Single Mothers: Sign Up For Online Classes!
Monday, July 12th, 2010 Subscribe To Our Feed
Being a single mother is a tough job, and it’s made even tougher by the economic realities of the last few years. The last thing a single mother wants to do is to take a low-paying dead end job; the ideal job is one that pays well and allows advancement in the career field of their choice while still allowing a mom to be a mom. The best way to achieve that goal is through education. Learn more about online college grants.
What’s a single mother to do, then, when she doesn’t have a college degree or extra money to get one? Is she destined to be stuck in the rut of a low-paying job forever? The answer is no. Single mothers may not know there are more opportunities than ever for financial aid to help them get through college. Get more information on pell grants.
Scholarships, grants, and work study programs are just a few of the ways that single mothers can help to pay for college expenses. Tuition, fees, and books can all be paid for with the help of financial aid. By becoming familiar with these programs, a single mother can greatly increase the chance of completing her degree and moving on to a more secure future for her family.
A grant is a type of financial aid that is given under certain circumstances to qualified students. It does not need to be repaid, but the requirements of the grant itself must be met. There are many types of grants available that are funded either through private foundations, academic institutions, or even the federal government. A grant is an ideal way for a single mother to finance her education without sacrificing the family budget. One of the most well known government grants is called the Pell Grant. It is a federal grant that provides a cash payment to students who qualify. Congress recently passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1), which increases the amount of the Pell Grant to $5,500 for 2010; that’s an additional $500 from 2009.
The Recovery Act also increases the provision for students who want to go to school on a work-study program by increasing the funding by $200 million. The additional money will allow 133,000 more students to participate in this vital program than ever before. With the addition of this funding, more single mothers will have a chance to further their education and create more opportunities for themselves and their families. There is much more information on college grants.
Another avenue of financial aid is a scholarship. Usually scholarships are offered to students based on performance (such as athletic or academic), or inclusion or interest in a particular group or subject or area of study. Single mothers are eligible for a wide variety of scholarships, including the many scholarships that are available specifically for single parents who wish to return to school. Most states offer some type of single parent scholarship for their citizens, and they are generally need-based, so they may require an FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to prove eligibility.
Financial aid needn’t be a scary process. Most organizations that offer financial aid also provide services to help students navigate their way through the sometimes lengthy application process. It’s important to follow each step of the application process diligently to ensure that eligibility requirements are met, and that timelines are followed closely so that no opportunities are missed. Of course, a single mother can (and should) apply for several grants or scholarships at the same time in order to maximize the amount of financial aid that may be available to her.
There have never been more opportunities for a single mother to receive financial aid. By researching opportunities carefully and working closely with the financial aid office, becoming a college graduate is more easily within reach than ever. Through the benefit of financial aid in the form of grants and scholarships, a single mother can be one step closer to achieving the dream of financial security for her family.
Technorati Tags: No Tags
Related Tags: No Tags
Possible Related Posts
