Improve Lives by Putting Single Mothers Through College - College Money For Single Mothers
Friday, July 31st, 2009
It is a difficult feat to be able to raise your children and manage your household all by yourself. It becomes more of a challenge when you add to this the challenge of going back to college to earn for yourself a bachelor’s degree in your chosen field. But, there is no other way you can improve your income earning potential than equipping yourself with a degree. Given the importance, any single mother should try to get college scholarships for single mothers.
It is a good thing that there are institutions that extend college scholarships for single mothers. These institutions and private foundations make it financially possible for you to upgrade your academic credentials for you to be able to land better paying jobs. Consequently, you will be able to have more room in your cash inflow not only for your children’s basic needs but for their other needs as well. Do an Internet search to find out what your options are in terms of college scholarships offered only for single mothers. The availability of these scholarships depend on where you are located and whether you meet the eligibility requirements or not.
The first step you should take when looking for college scholarships for single mothers is to apply for a Federal Pell Grant. Most college scholarships for single mothers require that you apply for this kind of financial assistance first. Since the Federal Pell Grant is not exactly a loan instrument, you do not really have to worry about paying it back. These grants are actually a federal financial aid facility that helps students who want to earn their bachelor’s degree. College grants for single mothers are a good first step.
About $5,000 in grant money was the maximum amount given out by the Federal Pell Grant to a student last year. This grant money cap could vary on a yearly basis as other factors as program funding, actual financial need of applicant, and the commitment of the student to attend either on full-time or a part-time basis.
To apply for a Federal Pell Grant, you can download the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form or request for a paper copy through the mail. This process takes some amount of time so do not dilly-dally. Make sure that you know your college enrollment and tuition payment timelines so that you have enough time to have your FAFSA application processed. There is also a need for you to secure for yourself a Personal Identification Number or PIN with the Department of Education as part of your FAFSA application. This PIN number is what you will be using during your succeeding applications for federal financial assistance.
Other sources of funding for college scholarships for single mothers are also available. These scholarships could be offered on a nationwide basis or limited in the particular state where you are located.
Some of the groups that offer nationwide college scholarships for single mothers only are the Raise the Nation program, the Sunshine Lady Foundation Scholarship, the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards, and so many other private foundations and organizations. There are other private foundations that only offer college scholarships for single mothers in particular states like New England states for the R.O.S.E Scholarship Program, Wyoming for the Our Families Our Future Program, and Arkansas for the Single Parent Scholarship Program.
You could also find out if the college or university you wish to attend have their own financial assistance programs targetted towards helping single mothers further their education to improve their chances at finding better paying jobs and eventually having more resources to raise their families on their own. Try to apply for as many different grants for single mothers as possible to ensure your financial success in attending college.