You see the ads whenever you go on the net. They claim that President Obama himself wants single mothers to go back to school. Thing is, when you peel through the layers of hype, the core of the message is true. The country’s chief executive has set up a program that actually helps single parents (not just mothers but dads, too) obtain college grants.
Single parents can certainly apply for Obama’s ‘Moms Return to School’ Government Grant Scholarship program if they want to study online instead of on campus. In fact, online study is a common path for single parents who want to be at home with their children while studying.
What the president has set up, for lack of better term, is being nicknamed an “education stimulus grant,” under the Pell Grant program. Most advertisers call it “the single mom grant.” It can garner around $5,000 annual tuition. The final amount will be based on previous education, the school program desired and financial need. Further, another program, the American Opportunity Tax Credit program, can set it up so the first $4,000 of higher education is free.
Like all federal education grants, one must fill out a FASFA form to find out what they can get. If done correctly, they can even cover non-educational matters such as daycare, housing and other basic needs. A good way to start sourcing out these grants is to first decide what area you want to get an advance education in.
Now, target the online schools that offer the necessary degrees as part of their curriculum. Apply to those schools, but also make sure to introduce yourself to the academy’s financial officers. It’s this personnel’s job to help you obtain the single mom, and any other, grants they can get their hands on.
It is truly critical to realize that the federal government isn’t the only source for this kind of money. Your state and local governments have many programs, such as your local Lotto, raising funds for furthering education. The best way to find these grants is by visiting the counties family service or economic office. The unemployment office may also have state funded grants available to help single parents find a better paying job.
A good place to find out more about this is the website Grants.gov, which finds specific grants for many categories. Use “search grant opportunities” tool at the top of the page to see what grants are available. On the other hand, be very, very careful about those sites using the president’s name. What many will try to do is steer a needy student into spurious loans or similar situations.
Author: Natasha Bright
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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