Single Moms Make Money Going Back to School

Now is the time for single moms to go back to school. You can actually get enough money to cover your books and tuition and put some in your pocket. I stand to earn a little over $1,000 per semester for extra expenses. So don't wait. Don't make excuses. If you don't know what you want to go to school for, it doesn't matter, just go for anything. You can take one class per week and still be counted as full time, get a good grade, earn your grant money, and borrow a little on student loans to put in your pocket for other expenses. Here is how I did it.

SHOP FOR A SCHOOL

If you don't have any college at all, try the local community college. They will be the least expensive which means more money in your pocket. The admission process will also be a whole lot easier. If you already have your basic classes out of the way, or a degree in your possession, University of Phoenix might be an option for you. They offer a great schedule with one condensed class per week, which means you don't have to spend all week going to school and you can still be considered full time. They offer a Bachelors and a Masters Program and their admission process is simple. You can even take your classes on line and still get grant money.

COMPLETE YOUR ADMISSION APPLICATION

Each school will require you to submit an admissions packet. With University of Phoenix, there wasn't much for me to do. My enrollment counselor helped me to complete the packet and made it very simple for me. I completed the entire application on line with my enrollment counselor who stayed on the phone until it was done. I did have to go to the campus to sign a few things, but that was nice because I got a feel for the campus on my visit.

COMPLETE YOUR STUDENT AID PACKET

Once I was enrolled, I also had to fill out my student aid packet. This can also be done on line. University of Phoenix has a link from their application site to FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ The application takes about 15 minutes and you can complete it really fast with your most recent tax return information. Once you complete the application for student aid, you will get a response immediately that tells you how much grant money you are pre-approved for as long as you completed the application accurately and honestly. If you decide you want the maximum amount of money now, you will want to consider selecting the maximum amount of loans available for your program of attendance. This will put some extra money in your pocket, just remember, at some point you will have to pay back what is borrowed.

SELECT YOUR CLASSES

Once you have completed all your application and student aid packet on line, you will want to select your classes and get started with your school. Usually within the first 6 weeks of class starting, the college will deliver you a check. The cost of your tuition, books, and other fees will be deducted from your federal check. The remaining amount will be forwarded to you by the college.

SPENDING YOUR MONEY

Be sure to spend your money on something wise or tuck it in your savings account and use it for emergency money. Some people use the money for daycare, some for vehicle repairs or transportation. Whatever you spend it on, make it count.