subject: Mothers: Get Your Degree At A Junior College [print this page] Community colleges often get picked onCommunity colleges often get picked on. For women with children, 2-year colleges actually have some tremendous advantages. Two-year colleges present many interesting possibilities for gaining an education. Earning money to go to school is also an important but not impossible task.
In the past the dominating perception has been that community colleges are for slackers or students who cant get admitted to real colleges. 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. 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. There are few better financial aid opportunities than a $5,000 grant.
Financial savings are a significant factor of attending junior college. Moms who apply for a $5,000 grant certainly want to be cost conscious when going to school. Consider that most college and university educations cost tens of thousands of dollars, but that isn't so at junior colleges. In fact many high school graduates with a high SAT score can get a full scholarship to go to junior college. 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.
Increasingly, the curriculums at 2-year colleges are becoming more rigorous and offering more academic opportunities. 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. Certain community college are beginning to mirror the syllabi at big-name colleges and universities. Some schools allow students to study subjects like philosophy and cultural art in places around the world. Since junior colleges are state- and locally-funded, it helps them as well when they offer intriguing courses and can attract top students.
A community college education is well within reach for a mom who has earned an education grant. Even as they benefit from a $5,000 grant, mothers can reap the financial savings benefits of going to a small local college. Going to school in a less pressurized environment can greatly affect performance and make achievement seem more attainable. A 2-year associate degree is a great start to sound career development.
