College Grants for Single Mothers
As a mother, you work hard 24 hours a day, seven days per week to support your family emotionally. Based on Census and Bureau of Labor 2009 statistics, over 5 million moms are stay-at-home mothers. If you're a part of this 71 percent of working moms, you also provide financial support. For an increasing number of mothers, acquiring a college diploma is a way to enhance their financial situation.
Round the U.S., mothers are finding it hard to attend college or resume an interrupted college career. This is especially true for single moms, who often struggle to make ends meet and has to work one, sometimes two jobs to support the family. The problem could be in finding the moment, the cash, or the assurance to enrol in college courses. And in today's present economic struggles, maintaining a job becomes more significant than a college degree.
Yet studies have shown that a college degree improves your earning power. If a parent can afford a college degree, chances are it will financially benefit herself and her loved ones. This also contributes to the problem of covering the costs of higher education. Obtaining a graduate degree would be much more. Depending on how much school you have to finish, the end total can be a bit daunting.
Choosing to return to college as soon as you've got a household is a difficult choice. Working mothers need to juggle time for classes and study on top of their work hours and hours with their family. Mothers who do not work may take a look at the family and think it is not financially possible to attend faculty.
Where they live or work will also limit mothers to colleges nearby. The closest schools may be more expensive, or may not have the desired level program. This compels mothers to look at more costly online degree programs.
But now that you have online school grants for single mothers created the momentous step to better yourself via a college diploma, do not let the rising financial burden of education stop you dead in your tracks.
What is sadly overlooked, especially in our present market, is that the availability of grants and scholarships available to potential students. There are grants available to moms that are looking for any degree -- from two-year professional levels to graduate degrees, whether online or in a classroom. You need to register for a degree program before you can apply with this free cash, which may look like putting the cart ahead of the horse, but your education is well worth it.
While the money is out there, the reason that this source can be overlooked is because it takes some time to track down and research a number of these opportunities. There are three major areas to look for available grants: the national government, your local and state authorities, and private businesses and non-profit associations. Once you have found a grant that matches your needs, you then need to use for it, and this also requires patience and decent marketing skills to obtain these grants.
Single-mothers have a high probability of qualifying for this government grant, in addition to single-income family families that are considered low-income. The amount you get will depend on your financial need, the expenses to attend your college, whether you are a full- or - part-time student, and if you plan to attend college for a whole academic year. The maximum award amount for your 2011-12 season is $5,550.
Recipients of Pell Grants who had the lowest expected family contributions are considered very first to receive this award. Again, single mothers and moms in low-income households are strong contenders for this particular grant.
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) -- In case you're a first-time college student, this award is a great supplement to the Pell Grant. The ACG differs from the preceding two grants in that it has stricter eligibility conditions. According to the national government's financial aid website, a receiver must:
Be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen
be a Federal Pell Grant recipient
be enrolled at least half-time at a degree program
be a primary or second-year undergraduate student or a student in a certificate program of at least one year at a degree program at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution
have completed a rigorous secondary school program of research
not have been enrolled in an ACG-eligible program while attending high school
have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) at the end of the first year of the diploma program.
The Academic Competitiveness Grant provides $750 in the first season and $1,300 for in 2nd year. But, when coupled with all the Pell Grant, the ACG can't go over the total cost of attendance. Also, if there are more qualified students than money allotted for full payment to every pupil in the calendar year, then the award amount for each student will be less.
The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant -- Also known as the National SMART Grant, this is basically a continuation of the ACG. Mothers with a knack for numbers are able to take advantage of the grant to study for careers in healthcare, engineering, or technology. It is accessible to students who are in their third and fourth year of school. This grant awards up to $4,000 and the very same caveats as the ACG apply.
TEACH Grant
TEACH Grant -- moms may gravitate toward careers that enable them to work with kids. The conditions of the grant will be that you finish a plan of study that is considered a high-need area and that you consent to teach full-time in a school that functions low-income students.
When you fill out your FAFSA, have your financial help councilor in your school help you in applying for all these additional licenses.
Local and state Grants
As difficult as it is to believe with a lot of local and state authorities experiencing large budget deficits, cash is still set aside for grant financing. For instance, Washington State's Opportunity Pathways Program offers grants and scholarships to students based on financial need and those studying in shortage areas like math, science, and healthcare. The Georgia Student Finance Commission delivers the HOPE program to provide grants and scholarships to Georgia students. Visit your state's government to find information on grants and scholarships. The U.S. Department of Education also includes a resource listing by state that might help you.
Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations
If you would like to find grants that are truly specific to your needs, that will require a little bit more research. There are websites that you can subscribe to that can do the hunting for you, but with a bit of patience, you will discover the same information for free.
Large businesses like General Electric, Adobe, Macy's, Ford, and Target provide scholarship opportunities via another foundation or partnering with non-profits that support their assignment. Look to big companies in your area to see if they provide financing opportunities to people for education. Most often these companies provide grants directly to your regional faculty and you also apply for them in the financial aid office.
Most non-profit charities and foundations offer grants to other non-profit entities rather than to people, but there are a few that offer scholarships and grants to students, such as the Jeanette Rankin Foundation and National Medical Fellowships. Organizations that provide grants and scholarships specifically to mothers would be the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation and the Women's Independence Scholarship Program. While not specific to moms, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers a Career Development Grant that will help cover dependent care.
There is another frequently neglected place to locate information on available grants and scholarships. Your chosen school's financial aid office doesn't just handle the FAFSA. Depending upon the school, the resource center may have servers to access databases to hunt for grants and scholarships, or binders of open financial aid opportunities that would also include work study and internships. It is an indispensable resource to find funding for your education, so don't overlook this source of available scholarships and grants.
Business grants are another avenue mothers may research. Though not directly tied to education, some business grants enable capital to be used for instruction purposes in order to begin or improve a business enterprise. Stay-at-Home moms can become Work-at-Home moms with the help of a business grant.
Looking for financial aid on the internet may result in some questionable websites. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of information you find. And while there is no doubt that you are a smart person, it is very possible that you could become one of those tens of thousands of individuals each year that are scammed from many millions of bucks.
Some research sites, such as FastWeb, ask for individual identification to help find the top scholarships and grants that match your objectives. If you visit a site that needs such advice, study it thoroughly before giving out any personal information. Any site that requests your social security number, bank information, or a credit card right from the beginning is probably a scam. Be conscious of sites that"guarantee" a pupil, because the only guaranteed aid will come from loans. Just because a site looks legitimate doesn't always mean it is.
You will find sites that require a fee to use their services, either to hunt or to help you apply for financial aid. However, an important thing to remember is that you shouldn't ever be charged to complete a FAFSA. There are legal sites that provide search software for a commission, however it is far more advisable to visit your college's Financial Aid office and use their resources instead. If you're uncertain about a site, or else you choose to pay for an internet search service, check it out first by contacting your local Better Business Bureau or your state attorney general's office.
Each grant source has different deadlines and requirements, so read the directions carefully. Following instructions will be a significant decision variable when grantors review software. Have a clear statement of purpose in your application. Know what it is you want to accomplish with your level. Tailor your essay response to match the mission of this group that is offering the grant. Grantors want to know that their money will somebody who'll make an effect on society.
Completing and Submitting Your Single mom college Grant Application
There are 3 things you want to keep in mind while completing a grant application. Read the principles and prerequisites carefully. Grant providers place these criteria for a reason, and it is a waste of your time and theirs if you apply for a grant you don't qualify for. Give yourself additional time to finish the program so that you can tackle any last minute problems that need to be addressed by the deadline. Lastly, have a second set of eyes look over the application to check for grammar, punctuation, and clear statements; when the scholarships and grants for single mothers program reviewer cannot know what you wrote, you won't get any consideration.
Once you have completed and submitted the application, all you need left to do is wait for the verdict. Remember that you are competing with other informed school students who have done their homework. You might not win the grant the first time, but that does not mean that you can not apply the next moment. Don't give up or get discouraged if you start to feel overwhelmed. Continue to function for that level in order that new opportunities will open to improve your family's financial stability.
Round the U.S., mothers are finding it hard to attend college or resume an interrupted college career. This is especially true for single moms, who often struggle to make ends meet and has to work one, sometimes two jobs to support the family. The problem could be in finding the moment, the cash, or the assurance to enrol in college courses. And in today's present economic struggles, maintaining a job becomes more significant than a college degree.
Yet studies have shown that a college degree improves your earning power. If a parent can afford a college degree, chances are it will financially benefit herself and her loved ones. This also contributes to the problem of covering the costs of higher education. Obtaining a graduate degree would be much more. Depending on how much school you have to finish, the end total can be a bit daunting.
Going Back to School Single Mothers
Choosing to return to college as soon as you've got a household is a difficult choice. Working mothers need to juggle time for classes and study on top of their work hours and hours with their family. Mothers who do not work may take a look at the family and think it is not financially possible to attend faculty.
Where they live or work will also limit mothers to colleges nearby. The closest schools may be more expensive, or may not have the desired level program. This compels mothers to look at more costly online degree programs.
But now that you have online school grants for single mothers created the momentous step to better yourself via a college diploma, do not let the rising financial burden of education stop you dead in your tracks.
What is sadly overlooked, especially in our present market, is that the availability of grants and scholarships available to potential students. There are grants available to moms that are looking for any degree -- from two-year professional levels to graduate degrees, whether online or in a classroom. You need to register for a degree program before you can apply with this free cash, which may look like putting the cart ahead of the horse, but your education is well worth it.
While the money is out there, the reason that this source can be overlooked is because it takes some time to track down and research a number of these opportunities. There are three major areas to look for available grants: the national government, your local and state authorities, and private businesses and non-profit associations. Once you have found a grant that matches your needs, you then need to use for it, and this also requires patience and decent marketing skills to obtain these grants.
Federal Government Grants For Single Mothers
The U.S. government provides the biggest percentage of financial aid, though a considerable percentage is in the kind of loans. You will find four grants that the federal government provides. While these grants aren't specific to moms wanting to go to school, they are the simplest to apply for. In order to take advantage of federal aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The form is available in the college's admissions office or by filling in the application on the internet.Single-mothers have a high probability of qualifying for this government grant, in addition to single-income family families that are considered low-income. The amount you get will depend on your financial need, the expenses to attend your college, whether you are a full- or - part-time student, and if you plan to attend college for a whole academic year. The maximum award amount for your 2011-12 season is $5,550.
Recipients of Pell Grants who had the lowest expected family contributions are considered very first to receive this award. Again, single mothers and moms in low-income households are strong contenders for this particular grant.
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) -- In case you're a first-time college student, this award is a great supplement to the Pell Grant. The ACG differs from the preceding two grants in that it has stricter eligibility conditions. According to the national government's financial aid website, a receiver must:
Be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen
be a Federal Pell Grant recipient
be enrolled at least half-time at a degree program
be a primary or second-year undergraduate student or a student in a certificate program of at least one year at a degree program at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution
have completed a rigorous secondary school program of research
not have been enrolled in an ACG-eligible program while attending high school
have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) at the end of the first year of the diploma program.
The Academic Competitiveness Grant provides $750 in the first season and $1,300 for in 2nd year. But, when coupled with all the Pell Grant, the ACG can't go over the total cost of attendance. Also, if there are more qualified students than money allotted for full payment to every pupil in the calendar year, then the award amount for each student will be less.
The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant -- Also known as the National SMART Grant, this is basically a continuation of the ACG. Mothers with a knack for numbers are able to take advantage of the grant to study for careers in healthcare, engineering, or technology. It is accessible to students who are in their third and fourth year of school. This grant awards up to $4,000 and the very same caveats as the ACG apply.
TEACH Grant
TEACH Grant -- moms may gravitate toward careers that enable them to work with kids. The conditions of the grant will be that you finish a plan of study that is considered a high-need area and that you consent to teach full-time in a school that functions low-income students.
When you fill out your FAFSA, have your financial help councilor in your school help you in applying for all these additional licenses.
Local and state Grants
As difficult as it is to believe with a lot of local and state authorities experiencing large budget deficits, cash is still set aside for grant financing. For instance, Washington State's Opportunity Pathways Program offers grants and scholarships to students based on financial need and those studying in shortage areas like math, science, and healthcare. The Georgia Student Finance Commission delivers the HOPE program to provide grants and scholarships to Georgia students. Visit your state's government to find information on grants and scholarships. The U.S. Department of Education also includes a resource listing by state that might help you.
Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations
If you would like to find grants that are truly specific to your needs, that will require a little bit more research. There are websites that you can subscribe to that can do the hunting for you, but with a bit of patience, you will discover the same information for free.
Large businesses like General Electric, Adobe, Macy's, Ford, and Target provide scholarship opportunities via another foundation or partnering with non-profits that support their assignment. Look to big companies in your area to see if they provide financing opportunities to people for education. Most often these companies provide grants directly to your regional faculty and you also apply for them in the financial aid office.
Most non-profit charities and foundations offer grants to other non-profit entities rather than to people, but there are a few that offer scholarships and grants to students, such as the Jeanette Rankin Foundation and National Medical Fellowships. Organizations that provide grants and scholarships specifically to mothers would be the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation and the Women's Independence Scholarship Program. While not specific to moms, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers a Career Development Grant that will help cover dependent care.
There is another frequently neglected place to locate information on available grants and scholarships. Your chosen school's financial aid office doesn't just handle the FAFSA. Depending upon the school, the resource center may have servers to access databases to hunt for grants and scholarships, or binders of open financial aid opportunities that would also include work study and internships. It is an indispensable resource to find funding for your education, so don't overlook this source of available scholarships and grants.
Business grants are another avenue mothers may research. Though not directly tied to education, some business grants enable capital to be used for instruction purposes in order to begin or improve a business enterprise. Stay-at-Home moms can become Work-at-Home moms with the help of a business grant.
Looking for financial aid on the internet may result in some questionable websites. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of information you find. And while there is no doubt that you are a smart person, it is very possible that you could become one of those tens of thousands of individuals each year that are scammed from many millions of bucks.
Some research sites, such as FastWeb, ask for individual identification to help find the top scholarships and grants that match your objectives. If you visit a site that needs such advice, study it thoroughly before giving out any personal information. Any site that requests your social security number, bank information, or a credit card right from the beginning is probably a scam. Be conscious of sites that"guarantee" a pupil, because the only guaranteed aid will come from loans. Just because a site looks legitimate doesn't always mean it is.
You will find sites that require a fee to use their services, either to hunt or to help you apply for financial aid. However, an important thing to remember is that you shouldn't ever be charged to complete a FAFSA. There are legal sites that provide search software for a commission, however it is far more advisable to visit your college's Financial Aid office and use their resources instead. If you're uncertain about a site, or else you choose to pay for an internet search service, check it out first by contacting your local Better Business Bureau or your state attorney general's office.
Applying for Single Mom College Grants
Once you've discovered grants that fit your description, you have to apply for them. This is the area where salesmanship comes into play. Almost all grants require a short essay describing why you believe that you're deserving of the grant. The base of the matter is this: what will a instruction do to better yourself, your loved ones and your community?Each grant source has different deadlines and requirements, so read the directions carefully. Following instructions will be a significant decision variable when grantors review software. Have a clear statement of purpose in your application. Know what it is you want to accomplish with your level. Tailor your essay response to match the mission of this group that is offering the grant. Grantors want to know that their money will somebody who'll make an effect on society.
Completing and Submitting Your Single mom college Grant Application
There are 3 things you want to keep in mind while completing a grant application. Read the principles and prerequisites carefully. Grant providers place these criteria for a reason, and it is a waste of your time and theirs if you apply for a grant you don't qualify for. Give yourself additional time to finish the program so that you can tackle any last minute problems that need to be addressed by the deadline. Lastly, have a second set of eyes look over the application to check for grammar, punctuation, and clear statements; when the scholarships and grants for single mothers program reviewer cannot know what you wrote, you won't get any consideration.
Once you have completed and submitted the application, all you need left to do is wait for the verdict. Remember that you are competing with other informed school students who have done their homework. You might not win the grant the first time, but that does not mean that you can not apply the next moment. Don't give up or get discouraged if you start to feel overwhelmed. Continue to function for that level in order that new opportunities will open to improve your family's financial stability.
