Do you want to know how to apply for teach grants? This is easy and in this post, I will be guiding you through the necessary steps. But before I go any further into the post proper, I have something to let you in on.
Do you know that the Teach grant program provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students that are completing or planning to complete coursework that is needed to start a career in a specific field.
How to Apply For Teach Grants
Now that you know a thing or two about teach grants, here are the required steps to applying for them;
- You should contact the financial aid office at the school where you will be enrolled in a bid to find out whether the school participates in the TEACH Grant Program and to learn about the programs of study at the school that are TEACH-Grant-eligible.
- Next, you will have to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.
- You should then be enrolled at a school that participates in the TEACH Grant Program.
- Be enrolled in a TEACH-Grant-eligible program.
- Meet up with certain academic achievement requirements (which generally is scoring above the 75th percentile on one or even more portions of a college admissions test or even maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25).
- You will then need to receive TEACH Grant counseling that explains the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant service obligation.
- Lastly, sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or Repay.
Here are some additional details in regard to each of the steps provided:
Contacting the Financial Aid Office
- The financial aid office at your school will be able to tell you if the school participates in the TEACH Grant Program and which programs of study are eligible. They also will be able to just help you with the application process in general.
Completing the FAFSA
- The FAFSA is a form that you need to complete to be eligible for federal student aid, including TEACH Grants. You can find the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov/fafsa: https://studentaid.gov/fafsa.
- Eligibility requirements: In addition to the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid, you must also meet the following requirements to be eligible for TEACH Grants:
- As part of the eligibility requirement, you will need to be enrolled in a TEACH-Grant-eligible program of study.
- You will also meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on one or more portions of a college admissions test or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25).
- You will need to sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or Repay.
TEACH Grant Counseling
- You must receive TEACH Grant counseling before you can sign the Agreement to Serve or Repay. This very type of counseling will explain the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant service obligation.
Signing the Agreement to Serve or Repay
- The Agreement to Serve or Repay is a legally binding document that outlines your service obligation. If you do not fulfill your service obligation, you will be required to repay the TEACH Grants that you received.
When Do I Apply For Teach Grants
You can apply for TEACH Grants as early as October 1st of the year before you start school. The FAFSA is available to be submitted starting October 1st, and you can apply for TEACH Grants as part of the FAFSA process.
However, it is important to note that TEACH Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so it is best to apply as early as possible. If you are applying for TEACH Grants for the first time, you will need to complete the FAFSA and also receive TEACH Grant counseling. You will also need to sign an Agreement to Serve or Repay.
Once you have submitted the FAFSA, you will be notified of your TEACH Grant eligibility. If you are eligible, you will receive a TEACH Grant offer in your financial aid package. You will need to accept the offer in order to receive the grant.
TEACH Grants are awarded for up to four years of undergraduate or graduate study. If you are awarded a TEACH Grant, you will receive a maximum of $4,000 per year. You can use the TEACH Grant to pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and other education expenses.
In order to keep your TEACH Grant, you must fulfill your service obligation. This means that you must teach full-time for at least four years in a high-need field at a low-income elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency.
If you do not fulfill your service obligation, you will be required to repay the TEACH Grants that you received. The repayment amount will be equal to the amount of the grant that you received, plus interest.
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