subject: Obama Grants: Helping Mothers Go Back To School [print this page] Community colleges often get picked onCommunity colleges often get picked on. If youre a hard-working mom, however, the junior college environment may be exactly what youre looking for. Community colleges welcome bright students, and they have many benefits to offer. Financial aid is a common concern, but taking care of that is part of the package as well.
A common falsehood is that only people who don't want to earn a "real" degree attend junior college. Strong course work, lower tuition and geographic nearness are three of the best characteristics of community colleges. The flexibility and opportunity are great for moms who want to go to school. Started in 2009, the Scholarships for Moms program helps to enroll moms in colleges and universities of all kinds. Earning $5,000 to help pay for school is a very attractive offer.
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. Even having a $5,000 award doesn't take away from the wisdom of trying to save money. Consider that most college and university educations cost tens of thousands of dollars, but that isn't so at junior colleges. At a 2-year college, an exceptional SAT score and GPA could earn a full 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.
The course offerings at many community colleges now more closely resemble those at traditional 4-year institutions. In 2002, the New York Times reported that more than 150 junior colleges have an honors section. 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. All of these diverse courses and study opportunities expand students knowledge and help them enroll in 4-year colleges.
Grants for ambitious moms will certainly make junior colleges even more attainable. Even as they benefit from a $5,000 grant, mothers can reap the financial savings benefits of going to a small local college. 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.
