subject: Mothers, Should You Earn A Community College Degree? [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. Personal benefits and academic challenges are part of the package for smart students who want to earn a degree. With financial opportunity you could get the education you want and need.
In the past the dominating perception has been that community colleges are for slackers or students who cant get admitted to real colleges. The truth is that junior colleges are a welcoming environment that is usually close to home, relatively inexpensive and full of challenging course offerings. Mothers who work could especially benefit from the 2-year college system. The federal education grants for mothers are helping ambitious mothers take the classes they need to earn degrees. Getting $5,000 can go a long way toward earning a professional degree.
The most important reason for many who attend a community college is the lower costs. A $5,000 Pell Grant doesn't remove financial burdens, but it can certainly alleviate them. The tuition at a community college is tens of thousands of dollars cheaper than big 4-year universities. 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 young mom could greatly benefit from being rewarded for her efforts in high school. A student can use the mom grant to pay for any school or school-related costs.
At junior colleges many students will find that they have study opportunities that are similar to 4-year schools. Many 2-year schools give their high-achieving students the chance to enroll in the school's honors program. Many also have study opportunities that reflect the opportunities at big liberal arts universities. 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.
Grants for ambitious moms will certainly make junior colleges even more attainable. 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.
