Finding information on free grants for college is a subject sure to be of interest to students just out of high school as well as later in life returning to school people. Grants for college are not necessarily hard to come by, but do require a bit or research and organizational work. Free grants for college are a must explore possibility for all college students.
Unlike ‘Student Loans‘, grants do not have to be repaid, and unlike ‘Scholarships’ they are not necessarily merit based.
The first thing you want to research is what types of grants are available for going to college. The most common grant for college that we hear about is called the “Pell Grant.” This grant is an income based federal grant for low-income families. However there are also grants that are not income based. There are free grants for college that are based on subject of study, merit, geographic location, minority status and more.
The first stop you should make when searching for free grants for college is your local community college’s Financial Aid office. Meet with a financial aid counselor and discuss some options that they know of which might be available to you. It’s their job to be aware of grants, student loan programs, and scholarships that could help you in your quest in furthering your education.
You should be forewarned however, that even though it is their job, they are often trained to do their job like systematic robots and they have a ‘first question’ rule. If you answer the first question the wrong way, their brains shut down and they will go no further with you.
An example of this would be that you may have a current student loan in default. If you are in default on a student loan, you cannot get another one until you make good on the first. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and if you know them you can take action to implement them and proceed with your career.
The problem with these financial aid counselors is that they are ‘entry level’ employees who are discouraged to think for themselves. They have a system and it’s all they know. If you tell them that you have arranged a workout and that you now will qualify for a new student loan, they will not even attempt to ‘look into it.’ They will simply repeat that until you satisfy the first loan, you will be unable to get another one. Occasionally, however, you will find someone who is a seasoned veteran of the financial aid world and who will go out of their way to help you, so this is still a must do.
The best way to avoid this is to do your own research on free grants for college via your local library and of course, the world wide web. Be prepared to make your applications early and wait. Free grants for college are available to you, you just need some ’self startership’ to find them and get them.
There is one other resource that will save you time and allow you to receive free grants for college. This simple, yet incredibly effective method can quickly get you free grants for college…
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