10 Ways to Save the Pell Grant

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Your option number 6. Ristrict Pell Grants to universities and community colleges: Don't let students who are not on the degree-track obtain Pell grants for such vocational pursuits as massage therapy etc.
Try taking A&P and see how easy you think taking massage therapy is....
and what is wrong with vocational pursuits are we not in any need for massage therapy in this country..how dare you put down any form of valid education and by the way massage therapy IS taught in a community college

madame x of LA 1:24PM March 10, 2012

Some of these ideas(ending the tax for parents, making colleges match funds) are worthy of a second look. However, lowering the maximum times 18 to 12, this contrary to the supposed theme of this essay/article. So is the idea of stopping students from spending on life needs(food, clothing shelter). Alsp to assume that everyone can go to school ft, graduate in a limited time allotement, and not have to work ft (cause we get too much $ rt?) makes no sense. Having just gone through critical thinking in school, your suggestions are weak and biased at best. How about increasing taxes on Americans earning more than 2 million $ per year an extra .06%; this "education to grant tax" could fund the remaining short fall. Why doesnt this country end the cocept of stripping education funding every time the rich Republicans either screw up our economy or need more $ from the poor? Im sure folks would agree that is a far better plan than any your article has stated.

CA Student of CA 6:31AM February 07, 2012

Grants are offered to create ease to attend school.. Spending habits on what is necessity, cannot be justified. All money spent anywhere could be put toward schooling.. This could create a budget anywhere and everywhere.. even on school supplies... which cannot be argued for... Personal life is part of these grants.. It is hoped that school would not get in the way financially in anyway, at any point.. Whether it is to pay for your rent, what food you can put on your table, car note, if you have kids.., etc. Personal needs do play a factor and must be taken into consideration by the programs.

Ashleigh of TX 9:35PM August 05, 2011

I live with my mom as I have for the past 14 yrs. Based on her finances I applied for a pell grant and was awarded the full $5500. Based on the needs basis of the pell grant when applying my father and his wife were not eligible as he makes to much money and bragged about it. This being said he now wants to use half of the pell grant toward his half that the court ordered him to pay for my college education instead of that going towards my moms "need" toward her half. I have googled for hours how to fight my dad and how my mom could win this because he has never paid for anything and that is not going to change once in college. BTW I do work and will continue to work while in school. If anyone has any insight please advise. I don't understand the pell being based on need which my moms half qualified yet there is no ruling how pell gets divided only that it goes to pay for school.
HELP!!!!!!!!

Bronte of TX 4:34PM August 01, 2011

Cutting funding to people who are pursuing vocational certificates is also crap! These people stand to become productive citizens as much as I do with a psychology degree. I am glad you are not running our country. You seem to have a bias to people who already have money.

tcannon1 of TN 12:57PM July 26, 2011

I am a single mom who worked most of my life and paid taxes. I am now dependent on a pell grant to obtain a degree so I do not have to be dependent on other government programs. Cutting extra money for living expenses would mean I would have to quit college. I agree that cuts could be made in other places but to cut the things listed here are not all correct.

tcannon1 of TN 12:55PM July 26, 2011

Make cuts in Pell but add another loan to the mix. Currently you can get Pell (grant, not paid back), Subsidized (lower % rate) and Unsubsidized( higher % rates) loans as well as Parent Plus loans. All of which have/had interest rates of 6% and higher until this july where the Subsidized went to 3.4% Create student loans with 0% interest. Students would only pay back what they took out.

David of VA 2:53PM July 12, 2011

I am married and a mother of 4 children. I am going to a Technical College for a diploma in Medical Assisting. I couldn't do it without financial aid. My husband and I don't make a lot of money and don't drive a fancy new car. I just want an education so I can help provide for my family. Yes, hairdressers are hard workers, standing on their feet all day. One job is just as important as the next, if you really look at it.

PH of GA 7:40PM May 19, 2011

I am in my first year of graduate school and I too, had loans and the Pell Grant. Both helped me very much however I do agree that the Pell should be used for institutional reasons. Im not sure how they would regulate this but I placed my left over loan money in an account so it would be there if I was in dire need and so it could accumulate interest so I wouldn't have massive amounts to pay back. I got a job to cover my spending money. I think this would save a ton of money for the program because many of you would not believe the number of people I know that get their excess checks and blow it at the bar or on clothing or to cover sorority/fraternity dues.

Michelle Stanislo of GA 12:51AM April 27, 2011

I agree with half of the suggestions and am completely opposed to the other half. I am a single mother and full time student with a 3.3 G.P.A. I was laid off in 2008 when the economy took a nose dive and decided I needed to get an education and degree and have been pursuing my education ever since.
I was a ward of the court (in foster care) until the age of 18. I do not have family to fall back on. I receive Pell grants AND have student loans and cannot continue my education without both! There's no time to put one another down, or have a measuring contest about who has it harder. The fact is, it is difficult for everyone. I do believe that much of the public is unaware and uninformed in regards to where our nations money is actually going and where it should be going. Yes, it easy for those families who have been financially blessed to shun or detest those of us in need. Growing up, I didn't have a choice in my economic status. However, I have a choice now and am working very hard to change it. People like us need to be recognized. Our efforts need to be appreciated because there is nothing like working your way up from the pits of hell. What we need to do is research how we can get involved and have a hand in what is going on and influence what will happen, especially for our children.

Riss@ of CA 4:27PM April 18, 2011