Junior colleges frequently get a bad rap. For women with children, 2-year colleges actually have some tremendous advantages. Personal benefits and academic challenges are part of the package for smart students who want to earn a degree. Chances for financial assistance increase the potential for community colleges to attract quality students.
For a long time 2-year colleges have seemed like schools to go to in order to waste time and money. The truth is that junior colleges are a welcoming environment that is usually close to home, relatively inexpensive and full of challenging course offerings. The flexibility and opportunity are great for moms who want to go to school. The federal education grants for mothers are helping ambitious mothers take the classes they need to earn degrees. Getting $5,000 can go a long way toward earning a professional degree.
Perhaps the biggest reason many people choose community college is to save money. A $5,000 Pell Grant doesn't remove financial burdens, but it can certainly alleviate them. Consider that most college and university educations cost tens of thousands of dollars, but that isn't so at junior colleges. Having high SAT scores and GPA could result in a 2-year college paying through scholarships for that bright student to come to that school. A scholarship based on achievement is a huge incentive for many ambitious teenage mothers. A student can use the mom grant to pay for any school or school-related costs.
At many schools the gap is closing between the classes that 2-year colleges offer and those that are offered at big liberal arts universities. A 2002 New York Times article found that 168 junior colleges have an honors program. One particular school in Arizona even had various overseas study opportunities. For example, many junior colleges now offer study abroad courses in places like China and Mexico. The exciting variety of classes that a student can take will only help as he or she moves on to a 4-year school or into the working world.
Grants for ambitious moms will certainly make junior colleges even more attainable. The $5,000 grants for moms can ensure that junior college is within reach. Whether you want to eventually earn an advanced degree or want to go into a business or industry, junior college can help you achieve that goal. Earning an associate degree is a smart choice on the road to being a professional.