30+ club! Lets do this together.

smudgetool · Sep 2, 2013

I am wondering how many here had to rely on financial aid? I know we don't have money for classes, especially with me not working. I don't want to take a lot of loans out either. How many got grants or scholarships? Where did you look for scholarships? I have never gone that route before and know nothing about it. Thanks.

Check with your institution's financial aid office. They typically have LOTS of leads for scholarships and awards. Also, do a google search for medical/nursing scholarships. But be aware that some links are also invitations for spam, so you might want to create a separate, free, email address just for this purpose. Usually, writing one good essay can be tweaked to apply for several awards. Best wishes to you!

samcoffm · Sep 3, 2013

I love the 30+ group! I'm 32 and have a 2.5 year-old. I'm working now as a nurse tech at a local hospital and have another part-time job as a caterer. I hold a non-nursing bachelors degree so I had most of the pre-reqs done except for the science and I'm finishing Physiology and Microbio this semester. So far, so good! I've done great in my science courses. I study and work really hard to get excellent grades and even though I tried really hard for my first degree, I didn't always get As. That tells me I must've chosen the right career path! Nursing for me was a calling and I heard my calling and I'm answering! Good luck everyone :) We CAN do this!!!!

samcoffm · Sep 3, 2013

it's difficult to do it without loans honestly. Do you already have another degree? If not, you should be eligible to borrow $57,500 from federal loans. If you do have a degree, whatever you borrowed before would be deducted from that amount.

As difficult as it seems, you might consider part-time work. I work part-time as a nurse tech at a hospital and I am getting $8,000 for my BSN from the hospital as a grant. The rest I'm paying with loans and out-of-pocket. I did take a couple courses at my local community college and I did get a small grant from them. Although I have no clue why. :) LOL I just took it.

Grants and scholarships are certainly out there but if you already have a bachelors degree and this is your second, they are nearly impossible to find. If you don't, there are many more options for you. Good luck!

GaGeek · Sep 4, 2013

I am wondering how many here had to rely on financial aid? I know we don't have money for classes, especially with me not working. I don't want to take a lot of loans out either. How many got grants or scholarships? Where did you look for scholarships? I have never gone that route before and know nothing about it. Thanks.

My husband has military experience, both active duty and now National Guard. I tried to convince him for years to use his GI Bill to go to school but he won't do it. So it's mine now ;-) I'm also hoping to get a small loan on top of that because I'm sure it won't cover everything. I'm still in the process of getting it together, so I don't know exactly what my benefits are yet. And yes, we have had to make some big sacrifices to make this work. But I know it will be sooo worth it in the end!

Satori77, ADN · Sep 4, 2013

Check with your institution's financial aid office. They typically have LOTS of leads for scholarships and awards. Also, do a google search for medical/nursing scholarships. But be aware that some links are also invitations for spam, so you might want to create a separate, free, email address just for this purpose. Usually, writing one good essay can be tweaked to apply for several awards. Best wishes to you!

Oh, I definitely will be, thanks!

Satori77, ADN · Sep 4, 2013

Thanks. I am looking for work, but unless I find something from the hours of 9-3, I will lose money paying for childcare. That is why I had to quit the job I had over the summer. My childcare plans fell through, and everything else was more than I was making.

I do not have a Bachelor's degree, but have an AAS and a couple years of college before that. My parents paid for the first couple of years. I had loans for my Associates degree (which I have paid off) and the loans were only for half of it. I worked part time in school and worked full time for a year before that to help pay for it.

Satori77, ADN · Sep 4, 2013

My husband has military experience, both active duty and now National Guard. I tried to convince him for years to use his GI Bill to go to school but he won't do it. So it's mine now ;-) I'm also hoping to get a small loan on top of that because I'm sure it won't cover everything. I'm still in the process of getting it together, so I don't know exactly what my benefits are yet. And yes, we have had to make some big sacrifices to make this work. But I know it will be sooo worth it in the end!

That's great! My husband is also a vet, and hasn't used much of his GI bill. I actually looked into using it a couple years ago, but was told I didn't qualify since he had been in 9 years, and he had to be in 10 years for me to use it. I don't understand that logic. He is ok with me using it, and right now it isn't getting used (though he has quite a bit of money in it). Doesn't seem fair.

GaGeek · Sep 5, 2013

That's great! My husband is also a vet, and hasn't used much of his GI bill. I actually looked into using it a couple years ago, but was told I didn't qualify since he had been in 9 years, and he had to be in 10 years for me to use it. I don't understand that logic. He is ok with me using it, and right now it isn't getting used (though he has quite a bit of money in it). Doesn't seem fair.

It's so complicated! And I don't fully understand how it works. I'm sorry you're so close but not quite there. That's too bad.

LyricallyDivine · Sep 12, 2013

I'm 31, single, no offspring. I work in Law Enforcement (have been for about 7 1/2 yrs) but am looking to do something different. I was in a Magnet program in high school and was in the Nursing track. Why I didn't continue on with it in undergrad is beyond me. I have an Associates in Gen Ed, Bachelor's in Communication, and Master's in Org Mgmt & Leadership. I am excited about finishing my prereqs and applying for my ADN at either MDC or HCC in Florida.

The Pre-Reqs I still have to take are: A&P I (w/Lab), A&P II (w/Lab), Mico (w/Lab), and College Algebra (I took MGF 1106 instead of 1105 in undergrad). I will be taking College Algebra with A&P I (w/lab) in the Spring, then A&P II (w/lab) with Micro (w/lab) in the Summer. Hopefully I can get into MDC's ADN program starting Spring 2015.

I'm excited and it appears the rest of the 30-somethings are as well. Yay us!!!

Mrs. Dawn J. · Sep 12, 2013

I am 30 years old, a stay at home mom of 3 girls ( a 6 year old, 3 year old and 6 month old). I started taking my pre-reqs when my middle girl was 7 months old. Being that I can't take a full schedule I am just now at the end of my pre-reqs. I switched schools due to the fact that I actually completed all of my pre-reqs and they have a 3 year waiting list. So I transferred to another school that does not have one and I have 4 classes left. I am dreading the math Pre Cal and Statics, then I have Chem and Micro left and I am done again with pre reqs. I am really glad I found this site.......

nj2flsunshine · Sep 12, 2013

I'm 38 and and I just have AP II and college Algebra left to do which I"m currently tackling. I'm applying for the Jan 2014 Nursing class. Good Luck to everyone!

georgiarose, ADN, RN · Sep 17, 2013

I'm 38 (will be 39 next month) . I have been a medical assistant since 1996, and I am finally going back to school. I hope to start my pre reqs in January and go from there. I'm applying for the ADN program at Augusta Tech College here in GA. This thread is inspiring! So glad to know I am not alone in this journey!