This is the second major problem when you study: what you are going to do after it’s over? Yes you can find a grant to support your education in a given field, but after you finish your degree, there won’t be a grant? There is one grant actually that can give you long term plan: Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant.
The TEACH Grant allows students in the field of education and teaching to receive up to $4,000 every academic year till the end of their education and it guarantees you work for four years in secondary or primary school (or educational service agency)after you graduate. Well, the school will be one of low-income but you will have the chance to gain experience and better qualification and then you can aim in something higher.
There are of course conditions that you should meet if you want to qualify for the TEACH Grant:
- You must participate in TEACH-aligned institution in graduate, post-baccalaureate or undergraduate program;
- Be on an education professional track;
- Your score on college admission test should be above 75;
- You should maintain 3.25 grade points at least;
- Also you will need to receive TEACH Grant counseling every year in which you will receive the aid;
- Last but not least you will sign the Agreement to Serve (obligation that you will teach after graduating);
After you finish your study, you commit to teach in low-income K12 school for four years straight from the college. If this condition is not met, you will need to repay all money that you have received to the US Department of Education. If within eight years you don’t fulfill your pledge, the financial aid you got will default in a Direct Stafford loan and the interest will be charged from the date of your receiving of the subsidy.
One of the main advantages is that you don’t need to be in a financial need to be qualified for TEACH grant.
If after reading this you are interested in participation in the TEACH program, the first step is to visit your college financial aid office and to check if the school participates. Then you fill online FASFA form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and you are already on the right track.