| It's true that President Obama and a host of economic | | | | into your financial need. If your parents cannot or will |
| experts everywhere want single mothers to return to | | | | not contribute to your higher education, ask them to |
| school. | | | | prepare and file a letter that documents their inability to |
| Everywhere you look, you see encouragement: Your | | | | support you. |
| everyday weather screen tells you the President | | | | 3. Single mothers returning to school must learn all |
| wants you to return to college. Banners on all your | | | | about personal financial management. Even if you are |
| favorite websites echo the message, "President wants | | | | pretty good with money, become super systematic |
| single mothers to return to college." The facts of | | | | and disciplined about it. The more you know about |
| economic life reinforce the message. College | | | | finance, the better prepared you will be to calculate |
| graduates land new jobs at six times the rate of | | | | your real financial needs and manage your money |
| people with just high school diplomas, and the lifetime | | | | when you get into school. Especially if you are not |
| earnings gap is still in the millions of dollars. Working | | | | accustomed to handling large sums, you must develop |
| with more realistic numbers, you know you never will | | | | a budget, because financial aid checks typically come |
| be able to buy a home or provide for your children as | | | | in large amounts, and you must resist the temptation to |
| you wish unless you get a college degree. | | | | go on a spending spree when your money arrives. |
| But where do you start? How do you start? And how | | | | 4. Make a personal connection. Single mothers |
| will you manage all the conflicting demands on your | | | | returning to college cannot manage the challenges and |
| time once you return to school? If you follow this | | | | complications all by themselves. In addition to a |
| step-by-step guide, you should get going in the right | | | | network of family and friends to support and assist |
| direction. | | | | you, you need at least one campus professional to |
| The application process step-by-step | | | | help you navigate complex admissions, enrollment, and |
| 1. As you complete your income taxes, prepare your | | | | financial processes. You need a friendly expert who |
| Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). | | | | will show you what to do, how to do it, and when to |
| You may submit a FAFSA and get qualified for | | | | get it done. |
| federal assistance before you begin applying to | | | | Yes, single mothers absolutely should return to school, |
| traditional colleges and online programs, and knowing | | | | and they should pursue every means of support they |
| your federal financial aid status will assist your | | | | can find. In their pursuit, though, they must use the |
| shopping. | | | | same skills that will sustain them in college: go step by |
| 2. Make sure your parents file their current taxes, too. | | | | step through the process, paying attention to the tiny |
| If you are under twenty-five, the federal government | | | | details, be patient and persistent, and seek professional |
| may require information about your parents' income, | | | | help when you get stuck. |
| and federal officials may calculate a parent contribution | | | | |