[AngieSC]

Hello there!
I am coming out of lurking to ask you a question. I am currently a SAHM of three and have a teaching degree. I have decided that I really want to go back to school to become a nurse. The problem is, I can't go without financial aid and I cannot get a Pell Grant because I already have a degree. Student loans are not an option. Does anyone here know if there are other grants or scholarships available? I have an overall 3.4 gpa from before. I will meet with a counselor after the Christmas holidays, but I thought someone here might know something as I am anxious to get started!
Thanks for your time and help!
Angie

[mom2michael]

I have the same problem, federal aid stops after 100(ish) credit hours and I have almost 200. I even checked with the student loans through the health dept. for the state I live in....had to qualifiy for Federal Aid first and with the amount of hours I have taken (due to have a BS degree already) I did not qualify for that either. A friend of mine is a financial aid officer and told me that's pretty much it...if the aid requires you to fill out the FAFSA, I won't qualify.

I hope that your financial aid office is a bit more helpful that mine because I found nothing other than non government funded student loans (private loans through a bank) to help me through school.

Have you checked through any of the local hospitals in the area? The school is going to the be only other option probably for grants/scholarships in your area. My school was NOT helpful at all and basically told me that I would just have to come up with the money or not attend the program (nice huh?)

Luckily I had some help from my family who is very supportive of me attending school and has loaned me the money for the first 2 semesters. I start working at a hospital in Jan. that does a scholarship program and hopefully I can get them to help me pay for the final two semesters.

I wish you all the luck!!!

[AngieSC]

Thanks for responding....that is kind of what I was afraid of! I am anxious to speak to an advisor. I really do not want to get any student loans if at all possible. My husband just graduated about four years ago and we are paying those back. The state does have lottery funds to help students and I would qualify for those. Thanks for your time.
Angie

[RahRah]

I am having the same problem and the only way I can pay for nursing school is to work on my MBA at the same time and use the student loan money left over from those classes to pay for nursing school. I am working on prereqs now and so far it is working out. I go to University of Phoenix for my MBA and the coursework is mostly on the computer. I go to a local community college also to finish my prereqs for an accelerated nursing program here in New Orleans. I called my state office of financial assistance, and the federal office of financial assistance, and was told that I have too many credits to receive money for anything except a Master's Degree. Anyone facing this problem should consider tanking an online or partially online MBA program to help pay for nursing school. I wish I was interestes in nursing before I earned my degree. Hindsight is always 20/20.

[AngieSC]

RahRah...I hear you! I wish I had the confidence then that I do now. I feel like I can do it and if I can't then I tried my best. A few years ago I would have been afraid to try.

[garn2b]

Congrats on your decision to switch to nursing. I think with your GPA you should be eligible for lots of scholarship money.

All the best.

[sdzta]

Wow this sounds familiar. I have a BA in education and taught for a few years before i had kids. I am now a SAHM of 2 and just returned to school in the fall to pursue Nursing. I ran into the same problem...no financial aid b/c i already have a degree. Let me know if you do come up with anything.

good luck with nursing.
and happy holidays

[AngieSC]

Thanks Garn...I hope that will be the case.

Sdzta, I will let you know if I find out anything. It is good to hear of another teacher that wants to become a nurse! I spoke to a very good friend that I went to college with today and she said "you are going out of the frying pan and into the fire." I surely hope not.

I need to meet with an advisor soon before I talk myself out of this!
Angie

[TLC RN]

A 2nd degree program in my area has students apply for scholarships at a local hospital that pays for school in return for work after graduation. Check with your school or the local hospitals.