Financial Aid

[bunnyfungo]

I'm wondering if anyone else is dealing with not being able to get financial aid. I'm an older student returning to college. I already have about 100 credit hours towards a bachelors degree but I never finished. Now that I finally know what I want to do I'm not going to be able to pay for it I'm over the max credit hours for an associates degree and a BSN isn't really an option for me. I've looked at getting private student loans but can't get approved. So now I'm just really discouraged. Anyone have any advice?

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Also, (this may be a crazy question about FA), but, when do I start applying for FA? Before I register for classes or after?

You should start working on that now.

[rivershark2005]

I typically don't register for classes until after I know what financial aid I will be receiving. I did register for classes for this semester before my PLUS loans were approved with the understanding that I could deleted schedule without any financial responsibility up until the day before class started.

When I applied for school, somehow I got listed as seeking an ADN. At the time, I had gone over my allowable hours for an associates and was actually applying for the BSN track. I wrote a nice letter of appeal but when my FA officer received it, she saw the discrepancy. She contacted the registrar's office to change me degree plan in the computer so that she could approve my FA. Within three days, I had Pell awarded. She did, however, tell me that my request letter was one of the best she had ever read and that chances were, based on that letter, my appeal would have been granted.

If you decide to file a letter of appeal, explain your plans. Tell them why you have changed your major, tell them why you want to be a nurse, and explain to them that without financial aid, you will be unable to accomplish this goal. Be humble but don't beg. If you need help with your letter, feel free to PM me. I can go over what you write and help you out. It has been said, by a professor with his Ph.D in English, that I am very good with words.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

In my area, once you attempt (not pass) 120 credits, you aren't even eligible to appeal for FA at the community college. I ended up doing my prereqs via a BOG fee waiver, so they were free, I just couldn't get aid. I'm now enrolled in a vocational program through a private school. Interestingly, I can get aid for that school. I also received a WIA scholarship. HTH!

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

I applied for FA as soon as I got an acceptance. In some instances, you can even applied before you gain acceptance. You want to do it as soon as possible, even though the process doesn't take too long.