Honest feedback - top grades, but no scholarships (advice too?)

cherokeesummer · Jun 26, 2004

PS - I do work full time, I just recently had to take a lower paying job because I needed medical benefits (I am diabetic) and this job is with the city. Unforutnately I am not eligible for tuition reimbursement yet. And my pay is less - so my pay goes for medical costs and household costs. My Husband was laid off and is getting ready to go for an apprenticeship program which will allow him to earn good money but it will be a few months before the program is complete.

lovinghands · Jun 26, 2004

Hi all, I wasn't sure how to title the subject so I will just give this one a shot.
Ok, I have an A in my first semester of nursing school. My professors both said it was rare and that I did a great job.
Throughout the semester I had to pay my tuition because I was not awarded any loans or scholarships. I have maxed my undergrad loans (I have an AA and a BA degree in Psych). Finally, when I was unable to make payments the school had an emergency meeting of the committee and granted money to pay my back tuition of three months (about 1100.00 at 380 a month). I then had to come up with the last two months of 300 each.
Now we got our new forms to fill out for the scholarship committee and I filled mine out day one and brought it back day one. But hte committee doesn't meet again til October. The next semester starts in July and payment is due the first week. I had to make another payment arrangment, this one being 330 a month (which I dont have!). So now I'm stuck again with trying to figure out where to get this money. I still haven't bought all my books for the next term.
The financial aid person gave me a bunch of brochures about private loans but I can't get any. My Husband and I went through bankruptcy about 4 years ago. So, I cannot get a private loan and I have applied for every scholarship that the financial aid person has posted. I have applied for everyone I can find online at the shcolarship search website. I have applied for the specical one offered by our school where you get tuition in return for years worked. I have been accepted to none.
The advice I am seeking is: Do you know of any good sites to help with scholarship essays? Maybe I'm not doing it right, but I've done many! Do you know of any other options for students in this predicament. It seems crazy to me that a top grade student may not be able to continue because she has no money...YIKES!
Any suggestions/advice, and PRAYER would be greatly appreciated. I have been fighting back the tears over this all day! :imbar
Sorry so long winded everyone.

I graduated at the top of my class. I received state & private scholarships throughout nursing school. I appreciated them but never expected them. Sounds like your nursing program has been extremely helpful by alloting you emergency grant monies. I honestly don't know how to take your post - there seems to be an underlying message of entitlement. I honestly hope I'm misreading this one...

Best Wishes

cherokeesummer · Jun 26, 2004

I'm sorry - I must not have posted properly. No, I don't think I'm entitled to anything. I guess what i'm saying is I'd like some help. Maybe that is how I should have worded it. I could see if I was slacking, not doing any work, getting poor grades. I could see not being able to get any financial assistance. But, I am working hard, my grades are excellent. I also work full time and live with a chronic illness. I thought that these things would count for something, to show that I am trying and that I have suceeded as mucha s I can and that I am doing as much as I can to move forward.

Everyone in my class received a scholarship award last term except me. This is truth as everyone was sharing their letters with each other. I said nothing. I congratulated them all and then I cried to myself all the way home that night. It was tough but I moved on.

I'm sorry if I came off the wrong way - I didn't mean to. I was simply askikng for suggestions.

Thanks for reading.

loriann, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2004

Amy:

Sorry to hear about your predicament. I wish I had more advice that what I will say, but know that I hope things get better soon and congratulations on the great work you have done thus far.

With regards to writing essays, does your school offer and writing workshops or even a career center? At my school, there is a career center that offers everything from resume writing to one-to-one counseling sessions with people who critique essays and personal statements. I would check that out first.

I saw on a website a specific loan program for nursing students. I'm not sure if your financial situation would hinder it, but check it out. The website is http://www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/reinvestmentact.htm. Also, have you asked the financial aid department as to why you were not accepted to the special scholarship program?

Finally, is it at all possible that a family member, either yours or your husband's, act as a co-signor of a loan? I'm not sure if that is possible, but the financial aid office could tell you that, and that could solve problems for you faster.

I wish I could offer more. I hope things get better for you soon.

Lori

cherokeesummer · Jun 26, 2004

Thanks for your advice I will check on that website! I appreciate it!

Again, I'm sorry if I came off sounding like I deserved something special.

wilsonmd71 · Jun 26, 2004

Cherokeesummer,

I don't know what to say about your predicament except that, well, I don't have anything useful to say. However, I do know of a good website that shows good personal statement essays. Now I know that these are not specific to nursing, but they are an excellent example of how to get your point across both effectively and creatively. I used this site to guide me when I was writing my essay for acceptance into UMB and I was told that the essay was the deal breaker for scholarship. I did get the scholarship (but I did have good grades- and it sounds as if you do as well). The website is http://www.accepted.com There are examples for med, law and graduate school, and again I know that they are not nursing examples but I think that the type of writing is what counts. (And I know how you feel about getting good grades and no money, I went through my undergrad degree with awesome grades and paid for most of it, and yeah I felt like I should have gotten at least something...)

cherokeesummer · Jun 26, 2004

Gotta run, Hubby needs to use the computer. I will check on these websites when he is done. Also, again, I really appreciate everyones time and comments and hope that i have not offendd aanyone.

lisamc1RN, LPN · Jun 26, 2004

Where I live, there is a grant that is given by the county you live in, if you are working and going to school. I forget what it is called. You have to go through some hoops to get it, but basically, they give you a grant to improve your education so that you can get a better job. Does anyone know what it is called? I will look it up and get back to you when I find the answer. Maybe there is something like that in your county. You might want to call your local Job Services and ask them about it? Best of luck to you!

lovinghands · Jun 26, 2004

I'm sorry - I must not have posted properly. No, I don't think I'm entitled to anything. I guess what i'm saying is I'd like some help. Maybe that is how I should have worded it. I could see if I was slacking, not doing any work, getting poor grades. I could see not being able to get any financial assistance. But, I am working hard, my grades are excellent. I also work full time and live with a chronic illness. I thought that these things would count for something, to show that I am trying and that I have suceeded as mucha s I can and that I am doing as much as I can to move forward.
Everyone in my class received a scholarship award last term except me. This is truth as everyone was sharing their letters with each other. I said nothing. I congratulated them all and then I cried to myself all the way home that night. It was tough but I moved on.
I'm sorry if I came off the wrong way - I didn't mean to. I was simply askikng for suggestions.
Thanks for reading.

Please don't apologize - obviously I read more into your post than I should have. If you have a chronic illness you may be able to receive assistance through voc rehab. My brother had/still has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and received full tuition and book assistance from voc rehab (course that was about 15 years ago.) Just an idea...

#1rnstudent · Jun 26, 2004

It is nice to know that I am not the only one. I have top grades and can't get any scholarships. I have looked at all of the websites, gov't and not, for scholarships and bursaries. My school has less than 5 nursing scholarships and they are all faculty appointed, so one cannot apply. It's so frustrating. Sometimes I wonder why I bother to study my butt off and get good grades when it doesn't make a financial difference. :stone

Hope you have better luck than I have in getting financial aid.

cherokeesummer · Jun 26, 2004

I'm back on the pc for a bit. I was able to read everyones posts and I thank you all for your advice! Next week I will be calling the vocational rehab to see what avenues are there. In addition, I will check around for other things locally.

I must say that our fianancial aid officer gives us all the notices for every scholarship she finds out about so I am very thankful for that. I've posted for all of them that I qualify for (i.e. that i meet the criteria for). Hopefully one of those will pan out in the meantime! I am going to check out these websites you guys recommended. Thanks!