Accepted! Now needing financial advice

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I got my acceptance letter last week for Texas Woman's in Dallas and I am so excited to start in the spring. However, now the financial obligations are really hitting me. I don't qualify for grants from FAFSA and didn't receive much for loans. I've saved up money but could only put away so much and the same for my boyfriend (who will be living with me but he's paying back his loans now and his paycheck can only be stretched so far). Anyone have any advice to help pay for school and living expenses? Besides a personal loan, which my parents keep urging me not to take. I have applied for scholarships but won't hear anything for another few months. I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed with all the changes that are about to occur :( and at this point, any words of wisdom are welcome.

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Where did you find scholarship information? I am just now starting to look for scholarships now that my applications are in!

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I would try to downsize as much as you can. Personally, I am looking into 1 bedroom or studio apartments for when I move so I can afford it. Also, try to work as you much while you still can. So it's November and you won't start till January/February... Maybe get an extra part time job? A lot of places are offering seasonal employment for Christmas.

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I'm trying to figure this out too. I haven't been accepted yet, but I'm hoping I will be starting an accelerated BSN program in May 2013 (Fingers Crossed). I won't be able to work then, so I have to figure something out.... My income is stretched pretty thin right now, and I'm not able to save much, so I'm trying to get a 2nd job that will be purely for savings. I don't qualify for pell grants and I'm not sure how much loans I will get.

I just got my CNA license, so I would have better job prospects. I put in several applications at the beginning of October and still haven't even gotten an interview. They said they are still reviewing the candidates... Really?

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I've been using Google to find nursing scholarships for my area, but a lot of the ones I've found that I actually qualify for had deadlines for those starting in the fall. So I've been applying for more general ones, small and big. I've been looking for a seasonal job, too, but no good outcomes yet, especially being in a college town. I guess I just need to keep writing those essay and putting away what I can!

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I have the same issue, I'm barely getting by now! Good luck on your acceptance and I hope something job-wise happens for you soon! Just keep bugging them and being persistent.

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Specializes in CCM, PHN.

I had scholarships to pay most of my tuition in my BSN program but nothing to pay for living expenses. I couldn't move in with mom, didn't have a significant other at the time, and made up my mind I didn't wanna live crowded in with roommates while I tried to study. I was 32 when I started and really didn't want to live TOTALLY like a 20 year old again. So I planned carefully.

I took an accelerated EMT-B course before I started school, it cost about $1500 I threw on a credit card. BEST. DECISION. EVER. Having CNA was also a requirement for school so I had that too. I did also take out a SMALL $2500 loan for books and took out a low interest credit card with a $5000 limit for catastrophes.

I moved into a tiny, cheap but safe studio apartment and sold about half my stuff. I lowered the coverage on my paid-off truck to bare legal minimum. My mom bought me a Costco membership. I would work EMT on weekends, one 24 hr shift netted me about $600 back then. I picked up a CNA shift or two during the week on call. I ate beans & rice and stayed home and studied. I babysat and house sat and pet sat for friends for extra cash. I didn't drink or smoke - that saves a ton. Coffee was my only vice, and I'd make it at home. I packed my lunch and volunteered for any event that fed volunteers. I remember calling bingo at the local senior center and taking home all the leftover cheese & crackers & cookies no one wanted. Haha!

I look back now and almost laugh at how I did it! I somehow managed by just being smart, sacrificing and working hard. It PAID OFF. And the EMT/CNA experience was so valuable. I paid off the little loan and credit card in a couple years after I graduated. Hustle your game, girl, do what you gotta do and don't panic. Be a stealth bomber and stay cool. Get your EMT!!!!!!

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McLennan- that's an awesome story! Thanks for sharing!

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Try googling the website school soup, they have a bunch of scholarships on there! I go on there all the time but some of them are time consuming because of the lengthy essay requirements but I figure if it makes school more affordable it is worth it in the long run. Good Luck! :)

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I had scholarships to pay most of my tuition in my BSN program but nothing to pay for living expenses. I couldn't move in with mom, didn't have a significant other at the time, and made up my mind I didn't wanna live crowded in with roommates while I tried to study. I was 32 when I started and really didn't want to live TOTALLY like a 20 year old again. So I planned carefully.

I took an accelerated EMT-B course before I started school, it cost about $1500 I threw on a credit card. BEST. DECISION. EVER. Having CNA was also a requirement for school so I had that too. I did also take out a SMALL $2500 loan for books and took out a low interest credit card with a $5000 limit for catastrophes.

I moved into a tiny, cheap but safe studio apartment and sold about half my stuff. I lowered the coverage on my paid-off truck to bare legal minimum. My mom bought me a Costco membership. I would work EMT on weekends, one 24 hr shift netted me about $600 back then. I picked up a CNA shift or two during the week on call. I ate beans & rice and stayed home and studied. I babysat and house sat and pet sat for friends for extra cash. I didn't drink or smoke - that saves a ton. Coffee was my only vice, and I'd make it at home. I packed my lunch and volunteered for any event that fed volunteers. I remember calling bingo at the local senior center and taking home all the leftover cheese & crackers & cookies no one wanted. Haha!

I look back now and almost laugh at how I did it! I somehow managed by just being smart, sacrificing and working hard. It PAID OFF. And the EMT/CNA experience was so valuable. I paid off the little loan and credit card in a couple years after I graduated. Hustle your game, girl, do what you gotta do and don't panic. Be a stealth bomber and stay cool. Get your EMT!!!!!!

This is how you get things done. End goal insight and keep it going, plan, back up plan, and make it work. LOVE this post.

Rock Star Plan!

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Oh, Mclennan, I love your plan, you are awesome! I am going to go to school for nursing as well. I;m starting my pre-reqs in the Spring, and I am currently working full time. I make terrible money (legal advocate at a women's shelter), but I love my job. I am living at home, and I'm saving half of my monthly wages for the program. I'm also planning to get a second job and that one will be the one I keep during my nursing program. Good luck with everything. Just plan as best as you can and avoid the student loan debt if you can. I went to law school and was not able to, this time around I know better.

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Im currently a prenursing student, and will submit my application for nursing school this month. I have an undergrad degree so loans will be all that is offered to me. The program im hoping to get into is pretty inexpensive and my rent is dirt cheap. Its the other expenses like car insurance, health insc., internet/tv, phone bill etc that get me, i have to downsize for sure. Im a waitress and i make ok money and im trying to save up. So ive been thinking about a switch to be en emt. I have a few questions though. What sort of hours and shifts did you work while in school? Were enough available to you if you needed to pick a few shifts up some weeks? Were they ok with requested time off say for finals week or whatever? What was the pay rate? Did you feel working as a cna or emt gave you better experience toward being a nurse?

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