I've already been accepted to a few schools and have an interview at another for 2017 start, but the prices are really making me rethink things. All of my local CC's are insanely competitive and packed, even for someone with a college degree--I was rejected to two of them.
My biggest issue lies with my debt. I have 65k in debt already and am looking at schools that would add another 40-60k on top of that. Now that's a ton of debt, but my plan was to go through the nurse corps loan repayment program and work in a rural area for 3-4 years to pay off nursing school loans while working to pay off the rest of my 65k in undergrad loans in the same time period. Is this a viable plan, or do these "programs" really not amount to much?
Honestly, i feel as though waiting another year or two to try to get into CC just because of the price will be a waste of time. I'll eventually need my BSN if I want to be a nurse practitioner. I could just say "screw it" with the nursing career to save a mountain of debt and work some dead end business job and start paying off my loans from undergrad, but i'd be putting off what i've put in so much work to do.
Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.
Also, side note / correction of misconception:
You do not need a BSN to be a nurse practitioner. You need an MSN. While most NPs do have BSNs prior to their MSN, there are "direct entry" (and they go by some other names, AMSN, some others) programs that you apply to with an ADN, then go all the way through to MSN. Some, you get a BSN part way through. Some you don't.
I applied to 3 CC's in my state (MS) this year and was waitlisted. I heard from a girl who's in her last semester at one that the waitlist could be as long as 2 years. Suffice to say, there are an absolute fecal-matter ton of people applying for nursing school at CC"s nowadays--which I can't blame them for..I mean, you could be 21 and making a 50k salary. Not bad.
I'm starting to feel depressed about the whole thing, honestly. The only schools I can get accepted to are going to put me six figures in debt, and the community colleges are a 1-2 year wait list. Alright, pity party over. I guess as someone new to nursing with a college degree already, i'm just baffled at how competitive it is even for community colleges. I think in the end the best decision going forward is to work on my debt already accrued and go from there. Paying $1,500 a month for 10 years would be crippling.
I agree. Going to an expensive school is like making a baby...5 minute admission but stuck for 18 years. :)
LessValuableNinja
754 Posts
Also, side note / correction of misconception:
You do not need a BSN to be a nurse practitioner. You need an MSN. While most NPs do have BSNs prior to their MSN, there are "direct entry" (and they go by some other names, AMSN, some others) programs that you apply to with an ADN, then go all the way through to MSN. Some, you get a BSN part way through. Some you don't.