subject: Obama Grants Help Mothers Prepare for Success [print this page] Obama Grants Help Mothers Prepare for Success
To many people junior college isn't "real" school. For women with children, 2-year colleges actually have some tremendous advantages. Community colleges welcome bright students, and they have many benefits to offer. With financial opportunity you could get the education you want and need. In the past the dominating perception has been that community colleges are for slackers or students who can't get admitted to "real" colleges. In reality many community colleges offer stimulating classes and often are right in your back yard. Young mothers who recently graduated high school obviously benefit from this situation, but so also do older mothers. Initiated in 2009, President Obama's Grants for Moms are aimed at alleviating some of the financial pressure moms have in trying to go to school. Earning $5,000 to help pay for school is a very attractive offer. The most important reason for many who attend a community college is the lower costs. Being smart with money is a top priority for most students but especially women with children. A $5,000 grant doesn't change that. Usually the tuition and fees at a junior college are more than 50% less expensive than many colleges and universities. Furthermore, community colleges frequently offer full-ride scholarships to high school students with high standardized test scores and GPA. Teen mothers who performed well in high school should definitely take note of this. Travel expenses and housing are just a couple of the other necessary expenses that could be covered with the $5,000 grant. 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. One 2-year school in the Times article encouraged and provided opportunity to study abroad in various places. 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. Attending a community college is made even more accessible for mothers who have earned a Pell Grant. Even as they benefit from a $5,000 grant, mothers can reap the financial savings benefits of going to a small local college. These schools also allow a mom to prepare for a productive career in two years or a transfer to a 4-year college. A quality associate degree could lead to great career development.
