Another new member

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 9, 2003

Well, there are GREAT books that outline loan/scholarships/grant opportunities at your local library. there are also websites dedicated to this but the addresses escape me now. I am sure someone here knows them. You should check these out. Also, check with the financial aid dept of the university you are going to attend to get all the latest info on assistance for school expenses offered there.

Make *sure* you check out what pre-requisite coursework you will need for your BSN. Go to the nursing department and get a copy of their degree plan. It is likely a lot of the basics are things you already have if you have a bachelors degree, but you will need other things specific to nursing.

My strongest advice is you get ALL these things done PRIOR to entering the nursing component itself. (the NUR courses). You will be kept very busy just doing NURSING course work, trust me. You will need classes like anatomy/physiology, chemistry (organic/inorganic), statistics, microbiology, developmental psychology and several others you may NOT have if yours is not a science degree. Know what they and knock them out first. Also, if you already have a baccalaureate degree, you may find an accelerated BSN program to suit you. Check and see if you university offers this.

I wish you the best, Welcome to the boards and to nursing! Glad you are here.

TX Guy · Apr 9, 2003

Hi Shenandoah

Welcome to the board!

perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2003

Welcome to the board Shenandoah! Love your name! I agree, it's a good idea to talk to the financial aid people at the schools you are thinking of going to. And be persistent- don't be satisfied with a simple "no, I don't think so. Make them do their work- they are there to help you!! I don't go to UNC (if you mean Univ. of North Carolina) but did think of going there and visited their nursing department, they had lots of neat books in the nursing bookstore and the program seemed good. But, it was a very large class and I wanted a smaller class size so that was a deciding factor for me. Good luck!!

NursieRN · Apr 9, 2003

Welcome aboard!!

Shenandoah · Apr 9, 2003

Thanks for such quick responses!

I've done a pretty exhaustive search on the internet for scholarship info, but haven't found anything yet that really applies to me. I'm still looking everyday though. I will definitely check out the financial aid offices of the schools to which I'm applying. Do you think they'll work with me before I'm accepted?

I have been working towards the prereqs for my first choice of Nursing schools, CU Denver, but am worried at this point that I may not get accepted. I understand from a classmate that there were over 600 applications for 100 positions. It's pretty competitive out there. Do you think it's like that everywhere?

TX Guy - Does that stand for Texas? I'm originally from there myself.

Thank you all for such a warm welcome!

Rhoresmith · Apr 9, 2003

I am accepted to a small community college I am in the LPN program but on standby for ADN and even in the midwest the waiting list are long 139 applied for ADN only 25 accepted and 4 slots were already taken with people from last years standby list. I don't want to do LPN but it has to be now or never so I can't wait until fall of 04 my money won't last that long. I went to some schoarship sites and searched and found quite a few to apply for some I missed the deadline for have you tried for a Pell grant? you don't have to pay those back. I don't know your age but the student loans are very low interest rates and you don't have to start paying back until 6 mos after you Grad Good Luck to YOU and if there is a will there is alway s a way Remember that

Rhonda

Shenandoah · Apr 9, 2003

Thanks Rhonda. Unfortunately, I don't qualify for any federal grants due to my salary over the last 3 years. I feel for you with the LPN/ADN situation. I went ahead and put my name on the waiting list for the ADN program at the community college where I'm taking my prereqs. I figured if I can't get into a BSN program, that at least I'll have that as a backup and will be able to get into the program by next spring at the earliest.

I definitely feel for you! Good luck in your LPN program.

Shenandoah

Hidi74 · Apr 9, 2003

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P_RN, ADN, RN · Apr 9, 2003

Welcome to the forum.

Ted · Apr 9, 2003

Welcome aboard!

It's interesting to read that it is quite competitive to get into that particular Community College's nursing program. Must be regional.

The nursing shortage is so bad around where I live, certain local hospitals are offering total tuition reimbursement if you work for them for about 3 years. For a couple of these hospitals, if you already work as CNA's. . . even a couple days of week, you don't even have to pay upfront! (Of course, you still have to meet the Nursing School criteria.)

But this is in the North East; upstate New York, more specifically.

SmilingBlueyes wrote:

My strongest advice is you get ALL these things done PRIOR to entering the nursing component itself. (the NUR courses). You will be kept very busy just doing NURSING course work, trust me. You will need classes like anatomy/physiology, chemistry (organic/inorganic), statistics, microbiology, developmental psychology and several others you may NOT have if yours is not a science degree. Know what they and knock them out first. Also, if you already have a baccalaureate degree, you may find an accelerated BSN program to suit you. Check and see if you university offers this.

Ditto on the above advice.

Good luck to you!

Ted

Chiaramonte · Apr 9, 2003

Welcome, Shenandoah!!!