Single parent college grants
The total amount of single parents in the USA is nearly 13 million and growing. Whether the cause is divorce, death or abandonment the parent remaining makes personal sacrifices to ensure that they can provide for their families. In many cases, this sacrifice is getting an education to enhance their chances of providing a secure income for their family. However, single parent college grants can be applied for to assist the individual who desires to return to school and increase their chances of career success.
The government has a number of grants for single-parents to assist in both financing education as well as existing expense burdens. In order to set a good example for our children, government programs exist to provide opportunities for academic and thus personal development. A good first step is to apply for aid through FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), a process which determines your financial needs and can be completed online. The local city hall also offers various applications which can assist in assessing your criteria to match you to the needs-based grant most suitable.
Types of single parent college grants
For undergraduates, there is the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. While for the first two years the Academic Competitiveness Grant can assist. In order to qualify for this you must first fulfill the criteria of the Federal Pell Grant. Another opportunity requiring a Pell Grant acceptance is the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant. Criteria include a major in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering or a critical foreign language.
While academic institutions offer their own various single parent college grants, private grants are another option to visit before considering embarking on the next part of your educational journey. If you fit a certain profile, there are opportunities online to apply for private institutional grants designed to assist minorities and single mothers. For some private institutions their social investment policies include a focus on encouraging single parents to pursue their academic potential. These opportunities sometimes include work available for graduates within that institution once they have completed their studies.
Private grants include the 10k Scholarship for Moms and organisations who encourage single moms to study such as Elearners who are dedicated to particularly single mothers academic development via online study. When seeking private single parent college grants be aware of scams and grants targeting non profits and organisations.
Private investments
In the private investment sector Wal-Mart Foundation is known to request proposals for the State Giving Program which ‘supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better.’ The foundation has four areas of focus: education, health and wellness, environmental sustainability and workforce development/economic opportunity.
The Wal-mart Foundation seeks to fund initiatives that address the educational needs of underserved young people ages 12-30; attending drop-out prevention; college access and retention as well as job skills training. In 2007, the foundation gave more than $80 million in charitable grants and although individuals are not eligible, if single parents wish to seek alternative routes to private grants and understand how they work, it is worth contacting them to find out which organisations are beneficiaries of their single parent college grants and approach these directly. Information on how to reach organisations who are beneficiaries can be found by contacting the Foundation on (800) 530-9925.
Further education initiatives for single parents to explore when seeking grant opportunities in the private arena can include the beneficiaries of Halliburton located in the Southwest, who focus on the Texas area and support nonprofit organizations dedicated to education, health, the environment and health-related community programs. In 2008, the company provided more than $2.2 million in charitable donations. To enquire about their beneficiaries and understand which to contact for single parent college grants.
The grant application process
When looking for single parent college grants, it may seem quite daunting when visiting online portals such as www.neh.gov which answer question about grants to see how they need to be filled out and what is required. Remember that once you have decided what to study, which grant program to apply for and to which institution contact, an official will assist you in the process. All grants have instructions for application which vary, including requiring a synopsis of your background a personal statement of how the money will be spent and why its needed.
Your Background is the argument you are putting forward that places a great deal of momentum behind whether you are the right person to be enrolled in their single parent college grants program, remember to concentrate well on this part of the application. It will afford you the opportunity to substantiate why you deserve the money. The synopsis and purpose requires a clear outline of you plan, project which is clearly thought through. Letters of reference from past teachers and employers will add substance to your submission. Consider the following guidelines;
- Write only what is needed, don’t get lengthy
- Avoid jargon, acronyms, slang or inappropriate language
- Steer clear of “text speak” such as BRB or LOL
- Get proofreading assistance if you aren’t a natural writer
- Contact the grantor for anything you are unsure about
- Read the directions very clearly or you will be disqualified
Your Project Outline relating to existing academic experience will serve you well if structured according to a proposal outlay – many heading structures of which can be found online to include for example literature reviews and timelines etc. The introduction provides an overview of what they are about to read while the Project Purpose seeks to identify the key concepts you will be studying as an applicant to their single parent college grants program.
In the case of the NEH, before submitting the proposal program officers can offer advice on preparation and review. Draft proposals are frequently required to be submitted four to six weeks before the application deadline or earlier. Draft proposals, consisting of the narrative, budget and list of persons who will be included for references can be submitted directly to the Office of Challenge Grants (not through Grants.gov) by e-mail attachment (challenge@neh.gov)
To assist individuals with their time management and expectations when applying for their single parent college grants, the Office of Management and Budget requires federal agencies to share information on the time required to complete forms and send comments on paperwork that has to be submitted. The estimated time it takes to complete forms is around 15 hours per response which includes time to review instruction, gathering research as well as completing and reviewing the application.
Kathleen’s story
Before you think of postponing that degree in favour of a job, your age, financial issues or marriage it may surprise you to find out that many students returning to school these days have children. In four years you can expect the support of professors who will guide you and the thought of the income from the position you have worked so hard to earn. Understanding the world of engaging single parent college grants with the option to study can be compared to running a home business. Experts offer several options to consider;
- Work full- time and attend college full- time
- Work full- time and attend college part- time
- Work part- time and attend college full- time
- Work part- time and attend college part- time
- Don’t work and attend college full- time or part- time
Kathleen Marie experienced that is is indeed possible to succeed as a full time student and single parent of four. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a major in English (Professional Writing Concentration) and a minor in Psychology. Kathleen enrolled first in a community college working part time and went to school part time. Kathleen explains; ‘The next semester, I chose the last option. I quit working and attended college full-time. My main concern at this time was finances. How were the children and I going to eat?’
The next years she received AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) and food stamps but sought a better way. When she was in her third year she was already self-supporting through single parent college grants, loans, and scholarships. Based on this, Kathleen suggests several suggestions that may save time and energy when returning to college.
- Registration – a process which takes time and energy. Whether you start in the Spring or the Fall, the application process is always six months ahead of time. Be sure to find out whether you need an SAT or ACR, preparatory courses and how many hours they consider full-time.
- Financial Aid – Single parent college grant information can be obtained from the financial aid office. . Financial aid (Free Application for Federal Aid or FAFSA) forms are available on January 1 of each year. The sooner you complete the FAFSA after January 1, the better your chances for a Pell grant.
- A financial counsellor will assist with the next procedures work-study jobs and hourly wages start at federal minimum level increasing job dependence whilst work-study students receive regular income for daily needs.
Resources and support
Brigham Young University Single Parent Scholarships from The Marriott School are offered to single parents with dependent children going back to school after 3 years. Additional single parent college grants opportunities can be considered at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire -Richard & Joan Fleming Single Parent Scholarship. The Green River CC Foundation also provides single parent scholarships to students who have at least one dependent child living at home.
On-Campus Child Care Services have recently been approved by Congress as a result of the need for such facilities. The Child Care Access Means Parents In Schools (CCAMPIS) budget rose in 2001 to $25 million from $5 million in the year 2000. Within year one and two, CCAMPIS supported child care centers at 87 colleges and now includes nearly 300 additional college programs.