Learn more about college scholarships
December 13, 2012
There are a lot of hoops to jump through before going off to college, and those requirements get even more rigorous for single moms. Networking childcare, setting up rides, planning for home management and determining routines are hard enough. When it comes to money, though, many moms may feel like this is the one area that is outside of their control.
College scholarships are a boon to those who might otherwise never be able to afford these kinds of opportunities. Learning everything they can about grants and other kinds of free money before even choosing a school can give single moms a leg up in determining whether they can make the dream of higher education a reality.
Find out online
For those who see time as a pressing constraint, there are plenty of options for researching scholarship availability on the internet. Many websites exist to help single moms especially get matched up with funds that suit their lifestyle and career choices, so reviewing scholarship web pages can be of great help.
There are also a variety of colleges that advertise their scholarship offerings on their own websites, which can help turn a single mom toward a specific school. Public schools may not cost as much, but they also may not offer the same variety or interest in funding a single mom's education that a private school might. Checking with specific institutions during the search phase to see what kinds of financial aid for moms they offer can steer women toward easier educational paths, at least fiscally.
Ask at work
Plenty of employers provide educational opportunities and financial aid for moms in order to help them achieve their goals. Much of this is provided out of an interest to train them in a specific career path. Those who work at banks and financial institutions may be able to get free college courses in investing, mathematics and accounting basics. Restauranteurs sometimes provide grants for those interested in studying hospitality or culinary arts. Yet more employers may simply offer a reimbursement strategy for those working and going to school, so long as single moms get high enough grades in specific classes.
Many of these programs are posted in break rooms and on employee self-service boards, but if they aren't readily apparent, talking to a manager could help moms get connected with much needed funds to fuel their educational goals.
