subject: Mothers: Earn Your Degree at a Junior College [print this page] Community colleges often get picked onCommunity colleges often get picked on. Trying to attend school as a mother, however, means seriously looking into junior college options. Both academically and personally junior colleges present a wealth of options. With financial opportunity you could get the education you want and need. For a long time 2-year colleges have seemed like schools to go to in order to waste time and money. The truth is that junior colleges are a welcoming environment that is usually close to home, relatively inexpensive and full of challenging course offerings. Young mothers who recently graduated high school obviously benefit from this situation, but so also do older mothers. Started in 2009, the Scholarships for Moms program helps to enroll moms in colleges and universities of all kinds. The $5,000 grant is a huge bonus for going to college. Financial savings are a significant factor of attending junior college. A $5,000 Pell Grant doesn't remove financial burdens, but it can certainly alleviate them. Consider that most college and university educations cost tens of thousands of dollars, but that isn't so at junior colleges. There is much competition at liberal arts colleges for scholarships, but at many junior colleges high SAT scores and GPA almost guarantee a significant scholarship. A scholarship based on achievement is a huge incentive for many ambitious teenage mothers. Travel expenses and housing are just a couple of the other necessary expenses that could be covered with the $5,000 grant. At junior colleges many students will find that they have study opportunities that are similar to 4-year schools. 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. One 2-year school in the Times article encouraged and provided opportunity to study abroad in various places. All of these diverse courses and study opportunities expand students' knowledge and help them enroll in 4-year colleges. Attending a community college is made even more accessible for mothers who have earned a Pell Grant. No matter what program she wants to study at a 2-year college, the $5,000 Scholarships for Moms award is a huge asset. Community colleges can be great training grounds for attendance at 4-year colleges as well as for entering the work force. Earning an associate degree is a smart choice on the road to being a professional.
