What Is The Federal Pell Grant, Who Is It For, And How To Apply?
The Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to promote access to postsecondary education. The said program was named in honor of Senator Claiborne Pell for his hard work and dedication to improving the higher education of the students in the United States. The Federal Pell Grants are awarded typically to students who have not completed a bachelor’s degree yet. There are also instances when the said grant is rewarded to certain post baccalaureate students. To qualify for this federal financial assistance package for students, you have to hold American citizenship and a valid social security number, have a high school diploma or GED certificate, and not have any convictions related to the sale, use, or possession of drugs.
The maximum grant amount for 2011 to 2012 is set at $5,500. The amount you will get is dependent on your family’s estimated contribution, tuition and fees as determined by your school, your enrolment status, and the amount of time the student plans to attend college. The Federal Pell Grant is not similar to a loan since it does not require repayment once the recipient finishes college; he or she has to show good academic progression though while under the program. The good thing about this grant is that it can be used with other scholarships and loans either from the government or from private entities.
In order to qualify for a Pell Grant, the first step is the submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA form. The answers that you give on this form will be used to compute for your Estimated Family Contribution or EFC. Applicants who are determined to have low EFC are eligible to receive the said grant.
You have the option to complete and submit the form on the FAFSA website itself, or you can send in your application through regular mail. For electronic submissions, you can expect your Student Aid Report in as little as 3 days, while those who opted to send via mail will have to wait for 10 days at least. Filing is free if you do it on your own, but you also have the option to get fee-based FAFSA preparation and submission services from the Student Financial Aid Services, Inc.
Do not forget that federal aid is limited and majority of it is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so the earlier you file the better. Also be mindful of any deadline instruction, because if you missed them, you will also lose the privilege for receiving a scholarship for the said program for that year.
The federal pell grant will provide you money, which you don’t have to repay, so you can go to college and get that much needed degree. Follow this link to get more information about the pell grant and what to do to qualify.
-
Ground-breaking Music Release by Chantler Music single “Alternative Love” mp3 is now... Read Full Story » -
Maria asks… About the left over money for pell grant and federal seog grant? I’m... Read Full Story » -
Written by Kerri Martin on February 8, 2012 - 0 Comments Categories: College Prep... Read Full Story » -
When a semester of college can cost more than a parent makes in a year, it is time to look for... Read Full Story »
