Forget financial aid if youre an adult over 50

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in PCCN.

Pretty upset- found out from my college that I dont qualify for any financial aid- only private loans, which I don't qualify for either. They go by household income, and because my spouses income is so poor, I float most of the expenses.

My employer will pay 3000 dollars tuition per year. But you have to come up with the money first. then maybe 6 mos after the class has ended, you might get reimbursed.

Also found out that propane to heat my house on a budget will be 190 dollars a month:dead:. I was always able to pay it all off per fill- now I can't . And that's WITH heating with a wood burning insert! Not including electric of about 90 dollars a month. seriously, who pays 300 dollars a month in just utilities?

Anyhow, my point of all this is that I am only two credits away from finishing the 4 year degree. Still paying off the 2 year degree.Seems a shame that I 'll never be able to finish.

LOL the financial aid person said- " oh, you may need to get a co signer on a loan". Who the heck cosigns a 50 year old student's loan???

Yep - if you are over 50, just give it up.:( Or should I say , over 50 and not established.

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Yep. But you're always welcome to any spiel for any scheme to separate you from any money you might happen to have. Fixed income old people have fun when their rent increases by some percentage every year but maybe the social security entitlement will go up $5 instead of $4. Rent control? Ha. More than 90% of the entitlement for rent. Don't need food or utilities. Where are the private loan payments supposed to come from since you will still owe at 62, or 66, if you last that long?

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If you do not qualify for any private loans that tells me something is wrong, like your job history or credit is really poor...am I wrong?

How many more years are you planning to work? Is the income differential from the added education going to net you a profit considering the cost of school? 2 credits even at really expensive schools should only be a few thousand which may be difficult to pull in cash but should be attainable with a credit card, especially if you will be reimbursed by your employer within the year.

P.S. I pay about $450 a month to heat my house in winter :bluecry1:

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Specializes in PCCN.
Flatline;9389661]If you do not qualify for any private loans that tells me something is wrong, like your job history or credit is really poor...am I wrong?

Have had 3 jobs my whole life- so it isnt that. Things have just gotten too expensive to keep up with ie: repairs as in MAJOR. Wont consider 2nd mtg as house is not worth putting any money into.

How many more years are you planning to work? Is the income differential from the added education going to net you a profit considering the cost of school? 2 credits even at really expensive schools should only be a few thousand which may be difficult to pull in cash but should be attainable with a credit card, especially if you will be reimbursed by your employer within the year.

Well, one of those jobs went to mexico and lost most of the retirement from it. so working til I drop dead I suppose. Degree was hopefully to get out of bedside care d/t physical reasons.

P.S. I pay about $450 a month to heat my house in winter :bluecry1:

450 mo. for heat???:dead:

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I am getting my BSN from Aspen University and pay $250 a month. It is taken out of my account once a month.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Get a PRN position in a local agency. You have your RN already, and these positions make no difference for ADN or BSN. They pay $40+/hour, so one shift should cover almost a whole credit hour' cost. Even doing only one shift/week, you make more than $1000/month after taxes.

Yes, you will most probably work in less than the best, safest, cushiest and overall shiny places but I fully financed my Master's doing just that.

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I'm sorry but 2 credits? How much is that? Can't be that much. And only having 3 jobs your whole life has nothing to do with credit. You should always have some type of emergency fund available. Just for situations like this. 2 credits is so darn close.

I pay over $400 a month just in electric and gas, that's in the winter. Obviously much cheaper in the summer. That's not water, sewer, trash, and cable.

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Specializes in ED.

The heating situation sucks. I've known neighbors to pay over 1000$ some months, I think more regularly around $500. We have a wood furnace, propane, electric forced air, and solar, still paying 100$ on good months.

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Did they say why you don't qualify for federal student loans? And have you tried disputing the decision that you don't qualify for financial aid on the basis of your cost of living (i.e. it sounds like the gas situation is new)?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I am trying to wrap my head around needing a loan for 2 credits. Where are you going to school??

And I second the above...credit is more than employment. Its based on one's history of reliable repayment. Past due events, being sent to collections and the like are the primary indicators for credit score. Unfortunately a history of being unreliable is what figures into that, moreso than age. Not intending to scold you, but more to encourage you and others reading to look at this through the correct lens. I don't see anything in your story that implies being 50 means you can't get a loan.

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Specializes in PCCN.

I guess Ill figure it out somehow.

I just dont remember this being a problem when I got my student loans 10 yrs ago.

It is what it is.....

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