[checkmate]

How many students work full time while in school?, how difficult would this be? did anyone try and have to quit work? I hopefully will be accepted into school in the near future and don't want to graduate saddled with debt. If i have to save $ for school & living expenses my plans will be pushed back a few years. Thank you in advance.

[jb2u]

I know of some students that worked full time and made A's. I know of some students that started and had to quit; some students reduced their hours to part time. I work part time (12's on weekends).

Another option is to try and get as many scholarships as you can and perhaps service cancelable loans. I know of one guy that "put himself through nursing school" doing this.

Good luck and, when in dought, it is my opinion that it is better to have more debt when you graduate than to "fail out" of nursing school because you were working so hard to keep your debt low and still have some student loan debt to repay.

[charlies]

and i know a couple who had no job and failed. one thing is for sure, you can do it school and full time if you are really committed to it.

i know one girl who has 9 kids, lol. OMG! she is doing fine though.

[marilynmom]

Virtually everyone (83 of us) in my BSN program is working either full time or part time and so far we are all doing good. So far I am finding that nursing school isn't as bad as some say it is, it's not consuming my life.

[checkmate]

To the three of you who took the time to respond to my inquiry, Thank you.

[mom2CK]

That question was asked to a room of 1/3 of our class yesterday - last year (Junior) we had probably 15-20 working full time (of the whole class of 110) - yesterday, just one raise her hand - I don't know if the other classes were similar, but I'd guess they are. With all the extra hours (clinicals, community, leadership, etc), senior year gets to be really tough to schedule a full time job, studies, etc.

[elisabeth]

I'm still waiting to get into a school, but my plan is to not work during school.

[Charm665]

I just started out and I'm working full time. I also have 2 children. I have been very concerned about having enough time for everything, but as far as the financial aspect goes, I don't worry about it too much. I used to though, and that is a big reason I put off school so long. I tried to save but something "more important" always came up. I finally sat down and told myself, "You know, if you had done this 4 years ago, you'd be done by now." So I finally decided to take the leap. I researched grants and scholarships. I received alot of money that I don't have to pay back and the money I do have to pay back is not due until after I get out of school. I'm saving what I can, paying early when I can and reassuring myself that when everything is due, I will finally have a better job to help me take care of it. I guess the long and short of it is, you just have to decide what you want to do. There is alot of help out there if you choose to utilize it.

[todell80]

I think every situation is different, and it depends on how much you can handle. Personally, I could never work full time during school. I also have 2 kids, a husband, and a house to take care of. I work around 17 hours a week at a catalog call center, so I can read through my notes and study some during work, that helps.

I understand not wanting to graduate into debt, but a little debt is a small price to pay to get finished. Have you looked into what you will qualify for as far as financial aid goes? I get grants, which I don't have to pay back, a scholarship, and student loans. If you are lucky enough to qualify for a "Subsidized" Stafford Loan, that means the gov't pays the interest on the loan while you are in school. Even when you graduate, the interest rate is considerably lower than a traditional loan. I don't know if you would have this option where you live, but around here, there are many hospitals that will pay off your loans if you agree to work for them for a set number of years (usually 3-5). That is a good deal if it is a place you would want to work anyway.

I know it is difficult to take on debt if you don't want to, but think of it this way: would you rather graduate with some debt or flunk out of school b/c you couldn't balance the workload w/ the studies? I am only in my 4th week, and the studies are very time consuming already. I can't imagine what the next 18 months will bring me!! Good luck w/ your decision and w/ school.
~t