subject: Helping Mothers Get In School [print this page] To many people junior college isn't "real" school. Trying to attend school as a mother, however, means seriously looking into junior college options. Two-year colleges present many interesting possibilities for gaining an education. 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. 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. Earning $5,000 to help pay for school is a very attractive offer.
Financial savings are a significant factor of attending junior college. A $5,000 Pell Grant doesn't remove financial burdens, but it can certainly alleviate them. The cost of attendance at junior colleges is often half that of 4-year schools. In fact many high school graduates with a high SAT score can get a full scholarship to go to junior college. This is a significant prize for young moms who still managed to do well in school. Whether you receive a school scholarship or not, the Pell Grant can be used to pay for most school-related expenses.
The course offerings at many community colleges now more closely resemble those at traditional 4-year institutions. Many 2-year schools give their high-achieving students the chance to enroll in the school's honors program. One particular school in Arizona even had various overseas study opportunities. Some schools allow students to study subjects like philosophy and cultural art in places around the world. These quality academic opportunities can help students as they work toward further degrees and as they develop their careers.
With scholarships for mothers, junior colleges are even more in reach than before. Even as they benefit from a $5,000 grant, mothers can reap the financial savings benefits of going to a small local college. 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. A quality associate degree could lead to great career development.
