There Is Financial Aid Available For Those Final Years Of College!
Sometimes Pell Grants just aren't enough. That's why the Federal government has been busy financing supplemental grants in order to get more students into institutions of higher learning, whether on campus or online schools. This can become especially critical in a student's junior or senior years, when the ability to do work-study can be seriously decreased because of the additional academic workloads of those last few years.
That's one of the key reasons the U.S. has been busy creating supplemental grants to keep more students in institutions of higher learning, whether on campus or at an online college. Proof is the Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (aka SMART) grant. Created in 2006, the SMART Grant is awarded based on need, much like the Pell. As such, a FASFA form must be completed in order to get one. One of the benefits is the same FASFA form can be used for both grants. It is awarded in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.
This grant is only available to students who are majoring in physical, life, computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering, a critical foreign language, or non-major single liberal arts programs. The website of the Board of Education details exactly what curricula are considered allowable. Also, applicants must be enrolled in the courses necessary to complete their selected degree program. Not surprisingly, the student must attain and keep a grade point average of at least 3.0 in course work required for the major. If you need more information about apply for a pell grant online, look on the internet.
Students must also be enrolled in the courses necessary to complete the degree program and to fulfill the requirements of the intended eligible major. In addition, the student must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 in course work required for the major. The grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the third through fifth years of undergraduate study. The amount, when combined with a Pell Grant, may not exceed the student's cost of attendance. To be eligible, the student must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
Part of this grant is that one must be enrolled in degree-applicable courses and this component cannot be overlooked. There must be at least one such course in every semester. Planning to coast the last semester after all degree-appropriate courses have been taken is not going to work as this means you have disqualified yourself for a SMART grant. As such, grant beneficiaries are advised to take another curriculum-appropriate class, even if it's not needed to graduate.
It is critical to stay up to date with this program. It is changed almost yearly. For instance, when it was started it didn't recognize students who were "home-schooled" or took classes overseas. That's been changed, provided these students meet certain set standards. There is an abundance of information about accredited online university on the web.
Applicants should get in contact with their selected school's financial aid officer about this program (as well as any others they might qualify for). It's the officer's job to stay current on these programs and help the applicant through the process. It also makes sense for a student to do a little homework on their own. A good place to start is the U.S. Board of Education where many questions can be answered and further resources found.
What is really important is there is extra aid in addition to the standard student loans, especially for students about to enter those critical final years. Whether you plan a traditional college course or are attending one of many accredited online universities, a SMART Grant can take the financial pressure off.
