The College Road, Costs and Contracts

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Hello everyone, I have read some posts on here, and they seem really helpful. I have a dilema myself, and need some advice if anyone can give it.

I graduated from H.S. with my CNA certificate. I am 21 years old. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was 9. I've always struggled with the financial aid issue of college. My family is not rich. I will be the only person in my ENTIRE family to go to college. I got my parents to (reluctantly) fill out the fafsa when I was 18, so I could attend nursing school (they are very guarded about their "business", and some say, very strict). I Went to college my first year the month after highschool, and worked 3 part-time jobs (with full time school) to pay for my first year of college. Luckily, I could pay the way by myself, but only because I received some financial aid by filling out the fafsa. I am proud to admit, I made the deans list, each semester.

That first summer off, I met a wonderful man (uh oh, right?) that my parents don't like. Without making this a novel, my parents told me to break up with this man, or they would not support college anymore- "aka", they wouldn't fill out the fafsa the following year. I was really shocked that they said this. I struggled for a long time. But then I realized, that I needed to make the decision that I felt was right, and not live how someone else wanted me to. My friends told me to lie (of course) and say I was through with this man. But I couldn't be dishonest, I respect my parents. I thought if they loved me, they could see I was happy, and trust me.

A word about this "guy"-he has always been supportive of what I want, he is an international student, and has offered to quit school, and work full time, to help me pay for school. As generous as he is, I don't think thats fair, because he only has been studying for 6 years, and only has 2 years left.

I didn't "break up" with my boyfriend, and true to their word my parents refused to give out their financial information the following year. Becasue I couldn't fill out the fafsa, my school charged me full tuition (and most scolarships require a copy of the fafsa, but I applied for all I could) and I was forced to take a year off. I appealed all the way to the dean of my school, and talked to federal advisors, but to get a dependency override, I would have to prove my parents were abusive. I was so dissapointed, and thought for sure I could never achieve my dreams.

I have now been living on my own for 3 years. But by federal regulation, the only way I can be considered "independent" (meaning, submit my own financial information) is to: be married (the man I love is an international student), have a child (would make the situation harder), join the military, or turn 24 (would need to wait so long, I could have been graduated). I really wish to continue on the road to achieving my goals now. I could have beed emancipated when I was under 18, but I didn't know all of this would happen.

Whether or not people think my moral and life decisions were an err in judgement or not, this is the situation I find myself in. I am so desparate, that I would relocate across the country to work in the crappiest hospital, as long as I could get help with school, contract, or not. I have also looked into community colleges, and I am currently trying to figure out how I can pay full cost for that even (I can't even afford a car at this point). I have the credits from my first year, but am not sure they will all transfer to the community college, or if I can afford it. My parents will not forgive me for dis-obeying their wishes, and the fafsa is lost.

I don't know if anyone has had this particular problem, but please comment, because your experience/advice is very helpful to me.

God Bless you all for the wonderful work you do as students, and caregivers. Thank You!

Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.
Hello everyone, I have read some posts on here, and they seem really helpful. I have a dilema myself, and need some advice if anyone can give it.

I graduated from H.S. with my CNA certificate. I am 21 years old. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was 9. I've always struggled with the financial aid issue of college. My family is not rich. I will be the only person in my ENTIRE family to go to college. I got my parents to (reluctantly) fill out the fafsa when I was 18, so I could attend nursing school (they are very guarded about their "business", and some say, very strict). I Went to college my first year the month after highschool, and worked 3 part-time jobs (with full time school) to pay for my first year of college. Luckily, I could pay the way by myself, but only because I received some financial aid by filling out the fafsa. I am proud to admit, I made the deans list, each semester.

That first summer off, I met a wonderful man (uh oh, right?) that my parents don't like. Without making this a novel, my parents told me to break up with this man, or they would not support college anymore- "aka", they wouldn't fill out the fafsa the following year. I was really shocked that they said this. I struggled for a long time. But then I realized, that I needed to make the decision that I felt was right, and not live how someone else wanted me to. My friends told me to lie (of course) and say I was through with this man. But I couldn't be dishonest, I respect my parents. I thought if they loved me, they could see I was happy, and trust me.

A word about this "guy"-he has always been supportive of what I want, he is an international student, and has offered to quit school, and work full time, to help me pay for school. As generous as he is, I don't think thats fair, because he only has been studying for 6 years, and only has 2 years left.

I didn't "break up" with my boyfriend, and true to their word my parents refused to give out their financial information the following year. Becasue I couldn't fill out the fafsa, my school charged me full tuition (and most scolarships require a copy of the fafsa, but I applied for all I could) and I was forced to take a year off. I appealed all the way to the dean of my school, and talked to federal advisors, but to get a dependency override, I would have to prove my parents were abusive. I was so dissapointed, and thought for sure I could never achieve my dreams.

I have now been living on my own for 3 years. But by federal regulation, the only way I can be considered "independent" (meaning, submit my own financial information) is to: be married (the man I love is an international student), have a child (would make the situation harder), join the military, or turn 24 (would need to wait so long, I could have been graduated). I really wish to continue on the road to achieving my goals now. I could have beed emancipated when I was under 18, but I didn't know all of this would happen.

Whether or not people think my moral and life decisions were an err in judgement or not, this is the situation I find myself in. I am so desparate, that I would relocate across the country to work in the crappiest hospital, as long as I could get help with school, contract, or not. I have also looked into community colleges, and I am currently trying to figure out how I can pay full cost for that even (I can't even afford a car at this point). I have the credits from my first year, but am not sure they will all transfer to the community college, or if I can afford it. My parents will not forgive me for dis-obeying their wishes, and the fafsa is lost.

I don't know if anyone has had this particular problem, but please comment, because your experience/advice is very helpful to me.

God Bless you all for the wonderful work you do as students, and caregivers. Thank You!

First, Hugs to you......:redpinkhe:redpinkhe

Lord knows you need em. Now, I am not passing judgement on what you've done nor what you've decided. Right from the FASFA website....."Hire an attorney and petition the court to have your parents' parental rights terminated, on the grounds that they are refusing to provide for your support. (The courts typically require that the parent have ceased all support and contact with the child for at least a year before they will consider such an abandonment case. Abandonment is one of the situations in which the school can grant a dependency override.) "

Does this apply to you? From what you've told me, it may be true. And if your parents refuse to talk to you or help you, then it may apply. Also, how is your credit? There are quite a few private student loan providers who you may qualify for a loan with (WARNING: make sure they are accredited, and you may have to make interest payments while in school, so make sure that you take out enough...)

Also, minimize as many expenses as possible...whether that means eating out less, wearing clothes for longer, shopping at "secondhand" stores, etc....

You will find a way if you want it bad enough. Keep the faith, and know that the things that hold us back for a while make us strong enough to serve others....

Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

I would say definately start looking in to community colleges as the best way around this for now. They are almost always much cheaper in the long run and you can get a lot of prereqs and other classes out of the way before you begin your core classes either there or in a university setting. If it means moving to part-time status in order for this to be affordable, then just keep on putting one foot in front of the other.

Additionally, I don't know where you live, but most hospitals help with tuition reimbursement. Get online to ALL the local facilities and start calling/visiting their HR units. Fill out all the online apps you can find; from what I'm understanding these days you HAVE to start with filling them out online. Then follow up with the phone calls and maybe in-person visits. Most of the tuition reimbursements do require contracts to work with them after graduation, so be a little particular about this.

I'm so sorry your parents chose to do this to you. What they don't choose to understand or seem to remember is that regardless of how your relationship works out, you will need to be able to take care of and provide for yourself for many years to come. Schooling and education is the best means for you to do so.

I wish you the best!! Even if it takes more years than you were hoping for, you can do this -- one step at a time. You are still 18; I am 52 and completing my last semester of an ADN program. You can attain your dream whether it's sooner or later....

Make sure you exhaust all the hospital programs in your area. My girlfriend in NS had to drop and move to TN for family reasons, which put her in a bind financially. She applied for a Patient Care Tech position at a local hospital and one of the benefits of the hospital is that they will pay 100% if she wants to go to LPN school and 75% of RN school. She is currently enrolled in the LPN school on the hospital's dime. Now of course, she does have to pay that back in time served at the hospital, but it's one way to get the education paid for.

Good luck, I hope you find a way to fund your education.

Specializes in Telemetry.

I'm in the community college ADN program right now, and I'm getting both tuition reimbursement and a stipend each semester from the hospital I'm working for. I started out volunteering, and got into the nursing school, avoiding the typical 1-1/2 to 2 year wait. I also got the stipend. I just started working for them as a Student Nurse Tech and I'm going to get tuition reimbursement. I only work 16 hours per week to get the benefits. From what I understand, this isn't the only hospital with a program like this, and not the only part of the country that offers this. Check around to your local hospital websites.

Good luck, and sorry your parents couldn't find it in them to be more supportive.

Wow! Thank you all so much for your replies! I hadn't expected so much support, but you guys have been really helpful!

I'm currently residing in the miami beach area. I checked with all of the major hospitals here, and everyone seems to be really hush hush about these types of programs. I guess because there are a lot of people in the area that need them, so it's competitive. But so far I have found one major hospital here that is willing to do a loan repayment program, and give $3,000/ year tuition rembursment to qualified RN's...which doesn't help at all. The only requirement I meet for that one, is that I'm 21.

I am willing to relocate anywhere to be able to go back to school. I just don't want to jump into say- the military right now, becasue I know I'll want to think about a family in the next few years.

I called some community colleges in the area, and they said there is usually no waiting period to work toward an ADN, so I requested information from them all. that might be a start...

Locolorenzo22-- I don't have much credit, becasue the only debt I have is a federal school loan from my first year, which doesn't count toward my credit score. I am building my credit with a bank credit card now. But thats a great tip from the fafsa site, I am going to contact a lawer and see where that leads.

I am still applying to hospitals in the area to try and get a position as CNA...maybe I'll be lucky enough to gain a position with some additional benefits.

If anyone knows of any hospitals names/areas that offer special programs, like some of you are in, can you please give me the link to their website, so I can see how they advertise the program, and how the offer is supposed to look? or is it something you find out only after you are hired?

Thanks again everyone! :heartbeat

Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

henny:

If you're interested in staying in the FL area, perhaps try doing some posting on the Florida forums here on allnurses to see if you can get some information there!!

Good luck!!

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