Finanical Aid Advice?

[Cobrie17]

Hello everyone! Thanks for reading.

I'm sure many of you have concerns and questions about financial aid in nursing school.

My question is: What financial aid resources do you use?

My problem is that I am trying to scramble around to find low interest loans, scholarships, and what not simply to cover tuition, but that is far from the only expenditure in nursing school.

There are books, parking passes (for school), parking fees (for clinicals), uniforms, shoes, professional attire, stethoscopes, not to mention my cable bill, food, gas, etc.

How do you make it work?

[AspiringNurseMW]

First, I chose to attend a community college where my tuition will be covered in full by grants. I applied for scholarships within the school itself and was awarded two scholarships which should cover my books (although I have to buy them directly from the school Bookstore).

I spaced out my purchases for scrubs and supplies over the summer, using each paycheck to buy one thing, so now all I have left to buy are shoes. I was going to buy a cheap stethoscope but my friend surprised me and bought me a Littman.

I've applied for multiple scholarships (10-15) through fastweb.com and I'm hoping I won at least 1. I check every 2 to 3 weeks and apply to one or two each time.

I'm going to have to take a big cut in Hours next semester because I have class or clinicals every day, so I'm going to use Stafford loans towards cost of living (mainly day care and food) but I'm able to do that because I don't need the loans for tuition, so I don't have to go looking for other private loans.

[Miss Infermiera2b, BSN, RN]

I have been able to cover most of my school costs with grants. I'm financially independent from my parents so I have been able to get a decent amount of money for school. My uniform/equipment has come out of my paycheck/savings.

[Cobrie17]

Where do you look for your grants? I'm also financially independent from my parents.

[mirandaaa]

Apply for FAFSA. It's the government resource for grants and loans for college students.

Depending on the information you fill out, you may be eligible for grants and whatever isn't covered you can get a loan.

I suggest speaking to your school's financial aid office and see how their process works.

Most colleges also have in-school scholarships you can apply to. Also check into that and see if you can apply (I know at my school, the deadline for applying to the scholarships was 7/15).

There's also fastweb.com and scholarshipexperts.com where you create an account and enter in your information and it'll generate a bunch of scholarships you can apply to that meet your descriptions. I've applied to about 30 so far; haven't heard anything back yet but I'm hopeful!