subject: Do You Need Money For School? [print this page] College isn't like it used to beCollege isn't like it used to be. This is because there are so many financial criteria to fulfill that an American college requires before they admit a student. This may include a credit check and tuition paid up front before a university will let someone enroll. This kind of financial verification doesn't have so much to do with grades as it has to do with a family's ability to pay for a full four years of tuition.
If you are challenged financially, a Pell Grant, which is a form of financial aid for students who want to go to college, may be an option. This is a grant that pays for college tuition and the expenses that go along with furthering your education and was created by the federal government under the Higher Education Act of 1965. The first step to receiving this grant is to fill out an application for FAFSA financial aid. If you fit the financial requirements and are approved, you are officially enrolled to be considered for the Pell Grant.
Pell Grants are fairly generous, and can be awarded in the amount of up to $5,000 or more. The total amount for this program is about $12.5 billion in total, so this is an easier grant to qualify for if your financial status qualifies you. Pell Grants are also generous in the fact that they can be used for any course of study.
This is why it is important to be organized when you apply for college and also when you apply for grants to fund your education. If not, your only way to fund your undergraduate education may be through student loans, which are hard to pay back because they accrue interest and other charges. As long as you keep your grades up, grant money for college is yours and does not have to be paid back.
The only important thing to remember about a Pell Grant and scholarships, however, is that it must be spent wisely because once any student has reached their limit, the funds are not renewable.
