subject: Moms: Take Two Years to Invest in Your Future [print this page] Moms: Take Two Years to Invest in Your Future
Many people don't take junior colleges seriously. For women with children, 2-year colleges actually have some tremendous advantages. Both academically and personally junior colleges present a wealth of options. 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. Strong course work, lower tuition and geographic nearness are three of the best characteristics of community colleges. 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. Getting $5,000 can go a long way toward earning a professional degree. 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. Moms who apply for a $5,000 grant certainly want to be cost conscious when going to school. Usually the tuition and fees at a junior college are more than 50% less expensive than many colleges and universities. In fact many high school graduates with a high SAT score can get a full scholarship to go to junior college. This is good news for a teen mother who wouldn't find it feasible to attend a university even if she has the high test scores to allow it. Even with some expenses paid, the scholarship for moms can be used to pay for travel expenses, childcare and other school-related expenses. Increasingly, the curriculums at 2-year colleges are becoming more rigorous and offering more academic opportunities. Honors programs at colleges are often a symbol of success, and a 2002 New York Times report found that many junior colleges offer these programs. 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. 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. 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.
