The first step to becoming self-sufficient as a single mother is accepting the fact that you need a college education to obtain employment that is financially rewarding enough to support both you and your children.
The next step is the burdensome task of searching for financial assistance for single mother programs.
From child care to higher housing, utility and food expenses, your everyday financial needs are more than the average student and you need all the help you can get.
Often, single mother assistance comes in the form of college grants and scholarships.
There is plenty of assistance available if you do thorough research to find it and apply for it.
However, demand for grants and scholarships will ultimately outweigh supply.
The subsequent reality is that not everyone who applies for such assistance will receive it.
If attempts fall through to get grants and scholarships that are supplemental to the financial aid you will receive from the federal government, what other financial assistance for single mother options do you have? First, let's backtrack a bit.
The amount of federal financial aid available for your education should not be underestimated.
You may already know that depending on your financial need, you can receive up to $4731 per year through a Federal Pell Grant.
However, students with exceptional need can also qualify for up to an additional $4000 per year through the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program.
That is potentially over $8000 of aid per year you can receive simply for being a student with great financial need, without having accepted assistance specifically from a financial assistance for single mother program.
If you still need help paying for college tuition, don't rule out the possibility of a student loan.
Yes, as a single mother, the last thing you want looming over your head is more debt in addition to your car payment, credit cards, and other financial obligations.
However, Federal Perkins Loan programs offer student loans with a generously low 5% interest rate if your search for college grants and scholarships leaves you needing still more aid.
One common sense alternative that may be easy to overlook, is earning your college degree online.
Studying and earning course credit at home in your spare time after work eliminates the need for additional child care and transportation costs to and from school.
Of course, both you and your children will have to be able to exhibit a certain level of self-discipline in order for this educational strategy to work.
If you are able to take full advantage of both federal aid and independent financial assistance for single mother programs, don't hesitate to do so.
Combine that financial aid with your own common sense and determination, and attaining self-sufficiency in supporting yourself and your children will be far from impossible.
The next step is the burdensome task of searching for financial assistance for single mother programs.
From child care to higher housing, utility and food expenses, your everyday financial needs are more than the average student and you need all the help you can get.
Often, single mother assistance comes in the form of college grants and scholarships.
There is plenty of assistance available if you do thorough research to find it and apply for it.
However, demand for grants and scholarships will ultimately outweigh supply.
The subsequent reality is that not everyone who applies for such assistance will receive it.
If attempts fall through to get grants and scholarships that are supplemental to the financial aid you will receive from the federal government, what other financial assistance for single mother options do you have? First, let's backtrack a bit.
The amount of federal financial aid available for your education should not be underestimated.
You may already know that depending on your financial need, you can receive up to $4731 per year through a Federal Pell Grant.
However, students with exceptional need can also qualify for up to an additional $4000 per year through the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program.
That is potentially over $8000 of aid per year you can receive simply for being a student with great financial need, without having accepted assistance specifically from a financial assistance for single mother program.
If you still need help paying for college tuition, don't rule out the possibility of a student loan.
Yes, as a single mother, the last thing you want looming over your head is more debt in addition to your car payment, credit cards, and other financial obligations.
However, Federal Perkins Loan programs offer student loans with a generously low 5% interest rate if your search for college grants and scholarships leaves you needing still more aid.
One common sense alternative that may be easy to overlook, is earning your college degree online.
Studying and earning course credit at home in your spare time after work eliminates the need for additional child care and transportation costs to and from school.
Of course, both you and your children will have to be able to exhibit a certain level of self-discipline in order for this educational strategy to work.
If you are able to take full advantage of both federal aid and independent financial assistance for single mother programs, don't hesitate to do so.
Combine that financial aid with your own common sense and determination, and attaining self-sufficiency in supporting yourself and your children will be far from impossible.
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