Unease grows over the future of pell Grants

Alice In TX/MO · #21 12/18/10, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big rockpile

Alice I would say they are more than likely getting Student Loans which more than likely they will default on.

big rockpile

How rude. You don't know these people. You didn't see their rental application. You don't know about their hard work in their HUGE garden so they can feed themselves as much as possible.

Yes, her husband gets disability, too, but YOU try to raise three children, go to college, and get by on that. They are working hard, and you made disparaging remarks about someone you know nothing about.

What a ridiculous post.

Some of you who don't know about Pell Grants, who they are for, how they work, etc., might want to read here:
https://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWeb...sp?tab=funding

big rockpile · #22 12/18/10, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

One of my renters is a mother with three daughters and a disabled husband. They are surviving on Pell Grants.

I totally support the program.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

How rude. You don't know these people. You didn't see their rental application. You don't know about their hard work in their HUGE garden so they can feed themselves as much as possible.

Yes, her husband gets disability, too, but YOU try to raise three children, go to college, and get by on that. They are working hard, and you made disparaging remarks about someone you know nothing about.

What a ridiculous post.

Some of you who don't know about Pell Grants, who they are for, how they work, etc., might want to read here:
https://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWeb...sp?tab=funding

Ok some how I got you was putting them down using the Pell Grants

.I know some that are getting High $$ Student Loans for living cost just to turn around and either Default or file Bankrupcy instead of repaying the Loans which is what I thought was the case of you OP so

and carry on.

Ok better now?

big rockpile

drakkensdottir · #23 12/18/10, 02:59 PM

We live in a little town with little in the way of opportunity. If it wasn't for the Pell grant and the small loans I was granted, I wouldn't have been able to go back to college. Nearest school? 60 miles away.

In 3 years, I've finished most of my coursework. Should be done this summer. I managed to finish this fast because I always took the maximum classes allowed (19hours) versus the minimum to maintain my financial aid (12hours). I'd have to say that fully half of my courseload has been internet classes which allowed me to keep my commuting costs down. And my school is one of the only ones left that rents textbooks out to students instead of making us buy them.

However, that said, I think the biggest problem is the number of students who are lost at school. Thrusting kids fresh out of high school straight to college seems to be a bad idea for quite a few. For a lot of these kids, college is apparently a time to party and play around. I've actually had to listen to classmates complain about the amount of homework, taking notes, or even having to show up to class. There have been many that I have met that have been there for 6 years!!! Mostly because they only register for the minimum... I had to wait 20 years to get back to school, I wasn't going to waste this opportunity.

For my own daughter -- I think she'll do very well once she goes to college. But she's taking a year off and working first.

~Drak

Wolf mom · #24 12/18/10, 04:11 PM

Yuppers - should have googled that info first. Defaults are on student loans.

Still think we need to reevaluate our educational system.

drakkensdottir: If students are floundering in college - it's because their high school has not prepared them for the responsibility & freedom of college.

JanS · #25 12/18/10, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf mom

drakkensdottir: If students are floundering in college - it's because their high school has not prepared them for the responsibility & freedom of college.

I'd think that would be the parents' job.

lilmizlayla · #26 12/18/10, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big rockpile

Ok some how I got you was putting them down using the Pell Grants

.I know some that are getting High $$ Student Loans for living cost just to turn around and either Default or file Bankrupcy instead of repaying the Loans which is what I thought was the case of you OP so

and carry on.

Ok better now?

big rockpile

you cant NOT pay school loans. There is no such thing as getting out of it. bankruptcy? nope..you get it...you will pay it

lilmizlayla · #27 12/18/10, 04:40 PM

nothing wrong with pell grants. bTW, where the heck do you people live that you think one can live like a king/queen with it? it is only 5500 a year. TWO semesters,people. that is approximately 2500 a semester. now how much is one semester? about 5 grand. pell grants HELP..but they dont pay the way.

i know many kids who are poor..and are straight A students in college.
without an education...you will see more people on welfare. In other countries college is free!

willow_girl · #28 12/18/10, 05:00 PM

Quote:

WOW! I really can't believe you wrote that! Of course, I have to prove you wrong. DS- PhD, DD - masters. DSILs - PhD and Law school. Grants got them through bachelors. Each of them was married - which helped them qualify.

Just because you are poor doesn't make you a bad student. My kids qualified on minimum wage jobs.

I'm surprised they qualified, unless they also had children. I know that I made too much while working as a waitress to qualify. (I was childless.) A few years later, I married a man who worked for a college, and was able to take advantage of the tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents.

The vast majority of Pell grant recipients that I knew were welfare mothers. On the one hand, I guess it's better for society to help these women get some job skills that might enable them to support their children. On the other, it does seem like it's rewarding them for their poor decision-making, doesn't it?

Melissa · #29 12/18/10, 05:22 PM

http://pellgrantqualifications.net/

Most Pell grant money goes to students from families making $30K a year or less. You can qualify with more income, just depends on the circumstances.

plowjockey · #30 12/18/10, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilmizlayla

you cant NOT pay school loans. There is no such thing as getting out of it. bankruptcy? nope..you get it...you will pay it

True, but if you can't pay a student loan, you can get a deferral, meaning no payments, until your income rises enough to be "able" to start paying agin.

That might be a pretty long time for many, maybe the rest of their lives.

JanS · #31 12/18/10, 06:40 PM

A deferral will have a specific time limit. You can't just stop paying forever. If you're low income you may be able to work out an easier payment plan, but you still have to pay.

big rockpile · #32 12/18/10, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilmizlayla

you cant NOT pay school loans. There is no such thing as getting out of it. bankruptcy? nope..you get it...you will pay it

Ok I didn't know you couldn't cout them on Bankruptcy wife just told me this but I do know you can quit paying,thing is you can't draw a Pay Check.

big rockpile

Wolf mom · #33 12/18/10, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JanS

I'd think that would be the parents' job.

Maybe in tandem, but when students can slide by and pass (no child left behind) in high school and anyone can get into community college, it's a rude awakening to find ya' gotta show up & study when you get there.

cornbread · #34 12/18/10, 07:59 PM

It should be cut

bluemoonluck · #35 12/18/10, 09:03 PM

I counsel teenagers, and part of my job is college/scholarship counseling. There are a TON of scholarships out there, but they require a lot of time and effort to apply for. Some require an essay, some you just have to fill out and mail in (or submit electronically) a form with basic information on it.

From 6+ years of experience in doing this, I can tell you that probably 90% of the kids who know they qualify for Pell Grants don't see the point in applying for scholarships. Everyone who is college bound has to fill out the FAFSA anyway, and that is the application for the Pell Grants as well.

There are also a lot more scholarships out there for students who can "demonstrate financial need." What I see a LOT is students whose parents make too much to qualify for Pell Grants and make too much to be able to meet the "demonstrated financial need" cutoffs (usually have to qualify for free lunch to qualify) but who are within spitting distance of qualifying. So, they make too much to qualify for Pell Grants/need based scholarships but not enough to be able to afford college.

Most high schools have technical programs, where students can earn a certification in a tech field (welding, cosmotology, LPN, etc) while still in high school at little to no cost to the student. This is a great opportunity that should be fully taken advantage of by students in this position!!

But back to the original question....there are a LOT of financial aid opportunities available to students who would qualify for the Pell Grant if they would put in the time and effort to pursue them. You could do away with Pell and these students would just have to step it up and do what everyone else does - spend a few hours a week during senior year filling out scholarship applications.

Heritagefarm · #36 12/18/10, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow_girl

The problem with the grants, as far as I can see, is that one has to be VERY low-income to qualify for them. People who are not capable of holding even a minimum-wage job probably are not the best candidates for college. They probably have a low I.Q. and/or some significant educational gaps that will require lots of support (remedial classes, tutoring) if they're to be successful.

That is false, to an extent. There are poor families who are smart people - sometimes it is circumstances that cause people to be poor. Poor stays poor - rich becomes richer. 'Tis the way of the world.

Callieslamb · #37 12/18/10, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow_girl

................The vast majority of Pell grant recipients that I knew were welfare mothers. On the one hand, I guess it's better for society to help these women get some job skills that might enable them to support their children. On the other, it does seem like it's rewarding them for their poor decision-making, doesn't it?

Or a chance to change their lives? Everyone deserves a chance...I hope they take full advantage of it. My kids qualified with spouses working minimum wage also.

Shygal · #38 12/18/10, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow_girl

The problem with the grants, as far as I can see, is that one has to be VERY low-income to qualify for them. People who are not capable of holding even a minimum-wage job probably are not the best candidates for college. They probably have a low I.Q. and/or some significant educational gaps that will require lots of support (remedial classes, tutoring) if they're to be successful.

Instead, we reward teen parents and drop-outs.

Or maybe they are displaced homemakers that have no money, no skills, etc and are looking to better their life so they CAN take care of themselves and their family without being on welfare.

Shygal · #39 12/18/10, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

One of my renters is a mother with three daughters and a disabled husband. They are surviving on Pell Grants.

I totally support the program.

How exactly does one survive on a Pell Grant? That money is paid to the SCHOOL, not to the student. It doesnt even cover the cost of tuition.
Are you sure you arent thinking of Stafford Loans or Perkins loans?

poppy · #40 12/18/10, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shygal

Or maybe they are displaced homemakers that have no money, no skills, etc and are looking to better their life so they CAN take care of themselves and their family without being on welfare.

It really doesn't matter how well intended they are. WE ARE BROKE and a lot of this stuff is going to have to be done away with if our country is to survive. If the voters in your state want to give grants for things, fine. Let the voters in your state pay the taxes to support them. I have no problem with that. The federal government needs to get out of all its unconstitutional dealings.