Help for a single mother?

Question

I want to go to school full time for two years to help me get a better job ( I work at Walmart ) I am a single mother of a young son and I feel that there is no way I can do this and still keep a roof over his head. Does anyone know of any grants or loans or programs that would enable me to go to school to better myself ?

Answer 1

There are grants and scholarships out there, but you have missed the deadline for many. I recommend aiming for fall 2008 to get the most financial aid. The best place to start working towards a degree is at your local community college because it is affordable and offers an associates degree which takes less time to complete the program. To have more time for your son, you are probably a good candidate for their distance learning program on the web if they offer one. I will include some free places to locate money to attend college.


First, the college's financial aid office and website has a list of private scholarships offered from outside organizations and companies. Sometimes a college major's website will list scholarships, too.

Second, the public library has a book listing scholarships with some not even listed on the web.

Third, fill out the FAFSA form after January 1. It will qualify you for need based financial aid from the federal government and the school itself. It will come in the form of scholarships, Pell Grant, student loans, and the work study program.

Fourth, Walmart does offer a scholarship program. Check with Walmart's human resources office and the Walmart Foundation website for more details on the associate program one.

Finally, I recommend joining several free membership scholarship search websites. There are scholarships for a variety of things including ethnicity, clubs, hobbies, and even wearing duct tape to the high school prom. Most are updated on a regular basis. Most offer a customized search based on information entered onto a form on the website.

Good luck!

Answer 2

First off.. Congratulations! I hope you end up going back to school.. it's always great when someone tries to better themselves. FAFSA is very helpful. Its based on your income, and then they decide which kind of loan to give you. If you're a single mother then you should get a PELL grant, which you do not have to pay back. Also, you could try www.fastweb.com or www.scholarships.com for some easy scholarship money. Another trick I learned is; once you've decided which career you want to pursue, find some organizations in your area that deal with that career. The reason for this is because many organizations have to give a certain amount of money in scholarships to students in the area. Many people don't know about this which makes them easier to get money from. My government teacher made his entire way through college on this alone. Annnd another option is to find a credit card company that will allow you to have student loans. It might be bad paying it off later, but at least you're trying to get a better education for you and your son. And just think... if you don't do this for him now.. then how will HE get to college?

Hope this helps! And don't get discouraged if you don't recieve anything right way. They will! :)

Answer 3

I did that very thing at 40 and was a single mom of two. Go to the financial aid office of the school you want to go to. They know all about grants and such. I got a Pell Grant that paid totally for school plus books.

Good luck and God bless. You can do it!

Answer 4

Fill out a FAFSA application.

Answer 5

itt technical institute. banks make loans...