How Do You Get Scholarship Grants or Financial Aid?

By Owen Jones

Just what is the real cost of a college education and is there a financing scheme available? Well, lets be honest about it - a college education is mind-numbingly costly, causing most parents alarm when their children are considering going to a community college or a state university.

There are a lot of items that go to make up the total cost of a college education and the tuition fees are only a rather small part of the whole story of getting into college. Some everyday expenditures include meals, transport, accommodation, spending money and other sundry costs, which, when added up can create a large part when financing a college education.

These days, many families, even those who belong to the upper class, think about applying for financial assistance. College grants and scholarships are an excellent method of financial help. Grant and scholarship programs do not require the students or even their families to repay the amount given.

These scholarships are of two kinds: (1) these scholarships are given according to financial need, and are given depending on the financial inability of the student and their families as a whole to pay for the education, and (2) scholarships based on merit, for example the talent of the student in sports is the main consideration. A students academic ability falls under the merit-based college grant and scholarship system too.

Often, college grants and scholarships combine the merit and need criteria to ease the whole financial aid process. Many students and their families are looking for this kind of financial aid. However, college grants and scholarships are limited in number although there is a growing number of students year after year.

Those students who qualify can get federal or / and a number of state scholarships, some of which are listed here:

Federal or National Pell Grants " this is a program, funded nationwide, which is intended to give assistance to any qualified undergraduate learner pursuing post-secondary schooling. Grants and scholarships of this type are given to those who have not yet finished a baccalaureate degree.

The value of the grant varies year after year and will depend largely on the financial needs of the student, the expenses that will be incurred whilst attending the chosen university or college, and the availability of funding from the national government. This type of grant will create an opportunity for students to succeed in securing financial aid from the national government.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) " this is a programme for ongoing undergraduate students with exceptional financial needs. However, not all students can get this sort of grant. It will depend on the circumstances of the student and the amount of funds at the school concerned.

Another form of financial assistance that students and families can get is student loans. However, this form of financial assistance must be paid back. The financial requirements of the family must be considered thoroughly to avoid paying very high interest rates.

It is also necessary to understand all the terms of the lending agencies such as the schedule of repayment and interest rates, before signing up.

Work study is a quite different form of financial aid which calls for students to work to keep themselves during their college stay. Work study is usually done on college campus and is the most typical type of financial assistance in all of the universities and colleges in the USA. Typically, students work for schools for 10-15 hours a week.

Scholarships, grants and other kinds of financial aid to obtain a college education is really multi-faceted, confusing at times, and even down-right exasperating. However, the good thing is that a college education is a non-refundable and non-toxic form of investment. It is for the student's future!

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