future nursing student financial questions

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Hey there, I'm currently a pre-nursing student at a community college with a kinda crazy goal to graduate without student loans. I am lucky enough (if i continue to do well) to have tuition/fees paid for and $2000 to split up per year with scholarships when i transfer to a university. I am unlucky that i do not get financial help from my mother and only qualify for loans (aside from these merit scholarships). My question is, IS THIS POSSIBLE WITHOUT WORKING THROUGH SCHOOL??? I see that on average it is $4000 per semester to live on campus and slightly cheaper off. I do not own a car, nor pay car insurance yet (no license). I considered getting a scooter for cheaper gas and insurance, but i will be in the maimi area (rainy + crazy drivers) and most people i talk to agree that it is not safe. So I just need a car that will get me around. I will be paying for insurance, gas, and the car(no car payments just buying it used) and room and food on my own. I have worked locally since high school and have saved up $5000 from a part time job, probably just enough to get an old but hopefully reliable vehicle. I'm looking to work full-time right now (summer), part-time in fall(i will be a full-time student), full-time spring/winter, and full-time summer. From past experience with A&P, i have anxiety problems and I don't think it is a healthy choice to work in the nursing program. Sorry that this is long, I just want specific advice from people in similar situations.

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Honestly, it would be hard for us to tell you that because only you know what your finances look like. The school also plays a factor. What school are you going to go to? How much is tuition? Do you think you will be able to do it without working?

I personally have decided only to work summer while taking pre-reqs. I want to work full time over the summer; possibly two jobs (one full time, one part time). I currently live at home with my mom which is a plus. I have a car (used, bought cash), but don't pay insurance (mom does). I plan on moving in January but will have to pay every bill I have including rent & car insurance, lights, etc, so I have to think about those factors before I make the decision on working or not when I start nursing school.

For now, I have it easy. I do have school loans though ... unfortunately :/

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Don't forget to factor in all the other costs of nursing school:

Books (our 1st semester is $1500 in books!)

Course fees for nursing courses (these can run in the $1000s per class!)

Billing fees the university/college charges per course

ATI or other testing fees

NCLEX prep & exam fees

State licensing fees

Background check/fingerprint fees

Drug screen fee (if required by your school or clinical site)

Equipment/supply fees (uniforms/scrubs, stethoscope, medimeter, penlight, scissors, gait belt, etc.)

Cost to park your car on campus

Cost to drive to your clinical site (sometimes you have to drive HOURS away!)

Cost to maintain a used car

Insurance

Rent

Utilities

Food

Want me to keep going? Needless to say...there are a LOT of hidden costs to NS besides tuition and room/board. You need to be prepared for any emergency that might come your way. What happens if that used car breaks down? Do you have enough in savings to cover the cost of repairs? Think things through thoroughly and plan a budget accordingly!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I was a nontraditional student during both of my nursing school ventures. I was 23 when I enrolled in an LVN program and age 28 when I enrolled in an RN completion program. During both times I lived on my own and had no assistance from family, so I borrowed student loan funds.

I worked full-time as an LVN in a nursing home while attending a full-time RN completion program. If you do not want to take out student loans, the almost surefire way to avoid them is to work full-time while attending school full-time and pay as you go. Some people will say that your grades will suffer, but mine didn't.

Good luck with your future endeavors. It is good you're thinking about the future financial ramifications now instead of later.

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What about taking the bus, instead of buying a car? Cars come with expenses besides just gas and insurance. Maintenance includes registration every year, rotating/replacing/balancing the tires, changing the fluids, new wipers/spark plugs/brake pads/ect. And then there are the other, major unforeseen issues that can cost a ton of money.

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Thank you guys for the replies! I will be going to FIU in miami, it does have alot of bus access, when i go down on campus i'll have to see if i'd be comfortable with that. I currently bike and take a smaller community bus, and get driven around by my mom/friends/boyfriend. City buses in miami seem daunting to me though, but i really haven't tried them out. The bus, and maybe i can carpool with classmates. I'm beginning to accept my goal to graduate without loans is out of reach for me. I really admire someone who has the power within them to work full-time and go to nursing school full time. I couldn't even manage working part-time and school full time in pre-reqs. I began having panic attacks and returning to old harmful habits from the stress and had to leave my job and my relationship at the time crumbled. I'm just not one of those people who can handle time constraints and all the information. Psych nursing is my dream and I just may have to swallow my pride and never tell my grandchildren i got through school without loans, assistance from the gov, and my mom. :/

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