subject: Mothers: Aim For Community College And More [print this page] Many people don't take junior colleges seriously. If youre a hard-working mom, however, the junior college environment may be exactly what youre looking for. Both academically and personally junior colleges present a wealth of options. Earning money to go to school is also an important but not impossible task.
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. This is perfect for young moms who are recently out of high school as well as older working or stay-at-home moms who want to return to school. Championed by President Obama in 2009, the Grants for Moms incentive is an effort to help more moms enroll in junior colleges and other schools of their choice. A $5,000 award to return to school is a huge incentive.
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. Being smart with money is a top priority for most students but especially women with children. A $5,000 grant doesn't change that. The cost of attendance at junior colleges is often half that of 4-year schools. Furthermore, community colleges frequently offer full-ride scholarships to high school students with high standardized test scores and GPA. A young mom could greatly benefit from being rewarded for her efforts in high 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. A 2002 New York Times article found that 168 junior colleges have an honors program. The standard teachings at 4-year schools are increasingly becoming the templates for smaller community colleges. For example, many junior colleges now offer study abroad courses in places like China and Mexico. The benefit is that students gain a broader perspective of the world, and colleges are able to attract more students.
With scholarships for mothers, junior colleges are even more in reach than before. The local college scene is a great place to make use of the $5,000 Pell Grant for moms. Junior colleges are fully capable of producing capable professionals who move into work or go on to get an advanced degree. Earning an associate degree is a smart choice on the road to being a professional.
