Like college scholarships, grants are free money awards that do not need repayment. Since most students qualify for grants, do your research and find out what you are eligible for. This will help keep your student loan debt manageable. Grants vary from hundreds of dollars to full-rides, so take advantage of grant opportunities. Apply early to maximize your opportunity for financial aid.
Know the Basics
The first step to applying for grants is completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The FAFSA calculates your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which determines what the government expects from you financially. The results of your FAFSA is on the Student Aid Report (SAR), which describes what government, state, and institutional grants you are eligible for. Some state-sponsored and college-based grants require additional applications grant funding. Most have academic requirements. Pay attention to the directions of each award so you don’t submit an incomplete application. Funding levels of federal grants change annually, so do not miss the deadline. If you miss the deadline you will not get a grant. Apply early to avoid this issue.
Am I eligible?
Both student and parent income is considered with deciding financial aid amounts. Students with most financial need are eligible for the most federal funding. For example, most Pell Grant money goes to students with a family income below $20,000 a year. Those eligible for Pell Grants are also eligible for other grants, including the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness Grant and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant. Most colleges have extra funding available for low-income students.
Most grants are need-based, but there are grants that focus on student-specific characteristics. Popular grants are broken in 3 categories: federal, state and collegiate. Some private organizations and local groups also have funds to support higher education. Students who need to go to graduate school for their jobs have a lot of grant options. Most states offer grants to students based on specific criteria, such as race/ethnicity, area of study, or career path. Grants are very specific, so focus on grants that you most qualify for. Read the fine print. Some grants have conditions such as working in a specific field, specific location, or for a certain company for a specific number of years. Research every grant opportunity to maximize your chances of winning a lot of money.
A professor from The University of Akron had planned to boost his females' grades "a level or two" as part of a "national movement to encourage female students to go [into] information sciences." A university provost stated that, although the intention "may be laudable", it was unacceptable. [...]
Summer break is here for most students and so are these sizzling summer scholarships for those who want to take advantage of their spare time this summer and earn money for college. Since you don't have to deal with homework and tests for the next couple of months, we strongly encourage you to apply for scholarships and kick-start your financial aid for next semester. See how much money you can save and student loan debt you can skirt by applying for and winning college scholarships this summer 2018. Begin your search with the summer scholarships listed below or get a personalized list of scholarship matches here. [...]
A Cornell University senior presented a trial run of her senior thesis wearing nothing but her bra and panties in protest of her professor's comments about the length of the shorts she was wearing. Offended and taken aback by the comments, she further invited others to support her on the day of the presentation by stripping down to their undergarments with her during her 15-minute address. [...]
