What Are The Special Features Of Academic Competitiveness Grant?

The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) was established in the academic session 2006-2007 to the first year college students finished their degree course from high school after 1st January 2006 as well as to the college students of the second year finishing their graduation from high school after 1st January 2005.

The grant was the first time explore on the part of the government to stimulate students who are trying to show their competitive talents and skills. Under this grant, a student can avail $750 for his studies in the first year and $1300 for the second year.

In this clause, government has clearly mentions that combined amount of ACG and Pell grant should not exceed the total cost of student's attendance. If suitable candidates happen to be more than the total funds allocated for grant, the amount to each eligible student can be reduced proportionally.

Nationality of United States of America is the greatest benchmark to be suitable for the grant, secondly you should be awardees of a Pell Grant; have taken certification in a full time degree course; registered either in a first or second academic year in a study course at an institution allowing two-year or four-year degree; must have done a exact study course at a secondary school after 1st January 2006 in initial year and if you are a student of second year then after 1st January 2005.

In addition you should have not registered in a learner program precedent and student of second year should have at minimum scored 3.0 aggregate GPA on a scale of 4.0 for the initial academic year. There are several supplementary requirements of qualifying, which will be appropriate from 1st July 2009.

The exact academic courses at a secondary school means those courses which State education agencies (SEAs) and state-authorized district studies institutions have suitable and Secretary of Education has given recognition.

Also the courses, which states have launched as advanced or honors secondary school courses or courses in which student has done International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program with least two courses scoring four or more in the course examination fall under this class.

Students who have finished Advanced Placement courses with at least minimum two courses scoring three or more in exams of College Board for those courses also constitute tuff study course.

A course in which student at secondary level completes minimum of three years of math, geometry or statistics and data analysis, four years of English, three years of social studies, three years of science in which each year- two minimum courses are taken from chemistry, biology and physics, and one year comprising a language besides English is also termed as rigorous study program.