Does the US News College Rankings Affect College-Bound Single Moms College?
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This morning the US News College Rankings were published to a very hungry group of would-be college students. Harvard, Princeton and Yale top the list and a few rose in rank.
But does this list affect a single mom’s choice of schools? I dare say not very much.
But that doesn’t mean you, as a single mom, shouldn’t look at that list. The people affected the most seem to be high school juniors and seniors as they begin or conclude their search for the perfect school. The rankings, however, can give you an idea of what top schools are offering in the way of degree programs and overall “amenities”.
I think this list can help you decide if going to your local community college or enrolling in an online program (perhaps from one of the schools on the list) is right for you. School choice can be a daunting task, but it is a necessary evil.
When I made the decision to return to college my choice was pretty easy. I chose the college where I worked (which had its perks) and I put my children in school nearby. That gave me easy access to them and my connections at the college made my matriculation better.
Most aren’t working at the college they plan to attend and many others have so many colleges around their city that it may feel overwhelming to make a choice. It doesn’t help that there are so many online options either.
So I guess the deciding factor comes down to money. Can you afford to go to the college you really want to attend? In this stage of life it’s not so easy to pick up and move to an Ivy League town with kids in tow. A few have done it but most simply can’t.
With the help of financial aid, employee tuition reimbursement programs, scholarships and grants from generous organizations, and hopefully savings, the money question is all but answered. Most go to the college they can afford and the truth is, as long as it’s accredited and has the program you want, it matters very little if there is a rugby team or debate club.
The bottom line is learning a new skill so you can increase your income to help take care of your children. So when they are juniors and seniors, the excitement of the college rankings list will have a new meaning. By then they hopefully can choose a top college to attend because you made the choice to return to college and create a better life for both of you.
Samantha Gregory
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I didn’t go to Spelman, but I was happy to learn that it made the list.
That’s awesome! I wonder how many other HBCU’s made the list. I guess I should check it out myself huh? By the way, I love your digital resume. I checked it out today and it gave me a lot of inspiration.