subject: Mothers: Do You Know Your College Financial Aid Options? [print this page] Many people don't take junior colleges seriously. If youre a hard-working mom, however, the junior college environment may be exactly what youre looking for. Two-year colleges present many interesting possibilities for gaining an education. Chances for financial assistance increase the potential for community colleges to attract quality students.
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. The federal education grants for mothers are helping ambitious mothers take the classes they need to earn degrees. 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. Even with a $5,000 Pell Grant for a mother, saving money is always important. Consider that most college and university educations cost tens of thousands of dollars, but that isn't so at junior colleges. Furthermore, community colleges frequently offer full-ride scholarships to high school students with high standardized test scores and GPA. 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. According to a 2002 New York Times article, 168 community colleges maintain honors programs. Chances to study broad interests are also part of the developing community college landscape. Some schools allow students to study subjects like philosophy and cultural art in places around the world. These quality academic opportunities can help students as they work toward further degrees and as they develop their careers.
A community college education is well within reach for a mom who has earned an education 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. Going to school in a less pressurized environment can greatly affect performance and make achievement seem more attainable. Two years of study and training at a community college has many career benefits.
