CSUN ABSn 2011 applicants

U.S.A. California

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I'm sure there's lots of you out there applying to the CSUN 2011 ABSN program. Just wanted to get the conversation rolling for those of us who are in the process. Anyone else think 2 pages is too short for the personal statement?:eek:

Fall. I need the summer to get things in order.

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Hi!

I also got accepted into the summer cohort, and I am really excited to start! However, does anyone else feel slightly left in the dark as to how we should prepare for the upcoming program? I know that the packet will be sent out soon with the necessary classes and whatnot. Is there anything else we should know or start preparing for? :)

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Hi busybee. I am also eager for more info so I'm hoping we'll get everything we need to know in the email packet!

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I have a sneaking suspicion that we will need an up-to-date CPR card, immunization record, TB test, and background check. But I'm also going to wait for the official instructions so that I do everything just the way it's requested. I wish we had access to the textbook list so that we could order the books at a decent price online, and in plenty of time for the classes to begin, (sigh!)

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Hi guys,

Has anyone received the orientation packet yet? I really want to get started with preparations and the wait is killing me, especially b/c I'll be applying for financial aid and I hope it's available before I start .... =/ Should I go ahead and apply for FAFSA anyway? Please let me know your suggestions as I've never applied for financial aid before... If you wouldn't mind, could you also share your experiences with private (bank) school loans if you have any? It would be very much appreciated...

I think I'm somewhat paranoid because I never received my letter of acceptance and nearly missed the deadline for the response! So I won't feel at ease until I'm sitting at our first class! =) Can't wait!

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Hi applicant 2011,

My daughter has a great deal of experience with financial aid and students loans, having just graduated with her master's in math from CSUN. She says that in order to apply for financial aid, you will need to fill out a FAFSA form; I'm not sure when the deadline for that is, but please go check on that right away. When that form has been processed, you are then offered three different kinds of money: (1) grant money or free money which in esssence is a gift and is not paid back; (2) subsidized loan money; and (3) unsubsidized loan money. In hindsight, my daughter says that she would very highly recommend accepting the grant money and subsidized loan money, and if it is possible for you to make ends meet with these funds, so much the better. The subsidized loan does not accrue any interest until 6 months after you graduate. However, the unsubsidized loan begins to accrue interest immediately upon your acceptance of the loan. It is important to check the interest rates before you accept any loans.

I also did not receive my acceptance letter and had to call the nursing office (also just in the nick of time!) I was then mailed another copy. I have not yet received the information packet via email, and I don't believe others have either, or there would be postings to that effect. So, it looks like we have to be patient people (no pun intended :lol2:)

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Hi guys,

Has anyone received the orientation packet yet? I really want to get started with preparations and the wait is killing me, especially b/c I'll be applying for financial aid and I hope it's available before I start .... =/ Should I go ahead and apply for FAFSA anyway? Please let me know your suggestions as I've never applied for financial aid before... If you wouldn't mind, could you also share your experiences with private (bank) school loans if you have any? It would be very much appreciated...

I think I'm somewhat paranoid because I never received my letter of acceptance and nearly missed the deadline for the response! So I won't feel at ease until I'm sitting at our first class! =) Can't wait!

Just and FYI about financial aid and the program. As a student going for a 2nd bachelors, even if you've never received financial aid before you are not eligible for anything except federal loans, which total 12,500/year and that's it. 2nd bachelors are not eligible for grants or subsidized loans. The rest of your cost will have to be either out of pocket or financed with private loans. The 12,500 is an even tougher blow now because the cost of tution is going up, but that number doesn't increase. SO... what you end up with is the same amount of money which doesn't take into account the increasing costs. Also, know that as a 2nd bachelors you don't get any federal loan money for your summer tuition, and it's not guaranteed that if you have a private student loan that they will allow you to take out more on that loan. It would have been nice if financial aid made that clear before i started the program, but at least now you know. Also, know that if you take out student loans that have to be verified through the school then you are limited in the amount of money you can take. For example if you have a private student loan thru bank of america for about 12,000 to cover your living expenses, that's basically all you can get for the year, unless you went through another private loan that does not it any way check with CSUN about any loans that you are already currently taking. Why? Because the cost of school according to financial aid for spring/fall which is the school year is about 25K give or take a few hundred. Which means you have to pay all your tuition, living expenses, books, etc on that 25k a year, which would be fine, but then there's that pesky summer semester which is not included in that 25k. If you try to take out more than the cost of living thru your private loan then it will reduce the federal loan money you get thru financial aid. The only way around it is to take out another private loan that does not require school verification. I'm sure there are a few, but the only one i know of is the Wells Fargo connection loan. So although you're a bright, responsible, capable adult, the government fears that you're going to take your financial aid and buy a BMW and vacation in St. Tropez, so they cap the amount you can take out to what the school calculates as the cost of attendance for 1 school year.

Bottom line, just be aware that financial aid options for people going for a 2nd bachelors degree is not the same for those going for their first undergrad. And though you're considered a graduate student to the school, to FASFA you are a 2nd bachelors, 5th year undergrad, which puts you in a different category.

Hope this helps some

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Wow. Thanks perseveRaNce23. Nice explanation. I had heard about this no help but federal loans, but the rest of the details are great to know.

And no, I haven't gotten my orientation packet either. I believe they are supposed to be emailed (?) this week sometime. Hope it's soon!

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perseveRaNce23, that's excellent info. Thanks for the correction and clarification! It's certainly not going to be easy for many of us financially. It's a very good thing that we got into this program rather than a private university which would have added another, perhaps, $30,000 or so to the grand total.
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Yes, I do believe we will also need all of those extra medical procedures. When I went through my local college to be certified as a nursing assistant, those were definitely on the checklist. Although you all probably know, if you get an early start on the CPR certification, I was made to go through the American Heart Association rather than Red Cross. Hopefully, they will make it so we will have easy access to obtaining the criteria.

I also wish we were able to have access to the book titles for our summer classes. I just emailed the nursing dept assistant to see if she can give me a list of textbook names. I'll let you know if I get a response.

Do you guys know what you are doing for living arrangements? I'm planning on living in Northridge, but I want to be able to find someone with the same studious methods that we will need to have (aka a quiet, stress-free environment lol).

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I'm trying to do financial aid as well. I filled out the 2010/2011 Fafsa as well as the 2011/2012 in hopes that I might receive a reimbursement for summer classes just in case I need that money later in the year. I called financial aid and was told to do that so I'm keeping my fingers crossed! :)

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Yes, I do believe we will also need all of those extra medical procedures. When I went through my local college to be certified as a nursing assistant, those were definitely on the checklist. Although you all probably know, if you get an early start on the CPR certification, I was made to go through the American Heart Association rather than Red Cross. Hopefully, they will make it so we will have easy access to obtaining the criteria.

I also wish we were able to have access to the book titles for our summer classes. I just emailed the nursing dept assistant to see if she can give me a list of textbook names. I'll let you know if I get a response.

Do you guys know what you are doing for living arrangements? I'm planning on living in Northridge, but I want to be able to find someone with the same studious methods that we will need to have (aka a quiet, stress-free environment lol).

re: living arrangements...I am planning to stay where I am, although I'm worried about the commute. I love where I live and it definitely would not be worth moving, but my commute would probably be 30-40 min with no traffic. yikes. But I know what you mean about needing a stress free environment...I think that's extremely important when in a program like this one.

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