2nd degree student, having financial aid issues--anyone else?

Nursing Students Student Assist

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I'm a second bachelor's degree student, married with two children. Because I have a degree already, I'm having a very difficult time with financial aid. I got a financial aid suspension letter in the mail last week. It was from the school, stating that because I had so many credit hours, why don't I have a degree already. Well, I do but I'm back again. So the nursing department sent them a degree plan, but now I'm hearing about a 60 hour cap for second bachelor's degree students.

Anyone knwo anything about this? Are appeals ever successful?

I have 18 months left of an accelerated program, so I can't quit now. It is going to be beyond difficult to stay afloat financially for the next 18 months with NO aid at all. AND having to come out of pocket for my tuition.

Anyone have any insight?

Same situation!! I also have a previous bachelors degree and was banned from financial aid initially. They granted me 30 credit hours to finish my degree from a petition I submitted and a course list the nursing department sent over. Unfortunately, my program is 52 credit hours and I haven't not a clue how I will pay for the last 22 credit hours.. not mention textbooks!! I only get $900/quarter in financial aid and that doesn't even cover tuition. I'm not eligible for grants or anything and I didn't get a single scholarship (white, single, no kids, female etc) because I'm "the norm." Good luck - I have had NO luck finding funding despite applying to 30+ scholarships and meeting with two financial aid advisors :(

Specializes in Quality management.
Same situation!! I also have a previous bachelors degree and was banned from financial aid initially. They granted me 30 credit hours to finish my degree from a petition I submitted and a course list the nursing department sent over. Unfortunately, my program is 52 credit hours and I haven't not a clue how I will pay for the last 22 credit hours.. not mention textbooks!! I only get $900/quarter in financial aid and that doesn't even cover tuition. I'm not eligible for grants or anything and I didn't get a single scholarship (white, single, no kids, female etc) because I'm "the norm." Good luck - I have had NO luck finding funding despite applying to 30+ scholarships and meeting with two financial aid advisors :(

At least ur school approved the petition I know two students that were denied and now I am shakin in my boots

:(

I totally feel your pain. I went to UC Berkeley for my original BA, graduated 2004. I paid for it myself but my parents were claiming me on taxes so I did NOT qualify for financial aid, loans etc! I worked to put myself through school! Now I'm going back, great BSN program, very costly (around 70k total), and I don't qualify for a hell of a lot of financial aid because it's my 2nd degree. I'm capped because it's a bachelor's and not a master's, I'm capped because they call me a sophomore (It's a 2 year + 1 quarter program, retarded). I don't qualify for CALgrants or PELLGRANTS or ANYTHING because it's my second degree...even though I never got any of that crap the first time around. So out of 70k, I'm only going to get around 30 in federal student loans...no grants. I'm ******. Now that I need financial aid, I can't get most of it.

Update: I was denied even though everyone else in my class was approved, even those who have exceeded the 60 hour maximum.

I called and spoke to the Director and she pulled the 60 hour max thing on me, even though she admitted that others had "extenuating circumstances like pre-reqs and re-taking classes". I told her I was the same, but she didn't budge. She told me I could re-appeal and after talking to others, I realized they included big ole' sob stories with their appeals.

So I submitted my own version of a sob story and am waiting to hear back. I don't have a whole lot of faith that I will get approved, but I figured it was worth the effort. So we shall see......

Specializes in Peds OR as RN, Peds ENT as NP.

Im in SAME boat. Deadline to pay tuition was today and I did not because I could not. Petition results haven't come back yet. I am freaking out and saving all classwork and powerpoints to my computer in case I am dropped, and this is my LAST semester!

It is very sad how the government had already approved my loans and given me dollar amounts that are available, but the SCHOOL is the one holding it up.

You keep the faith as I am!!!:hug:

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