subject: Moms, Should You Get a Community College Degree? [print this page] Moms, Should You Get a Community College Degree?
Junior colleges frequently get a bad rap. A 2-year college education could be exactly what a single or stay-at-home mom needs. Personal benefits and academic challenges are part of the package for smart students who want to earn a degree. Add in a financial advantage or two and your education is within reach. It's a big myth that junior colleges aren't for serious students. At a 2-year college, students can stay close to home to develop maturity or save money or even take basic courses to help determine their future majors. 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. The $5,000 grant is a huge bonus for going to college. The most important reason for many who attend a community college is the lower costs. Moms who apply for a $5,000 grant certainly want to be cost conscious when going to school. Consider that most college and university educations cost tens of thousands of dollars, but that isn't so at junior colleges. There is much competition at liberal arts colleges for scholarships, but at many junior colleges high SAT scores and GPA almost guarantee a significant scholarship. A scholarship based on achievement is a huge incentive for many ambitious teenage mothers. Whether you receive a school scholarship or not, the Pell Grant can be used to pay for most school-related expenses. Increasingly, the curriculums at 2-year colleges are becoming more rigorous and offering more academic opportunities. A 2002 New York Times article found that 168 junior colleges have an honors program. Chances to study broad interests are also part of the developing community college landscape. A good example is the junior college that offers study credits in places such as London and French Polynesia. The benefit is that students gain a broader perspective of the world, and colleges are able to attract more students. Attending a community college is made even more accessible for mothers who have earned a Pell Grant. Attending a junior college allows a mom to save some money even as she has the bonus of a $5,000 mom scholarship. Going to school in a less pressurized environment can greatly affect performance and make achievement seem more attainable. On the path toward your career, a 2-year degree is a good first step.
