I am getting ready to quit my job in December and go to nursing school. Currently I make too much money to receive pell grants, but I talked to the school today and they said that as long as I can bring in proof that I am unemployed they can go in and put it some extraordinary circumstances and I will be eligible for financial aid.
My husband will not be working, maybe part time as he finishes up flight training. We have saved for the time when we can quit to pursue school and we will be ok until he gets done.
My question is because i am married with no children, however, we will be unemployed... do you think i will still receivea full pell grant? I am definately going to need the money for scrubs, books, etc.
Next... loans... I am sure it will come to this and I would rather take out loans for my education than be stressed out about money, I know we will be able to pay them back when we are done.
If my school is paid for by scholarships and pell grants, can i still apply for a stafford loan for other expenses or do they only go by tuition needs from the school? Or do they just give you the maximum amount that you can take per year? I am a little confused on this whole ordeal... as you can tell I am new at the financial aid and loans!
Any tips you can give me would be sooooo appreciated.
I think I may be confused on this point, however. If you file a FAFSA in the spring of the same year you will be starting a program in fall, you have to report your previous calendar year income. I'm not sure how quitting your job now will assist you unless you are talking about a program you aren't going to start until 2009.
I was talking about the 2009 school year. Thanks for all the advice guys, everything has been really informative.
I personally think that anyone regardless of their situation wanting to go back to school to further their education and make a better life for themselves and their family and qualifies for ANY government assistance while they are in the process to do so, should go for it and not feel ashamed. I am truly sorry for those who do not receive any and are struggling. I have had to drop out of college three times because I could not afford it, so I know how that feels. I will be most grateful for all of the help I get, even if it is mostly student loans.
There is a situation that if you become pregnant or someone comes into the family that contributes negatively the the family income or the income changes, it can be modified and audited to effect the change to the family yearly income.
i heard that private loans do not have a fixed interest rate, is that true? Also, are they deferred 6 months after graduation too?
Thanks alot!
I took out private loans from eloansecure.com; they are variable rate, but I think there was the 6 month deferrment and I did not have to pay anything except like a maintenance fee or something every so often, but I don't recall for sure.
With all due respect, the OP asked for advice on what to do to finance her education.
I suggested student loans because the OP stated she had worked 65/hours a week for many years and that it would be difficult to obtain a Pell Grant. ("extraordinary circumstances" is how she described it). That is why I don't understand why the OP is pursuing a Pell Grant versus loans. I know I am going to get flamed, but I agree with Jules A's post. The Dept. of Education does not have endless funds for Pell Grants and everyone that wants one. In this case, I think student loans would be the way to go.
That is just my advice, and advice is what you asked for in the original post.
I suggested student loans because the OP stated she had worked 65/hours a week for many years and that it would be difficult to obtain a Pell Grant. ("extraordinary circumstances" is how she described it). That is why I don't understand why the OP is pursuing a Pell Grant versus loans.
If the average Pell Grant award is approximately $2,700, of course they will need to use savings and pursue loans (federal or private) to finance their education and living expenses.
When a FAFSA is completed, the applicant indicates if they would like to utilize loans, grants or a combination. The government will be the one to decide what type of aid the applicant qualifies for, so for most of us its quite difficult to manipulate the numbers (e.g. assets/income). I'm still unsure as to how the school itself can play a role in influencing the circumstances, so who really knows. I checked online sources and couldn't find the answer.
My point being that all (most?) of us here to finance our education in the most efficient, cost-saving manner. From her posts, the OP doesn't sound like she's trying to milk the public system or taxpayers...to me anyway. Financial aid can be a confusing process, with a lot of information coming from many varying directions. I wish we could have a bit of understanding for those who are trying to navigate this particular part of acquiring a nursing education with a bit more compassion for their individual situations.
I hate that all of you have the impression that I am government money sucking... that really offends me, but I guess none of you know me.
I plan to work as much as possible during school I am just trying to figure out all of my options and do plan on taking out loans.
However, as a TAXPAYER for many years I think I deserve ONE YEAR worth of government financial aid help after working 65 hours per week to get to this point.
Especially after KNOWING that people that do get a full pell grant and schedule for 12 hours and then drop all but one class after they receive their "left over" pell grant money.
I think there are worse people than me in the world and I all I am trying to do is get my foot in the door.
Thanks for all the advice.
Meh, whatever. Get your grants and don't worry what people say. I'm getting a Pell Grant and I choose not to work. The reasons being 1)I qualify for a grant because our AGI is low because my husband is in the military and 2)I have children and I'm not going to work and go to school at the same time while my husband is also gone. Do what is right for your circumstance. Pell grants aren't welfare, they are there to help people get their education and consequently give back to society. So not even close to people sitting on their bums collecting a welfare check so people don't even need to act like it is. Sheesh. Whatever. lol!
And you think this would be ok? These grants are not unlimited. What if a single Mother working for $8 an hour at Walmart can't go to nursing school because someone that could have afforded to finance their own education but didn't want to work used up the funds? IMO deciding to quit working while in nursing school is only an option if you can afford it.
If that single mother completes her FAFSA early like she is supposed to then she has equal chance as anyone else. This is a red herring argument.
I'm sorry...I guess I missed the part where anybody in here was the one put in charge of deciding who is and is not deserving of these federal programs! Who are any of you to decide that a single working mother is more deserving than anybody else? So if a woman decides to have a baby, whether it be in or out of wedlock, she is automatically more deserving? What about the woman who decided to wait to have a baby until she's completed her education?
Get off your narrow-minded judgmental soapboxes, you guys are opening up a can of worms that should be left for politicians in Washington.....not nursing students!
If that single mother completes her FAFSA early like she is supposed to then she has equal chance as anyone else. This is a red herring argument.
BTW there is a finite amount of money so it isn't rocket science to figure out that if everyone filled it out early not everyone would be funded.
I don't recall anyone insinuating that this was welfare or that welfare is so bad if it is needed. All I was trying to say is that if someone's only reason for applying for a grant is because they don't feel like working I don't think thats cool, jmo.
BTW there is a finite amount of money so it isn't rocket science to figure out that if everyone filled it out early not everyone would be funded.
I don't recall anyone insinuating that this was welfare or that welfare is so bad if it is needed. All I was trying to say is that if someone's only reason for applying for a grant is because they don't feel like working I don't think thats cool, jmo.
Hmmm, did we hit a nerve?
Didn't hit a nerve with me, not sure what you mean by that but I do think it's goofy to use the same arguments against educational grants that are used (correctly) against abuse of welfare. Basically one is legit, the other is not (IMHO). It's silly to act like she is taking opportunities away from the poor by utilizing resources available.
Using grants doesn't have much to do with not feeling like working. If that were the case they wouldn't be going to school. Not working while you are in school is a great idea. If you have to work to put food on the table that's one thing but working just to pay tuition when there are resources available to everyone who qualifies? Pointless.
BTW there is a finite amount of money so it isn't rocket science to figure out that if everyone filled it out early not everyone would be funded.
I don't recall anyone insinuating that this was welfare or that welfare is so bad if it is needed. All I was trying to say is that if someone's only reason for applying for a grant is because they don't feel like working I don't think thats cool, jmo.
Hmmm, did we hit a nerve?
Obviously, we all have different opinions here! You definately did hit my nerve but that is a story I don't feel up to getting into again. I am going to do what I feel I have to do and sincerely hope that others do the same. They certainly will not get any criticism from me regardless of their situation.
:redbeathe:D
BethT
188 Posts