# How Does the Government Decide...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-decide/286043>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 22, 2005, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-decide/286043 "2005-01-22T05:01:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LittleMissWise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e5b9ba/32.png) [@LittleMissWise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LittleMissWise)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-decide/286043/1 "2005-01-22T05:01:18Z")

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Who is eligible for Financial Aid (i.e., Pell Grants). That is, what are the most important factors other than income? How important are dependents? Are women more likely to receive aid than their male counterparts?

TIA.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-decide/286043/2 "2005-01-22T05:50:06Z")

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[About Pell grants.](http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2004_2005/english/types.htm)

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**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-decide/286043/3 "2005-01-22T20:20:26Z")

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A man sits at a desk.  
He has a stamp reading “No”  
No stamp reads “Yes”

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-decide/286043/4 "2005-01-23T03:05:41Z")

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> [@LittleMissWise](#):
>
> Who is eligible for Financial Aid (i.e., Pell Grants). That is, what are the most important factors other than income? How important are dependents? Are women more likely to receive aid than their male counterparts?

Assuming you’re a full-time student, all Federal aid is determined by your [FAFSA form.](http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/) You fill it out, giving all your financial information and nothing else. There is a formula that determines how much aid a family in your financial position is supposed to be able to afford. This number is sent to the college, which puts together a package of aid based on need, including grants from both the college and the government and student loans. The college also has the option to give their own grants and other no-aid-based scholarships as they see fit (e.g., for those in an honors program, for athletes).

If you’re planning on attending this fall, you should start on the form ASAP. IIRC, the deadline is February 1.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-decide/286043/5 "2005-01-23T03:07:02Z")

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Correction: replace “no-aid-based” above with “Non-need-based.”