Colleges were first formed in the 1600’s. At that time, women in college was unheard of. It just didn’t happen. Women were seen as homemakers: to stay home and take care of the home and children. While there is nothing wrong with being a homemaker, many women want more.

Women want an education, and to feel that they are successful. Not all women have children or marry, so being a homemaker isn’t always in the plans for these women. Women want to go to college, and get a degree that they are proud of. They want something to fulfill them and give them purpose. This isn’t always marriage and children. Some women want to help others, such as doctors or lawyers, or even public servants. Any of these options are admirable ones. 

Women Admitted

In 1831, Mississippi College became the first co-ed university to grant a degree to a woman. Thankfully, this trend continued, and more and more women were able to attend college. Over the years, the number of women obtaining college degrees has continued to grow. 

Back in the day, if a woman wanted to get an education, she would have to put marriage and children on hold until she finished. Today, however, there are so many options that women are able to go to college while doing pretty much anything. They aren’t held to a rigorous class schedule, and because of online classes, are able to make a more flexible schedule to meet their needs.

Scholarships For Women In College

Thanks to many types of scholarships, students are able to ease the financial burden of getting an education. There are thousands and thousands of scholarships out there, if you are willing to look. Women, especially, have a plethora of scholarships available to them. Scholarships are financial awards that do not have to be paid back. To get them, however, you are generally required to apply for them. This could mean filling out a short application, or submitting an essay on a specific topic. Some scholarships are small, about $100 or so, while others can be larger, and pay for the entire college degree. As an example, Nancy Etz awards a $1,000 scholarship annually to an applicant. The applicant is required to fill out the application and submit a 500 word essay to be considered.

Other Assistance Available

There are other options aside from scholarships. Many employers are offering to pay a majority amount of employees’ education. One retailer in particular will cover all but $1 per day of their associate’s education, and will even cover the cost of books. There are also grants to apply for, which also do not have to be paid back. If a person puts in enough hard work to find scholarships and grants, they could potentially go to school without having to pay a dime!  Is it a lot of hard work? Yes. But, is it worth it? Absolutely! There are so many helpful websites out there that will walk you through the process of finding scholarships, if you are willing to put the work into it.

Majenica

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