subject: Moms: Get a Degree at a Junior College [print this page] Many people don't take junior colleges seriously. Trying to attend school as a mother, however, means seriously looking into junior college options. There are a number of academic and personal benefits to attending a junior college, and these schools eagerly welcome high-achievers. Financial aid is a common concern, but taking care of that is part of the package as well. In the past the dominating perception has been that community colleges are for slackers or students who can't 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. The flexibility and opportunity are great for moms who want to go to school. Championed by President Obama in 2009, the Grants for Moms incentive is an effort to help more moms enroll in junior colleges and other schools of their choice. Getting $5,000 can go a long way toward earning a professional degree. 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. The tuition at a community college is tens of thousands of dollars cheaper than big 4-year universities. 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. A mother can take care of a number of necessary expenses using the $5,000 Pell Grant. Increasingly, the curriculums at 2-year colleges are becoming more rigorous and offering more academic opportunities. Many 2-year schools give their high-achieving students the chance to enroll in the school's honors program. The standard teachings at 4-year schools are increasingly becoming the templates for smaller community colleges. A good example is the junior college that offers study credits in places such as London and French Polynesia. The benefit is that students gain a broader perspective of the world, and colleges are able to attract more students. The federal grant money for mothers will give an important boost to the women who want to go to school. No matter what program she wants to study at a 2-year college, the $5,000 Scholarships for Moms award is a huge asset. Whether you want to eventually earn an advanced degree or want to go into a business or industry, junior college can help you achieve that goal. A 2-year associate degree is a great start to sound career development.
