Freaking Out

Froggy · Jul 22, 2002

You need to grill your school about subsidized and unsubsidized loans for your schooling. Also does your school or state have any contracts where they pay for your schooling if you agree to work for such-and-such hospital or in an underprivilaged area? Try All-First or Bank of America I have sub and unsub loans from all-first and they are at 5.5% Sounds as if your school financail aid office doesn't want to help much but unfortunatly is something I have noticed a lot. Also apply for Pell grants and FFASA(government money) Hope this helps. Been there and done that. I'm in my second sememster of RN school now. :roll

live4today, RN · Jul 22, 2002

You can also go on http://www.fastweb.com and search for scholarships. Just bypass all the advertisements that may pop up to get to the meat of the website......SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION! Best of luck to you, and a good way to keep yourself from BOWING OUT OF THE IDEA OF GOING TO NURSING SCHOOL is to take those bills you have with all your other current issues listed on a BIG piece of paper and post them on a wall where you study in your home so you can look up at them and say "THAT'S WHY I'm putting myself through this!" Let your current situation motivate you to make a better life for yourself. If all else fails......you got us to vent to, chat with, laugh with, and pray for you as you go through the program. :kiss

CATHYW · Jul 22, 2002

Hey, Kim, what about the HOPE scholarship? Do you already have to be in schcool and have a GPA to qualify for that one?

colleen10 · Jul 22, 2002

Hi Kim,

Do not Freak Out, I repeat Do Not Freak Out.

Where there is a will, there is a way. It seems really tough right now, but I betcha once you start going through the program you'll say " I can't believe I was worrying about all that stuff".

Sounds like you feel like you have no control over these financial issues and that is where a lot of your stress is coming from. Not that not having money and a house sitting on the market aren't problems but when we feel we have lost control of the situation it only makes us feel worse.

Take control, and you can. Make a list of the above and handle them one at a time, calmly.

I'm not sure what type of job you have now but if you are Full time right now can you go to Part Time?

As for the Loans, 14% sounds like an awful lot. Have you gone to your school and talked about Financial Aid? Governement affiliated loans are usually less expensive. My husband and I have ours through Sallie Mae and it's only 4%. Also, you school may also offer a very low interest loan too.

I know what it's like to not be able to get aid because you allready have a degree. Why do they make it so hard?

As for the house, do you have any ideas why it is still on the market? Maybe you should have a heart to heart with your Realator. Maybe they can offer suggestions of things you can do or maybe they aren't trying very hard to sell your house.

Call the Credit Card Company and see if you can work out some sort of payment plan or decrease the interest rate. Yes, often times they will work with you on this sort of thing. My husband got our credit card company lower their interest rate by matching a competing card company.

Also, if you have multiple Credit cards or other sources of Debt you may want to consolidate.

Like I said, where there is a will there is a way. Things seem really tough right now, but when push comes to shove and you are stuck in the middle you will see that you can work through it.

babynursewannab · Jul 22, 2002

Kim,

I'm over at Kennesaw State and went through that. I lost my HOPE scholarship without warning because I went to school 10 years ago (it didn't exist then!).

I worked with the aid office and they got me hooked up with grants and loans. Now, though, with you the deadlines may be gone. If you need to look into an emergency loan, that might be an option. Every, EVERY, school I've known of has those and it could give you the little extra time you need.

Loans, loans, loans.....that's what I'm looking at now. I start clinicals in 4 weeks as well and thought I would have my education paid for by the great state of Georgia. Shows me. You can only depend on yourself. If you want it bad enough, try all avenues and become a pain in the a$$ at the financial aid office.

Just out of curiosity, what school are you at?

-Alyssa

Ortho_RN · Jul 22, 2002

Check with your hospital and see if they have nursing scholarships.... Having them pay for school in exchange for you working for them for X amount of time when you finish.. That is what I am doing... It helps... Also check about working at a hospital or something.. They tend to pay a lil more than most other jobs out there.. I am getting paid 12.50/hr as a PCA... Not bad for only working 3 shifts a week...

Good Luck, and don't give up on your dream..

kimtab · Jul 22, 2002

Okay I am feeling a little better . I called the financial aid office at another campus ( I go to GPC if y'all are in Georgia) of my school and got a MUCH more helpful person who told me I had been misinformed by the first person and, although I don't qualify for grants- I can get a Stafford Loan, which are at around 5%, much more reasonable. I'm so glad I called back. I have stopped hyperventilating now.

Kim

Debbie5 · Jul 22, 2002

Yea Kim!!

Looks like you'll be going to nursing school afterall!!

Love-A-Nurse · Jul 22, 2002

originally posted by kimtab
okay i am feeling a little better . i called the financial aid office at another campus ( i go to gpc if y'all are in georgia) of my school and got a much more helpful person who told me i had been misinformed by the first person and, although i don't qualify for grants- i can get a stafford loan, which are at around 5%, much more reasonable. i'm so glad i called back. i have stopped hyperventilating now.

kim

great news, kim!

babynursewannab · Jul 23, 2002

YAY for Kim!

Glad to hear you got a helpful soul. Hope you get all you need!

-Alyssa

RNbeach, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2002

Hurray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God doesn't give you anything you can't handle! Remember that when things look bleak!

Good Luck!

Brenda