Are you considering higher education to improve your prospects but worried about how to fund it? The good news is that extra money for students in college is available, and some of this does not need to be repaid at all. The primary one being that once you know where you are going, you should apply very quickly for any funding.
Cash is scarce these days, so don't be lulled into a false sense of security, to get money for students in college you need to be aware of what you are entitled to apply for in order to optimise your chances of success. Find out what you need to do before you are able to apply for funding, this way you will be able to move fast.
If you live in the US, you should first seek out the Financial Aid Advisor at the campus of your choice as they are able to give you all the information you need. To be make things easier, you can apply for financial aid online for a lot of the grants and scholarships. Some of these you have to pay back, and some you do not.
A brief outline of money for students in college that may be available to you include (but are not limited to), Pell grants, Supplemental Education Opportunity grants and vocational grants and scholarships such as those aimed at ex military personal, law school and medical schools.
A Pell Grant is awarded by the US Department of Education and is one of the most significant sources of funding and is based entirely on financial needs. Funding is awarded via the college and competition is fierce so you need to apply quickly. At the moment, the maximum available is just over $4000. Supplemental Education Opportunity grants are also based on need and are dispersed via institutions.
If you are unable to get sufficient non-returnable funding, you may consider getting a student loan. You need to be a US citizen and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application (this can be done online). The good thing about some of these is that there are no credit checks and you have the option not to make any repayments until after you graduate. Once you have completed an FAFSA application, you can then apply for different loans such as a low interest Stafford or Perkins loan. Parents can also take out loans for their children but these are repayable immediately. Such loans are referred to as Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS loans).
The above is just touching on the available sources of money for students in college. Do your research while you are deciding where to go, once you know, contact the Financial Aid Advisor at your institution and apply for funding as soon as possible. Don't leave it in the hope there will be funding available late in the day as you are likely to be disappointed.
Cash is scarce these days, so don't be lulled into a false sense of security, to get money for students in college you need to be aware of what you are entitled to apply for in order to optimise your chances of success. Find out what you need to do before you are able to apply for funding, this way you will be able to move fast.
If you live in the US, you should first seek out the Financial Aid Advisor at the campus of your choice as they are able to give you all the information you need. To be make things easier, you can apply for financial aid online for a lot of the grants and scholarships. Some of these you have to pay back, and some you do not.
A brief outline of money for students in college that may be available to you include (but are not limited to), Pell grants, Supplemental Education Opportunity grants and vocational grants and scholarships such as those aimed at ex military personal, law school and medical schools.
A Pell Grant is awarded by the US Department of Education and is one of the most significant sources of funding and is based entirely on financial needs. Funding is awarded via the college and competition is fierce so you need to apply quickly. At the moment, the maximum available is just over $4000. Supplemental Education Opportunity grants are also based on need and are dispersed via institutions.
If you are unable to get sufficient non-returnable funding, you may consider getting a student loan. You need to be a US citizen and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application (this can be done online). The good thing about some of these is that there are no credit checks and you have the option not to make any repayments until after you graduate. Once you have completed an FAFSA application, you can then apply for different loans such as a low interest Stafford or Perkins loan. Parents can also take out loans for their children but these are repayable immediately. Such loans are referred to as Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS loans).
The above is just touching on the available sources of money for students in college. Do your research while you are deciding where to go, once you know, contact the Financial Aid Advisor at your institution and apply for funding as soon as possible. Don't leave it in the hope there will be funding available late in the day as you are likely to be disappointed.
About the Author:
For further advice about how to apply for financial aid online and other ways to obtain money for college, visit www.moneyforcolleges.org.. Free reprint available from: Money For Students In College And What You Should Know.