, and if you are among the eight million students who fail applying each year, the costs will mount fast. Few people can afford to write a check to pay for this kind of education and even fewer will receive financial aid for college, so whether you like it or not, applying with FAFSA is your best shot.

Dealing with Debt
With the costs for tuition and the interest for loans growing each year, it is only natural that students find it increasingly difficult to repay the debts. Even for those who successfully apply for the FAFSA, repaying them will not be a walk in the park, but it’s going to be much easier than for the ones who choose a private loan. A part-time job will lead to overtime and even a full time job, which naturally affects the quality of education. Furthermore, students who are preparing for lucrative fields such as law or medicine will need bigger loans, which translate into more debt that needs to be paid after graduation.

This means that the debt resulting from the financial aid for college will prevent many students to go for a PhD, as they will need to focus their energy on earning cash to repay them. That’s why it is all more important to choose the federal loans, because in the end each extra dollar you’ll have to repay will weigh heavily. When you find it impossible to repay the debt, it is important to know that personal bankruptcy is not a solution. Those who have Stafford or Perkins loans to repay beside the federal ones will be assaulted by monthly payments that they will find impossible to repay in normal circumstances.

One solution that is preferable to a loan default is a federal consolidation loan, which is more flexible and has a lower interest. The standard type demands you to make monthly payments, but if you have a high level of debt you can extend the repayment, so you’ll reimburse it in more years. You can even opt it for a customized plan which will gradually increase the monthly payments, so as you will earn more and more at your job, it will be easier to repay the debt.

How to Receive Tax Breaks
If you found no other way to collect the cash needed, and you resorted to financial aid for college in the form of loans, then you might be eligible for certain tax reliefs. The government offers income tax deductions for the ones who have student loans, and there are three ways to take advantage of them. Tuition and Fees Tax Deduction, Hope Credit and Lifetime Learning credit are the three methods to reduce the costs associated with education.

In order to be eligible for this tax reliefs, you must be a student, spouse or guardian of the student asking for the deductions and your modified adjustable gross income should be below a specified level. Filing a tax return is your right and a practical method to increase the financial aid for college, but you should check with the IRS first to make sure all conditions are met. Naturally, you have to use the student loans for educational purposes, but the interest attached to it will be deducted regardless if you are paying interest on student loans or student loan consolidations and even the interest on credit lines is eligible.

To be able to claim the Hope Credit you need to be a freshman in a degree program and attend at least half time, with the maximum amount being $1650. The Lifetime Learning Credit allows you to claim deductions no matter how many courses you are taking, and regardless of their orientation, to a degree, or not. The claim is slightly higher, standing at $2000, but you are only eligible for this type of tax relief if you prove that the claim will help you advance in your career.

Backup Financial Aid for College
Some things simply can’t be foreseen and when emergency strikes, you will need to find an alternative source of money, otherwise you’d be forced to give up college. Knowing which are the sources of financial aid for college in dire situations is going to make all the difference and help you deal with the crisis, without forsaking your education. Most colleges have these special funds that are being used solely to fund the sudden expenses of students who have an emergency, but the money is not dispensed easily.

First of all, you must have a legitimate reason to ask for emergency financial aid for college and to be able to prove this, by providing all the papers they require. It is only natural to be like this, because this money can’t be wasted on regular expenses, that would leave the ones really in need, vulnerable. A health problem, losing your job or the college housing can represent a valid reason to claim this kind of help, but there are certain procedures to be followed.

It is usually required to have a minimal GPA and to have filled the FAFSA, and in some cases being a full time student is also a condition. If you are found eligible to receive the money, you should know that this will be delivered to you in a very short time, although the amount is less than $1000. To learn more about the ways to apply for this type of financial aid for college, you should visit the campus website where all the details are listed. Some Colleges will even provide you with an online application that will speed up the process, so when facing an emergency, waste no more time and apply for help immediately.

Posted in Federal Grants, Other Sources | No Comments »

Archive for the ‘Federal Grants’ Category