With the struggling economy, some prospective students find it near impossible to pay for school and accomplish their goals. That is where the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services come into play.

The EOPS is a state-funded service designed to help low-income students with their educational needs and assist with transfer options.

“We provide a wide range of support services to enable them to succeed at San Diego City College,” said Terri Jackson, student assistance technician who has been with the program for seven years.

Some of the services offered by the program are counseling and advising, transfer assistance, workshops and financial aid.

EOPS applicants must also be a resident of California, have completed less than 70 degree applicable college units. They also must be a full-time student, be on track to complete an associate degree or to transfer to a four-year institution.

“I work full-time and heard about this program from a friend,” said Hafsa Abdille, a child development major with aspirations on becoming a teacher. “I looked through the criteria to be eligible and I think this program can really help me.”

Other requirements are that students have low assessment scores, no high school diploma or GED or lower than a 2.5 GPA in high school.

Under EOPS, there is another program that deals strictly with assisting single parent recipients of CalWORKS, called Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education. To be considered for CARE, applicants must be eligible for EOPS.

For more information of EOPS or CARE, contact an EOPS representative at 619-388-3209 or log onto the San Diego City College Web site and search, EOPS. The program is located in the newly renovated L building in room 117.