| Attending college should be within the scope of every | | | | have little or no chance of going to college otherwise. |
| individual. Because of the ever-increasing costs though, | | | | Sources for finding out about scholarships are your |
| it is hard for many families to find the necessary | | | | high school guidance office, the Internet, the college aid |
| funding to give their children the opportunity for a | | | | office, you local library or town hall, local newspapers, |
| college education. For single mothers however, the | | | | and scholarship directories. Here are some web sites |
| task becomes even more difficult, as they assume the | | | | worth visiting:- |
| responsibility of the parent and the child! Just because | | | | Another vital step is to fill out the FAFSA form, i.e., the |
| you are a single mother however, does not mean that | | | | Federal Application For Student Financial Aid |
| this opportunity has passed you by. Lack of finance is | | | | document. It is like a tax document, which you fill it out |
| never an excuse for missing out on a college | | | | with all your tax information and your plans for your |
| education, because there is always financial help | | | | further education. But don't let the technical nature of |
| available, if you know where to look. If you have no | | | | the document put you off. If you don't understand it, |
| financial resources, then, you must consider applying | | | | ask for help, don't give up. It is also possible now to file |
| for a college scholarship. For the purpose of this | | | | your FAFSA application online, which is a great |
| discussion, we will consider grants as well as | | | | convenience. It makes dealing with the form easier, |
| scholarships. | | | | because you can save it and go back and edit it as |
| Essentially, when you receive a college scholarship | | | | often as you like. It also means that if your have |
| your college fees will be paid for you, and you will | | | | knowledgeable friends or family elsewhere, they can |
| never have to pay those fees back to anyone. This | | | | go online and help you with it. Your financial aid office |
| being the case, you would be well advised to | | | | can also help file your FAFSA for you. |
| investigate all avenues for the possibilities of | | | | One of the best college scholarship grants available is |
| scholarships before looking into college loans. A loan | | | | that from the local government. It is difficult to give |
| could prove a millstone around your neck for many | | | | resources here for these, because there are so many |
| years to come. If you do your research carefully, you'll | | | | local governments; each with different sets of rules to |
| be able to find the money that you need to pay for at | | | | the other. However, most will have their own web |
| least some of your college education. Being a mom of | | | | sites, so that is the first place to look. It would be |
| course, does mean that you have other financial | | | | probably best to search for the general term 'grants' |
| commitments as well as personal ones, so you should | | | | or 'scholarships' first and refine your search from there. |
| think the whole process through very carefully to | | | | Whichever route you take, be prepared to persevere |
| make sure that you have all angles covered. You will | | | | and to do some work to get the money you want. |
| need to cover child minding fees of course. Great if | | | | Local government will not release funds easily, and you |
| you have relatives who can help, but be prepared for | | | | will have to prove that you deserve it. |
| the to cover the cost if you don't. Add to that the | | | | Then there are organizations that offer scholarships |
| every day costs of raising a child, and you have what | | | | based on some affiliation that you have such as if you |
| seems to be a daunting task ahead of you. Be | | | | had a family member who fought in a foreign war. Did |
| prepared, but don't give up! | | | | one of your parents fight for their country? If so, then |
| The whole process of researching college scholarships | | | | that is one possible avenue to explore. Whilst the main |
| or grants is a long and tedious one. Some scholarships | | | | criteria for many of these scholarships is based on |
| require essays or other material you will need to | | | | SATS scores, many have their basis on financial |
| provide for consideration, so be prepared to do some | | | | standing. So don't feel that because you do not have |
| hard work. Having a scholarship sounds like a great | | | | the SAT requirements that your road to a scholarship |
| idea, but if they were that easy to obtain, they would | | | | is blocked - it might not be. |
| have no value. You must be prepared to put in a lot of | | | | Whilst many of these schemes are geared to the high |
| effort in the preparatory stages; effort that might | | | | school graduate, you should still be prepared to state |
| possibly go unrewarded if you fail. However, the | | | | your case to try and obtain funding. You may be a |
| reward of obtaining a scholarship is too great to ignore, | | | | single mom, but you still deserve to complete your |
| especially if your financial status means that you will | | | | education, the same as everyone else. |