ABSN Duke Fall 2010

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Hi All!

I have decided to take the plunge and leave my career as a mental health therapist to gain a BSN in Nursing and hopefully move straight into MSN program. Is anyone else applying to Duke in the Fall??:yeah:

Happy New Years!!!! :cheers:

*wine :beer:

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rubypie is getting her ROOTS DONE!!! you go girl. :)

Yes! Next week in fact! Haha, Happy New Year all! May this be the year we either get into Duke or another nursing school of our choice!

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.

Happy New Year! :cheers:

I just read a US News & World Report article that ranked Durham as one of their Top 10 Cities of 2009. Only 26 days until I hit the road to check it out myself! I know these weeks will absolutely fly by, but it still feels so far away!

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Hi everyone,

Sorry I've been quiet for a while. I went home to visit my family and I didn't have much access to the internet. I hope that everyone had a restful holiday!

I wanted to let you all know that I ended up re-scheduling my interview for the 22nd. I have two aunts that live in the area and they're both going out of town the weekend of the 29th so, I switched my interview so that I'd get to visit them. I rarely get to see them since I live in California.

Unfortunately, it means that I'll miss out on meeting most of you. :(

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Abbie Grace - No worries! We'll all have plenty of time together by the Fall:) Your Aunts must be really excited at the idea of you moving to the area!

Hey Gang - anybody a mathematician? I am confused by tuition and could use some feedback. One of our nice Duke students that drops in occasionally (JDCurly, was that you?) had mentioned that totally cost was about 86K which includes 22K in living expenses, leaving program costs around 64K. When I go to the costs/fees page however, I keep coming up with 54K. It says to calculate by credit hour, so 43 undergrad hours and 15 grad hours at $875 and $1120 respectively works out to $54,425. The fees are listed and are nominal. Surely we won't be buying 8K-10K worth of books, will we??? So what, my friends, am I missing?

Please help b/f I kill any more brain cells on this!

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Kebunt - Well, $54k. sounds better than $64k! I'm sure they'll let us know at Duke Days.

I decided that I'm not going to look into program costs until I know where I'm accepted and what my options are. Unfortunately, there aren't any programs in my state that I'm interested in so, I didn't apply anywhere that I could receive in-state tuition. So, it seems like anywhere that I go is just going to be plain EXPENSIVE.

Edited to add-- Yes, my aunts are thrilled to pieces that I might move to their part of the country. One of my cousins is getting married in Pinehurst on Memorial Day weekend and I have fantasies of apartment hunting in Durham when I go out for the wedding!

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.

I am guessing:

textbooks

uniforms

insurance

class fees that don't count in tuition (lab fees)

supplies/stethoscope/etc

a PDA

possibly even a new laptop?

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Specializes in Public Health - Pediatrics.

At the information session, they told us the approximate cost for the program is $66,000 plus living expenses for a total of roughly $81,000. I'm trying not to focus on that though. ;)

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Kebunt - Well, $54k. sounds better than $64k! I'm sure they'll let us know at Duke Days.

Our favorite person mentioned that most people could figure between $55-60K for the program (including tuition increase by the time fall comes around) plus whatever your living expenses are.

Personally, I don't see how someone can have living expenses only to be $22K for 16 months. I figured for most people (if single), that would just be rent/mortgage, not including food, gas, utilities, etc. Maybe that is just me. :wink2:

They should be able to give us a better idea at Duke Days. I know they will also discuss financial aid, loans, etc.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.

$22k over 16 months is $1370 a month... it's not a lavish lifestyle, but it's possible. I think the thing that will make that the hardest is trying to live alone... finding someone to split rent with, if you're single, really makes the cost of living go down dramatically. Also keep in mind what kind of schedule we'll be keeping... I'm not saying we won't have *any* free time, but I think, for me at least, I just won't be spending much outside of the essentials while I'm in an intense program like this one. I know how much I study just for anatomy and my science classes right now. :)

We've cut back a lot on our expenses lately (just cancelled our cable, at a savings of $90 a month... that's over a thousand bucks a year we were spending on TV we can mostly get for free with a $20 antenna, holy crap!) and I'm living comfortably on significantly less than $1370 a month. I'm also splitting rent three ways in a 3/3, though, which makes a huge difference.

I'm rambling. (What's new?) But my point is, $1370 a month isn't *fun*, and it doesn't leave much for new stuff or vacation, but it's do-able with some discipline. (Take this all with a grain of salt, too, because I'm very accustomed to the "student life" and never had much chance to start living more comfortably! :icon_roll) But it's achievable if you're concerned about racking up the cost-of-living loans.

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Thanks guys! I do appreciate the feedback. I guess I should plan on 55K-60K in tuition as Tazluff was told, and figure the difference is just a whole lot of program expenses. I'm not really worried about living expenses b/c I'll have those whereever I am, but to Twois point...I don't really expect to have much time or opportunity to spend money during the program, either. My personal attempts to revive the economy may be coming to a close! My apologies to the nation...

I am sure they'll give us the specifics at Duke Days, but I needed some working numbers in the meantime. I just got accepted to another program (they called on Christmas Eve) and they want an answer and deposit by the end of this week. Yeesh! I am in the middle of a massive pros/cons list as we speak...

Thanks everyone! You guys are awesome and definitely one of the pros :loveya:

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$22k over 16 months is $1370 a month... it's not a lavish lifestyle, but it's possible. I think the thing that will make that the hardest is trying to live alone... finding someone to split rent with, if you're single, really makes the cost of living go down dramatically. Also keep in mind what kind of schedule we'll be keeping... I'm not saying we won't have *any* free time, but I think, for me at least, I just won't be spending much outside of the essentials while I'm in an intense program like this one. I know how much I study just for anatomy and my science classes right now. :)

I don't disagree with you but in my case, with me being single and a mortgage, I will be way over the $22K for 16 months. Then I have utilities, food, gas, etc on top of that.

Initially I was figuring 2 years when typing that up and just forgot to go back and make the adjustment when I said 16 months. Sorry about that!

For those coming to the area and getting an apartment or that has another income to make up most of the rent/mortgage, then I'm sure those could be well under $22K for the 16 months.

For the most part, I still live like a college student and I have been out for 5 years. I don't go out and spend all my money. Now, granted, I don't live on ramen noodles like I used to but I don't spend it all either.

I have been saving so if I can get financial aid/scholarships, then I shouldn't have any problem - I am sure that is the case for most other people too.

I just wish the Duke prices were more like the UNC (or other public in-state universities) prices.

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