Fellow Columbia ETP SONS: I Need Help in Applying for Loans!

[My Name Here, RN]

Hello Fellow Nurses!

I am new to the forums and new to the nursing field! I have been accepted to the Columbia's ETP program and as you can imagine, I feel like a crazy jumble of combustible emotions: anxiety, excitement, frustration. I attended the Visiting Day in March, but since I discovered this website, I feel a little "late to the party".

Anyways a little about myself: I decided to pursue a career in nursing after a frustrating two-year long pursuit for a PhD in biomedical science left me feeling empty and dissatified. My frustration came about because I felt that the hours doing lab research, meetings, seminars and searching for papers didn't suit my personality.

Although research is still in my heart, I decided to switch from a career that took me away from medicine and into deep science to one that educates and aids people (myself included) about health and medicine.

As you can imagine all of this is the exiciting part. What's truly frustrating me is the details, deadlines, requirements, especially the loans and financial aid packages . I'm am new to loan applications process and the first two years of my PhD did not require any loan applications. I recently applied for the federal stafford loan and now in the process of appyling for the sallie mae loan.

I wanted to know from the ETP students and graduates about the loan application procedures. I have applied for the FAFSA and have a SARS form. After that, I'm not sure about my loan status nor how much money I have to apply for the Columbia program. I am a NYC resident, and I have decided that I will be better off commuting to class, so I am not concerned about housing and apartment searching at this point.

Your help and consultation will be greatly appreciated!

My Name Here, RN