For those trying to figure out how to do this..............

Do you have any evening/weekend programs in your area? I am a SAHM, but my youngest 2 aren't in school yet, and we have no family in the area to babysit for us. I am trying to get into an evening program, and it is one night a week and then clinicals on the weekend. (Every Sat and every other Sun)

Paying for it is another issue, but community colleges are reasonable and the whole 2 year ADN program will cost around $5000. (that's clinicals only. I already had most of the prerequisites done from my first time in college, so Mom and Dad financed that!) My husband figures we will probably take out a federal loan for it if I get accepted. We know what average RN salaries are in our area, so we can calculate how long it could take to pay off those loans. No one likes to get into debt, but sometimes looking at the bigger pictures helps.

My husband wasn't competely sure about it, but after I took a prerequisite class that I didn't already have, and got an A, he saw my determination and got on board quickly.

Good luck!

So wait, you are starting your pre-reqs in Jan but you don't plan on going full time until Fall of 2008? Don't mean to get off topic but what school are you going to where you only have to take a semester of pre-reqs? When I decided I wanted to get into Nursing School I did the logistics and came up with the fact that I wouldn't be able to get in until Spring of 2009!

If you already have a Bachelor's degree, then go for an accelerated BSN program which is a 15 month program some schools offer. Right now I'm taking my pre-reqs to try and get into one of these programs which is allowing me to work full time and take evening classes at a community college. Since I'll have a year and a half or so before I can get in, it will give me time to save up some cash and get ready to hit school full time in 2009. I also am thinking I'll be living on Student Loans and Debt for awhile. However, I also have a loving family who tells me that if it comes down to it, they'll help pay for my condo here in Chicago (I'm going to trya nd rent it out however).

Good luck with your financials!

I'm going to be a re-entry student at a 2 year school (I started a liberal arts degree there) so it will be an ADN when I graduate. I only have to take 1 pre-req which is a biology and get a C or better to get accepted into the program. I already have some of the gen ed credits like english and psyc (but need another psyc class) so I won't have to take as many credits as other students (which will hopefully benefit me). I applied for this fall just to see if I could get accepted and was rejected b/c of the biology so I'm basically on a wait list pending successful completion of a biology. The admission advisor said that if it has been awhile since I took a biology or I don't feel strong in biology then to take Human bio before A&P to help me be successful in A&P and the human bio grade will count for my acceptance into the program.

I am in your shoes ladypie. SAHM with two kids and no family to babysit. Then on top of that, my husband will be a truck driver next month. That means he will be on the road alot. My son will be in kindergarten this fall and I just will have to put my daughter in school. How??? Haven't figured that out yet. It is doable. Sit down with your husband and make out a plan that you hink might work out for everyone. GOOD LUCK!

Hello Hello!

What about student loans? Also, there are plenty of sites on the web about grants which you do not have to pay back...time consuming I've heard but definitely worth a shot??

Personally, I pay 100% out-of-pocket --UGH!--due to a default student loan from over 10 years ago ...it's very hard....

BEST of luck!

I don't have the option to stay at home...I have to work to make ends meet. I too have a daughter, dog, house, etc...

So, I will work to pay the bills...I was getting tuition reimbursement, but stopped that when I found out they were now going to make me pay it back if continued. So now I have to pay it completely out of pocket. We are going to make it work somehow!

I'll be going to school at night. I don't have a choice but to make do with the time I have!

I would start saving every penny you can. If you know you can't afford it you need to be realistic and maybe wait until both of your kids are in school. You could also get rid of all the extra expenses you can live without. You might be eating rice and beans but in the end it will be worth it.

A lot of the community colleges have courses at night and on the weekends. Plus you won't have to pay for babysitting because your husband will be home?

oops.

I used to be in your shoes. I had to wait until my youngest was in school full time before I could start school. Then I just had to work my schedule around taking him to school, and picking him up.

You could try night classes or weekend classes if your husband could watch the kids. You could apply for grants, loan as other stated above. Another option is a work study program at the college where you do some part time job at the college to help pay the bill. This is really handy as your already there for your classes.

I have 2 children as well. It's taken me 9 years to get my husband on board with me finishing school, so don't give up if it's really what you want to do! It's been a long haul, and I've been taking a class or two at a time since our son was finally released from the NICU. Hopefully I'll be able to start clinicals in January. That said, the best thing you can do is sit down and figure out exactly where every penny is going. I thought we had no extra money at all until I did that and saw that "a little here, a little there" added up pretty darn quickly. Now I watch it closely, and pay attention to where everything goes. I also did everything I could to lower expenses in other areas. I shopped around for car insurance, called and changed our phone service, lowered our satellite service one level, keep it a little cooler in the house in the winter and a little warmer in the summer, make an effort to use leftovers and only shop from a list when I go grocery shopping, etc. I haven't worked (except for a few months here and there) since we got married. I've been home with our children during that time, so we have figured out how to manage on one income. It hasn't been easy at times. I will be taking out Stafford loans to pay for school. We also "make too much" according to the government. I'm not happy about needing to take out loans, but believe it will be worth it in the end, especially since as it stands now, I can't make enough to support us if for some reason my husband couldn't work.

Also, check with your school to see if they have a child care program or child care scholarship. I know several schools around here offer child care for less than what you'd pay elsewhere because it's part of teaching childhood development students. Many also offer scholarships to help pay for child care. Go in to the financial aid office and talk with them directly. I've found you tend to get more help that way. Also, apply for every scholarship humanly possible. It will take time, but there are many possibilities out there, and every little bit helps. Also, sometimes you can have part of your student loans paid for if you agree to work for a hospital for a certain amount of time after you graduate. It may not be an ideal situation but it is an option.

Good luck to you!

Tiffany

I know this sounds really odd, but I went to a financial planner. 2 years ago when I started my pre-reqs (and I could only take 1 a semester due to my job) we met with a planner and went from 30k credit card debt to now having no debt and enough cash savings to pay for the mortgage while I am in school full time. It sounds expensive, but it is worth it. Having someone else look in an tell you where to save and what to get rid of and how to save really helps.

She makes us stick to a budget and has us invest the money we were saving in short term higher interest options so that our money would work better for us. I start school in Sept. and feel nervous about the money, but having someone plan it out on paper and tell you what to do and what is feasable is really nice.

Good luck - and remember, never give up, and never question your dreams.