Financial aid for second degree

[kollyjay]

Hi Guyz, just wanna know if i qualify for financial aid for an accelerated BSN program. The issue is that i had my first degree out of the states. I really dont know if i could be considered for pell grant and how i should go about my FAFSA application-either stating that i'm working on my first degree or not.

Your contribution(s) would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

[UVA Grad Nursing]

Kolly:

Pell grants can only be used for first undergraduate degrees. They cannot be used for ABSN programs if you already have a BA/BS from anywhere.

I strongly encourgage you to be truthful on the FAFSA. If you indicated on your FAFSA that you did not have a degree, the nursing admissions office will find this out. This could be grounds for rescinding an offer of admissions (for dishonest behavior).

Most students in ABSN programs are using their savings and loans to pay for it.

[elkpark]

You are talking about entering an occupation where people's lives depend on our personal honesty and integrity -- please don't start your journey by being dishonest! As UVA noted, there's a good chance you'll get found out and would then face serious consequences.

There are lots of scholarship and grant programs out there besides the federal student loan programs, esp. for folks looking to go into nursing. Have you investigated that? Your school's financial aid office is usually a good source of information on what's available. Also, have you checked with your state? Many states offer scholarship/grant/loan programs intended to encourage state residents to go into nursing (I got help for grad school from a program like that in my state, and was able to "work off" the loan simply by working in the state after graduation (which I was going to do anyway :)), and didn't have to pay it back -- nice deal!)

Best wishes.

[groovy jeff, RN]

Talk to the financial aid people at the school you are going to attend; they will tell you how to proceed.