Where to find financial aid beyond "Cost of Attendance"

caliotter3 · Jun 28, 2007

You need to check out scholarships and grants diligently. Otherwise, private loans or a second mortgage. Don't discount getting a future employer to pay in return for employment. I worked full time and part time while I was in school. When I lost my full time job I could no longer pay the mortgage or go to school. All my government student loans and private loans came due. So I know your distress. Good luck.

richardjboro1 · Jun 28, 2007

I know there are several loans you can get for school, (other than federal) but those are sometimes reserved for masters degree plans. I also have seen others on here who have applied for loans thru Chase, etc. Also, perhaps a 2nd mortgage could help. Good luck!

kukukajoo, LPN · Jun 29, 2007

You can ask for them to up your limits if you can prove that cost of attendance will be more for you.

Also look into the BHPR scholarship- deadling to apply is tomorrow.

http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/scholarship/

I am in the same boat as you and not having much success.

mshep12 · Jun 29, 2007

You have a couple options. I'd suggest first plugging away at any scholarship search engine you can find (I suggest fast-web.com) and start applying. Even if it's a very small award, apply anyway, because I'm sure you know that every bit counts.

You can't count on scholarship committees to come through for you though, so after that you should probably check out the various federal student loans available. There are Stafford loans and Perkins loans. The Stafford loans are either subsidized or unsubsidized, if you get the subsidized one the gov't will pay all interest on the loan so when you do pay it back you're only paying the original amount. Perkins loans are similar...be sure to check them out at any rate.

You can also try to get a Pell Grant. It's like a scholarship but it's from the government. It's need-based, and your school will almost definitely accept it.

That should be a good starting point. Good luck!

Wondergirl0905 · Jun 30, 2007

Thanks for the responses everyone - I do appreciate it!! I already will get the Stafford loan, both subsidized & unsubsidized, totalling $10,500 so that made me pretty happy. Unfortunately, I don't qualify for Pell or Perkins since it's a 2nd bachelor's degree. I should be able to get a private student loan no problem - my husband can co-sign and we both have great credit.

As far as sholarships, I'm getting a $3000 one from the school and also applied for the HRSA/BHPR scholarship (but they give preference to 0 EFC, which I don't have). I applied for a few others through fastweb, but between working 2 jobs and completing pre-reqs, I don't have time to write long essays on really random subjects. Even if I do get scholarships, the school still puts it toward the cost of attendance limit. I called the school about upping my cost of attendance, but it's basically the same for everyone whether you're 18 or 30 or 50 and have minimal expenses vs. lots of other responsibilities like a mortgage. They told me they can't treat certain groups with special preference, that it wouldn't be fair, but I think the adult student should be treated differently. I don't want a higher living allowance so I can have a sweet pad & avoid getting a roommate (their example) -- I just need to be able to pay my mortgage. We would move if we could, but the condos in our development are not selling right now (there's at least a dozen on the market). The one flexible area is transportation expense - they allow for $300 a semester, so if I can show that mine will be more then they will increase my limit accordingly. It's really aggravating, but I'm trying to be positive - I got into a program after all!

Thanks for letting me rant!

AR_RN · Jun 30, 2007

Just dropped in to sympathize...I'm also starting an accelerated BSN program this fall, and I *thought* our tuition was high, but not compared to yours. The whole program is $15600. With being unable to work during the program (school rules), and being a single mom with no one else to bring in the bacon, my needs are pretty high too, although I hope to be able to fill it in with private student loans. I don't have anyone to co-sign with me, though, so I hope that will work but we'll have to see.

Good luck.

MB37 · Jul 1, 2007

I'm also a 2nd degree ABSN student, and my husbnd makes just about exactly enough to pay all the bills except tuition and books. That's if we drive as little as possible, rarely eat red meat, and out entertainment consists solely of blockbuster twice a month. God forbid one of us has car trouble. I applied for loans (of course ineligible for grants even though the government didn't give me a dime for my first degree either) and only even received 2/3 of my school's "estimated cost of attendance." It's all unsubsidized, and will only cover tuition and books. Isn't this fun? Also, since my school in extremely underfunded, apparently there is a freeze on non-need based scholarships until the legislature approves more money. I keep giving up more and more hours at work, and it's going to keep getting tighter...