Federal Grant Information for College

[quavec]

I have been trying to find out all I can regarding grant monies available to first time college students for my nephew (HS sophomore). Needless to say, I have found HUNDREDS of sites via the net and am having trouble weeding through them. Is there anyone site that can help me out more than others? Or is this just something I will have to patiently plod through? He is supposed to be "helping" me but, well, he's a boy, he's 17 and he has a car...need I say more? :circle: He is one year behind due to being held back in the 2nd or 3rd grade but is now making straight A's. He is such a good kid who has had to deal with ALOT of hard knocks. He is more like a brother to me than a nephew as he lived with my parents off and on for most of his life. He has been permanently there since he was 7. So, I am trying to help him out by finding viable ways for him to go to college w/o having to join the military. Not that he or I (military brat myself) are against the armed forces, we would just love for him to have an option of going to college first.

So many of you are either still in school, returning to school or are involved in the academic field that I thought you might be able to send some sites my way. I have sent out many requests for applications etc in our state and have yet to hear from them. I may be getting a bit ahead of schedule since he is only a sophomore, but from what I understand, you have to be real quick on the buzzer to get these grants. I paid my own way through JC and struggled w/the whole living on my own, full time job and full time school thing and I just don't want to see him go through that unless he absolutely has to.

Thanks in advance for any help you can send my way!

[Steven]

I think the first thing to do would be filling out the FAFSA (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)-- Free Application For Federal Student Aid. They supposedly look at all federal grants and select the best one.

Right now I'm getting the PELL grant. That pays for my tuition and gives me a refund if I don't use all the money up. Though, I'm in going for my AAT and not BA. Buying books are another matter, though here in Georgia some can get HOPE which pays for books -- as long as their good students.

From my experience with Fin. Aid, if you do it early, it wont matter a dang because they'll still screw it up late in the game where you'll have to fix it -- hopefully not screwing up classes.

[ajers&me]

As a junior in college, I highly recommend the FASFA first and foremost. They will determine how much help he will get from the government. Also, apply for as many scholarships as possible. Depending on where he goes and how soon he applies (since he is only a sophomore I would prob wait a year, but don't put it off).The sooner he applies for scholarships threw the school the better chance he has of getting some. Also there are many scholarship websites out there, you can e-mail me (address in my profile) and I can get you a list of them. They will allow you to put in his information and search for the best possible matches. I don't know anything about grants but scholarships will help a lot also, and with straight A's he has a good chance at them. If you need anymore information just e-mail me.