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> I think the US desperately needs a "mommy track" for college that encourages women with young kids to go to school part-time and take 6 to 8 years to complete

> I think the US desperately needs a "mommy track" for college that encourages women with young kids to go to school part-time and take 6 to 8 years to complete their degree. I think this would solve a lot of problems. I'm actually surprised this isn't a thing already - my university certainly allowed part-time students who could still work towards a degree. That being said, I think financial aid was also tied into being a full-time student so I immediately see the drawbacks of that.

DoreenMichele 8y ago
Some financial aid is available for taking 2 classes, which is defined as part-time. And we could create financial aid specifically for a mommy track. A bigger issue in my mind is the relatively high cost of classes. In places with low college costs for 2 year colleges, the tuition is potentially payable out of pocket. It would be possible to design systems where we give more welfare benefits if you attend college. As education goes up, women have fewer kids. I think encouraging welfare moms to get an education would help deter them from having large families, which is one if the things that compounds their problems and keeps them stuck in poverty. I originally wanted three kids. I ultimately opted to stop at two. The fact that I am educated is likely a factor in that decision.
- Arete31415 8y ago
  When I lived in NYC, there was a program where you could collect full unemployment benefits -- all 6 months' worth -- if you were enrolled in school at least half time. I found it tremendously helpful, and it basically got me through 2 semesters of school. It would be great to have similar programs for welfare, etc. Instead of the work requirements that that are often onerous, and keep folks in dead-end jobs rather than getting an education that will both help them and eventually, get them to be self-sufficient.
pc86 8y ago
It is a thing already, it's called going to school part-time.
- magic_beans 8y ago
  It's very difficult to get financial aid when you are a part-time student. I don't know where you live, but in the US university education is absurdly expensive.
  - pc86 8y ago
    I live in the US. Some university education is absurdly expensive. In-state tuition at state universities is downright reasonable, especially for part-time students. If you're taking 8 years to finish a degree you can potentially just pay out of pocket depending on your job. I just ran the numbers for my closest state school and taking 9 credits a semester for two semesters a year (7 year graduation plan for 120 credits) you're looking at $536/mo in tuition and fees. Do a lot of parents without college degrees have $550/mo in extra cash floating around? Probably not, but this is assuming that you're basically paying as you go. If you can only save $350/mo and you save up for a couple years you'll be able to start going. My only point is that the longer you spread out tuition the easier it is to pay out of pocket, and the less likely you are to need financial aid in the first place, especially if you are focused primarily on getting an economical degree from a reasonably-priced institution.
  - astura 8y ago
    Community college is not absurdly expensive.
    - dragonwriter 8y ago
      Community college generally will get you a maximum of about half of a bachelor's degree (and far less than that by market value.) It helps, but the other half isn't as cheap.
      - pc86 8y ago
        You are correct that associate's degrees are largely worthless with a few exceptions. However there is no difference in the marketability of two people, one of whom did 4 years at a college and the other who did 2 years at a CC then transferred to a college.

DoreenMichele 8y ago

Some financial aid is available for taking 2 classes, which is defined as part-time. And we could create financial aid specifically for a mommy track. A bigger issue in my mind is the relatively high cost of classes. In places with low college costs for 2 year colleges, the tuition is potentially payable out of pocket. It would be possible to design systems where we give more welfare benefits if you attend college. As education goes up, women have fewer kids. I think encouraging welfare moms to get an education would help deter them from having large families, which is one if the things that compounds their problems and keeps them stuck in poverty. I originally wanted three kids. I ultimately opted to stop at two. The fact that I am educated is likely a factor in that decision.

Arete31415 8y ago
When I lived in NYC, there was a program where you could collect full unemployment benefits -- all 6 months' worth -- if you were enrolled in school at least half time. I found it tremendously helpful, and it basically got me through 2 semesters of school. It would be great to have similar programs for welfare, etc. Instead of the work requirements that that are often onerous, and keep folks in dead-end jobs rather than getting an education that will both help them and eventually, get them to be self-sufficient.

pc86 8y ago

It is a thing already, it's called going to school part-time.

magic_beans 8y ago
It's very difficult to get financial aid when you are a part-time student. I don't know where you live, but in the US university education is absurdly expensive.
- pc86 8y ago
  I live in the US. Some university education is absurdly expensive. In-state tuition at state universities is downright reasonable, especially for part-time students. If you're taking 8 years to finish a degree you can potentially just pay out of pocket depending on your job. I just ran the numbers for my closest state school and taking 9 credits a semester for two semesters a year (7 year graduation plan for 120 credits) you're looking at $536/mo in tuition and fees. Do a lot of parents without college degrees have $550/mo in extra cash floating around? Probably not, but this is assuming that you're basically paying as you go. If you can only save $350/mo and you save up for a couple years you'll be able to start going. My only point is that the longer you spread out tuition the easier it is to pay out of pocket, and the less likely you are to need financial aid in the first place, especially if you are focused primarily on getting an economical degree from a reasonably-priced institution.
- astura 8y ago
  Community college is not absurdly expensive.
  - dragonwriter 8y ago
    Community college generally will get you a maximum of about half of a bachelor's degree (and far less than that by market value.) It helps, but the other half isn't as cheap.
    - pc86 8y ago
      You are correct that associate's degrees are largely worthless with a few exceptions. However there is no difference in the marketability of two people, one of whom did 4 years at a college and the other who did 2 years at a CC then transferred to a college.