financial aid - second degree student

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I have one class left to take to get into my community college's nursing program. I have a degree in another field, and have been receiving federal loans. However, my CC sent me an email stating that they have started counting my transfer credits toward my maximum allowable credit hours for financial aid. As of now, I am no longer eligible for financial aid. I was planning on taking out loans to get my ADN. I have not reached the maximum amount for federal loans--not even close. Is anybody else in this situation? I may consider private loans or look for scholarships.

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There are new federal regulations regarding financial aid. You cannot receive aid for more than 125% of an undergraduate degree. So for most individuals, this means that you can get aid for approx 150 total credits (120 credits for a 4-year degree, plus 30 additional credits).

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Hmmm. I have another BA degree and had federal loans. I have been offered federal loans for my BSN program (hopefully starting this coming fall). It will be the remaining amount of money to add up to the undergrad max of 57k - I believe. I have over 165 credits currently. No one has said anything about hours and I have not read anything regarding hours. I'm wondering if this has to do with the cc and you having too many credits not tied to a degree. I would definitely not take the schools word for it without making sure they are accounting for your first degree.

Best of luck.

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This is a brand new policy for them, and they state that it doesn't matter whether or not you have another degree. I checked the university in my city, and they have the same policy. I can appeal the ruling. Officially, I am not meeting academic progress, which is ridiculous because I almost have a 4.0 and I'm taking classes for a field very different from my first degree. They say that i file an appeal, and I'd have to do it for every semester.

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My husband had to do this when he went back to school. It was quite painless to file the appeal and he was granted it because he could show how much longer it was going to take to finish that degree he was working on (for him it was just a summer and two semesters left).

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My husband had to do this when he went back to school. It was quite painless to file the appeal and he was granted it because he could show how much longer it was going to take to finish that degree he was working on (for him it was just a summer and two semesters left).

I agree with this. At my school once you've reached the maximum amount of units you have to petition for an extension of your financial aid, and in order to do that you have to list, every year, what classes and how many units you will be taking in the upcoming fall and spring semesters. You have to actually stick to the classes listed though. Worth a shot!

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This is a brand new policy for them, and they state that it doesn't matter whether or not you have another degree. I checked the university in my city, and they have the same policy. I can appeal the ruling. Officially, I am not meeting academic progress, which is ridiculous because I almost have a 4.0 and I'm taking classes for a field very different from my first degree. They say that i file an appeal, and I'd have to do it for every semester.

Are they saying you are not making academic progress because you aren't matriculated?

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Can you work using the first degree to pay off the ADN program in cash? That's what I'm doing. I'm working part time at a job related to my first degree, and make about one payment a month to the school. It's not bad, I think my payments will be about $250/mo next semester and I'll graduate w/no debt from the nursing degree.

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I am going through the exact same thing right now and it's a nightmare. Can you post an update on how this all worked out for you?

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Specializes in Quality management.

Yes this is a nightmare!! My school is going to cut me off at 180 credit hours. I have one degree already and mind you I took 25 credits of prereq coursework and I paid out of pocket and those credits are still counted against me. So 120 from first degree plus 25 frm prereqs I am in my accelerated BSN program now and summer is 17 credits and fall is another 22. I will be at the max by the start of spring '12 which means I can't even get a federal LOAN. If my appeal is denied and don't find a scholarship I will be on my own for the last two semesters. My program is 15 months/4 semesters....I knw career college students that went to school only for the $ so I'm guessing this has to be a new policy

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I am a second degree student starting nursing school this August and the only constraint I am aware of at my university is that in order to remain in good academic standing (and thus continue to be eligible for financial aid) is that a student must finish his/her program of study within 150% of the allocated time period; therefore, a BSN student has six years to finish their course of study and be eligible for financial aid.

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Specializes in Psych.

Im planning to do accelerated second degree bsn ugh is this going to affect me to?

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