Common Misconceptions In Getting Government Grants

By Chris Channing

Students everywhere are now taking advantage of the generous offers of the government in helping benefit students in their time of financial need. But along the way, there have been rumors and mysteries that students have often wondered about. To improve chances of getting ahead and getting the money needed for college, it's good to know the facts from the fiction.

There has always been the misconception that middle-class families were out of luck when it comes to government grants. The reasoning behind this is that middle class parents make more money than the more poor students, and thus disqualify middle class students from getting more money. Although this is true for some scholarships, this isn't the case in government grants- and students of middle class families should still apply.

Even though someone may have poor test-taking skills, they may be great in school and want to pursue higher education. But because of getting poor scores on the ACT or SAT, they feel that they are secluded when it comes to scholarships and government grants. Grants such as the Pell grant don't even take GPA or test scores into consideration, but rather the need of the student based on income and funds in his or her bank account.

Some don't even bother filling out government grant forms because they think they will have to pay the money back. In reality, few government-run programs will function based on a loan model. Instead, grants are more often considered as "gifts" rather than a long term loan. As such, one shouldn't be afraid to apply for a grant because they don't like taking on loans.

Students like to put things off to the last minute. As some will find, this is a bad habit that could get them in financial trouble. Many government programs demand that information be sent in by early Spring, if not sooner. Even if classes start in Fall of the year, putting in a late application means a grand total of nothing in compensation. Check deadlines often, and get in work as soon as possible to ensure you aren't missing out on free money.

Paying for college is a tough thing to go through. Indeed, it is quite stressing without a little help from outside sources. While you should rely on the government for some help, don't expect the government to pay the full bill. Grants are usually designed to lessen the burden, not pay the full tuition of the applicant. Instead, consider other scholarships in addition to a grant.

In Conclusion

Grants are excellent in getting more money for college. If you'd like to learn more about them, consider going online, talking to an accountant, school counselor, or university financial aid officer to get the right facts.

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