Puerto Rico school feedback?

AlaBro2010 · Feb 19, 2012

Feel free to ask me whatever or message me. I have my ways of finding ways to avoid going into financial aid which I'm willing to share but not with the entire world :)

snowshyne · Feb 20, 2012

If you go in late March, let me know! We could do some investigating together. I will be there the 20th to April 3rd.
Kelly

That would be great! I'm still not sure when I will be going, but I'll keep you posted. Also, I just sent you a PM.

snowshyne · Feb 21, 2012

If you go in May let me know :) have you sent in your application already. I think I want to handle all the paperwork in person. I'm a little weary about sending all my paperwork through mail, in case it gets "lost" or something. Veronica

I have not sent in my application yet. I feel the same way you do - I would rather go to the school directly to get everything handled. I have called the school a few times with general questions last year, but I got mixed information when I called. So I would rather just go there and do it all in person.

I will definitely let you know if I go in May. Do you know when in May you are going? I still have no idea when I am going, but I'll be sure to post on here when I have a better idea.

VeronicaR · Feb 21, 2012

I have not sent in my application yet. I feel the same way you do - I would rather go to the school directly to get everything handled. I have called the school a few times with general questions last year, but I got mixed information when I called. So I would rather just go there and do it all in person.I will definitely let you know if I go in May. Do you know when in May you are going? I still have no idea when I am going, but I'll be sure to post on here when I have a better idea.

I am planning for late May but nothing is definite yet. There is so much to consider but I just want to go and start school and be done! To be honest I'm a little scared to move by myself but I know it's a good decision for my future. And thanks to Belle I'll have some kind of guidance for the financial end. My plan is visit in May to figure out if i can see myself living there by myself and hopefully after visiting, it will get me fired up to just do it and stop being scared! Lol I've never been before so I'm just scared of the unknown. so it would be great to meet someone there :)

VeronicaR · Feb 26, 2012

Hi I'm just posting to meet my 15 posts that allows me to send private messages :) hope everyone is well :)

calijenn · Mar 2, 2012

hey veronica, i applied, got accepted and picked up and moved to PR in one month last minute. i had never been to PR LOL but i just packed up and left. when you want something bad just go for it dont be scared! i was a bit scared cause not only did i move here not even knowing where to go or what it looked like, i didnt even have a place to stay and i had never lived by myself before. but i been here since novemeber and everythings great! i feel like no matter how much you plan and schedule things somethings always goes wrong. everyones had there fair shares of things going wrong its probably a few months till you adjust. dont be scared though just do it!

calijenn · Mar 2, 2012

if it helps i thought about planning a trip and blah blah but when i calculated it a trip would cost one months rent. its definately not like in the states and the schools looks and feels like a big community college but its a quicker route than most schools at home. people graduating this may are passing there nclex exams too so i honestly think no matter what school you choose studying is the biggest thing, only way you will pass. but i think you will love the island. i dont live near the school but on the beach, i cant imagine living here and not be on the beach lol i dont know how some of my friends do it hahahha

VeronicaR · Mar 2, 2012

if it helps i thought about planning a trip and blah blah but when i calculated it a trip would cost one months rent. its definately not like in the states and the schools looks and feels like a big community college but its a quicker route than most schools at home. people graduating this may are passing there nclex exams too so i honestly think no matter what school you choose studying is the biggest thing, only way you will pass. but i think you will love the island. i dont live near the school but on the beach, i cant imagine living here and not be on the beach lol i dont know how some of my friends do it hahahha

That's inspiring! How hard was getting your finances together? That's my top concern along with going alone lol. But this thread makes me feel comfortable reaching out to people for help. I was thinking the same thing about wasting money on trip to visit and then turn around and pay for moving costs. Are you from California? Do you mind giving me an estimate of your moving costs? If you feel more comfortable messaging me that's fine too :)

calijenn · Mar 2, 2012

yeah i hear ya thats probably the only thing i would say is super stressful besides not having a car but then again i chose to live away from the school i dont like the area lol. but its about 3k per trimester so i applied for federal stafford loans and those cover most, im always left with a balance of under 1k or 500 but you get a $300 scholarship from the school and if u apply at the Internation relations office for another $300 scholarship and get it thats another chunk taken away, all you have to do is write a paper about how you need the money lol. its very easy, and if your over 21 you can defer the payments in three, so you make one payment every three months and it should'nt be much if you pulled stafford loans. last trimester i probbaly paid about $500, this trimester im paying $400 out of pocket. i didnt pull any private loans so food, gas, car and rent i have to pay but thank god my parents are helping me. i moved to ocean park which is hella cheaper than isla verde and so my costs are'nt high but my im gonna find a part time job and take over my bills.

first step is appling for FAFSA and see where you stand though because everyones situation is different. Honors program will pay your tuition also if you get into that program, i barely found out about it but my second trimester just started so i think its too late so ill probably apply in august

hihopes22 · Mar 3, 2012

Calijenn,

I will be attending La Inter in the Fall. Just out of curiosity, paying out of pocket does that include the possible extra in loans if you write a letter? Or did you choose not to request any extra since your parents do help you. Just curious and want to be prepared. Thanks!

calijenn · Mar 3, 2012

Yes I still pay out of pocket even after the stafford loans and the small scholarships. And my living expenses is all our of pocket as well. If you don't have savings, or someone financially helpin you I would apply for private loans so you have money to live off of. I'm not sure what the other students get as far as financial help because everyone's so much older and has either a private loan or money saved up in the bank over time

calijenn · Mar 3, 2012

You know now come to think of it I don't know how many of you are going for bachelors but if you are and you don't know if your in accelerated or non accelerated you should find out real soon cause non accelerated means there are some general Ed classes your going to have to take and to be smart you could take them online while your still living at home, so when u do come to PR you already have some classes checked off your list. I been taking GE's and 1 out of like 8 of my classes has only been offered on campus! The rest are either or. I don't recommend online classes cause on campus is more exciting but obviously if you don't live here that would be a smart choice. I had 4 classes last tri and only one was on campus, so for Xmas break instead of going home for 2 wks I took a month off lol. So i would take advantage of still being at home, you can knock some classes out of the way