subject: Moms: Take Two Years To Invest In Your Future [print this page] Many people don't take junior colleges seriously. For busy moms community college can be a wonderful idea. Two-year colleges present many interesting possibilities for gaining an education. With financial opportunity you could get the education you want and need.
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. Mothers who work could especially benefit from the 2-year college system. For moms who want to gain knowledge and degrees, the Obama scholarships for mothers are a strong financial benefit. There are few better financial aid opportunities than a $5,000 grant.
School costs like tuition can be extremely high, but one of the the best things about 2-year colleges is the relatively low cost of attendance. 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. 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 junior colleges many students will find that they have study opportunities that are similar to 4-year schools. In 2002, the New York Times reported that more than 150 junior colleges have an honors section. The standard teachings at 4-year schools are increasingly becoming the templates for smaller community colleges. One 2-year school in the Times article encouraged and provided opportunity to study abroad in various places. The benefit is that students gain a broader perspective of the world, and colleges are able to attract more students.
A community college education is well within reach for a mom who has earned an education 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. Earning an associate degree is a smart choice on the road to being a professional.
