| Women have fewer legal rights than men in many | | | | study on a part-time basis that fits into her existing |
| parts of the world. But even in the developed | | | | work schedule. If she is a single mom, she is probably |
| countries, where they do have the same legal rights | | | | working full time to support her kids. She may even |
| as men, there is still a certain degree of discrimination | | | | be working overtime. Her college must support her |
| in the workplace. Single mothers have it worse, | | | | schedule, otherwise she will not be able to earn |
| because regardless of whether they are widowed, | | | | enough credits to graduate. |
| divorced, or single by choice, they face social | | | | - The tuition fee must be relatively low. Based on |
| stigmatisation. It can be really bad for those with low | | | | data from a 2009 survey, the low end of college |
| income, because it is human nature to pick on those | | | | tuition is $9000 and the high end is around $16000. |
| who are most unfortunate. The solution is to bite the | | | | She should pick a college that charges on the low |
| bullet, get a college education, graduate and get a | | | | end, otherwise she has no way of paying for her |
| good job. In the end, nothing changes the minds of | | | | studies, not even with the help of scholarships and |
| others more quickly than by achieving success. | | | | grants. |
| The problem is that college is expensive. This would | | | | - The college must participate in the greatest number |
| not be a problem for someone with money, but | | | | of state and federal government grants (check with |
| then, a single mother with money would not be | | | | the financial aid office). Unfortunately, not all colleges |
| having trouble with her neighbors and community. So | | | | are participants in all the government grant programs. |
| what is she to do? Fortunately, the answer is simple | | | | It is partly up to the discretion of the college's |
| - she can apply for free federal grants for single | | | | administration, and sometimes a particular college may |
| mothers from FAFSA. | | | | not be allowed to take part in some government |
| First, she needs to enroll in a college. Once she is | | | | financial assistance program. |
| accepted, she can make her FAFSA application. When | | | | Most low income single mothers should be able to |
| her results come out, she should take her report to | | | | get enough free federal and state grants without to |
| her college's financial aid office, where they will help | | | | pay for their college tuition fees. However, if she is in |
| her to get the appropriate forms, e.g. to apply for | | | | the lower middle class, she may need to borrow a |
| the Pell Grant for single mothers. | | | | student loan to pay the outstanding amount of her |
| If an adult woman wants to get the most | | | | tuition fees. Luckily, the federal-subsidized Stafford |
| educational grant money, there are three important | | | | student loan allows her to borrow up to $3500 for |
| points she needs to keep in mind when choosing a | | | | her first year of study, at only 5.6% interest. If |
| college: | | | | necessary, she can borrow progressively more |
| - The college must offer the course she wants to | | | | money in her second and third years. |