Using a Pell Grant to Attend Nursing School

If you qualify, using a Pell Grant to attend nursing school is an excellent economic decision. If you are a compassionate person interested in dedicating your life to the health and well being of others, money should not stand in the way of your dreams. Hospitals and health care facilities are short of qualified nurses, and a Pell Grant can help you fill that need.

Free Money for School

In essence, a Pell Grant is free money for you to attend nursing school. In other words, if you qualify, you do not have to repay the loan after graduation. You can use the money as you see fit, in order to get through school. Generally, the idea is to pay tuition and fees first. If any money is left over, it is meant for other college expenses like:

• Books
• Room and Board
• Transportation
• Child Care

Chances are, you will not have enough to totally coverall of your educational expenses. But, you can usually find additional aid to help with other financial issues. For example, you can check with the programs in your state, in order to find money to help with child care and other expenses, especially if you are a full-time student. Basically, if you have the will, there is a way for you to attend nursing school on a Pell Grant.

Qualifying for a Pell Grant

Qualifying for a Pell Grant is almost solely dependent upon your economic need. If you have a savings account, or your folks are going to help pay for your school, you might have trouble getting the Grant. Naturally, if you are doing well enough that you have money set aside, the Federal Government is going to assume you do not need their help.

So, if you have money set aside to help pay for school, use it up first. Use it for application fees; put it on account for child care; go ahead and use it for school-related expenses. Just do not have it in your possession to spend freely, while applying for the Grant.

If you are still a dependent of your parents, their income will be considered, when you apply for a Pell Grant. Even if they do not plan on helping pay for anything related to your post-secondary education, their combined income will be a determining factor in the amount, if any, that you receive for nursing school.

Applying for a Pell Grant

Applying for a Pell Grant is not difficult. Basically, you will need income tax information, in order to prove that you qualify. The easiest way to apply is to visit: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. In addition to applying for the Pell Grant, you will also be given the option to apply for subsidized and unsubsidized student loans.

If you are going to nursing school, and you have sufficient need for a Pell Grant, it might be a good idea to also apply for the student loans. If approved, you do not have to take the money; but, it will be available if you are approved, and you find that you need it.

Filling Out the Pell Grant Application

When you are ready to apply for the Pell Grant, here are some things that you will need to consider, before you get started. It will simplify the process:

• Have your Financial Papers Handy
• Save your log-in Information
• Take your Time
• Revisit the Application
• Send it off Electronically

As you start filling out the questionnaire on the FASFA site, you will be given log-in information. Write it down and save it. Even if you finish filling out the data at one sitting, it gives you the ability to go back in and check on the status of your Pell Grant. It will also simply the application process for next year.

When filling out the application, take your time. If you make a mistake, it will delay the approval of your application. The answer is not immediate, under the best of circumstances. You do not want to risk the delay of your education, because you did not fill out the paperwork properly.

After you are through with entering the data on your Pell Grant application, take the time to review it carefully. Check for spelling errors or any information that might have been keyed in incorrectly. You will have to verify that the information given is true and correct. If something is misrepresented incorrectly, even if it is an accident, you might not qualify for the grant. So, make sure all of your ‘T’s are crossed and your ‘I’s are dotted before hitting that enter key.

Submitting you application for review is as simple as hitting that enter key. The process is all done electronically today. In a matter of a few weeks, you should know whether you will be using a Pell Grant to attend nursing school.