Should I pay or should I wait?

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Based on my situation would you wiat or take out the loan?

    • 5
      I vote loan!
    • 14
      Hold out and do it for less.

19 members have participated

Specializes in Wound Care.

I'm 31 years old and in the middle of a divorce (one month in). I am looking to go back to school for nursing and every community college in my area has a 3-4 year wait list. I already have my AA degree (in public relations) so I have all of the GE req done (even the science). Have talked to a few community colleges and was told yes I do meet the req to apply but because the waiting lists are so long it will be while BUT I when accepted I can complete the program for less then $12,000 plus most of this would be covered by state aid based on my income.

I have a 3 year old and need to get the ball rolling and don't have 4 years to wait for a spot. I have looked into a few of the private schools in my area and I can enroll right away but the price tag for these school is INSANE...I have been quoted anywhere from $40k to one school who said $100k (I almost fell over)!!!

I feel like my back is against the wall and while I don't want to take out student loans (just paid off my first loans last year). I feel like I have no choice.

I will get 2 years of spousal support and on going child support and based on this dollar amount I can afford to go to school full time and not work which is great but the idea of taking out a loan bugs me.

What would you do? Would you wait the 3-4 years which would mean I would not start the program until I'm 34 and not finish until I'm 36 or 37 or should I suck it up and just take out the loan and start ASAP.

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you need the educational credential asap. who knows what may happen later? maybe the entire student loan program will close and everyone's loans will be forgiven! (yeah, i know.... long shot, huh?) maybe a rich nigerian will send you $75,0000,00,00,000.00 us, or you'll meet the man of your dreams (hey-- it can happen!) who will help you pay your loans off.

doesn't matter. get the education even if it means the loans. (you might even approach the cc and ask them if you paid up front if that would help get you admitted sooner. hey. you never know.)

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Specializes in Endoscopy/MICU/SICU.

You will most likely qualify for pell grants/subsidized student loans. I think you should go for the cheapest, quickest option ($40k?).

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Specializes in Wound Care.

Okay so another question. Another thought I had is to go the LVN route as there are schools in my area with no waiting list. Would it be a total waste of time and money to complete the 12 month LVN program then after that do the bridge from LVN to RN?

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I'm 26 and I chose not to go the long route for the least expense (community college). I want to be a nurse in a year, not 3-5. :) My LPN program is $29k. To me, time is money. I would rather pay more and double my income sooner. I already plan on doing bridge programs for my RN and BSN. You should still be able to get plenty of grants and loans if you go the LPN route and then bridge into an RN program. It's what works for me since I just don't have time to sit around wait to get my career going.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

Two years extra in your nursing career could potentially bring you an extra $100,000. Will a private nursing school cost more than that? Looks like some will and some won't. I most definitely would go as quickly and cheaply as possible.

Just saw your other question. If you could do an LVN program at a CC cheaply and then bridge. I'd definitely do that. Sometimes loans are necessary, but I'd try to avoid them as much as possible! I don't know why it would be a total waste of money....at my school, the LVN program is basically just the first year of the ADN program with an added summer session. Then the transition program is done with the second year ADN students.

Just an indirect path to the same place!

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Specializes in NICU.

Are you sure your financial aid would NOT cover the more expensive option? Typically, they determine how much tuition, etc. that you are expected to contribute toward your education. If the expensive school costs more, your aid picks it up. ... At least that's what they do for 18yr old kids.

You sound like you have your stuff together & it does make sense to go to school while you have the spousal support.

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There are other considerations here beside just the money. OP, you don't specify whether you're talking about "private schools" as in established, traditional, non-profit colleges/universities or "private schools" as in the proprietary (private-for-profit) tech/voc schools. Many (not all, but many) of the proprietary tech-voc schools have poor reputations (well-deserved, but that potential students wouldn't necessarily "get") and accreditation issues that can continue to haunt you long after you've finished school. I would encourage you to be v. careful about what school you choose to attend (same for LPN programs, which would certainly be a reasonable alternative).

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Specializes in Wound Care.

Thank you guys for your help. I have decided to avoid the private schools all together. I looked into Downey Adult school in my area and they offer an LVN program as well as a CNA program. I'm going to apply to take the test (no waiting list) and in the mean time take the CNA program they also offer. I will also get on the waiting list for every RN program in my area. If I pass the test at downy I will go directly into the LVN program...if I don't then I will start the CNA program and it will give me something to add to my resume while I'm waiting for an opening for the LVN program of a spot on the RN wait list to open and will give me some income so I'm not using all of my spousal/child support. Plus I figure it will help my resume since I have no background in health care. All of my background is in public relations.

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