Dora Said:

I am a young mother of a teen. I didn't go to college.How do I help my son. I don't know where to start. Help!

We Answered:

You are NOT dumb. You are smart enough to recognize his ability. You are smart enough to know that there is opportunity out there for him. I applaude you for your desire to get him off on the right foot. Mothers totally RULE.

Make an appointment for a brief visit with his school counselor. Tell the counselor that you would like to get a head-start on scholarship applications, and ask for his/her recommendations. The counselor will help you son with college applications.


Many colleges offer a check-list online for preparing high school students for college applications. Here is an example:
http://www.usca.edu/admissions/checklist…

Good luck.....you can do it!

Helen Said:

How can a young mother prepare for...?

We Answered:

No need to work at all, if you don't want to - not yet, anyway. Instead, focus on your grades. At this point in your college career, it's your grades that will matter the most re: transferring and scholarships. Try to get those to be as high as possible.

In addition, actually get to know the professors in the classes for your major, so they can write you strong recommendations for transferring.

If you have time, join one or two campus organizations, and really participate in them - or do volunteer work. It can be related to your child - you could, for example, join or form a parent's group on campus, or form a baby-sitting co-op with other students or with moms near where you live, etc. But only if you have time - your academics are more important.

When you reach university, do a co-op or internship in the field you hope to enter for your career. Taht will make you far more employable when you graduate.

Michele Said:

Why has “Home Economics” been erased from colleges?

We Answered:

Nothing is wrong with that option, if it is what makes you happy and gives you fulfillment.

With college curricula, you have to realize that they are determined by what classes have enough students to make money (and pay salaries, etc.). Home economics classes do not have much demand these days, so they are not economically feasible for colleges.

If your goal is a "Mrs. degree," remember that you can choose all sorts of majors to do that. Why not major in education or nursing, for example? Those would be wonderful skills to contribute to a happy family.

Naomi Said:

Are there any scholarships for young mothers?

We Answered:

Fill out your FAFSA ASAP. The sooner you get that done the better off you are. The good news is that since you will have a child it means that you are considered independent by FAFSA standards and do not have to claim your parents income. Yes, you are young to be having a baby and yes, you do have a lot of significant challenges ahead of you, but that doesn't make it impossible it just makes it more worth it. In the state I go to school in our financial aid budget includes living and child care expenses. Some of the money I get is in loans but I stick to the subsidized ones(the Gov pays the interest on them until 6 months after I stop attending classes), they will cost me a lot less in the long run. If you work it right you can live on a university financial aid budget, it doesn't allow for a lot of extras but it is do-able.

Betty Said:

Best College for a mother?

We Answered:

Look at U.C. Santa Cruz. You could major in Community Studies (which has a focus on social justice) or Politics and minor in Legal Studies. There is family housing and day care right there on campus, which for students is subsidized. There isn't an honors program, but actually, I think there's enough going on academically that you wouldn't need one. There's a strong program for transfer/re-entry students that advises and assists students.
The nearby elementary schools are good.

Caveats: 1) The central coast of California is a very expensive place to live. 2) You would need to apply this coming fall (and apply for financial aid as well). There are scholarships but they are small; you're looking at grants and loans, I think. 3) If you aren't from California, you'll looking at out of state tuition, which is very high. The only alternative to paying it is to relocate to California a year before you'd start school.

Good luck...

James Said:

Anybody know of any sponsoring for a young hispanic mother to pay for college?

We Answered:

US government. Fill out a FAFSA form. You can get free money from the government to go to school