Financial Aid

[BethT]

I will be quitting my job to go to nursing school this year and I am wondering about financial aid.

I will DEFINATELY be needing free money, lol. Here is my situation:

I make too much money now to qualify... and obviously my situation is fixing to drastically change.

I know when you apply for FAFSA, they want your last years tax returns. Has anyone ever had any luck with talking with them and explaining the situation, telling them that you no longer make that kind of money and them awarding you a full pell grant? I know they would need proof, I was just wondering if anyone has ever been in that situation before?

Any suggestions would be great. My husband owes 46K in student loans, so I really don't want to take out anymore than absolutely possible. I am just trying to exhaust all of my options. I will also be applying for as many scholarships as possible!

Thanks for your advice!

[caribdiamond]

I am going through a very similar situation...

I resigned from a very good paying job in March and was accepted into a very strong Nursing program at a private university in my hometown. The cost of the Bachelor's program is approximately $25,000 per year. I did recieve a $4,000 per year academic scholarship.

I am married as well and my husband and my income from last year was well over $125,000. He has no student loan, but I have about $30,000 in a previous student loan for my other Bachelor's degree that I am paying off at this time.

When I applied for my FAFSA, my estimated family contribution was over $45,000. I am now only eligible to take out $7,500 in federal student loan aid.

Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about last year's income. You really have no choice but to try for scholarships and grants (which are usually need-based and also dependent on last year's income, as well as difficult to come by if you are a first year nursing student).

Your last option is to go through a private lender for now. For me, I will be taking out a loan near $14,000 for this first year. However, next year, our income will be decreased substantially and if my grades are strong and I keep up with my community service and volunteer work, I will be applying for grants, scholarships, and more financial aid.

Try not to stress out about the amount of money - education is an investment. Nursing has about 100% job placement and the pay is not quite bad for first year nurses with an ADN/BSN.

I chose to go through with my BSN because I would like to eventually go on to graduate school to become an educator or clinician.

Good luck with your loans this year and don't worry - you are not alone!

Also - Good luck on your studies and to a successful career in nursing!

---Caribdiamond---

[BethT]

It is so nice to hear that I am not alone! My husband and I work at the same place and we get a free apartment, free utilities, free cell phone, and a very nice salary. The thing is... if one goes, we both go! The thing about it though, we both hate our jobs. We get three days off a month, and we are on call 24/7/365 (the honest truth). People who think money buys happiness.... well...lol... they need to come talk to me!! I just need to find "inner peace" as corny as that sounds. My job has made me a bitter person, and I hate that. I am hoping this change of career is really going to help me.

My husband has always wanted to be a pilot. He has been taking lessons for over 5 years. We have finally decided to take the plunge and do it.

We are quitting, and he has to take out a 46K student loan to get all of his certifications, and keep my fingers crossed that he lands a good job. He is going into agriculture (crop dusting).

So, basically. We are going to be unemployed for a while and up to our elbows in student loans. But, it's the only way. We are both approaching our 30's and are ready to get our education over with so we can start a much wanted family.