Apply for Pell Grant and...High school seniors know that you apply for Pell grant awards by filling out a FAFSA. This is because senior year is when guidance counselors nag them to do it. But nontraditional students, adults who may be thinking of college for the first time, are out of the information loop. Everyone has heard of Pell grants, but messages like "Pell Grants for Single Mothers" give the impression that these grants are only for certain students. But in fact, they have never been more mainstream. Anyone can apply and more people qualify now, than at any other point in the grant's history. Even if you are not certain you want to go to college, and you have not decided on any particular school, you can still apply for Pell grant funding. (However, you must go back into the form and "add" your school when you enroll, or you will not receive the award, even if you qualify.) How to apply for a Pell grant is simple. You just go to the FAFSA official website, and fill out the online questionnaire. You cannot look at all the questions at once, though. After each page is successfully completed, the next page of questions will load. But you can check out this overview of the Pell grant form for an idea of what is required. If you apply for Pell grant money, you will probably get approved for other types of student financial aid (whether or not you are approved for the Pell grant). Filling out the Pell grant application automatically entitles you to be considered you for:
You will not know for certain that you will receive any of this financial aid until or unless it is offered to you in an award letter by the college you apply to. You do not have to accept any or all of the aid offered. If you do not want to be burdened by college loan debt, you can refuse the loans. It never hurts you to apply for Pell grant money, even if you do not think you will get it. It is government funding that does not need to be paid back (unless you do not meet the in-school requirements). When Should You Apply for Pell Grant?The application for any school year comes out on the January 1 before the award year begins on July 1. (The award year runs until June 30.) The life cycle of a FAFSA form is 18 months. As far as the Pell grant goes, there is no need to rush to fill out the application. (The Pell grant is awarded to all those who qualify and fill it out before the federal deadline.)However, state and school grants have FAFSA deadlines which are much sooner. More and more states have shifted to a "first come, first served" deadline that occurs whenever the money runs out. You do not want to miss a state deadline, because many state grants allow for a higher family income than the federal Pell award. So, the best time to apply is- as soon as you file your federal income tax return (or if you want the data transferred, wait a week or so). If you are not planning to file a return, then don't wait. You can estimate income, but you will have to go back in to the form to make FAFSA corrections if you do. But you can file at any time before the federal deadline and receive federal aid for that award year. If a student needs help to apply for Pell grant funding, representatives at this number: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243), can:
Pell grant amounts have not been cut for the 2012-2013 school year, however, federal eligibility for a second award for summer classes has been eliminated for the foreseeable future. Applying for federal financial aid does not commit you to anything. No money will be given unless you are accepted and enrolled at an accredited school. But filling out the application and finding out what you may qualify for can help you decide if going to college is right for you. After you file, you can use the Pell grant calculator to see how your award might change at different schools, or for different types of enrollment (full-time, 3/4 time, half-time, less than half-time). 
Every student or adult thinking of college should apply for Pell grant funding, if they meet the basic eligibility for federal aid. (And most do.)Related topics mentioned above:  return from apply for Pell grant to Pell grant main page return from apply for Pell grant to college loan consultant home |
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