How do you get a pell grant?

Question

I live in texas, and want to become a nurse. How do i go about getting any grants that might help me? By the way i am a single mom of two, if there is anything that might help me because of that. Thanks

Answer 1

The Pell Grant is one form of federal student aid. A Pell Grant is applied for in the same way as any other form of federal aid - by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA.

When you complete the FAFSA, you are submitting your information to the US Department of Education. There's a formula that the Department uses - and when they plug in all of your info, they'll generate a financial aid index known as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

One question on the FAFSA asks where you want your EFC sent - when the financial aid office at your school receives your FAFSA score, they will use that index to determine what forms of aid you qualify for (and in what amounts).

The Pell Grant is a type of aid known as "need-based", which means that it only goes to students who demonstrate something known as "exceptional need". Only about 1/3 of all applicants fall within the "exceptional need" range.

The good news is that the federal government has assistance for just about every single applicant - even if you don't qualify for "need-based" aid. Most of that assistance comes in the form of Stafford loans - which represent the best educational loan available. I know, you were probably hoping that you wouldn't have to borrow to pay for school, but the reality is that there just isn't enough taxpayer money to buy everyone a free education.

The Stafford loan is the next best thing, because the government makes them impossibly easy to qualify for (no credit check, no cosigner), the interest rates are low and fixed, you don't start repayment until 6 months after you've finished school, and you can postpone payment if you experience financial hardship.

One more thing to keep in mind - the government does have a special loan forgiveness program for medical professionals (including RNs), who agree to work in under-served communities for a few years after graduation. The program is extremely competitive and only about 7% of the applicants last year were accepted, but you can keep that in the back of your head - maybe that will be of use to you when you've finished school.

Good luck to you - I'm attaching a link to a Department of Education publication that explains the entire educational aid system - all of the different types of aid and how to apply. I think you'll find it an easy and informative read.

Answer 2

start by filling out the fafsa online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.