Help Opinions needed.

[Cynt87]

I think I just need a few people to talk this out with me as I'm going crazy lol.

School A- tech school LPN program offers 18 month mon & thurs 5- 930pm clinicals on weekend. Average TEAS test score is based on everyone who took the test and amoung a few other things like TABE, interviews etc. the top 36 are selected nto the program. Costs $5500 plus books and scrubs , NCLEX test etc is additional. Pell grant covers tuition of $5500. Everything else is out of pocket. Application enroll is in jan with a april start. Its 45- 60 mins fron my house

School B - private institute 83 weeks Monday to thurs 6 to 10pn clinicals around my schedule. Need a Teas test score of 45 and a interview. Fills until full. Costs $21, 000 includes everything including scrubs, books, NCLEX test. Everything. Pell grants covers what it can but pretty sure gonna have to take a loan and its 20 mins from my house. This school is offering the TEAS for free for a limited time which I decided to take Nov 27th.

Background on me graduated HS in 2005 did 2 yrs at Syracuse university doing pre reqs for nursing. I discovered my full scholorship only covered 4 yrs and I couldn't finish the degree in time and was looking at 5 ,i couldnt find a way to pay 38k for the last yr. Lol soooo naive lol anyway my thinking at the time was to drop out get a job and work while going to my local CC in NYC and enroll in the nursing program. Lol however life happened and I never went back. BIG MISTAKE! I regret all the time. I racked up 12k in student loans which I'm paying now. I switched gears and worked on a cruise ship for the past few yrs had a son Now 5 months old moved to orlando fl and I am working from home as a travel agent. My dream is to be a nurse. Its only fair as my mom was an RN now I'm attempting to correct my mistakes. Well the local CC waiting list is long and I can't afford a full time schedule because my boyfriend starts school for Paramedic and also working. We share the bills. My lil sister helps out as she is attending college as well. Our schedules work perfect enough for my to attend either of the programs above. I have all my pre reqs but I know ill have to retake my sciences as they aren't good after 5 yrs. Yes ur probally like just go for my bsn or as but I just don't have the time to do it and the lpn bridge route is better for my and my familym out of my options above which would you choice and why? Also I just want some advise and general insight from you all.

Thanks!!!!

[mc3, ASN, RN]

If you decide on the Tech school, make sure the credits are transferrable to college for your RN if you go that route. One tech school I'm familiar with did not, and the students had to start all over again when they went for their RN's. Personally, I think $21,000 is a lot to pay, plus added to what you owe now doesn't really make sense to me.

m:nurse:c3

[Cynt87]

If you decide on the Tech school, make sure the credits are transferrable to college for your RN if you go that route. One tech school I'm familiar with did not, and the students had to start all over again when they went for their RN's. Personally, I think $21,000 is a lot to pay, plus added to what you owe now doesn't really make sense to me.

m:nurse:c3

The credits are transferrable which isn't a problem because I have all my pre req credits for a bSN I just have to retake my sciences which this program will take care of...

Yes $21, 000 isn't ideal to most. I looked at another post and saw that some pay upwards of 30k for an lpn . I did my research. The price is broken down into 3 semesters about $7k each. 2013-2014 pell grant covers the first semester and I havent just sat on my butt these few months I did apply for scholorships and recieved about $2000 for writing a few essays.

Second and third semesters will be covered by 2014- 2015 aid which because its a full year ill qualify for addtional state grants and the school has internal awards per semester based on grades. Maintain a 3.3 -3.6 and that's an easy $1500 3.7 is $2100. So if i take loans max $4k maybe $5k in loans and thats high balling but who knows . I already have $7k . So IMO $12k isnt bad and that's saying if I stop paying on my current loans which i don't plan to..

Once is bridge time my local CC is about $4k per year. I know by the second year my pell will have reached its limit but still walking away with 20-22k in debt isn't bad for a BSN.

[DreamLVN2RN]

Good luck with whatever you decide. My LPN cost 31000. It beats waiting 2 years to get into a CC. Also, my school is 35 minutes away but it usually takes about one hr because of traffic and as someone else mentioned usually clinical sites could be about 100 miles from the school. I would definitely go for the closer school considering you job and baby situation. You need to be very familiar with the schools attendance policy because 2 absences or 3 lates and I have to withdraw and reapply.

[Cynt87]

Good luck with whatever you decide. My LPN cost 31000. It beats waiting 2 years to get into a CC. Also my school is 35 minutes away but it usually takes about one hr because of traffic and as someone else mentioned usually clinical sites could be about 100 miles from the school. I would definitely go for the closer school considering you job and baby situation. You need to be very familiar with the schools attendance policy because 2 absences or 3 lates and I have to withdraw and reapply.[/quote']

Yes so you understand whole heart. Are you still in LPN or have you graduated?