Is there REAlly such a thing as Free grants, free money?

Question

I am a mother of 2 who just quit my job to go back to college after 10 years of employment. Are there really grants and scholarships other than what you would normally know about when applying for aid? What about grants(not loans ... as a parent i am already up to my eyeballs in debt and am trying to defray as much of the expense as possible) grants or money to pay my bills while I am in school...? Or is all this "free money,grants etc." advertising i hear everywhere a scam? I could sure use the help if it is available. I am a 35 yr old white female and i intend to study in the areas of geology and archeaology and be teacher certified... if this helps in your answer. thanks for your answers!

Answer 1

never trust a site that charges to find this info for you.. those sites are scams.

the info; its all free, its just people dont know where to look and how to find it. there is SO MUCH OUT THERE.

fastweb is a great site. no fee. you just fill out the questions (takes a bit of time) and submit it. it will email you back with what they find on their database(s) that you qualify for.

also, there is help out there to be a teacher too. i know these are a lot, but take your time. pick through each one. i will list all that i have, for the more you are awarded the better. contact each one you want, and ask when the deadline is and ask what they require.

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try to aim for grants/scholarships more... they are not to be paid back. its confusing sometimes, but just keep applying. Scholarships usually have a 1 or 2 page application, and require an essay. Take your time with the essay, so yours stands out.

every big (and small) company you see (manufacturer, orgs, corps and groups also) all have grants and scholarships they hand out like candy. Walmart, Kmart, Target, Coke, computer companies etc etc etc

heres a link with a HUGE amount of some available. some you will need to copy and paste into a new window. also, fastweb (take the time to fill it in) will search databases and get back to you with a list of scholarships you qualify for.

Also contact all mens, womens associations in your state, they almost always have grants & scholarships. What ever field you are going into, contact the orgs, associations etc for them; Also check with professional organizations related to your career interests, such as the American Bar Association or the American Medical Association. they also always have scholarships. Research and dig, call then write. Its all worth it.

OVER apply; it doesnt hurt to have too many, and the extra funds can help with housing.


LIST (Arts too)
http://www.lifebridge.org/gran-list-alph.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/nj4/njcomputerchick/school.html

MORE:

http://college-scholarships.com/
http://www.statefarm.com/about/part_spos/grants/grants.asp
http://www.gmsp.org
http://www.gmsp.org/gmsp_web/(nb5ctd55gavpfi55bb3a3j45)/scholarships.aspx
http://www.sfa.ufl.edu:16080/scholarshipcafe/
http://www.fafsaonline.com/
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
http://12.46.245.173/cfda/cfda.html
http://www.salliemae.com/
http://www.ed.gov/finaid/landing.jhtml
http://www.scholarshipexperts.com/
http://www.studentawards.com/
http://www.collegeanswer.com/index.jsp
http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/
http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/Detailed/Scholarships/Meta_indexes_and_other_scholarship_directories/Women_s_and_Non-traditional_students_scholarships_meta-directory_126.php
http://www.discovernursing.com/nursing-scholarship-search
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/DSA/nsl.htm
http://www.nsna.org/foundation/
http://www.4cnas.com
http://www.schoolsoup.com/
http://www.blackexcel.org/link4.htm
http://www.jackierobinson.org/
http://www.siemens-foundation.org/TeacherScholarship/
http://www.childcareservices.org/ps/teach.html
http://www.act.org/goldwater/yybull.html
http://www.uncf.org/
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm <-do search for ‘scholarships’
http://www.finaid.org/
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp
http://www.actstudent.org/finaid/scholarshipscams.html
http://www.act.org/recognition/clients.html
http://www.act.org/kfcscholars/index.html
http://www.kfcscholars.org/
http://www.rhodesscholar.org/
http://www.collegedata.com/
http://www.fastweb.com/
http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/gPg.cfm?pageID=139
http://www.policylink.org/EDTK/AH101/Financing.html#4
http://www.hud.gov/grants/index.cfm

BECOMING A TEACHER
http://www.aft.org/teachers/jft/becoming.htm
http://www.fseog.com/


DEPENDENCY or NOT
http://www.salliemae.com/get_student_loan/apply_student_loan/understanding/financial_aid/dependency/

LOAN FORGIVENESS (nurses/teachers)
http://www.pheaa.org/loanforgiveness/healthier_futures.shtml
http://www.aft.org/teachers/jft/loanforgiveness.htm
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/cancelstaff.jsp?tab=repaying


STATUS of your student gov loan or aid:
http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/

if you don’t have a PIN yet (for your loan / aid status) apply for one:
http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp

ESSAY HELP
http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/
http://www.gradesaver.com/resources/scholarship.html
http://www.collegeadmissionsessays.com/
http://www.nataviguides.com/broke_essay.html
http://www.princetonreview.com/college/apply/articles/process/essayjump.asp
http://www.scholarshipessay.us/
http://www.freschinfo.com/tips-brainstorming.php
http://www.freschinfo.com/tips-topic.php
http://essayedge.com/
http://www.korepetycje.com/Essays_Articles/scholarshipessay.html


GRANT SCHOLARSHIP SCAM LIST
(if you find a scam report it here too)
http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer/media_psas_classads.html

LOANS
http://www.acteducationloans.com/
http://www.finaid.org/loans/educationlenders.phtml
http://www.financialaid.com/plus/index.cfm?id=plusloans
http://www.alternativestudentloan.com/
http://www.parentplusloan.com/
http://www.financialaidpodcast.com/about/
http://www.myspace.com/financialaidpodcast
http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com

GRAD LOANS
http://www.gradloans.com/graduate-plus-loan/

DEFAULTED STUDENT LOANS
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DCS/index.html

CONSOLIDATE LOANS
http://www.plusloanconsolidator.com/
http://www.salliemae.com/after_graduation/manage_your_loans/consolidate_student_loans/student_loan_consolidation.htm
http://www.salliemae.com/content/privateconsolidation/index.html
http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov/

RATE MY PROFESSORS
http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/index.jsp

A lot of corporations want to be seen as "good neighbors" in the community. And they need a way to attract young workers. So some of them grant scholarships, usually from $1,500 to $10,000.

When visiting the websites of these companies, on the home page look for something like: ABOUT US or CORP INFO. Click on that, and then look for something like: COMMUNITY or COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

check out:
1. BestBuy (2 scholarships from each store for $1,500 and they enter you at their headquarters for a $10,000 scholarship).

2. Comcast (your high school principal must recommend you for a $1,000 scholarship. They also have paid internship at a limited number of locations nationwide.)

3. Cracker Barrel (www.cbrlgroup.com) for employees, or their children - $1,000

4. Kohls (each store awards $50 and a certificate; then submits their winners to the region. Regional winners receive $1,000 and are submitted to the corporate headquarters. Corporate level winners get a $5,000 scholarship and a $1,000 donation to their favorite charity.)

5. Wal-Mart (www.walmartfoundation.org) Each store awards $1,000 to 2 students at each school in their area. Or if you have been an employee for 12 months, you qualify to apply for a $2,500 scholarship.

6. McDonalds (as Ronald McDonald House Charities at: www.RMHC.ORG) varies by region of the county. But a typical award is $1,000. May be from the corporation or from an association of stores in your area.

Each of these companies have a simple application (1–2 pages) process.

Answer 2

The best place to go is www.fafsa.ed.gov fafsa is the application for a pell grant that just requires you go to school and maintain a average grade point average, and you don't pay it back, unless you don't do that. It is also an application for many state sponsered grants. It can also qualify you for a loan but one with a good intrest rate and that you wouldn't pay back till you graduated.Go to the school you are intrested in or even the local high school and they can help you fill everything out at no cost. On the website they also have easy to follow instructions. All you really need is the information on your taxes. Another thing it is income based and first come first serve so the sooner you apply the more aid you will get.

Answer 3

There are a variety of grants you can get from the financial aid office at colleges, if you qualify (qualify = poor). Pell grants are the most common. They're federal. If you are poor enough they can pay for all your tuition and books at a public college. Some colleges also give their own grants. Grants don't have to be paid back UNLESS you drop out and take off with the money.

The answerer above is correct. NEVER pay somebody to do this for you, because there is a whole free system set up for financial aid at colleges and in the federal govt.

Search for financial aid application online and you'll find the federal financial aid department (it should end with a .gov). You can fill out an application online. I'd suggest you fill that out ASAP, because you need it well in advance to qualify for financial aid the next year. Financial aid is first-come-first-serve. Also, remember, you must be accepted at the college and fill out their financial aid app as well. Do this TODAY.

Answer 4

While there are grants available, most of the ads you here are either overblown or are scams.

Never pay someone to get you a grant, unless they are a real grant writer. These folks work for not-for-profits and tend not to take on individual clients.

If you DO get a grant, you often have to do something in return. For example, you might get a grant in your area of interest, but you'll be required to teach school for a few years. And, if you can't get a job, you'll be expect to repay the grant.

Think of it this way: if there really were all these grants to pay for you to go to school, wouldn't everyone be going after them.

Don't waste your time on the slim chance you might get a grant.

Answer 5

If you have to pay to get something, it's a scam. Federal Pell Grants are available from the school of your choice, based on your income. Scholarships.com has a free search service where you enter your info and the site searches for scholarships, grants, etc for you. If you get your teaching certificate in certain subjects (sciences might be one of them) and teach in public schools in certain areas of the country, a Perkins Loan would be reduced in amount every year you work in that school district and would be forgiven completely after a certain amount of time. But that would mean you'd probably have to move. Here's the quote from the website below:

Teaching

Students who become full-time teachers in an elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families can have a portion of their Perkins Loan forgiven under The National Defense Education Act. This program forgives 15% of your loan for the first and second years of teaching service, 20% for the third and fourth, and 30% for the fifth. Contact your school district's administration to see which schools are eligible.

Students who majored in education and teach in Mississippi may be eligible for the William Winter Teacher Scholar Loan. This program forgives one year of your loan in exchange for one year of service (it forgives two years of your loan if you teach in a shortage area). Contact the Mississippi Office of State Student Financial Aid, 3825 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS 39211-6453; 1-601-982-6663.

Perkins loans can be cancelled for full-time service as a teacher in a designated elementary or secondary school serving students from low-income families, special education teacher (includes teaching children with disabilities in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school), qualified professional provider of early intervention services for the disabled, teacher of math, science, foreign languages, bilingual education, or other fields designated as teacher shortage areas, employee of a public or non-profit child or family service agency providing services to high-risk children and their families from low-income communities, nurse or medical technician, law enforcement or corrections officer, staff member in the educational component of a Head Start Program, service as a Vista or Peace Corps Volunteer and service in the Armed Forces (up to 50% in areas of hostilities or imminent danger).

Answer 6

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Answer 7

A grant is something given to you for a promise to do something. If you are unable to do what you are suppose to do, then the money will has to be reimbursed. A gift is a gift.