subject: Mothers: How The Obama Grant Can Help You [print this page] To many people junior college isn't "real" school. For busy moms community college can be a wonderful idea. Community colleges welcome bright students, and they have many benefits to offer. Add in a financial advantage or two and your education is within reach.
For a long time 2-year colleges have seemed like schools to go to in order to waste time and money. At a 2-year college, students can stay close to home to develop maturity or save money or even take basic courses to help determine their future majors. The flexibility and opportunity are great for moms who want to go to school. For moms who want to gain knowledge and degrees, the Obama scholarships for mothers are a strong financial benefit. Earning $5,000 to help pay for school is a very attractive offer.
One of the biggest attractions to junior colleges is the financial savings. Being smart with money is a top priority for most students but especially women with children. A $5,000 grant doesn't change that. 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. This is good news for a teen mother who wouldnt find it feasible to attend a university even if she has the high test scores to allow it. A mother can take care of a number of necessary expenses using the $5,000 Pell Grant.
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. A 2002 New York Times article found that 168 junior colleges have an honors program. Many also have study opportunities that reflect the opportunities at big liberal arts universities. 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.
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.
