subject: Moms: Get Your Degree at a Junior College [print this page] Community colleges often get picked onCommunity colleges often get picked on. If you're a hard-working mom, however, the junior college environment may be exactly what you're looking for. Two-year colleges present many interesting possibilities for gaining an education. Financial aid is a common concern, but taking care of that is part of the package as well. It's a big myth that junior colleges aren't for serious students. There are actually some very enticing benefits to go to these schools, including the lower tuition costs. 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. One of the biggest attractions to junior colleges is the financial savings. Even having a $5,000 award doesn't take away from the wisdom of trying to save money. At a 4-year institution the cost of attendance could be 30,000 a year or more. Having high SAT scores and GPA could result in a 2-year college paying through scholarships for that bright student to come to that school. A young mom could greatly benefit from being rewarded for her efforts in high school. A student can use the mom grant to pay for any school or school-related costs. At many schools the gap is closing between the classes that 2-year colleges offer and those that are offered at big liberal arts universities. 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 with high achievement have been able to develop unique study abroad opportunities. The benefit is that students gain a broader perspective of the world, and colleges are able to attract more students. Grants for ambitious moms will certainly make junior colleges even more attainable. The local college scene is a great place to make use of the $5,000 Pell Grant for moms. Community colleges can be great training grounds for attendance at 4-year colleges as well as for entering the work force. Two years of study and training at a community college has many career benefits.
