by Daniel Okuniewicz
(Newton, New Hampshire, USA)
Pell grants are a great way to fund a college education, but when you apply for your FAFSA (the form that determines your pell grant award) you have to keep some things in mind.
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by Brittani
(Oklahoma)
Many students who fill out a FASFA are hoping and praying they will be able to get a Pell Grant (money you are awarded for being in a low income family, that you do not have to pay back). But truthfully, you have to be in a very, very low income family to be granted one of these. But if you are one of the "lucky" (depends on how you look at it) ones, after the bill goes through, if there is any money left over you actually get the remainder of it sent to you. Sadly a lot of people get so excited about this "free money" that they go on shopping sprees and then are broke two days later. So if you do get this money your best option is to keep it. Put it in a savings account and do not touch it, until the next school year when you need it again.
Sometimes at the end of the year universities even tack on extra miscellaneous fees that you have to pay. And if you have blown your "free money" here you are with a $2,000 bill and nothing to pay it with. So you are forced to add another loan to your list, or pray you can work enough to pay it off that summer. Personally, I kept any extra in an account and didn't touch it. So when I got my miscellaneous bill I was able to pay over half of it with my left over money and the rest I worked off and paid before the next school semester. Because I didn't go on a shopping spree I was able to keep myself from acquiring more student loans then I already had. Also, I was able to have a little more money that summer since it wasn't ALL going to my school bill.
The moral of the story is, if you save your money now and live frugally, in the future you will have more and will be able to live better than before.
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by George Flores
(Davie, FL Broward County)
If you are a future college student who is looking for financial aid, the Pell Grant is perfect for you. In my experience, after being accepted into college and applying for financial aid, the Pell Grant will be helping me tremendously. I was awarded the highest amount, and will be given about five-thousand dollars per year. It may not be a vast amount like ten-thousand or higher, but it is still something. You will be able to get by why the help of the Pell Grant.
Considering how expensive college is, you will need every little bit of money and help you can get from financial aid or scholarships. Don’t take the Pell Grant for granted and by happy about receiving such a grant. There are other students out there in the same ball park as you who weren’t able to receive the Pell Grant. Imagine their struggle when they have to pay even more for classes, books and tuition.
With the help of FAFSA, every college should receive your SAR (student aid report). All you have to do is go online and fill out an application. Then as you are applying to colleges and being accepted, each college will decide if you are applicable for financial aid and may or may not give you the Pell Grant. But be excited and happy about the Pell Grant because think of it as free money every year. It’s better to have five-thousand dollars a year now then to be paying five-thousand dollars a year from student loans. I don’t think anyone would want to pay that.
So don’t waste any more time and go get that pell grant. Financial aid is here to help you. For FAFSA, each year you will be attending college, you need to fill another application out and hope to receive something for your troubles.
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