*Update*Booted on last day of the semester

Nursing Students General Students

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So, if you recall my last post...you know I got kicked out on the last day of the semester and had chosen to look at the bright side of things. I had decided to go back to school and pursue the rest of my pre-reqs for the RN program and then return to the LVN program in the fall(would have 1 more class to take and another semester to wait before they accepted for ADN) Well, I registered online for classes last week and it went through. I was elated. Well, they called me the next day and said that I owed the school over $2000 and I wouldn't be able to attend classes this winter or spring OR return to the LVN program until it's paid off. (Long story...I had a pell grant)Well, I gave up pretty much everything to start the program, including a job I left on bad terms because they didn't want to work w/me in regards to my school schedule. Sooo, I don't have that money growing on a tree in my backyard(would be nice though!) Long story short: I am on assistance...so if I get a job my bills will syrocket(they like to take all of your money when you try to help yourself)This will cancel out me saving money for school and I will fall into that pit of working a dead end job and not going back to school. So, needless to say, I am disenchanted at this point and I really don't know what to do. I have no direction at this point, thus no motivation. I have racked my brains for a solution...but no ideas yet. I'm trying to stay positive, but it's kinda hard.

Thanks for letting me express my feelings.

And no, I can't get a loan...tried it already, lol.:p

lol, I do remember Northern Exposure. I used to watch it all the time. That scholarship is amazing. I got all excited and then I saw that LPN students do not qualify for the scholarship:rolleyes: But, that's a great suggestion for anyone else who is needing help going into an ADN program!

Yeah, that kinda stinks when you feel like you are just getting ahead and then the money is, well, gone! Once you are working, though, I bet you get a real feeling of accomplishment when you look around you and know that you paid your own way! You will be able to look around you and know that you owe all you see to nobody but yourself. It's a great, great feeling!

Now, more importantly: this is a link for a financial aid program the government has (http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/aid.htm). You have to qualify financially--sounds like you would. You only have to agree to work at a hospital where you are needed for something like two years after you graduate. They pay tuition, books, fees and a small stipend (like an allowance). You do not have to pay it back, last I heard. (Read the website--you need to know for yourself....)

Before you think "Northern Exposure" (although maybe you are young enough not to remember that TV show?), these are hospitals right here in the real world. They are usually big city hospitals with lots of patients who need care and who can't afford insurance, so the hospitals have to write off a lot of their costs.

But you get the same pay and benefits, and the same schedule, etc., as any other nurse there.

It really just says, we don't want to pay for your education and you not work, is all.

Good luck!

Specializes in Med-Surg.
Good luck Veronica.

Ditto. Best of luck to you.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Call Center RN.

I didn't think they declined anyone for student loans. We are in a bankruptcy and have really bad credit. Our credit is sooo bad our mortgage is at 12% and we can't refinance. But I got a student loan. what about a different school?

Public schools (like community and state colleges) can decline your enrollment if you are in default on federal student loans, until you get the mess straightened out (not necessarily paid off, but you have to take care of business).

Most schools (maybe all), whether public or private, will decline your subsequent enrollment if you owe them money. (Would you keep selling your product to someone who was happy to receive it but continued to not pay their bill? Of course not.)

And if there is grant money involved, and bills went unpaid, then the question (spoken or otherwise) is, we have evidence that you received the money to pay your tuition (etc) but it wasn't paid. So, like, where's the money?

Make sense? (It's a rough lesson to learn that when money comes in earmarked for specific expenses and it gets diverted--usually because of a problem or emergency--it is harder to get caught up. Learned that one early.)

Public schools (like community and state colleges) can decline your enrollment if you are in default on federal student loans, until you get the mess straightened out (not necessarily paid off, but you have to take care of business).

Most schools (maybe all), whether public or private, will decline your subsequent enrollment if you owe them money. (Would you keep selling your product to someone who was happy to receive it but continued to not pay their bill? Of course not.)

And if there is grant money involved, and bills went unpaid, then the question (spoken or otherwise) is, we have evidence that you received the money to pay your tuition (etc) but it wasn't paid. So, like, where's the money?

Make sense? (It's a rough lesson to learn that when money comes in earmarked for specific expenses and it gets diverted--usually because of a problem or emergency--it is harder to get caught up. Learned that one early.)

i just assumed the OP's school would automatically take their funds first and then disperse the remainder of the grant funds in the form of a check. (how they do it at my school) Is this not the case for everyone? :uhoh21: Is there any way you can go talk to advising or your nursing department head. I am sure you aren't the first student in this situation and they may have more ideas about how to get you back into the program, or funding ideas.

I don't know about the OP's school, but at 1 university I went to, if you failed a semester that you received grant money for, you had to pay back that grant money before you could enroll in classes and then you had to pay 1 semester on your own before you could receive financial aid again. It happened to me and it sucked big time, I was lucky that I lived at home and my parents were able to chip in some, but it was still tight.

Veronica, you said that that scholarship program was only for ADN and not LPN. Why not go for your ADN instead? Is the LPN program the only one in your area? I know some of the hospitals where I live will pay for your tuition in exchange for your working for them for a few years but you don't have to work for them while you are in school. Maybe you could find a program like that. I hope that you find a solution!

A

Veronica..

guessing here, but was the grant trouble due to how things worked out for you at the end of the semester? Sometimes it's a matter of pushing things a little and talking to financial aid and seeing if there is some kind of appeal process. You never know until you bug the crap out of them ;)

Check with the job service (unemployment office) office about a program called WIA. I don't know how this program varies from state to state, or if it is even available in all states, but it is most certainly worth checking on. It pays for ALL school expenses, from tuition to uniforms to pens and pencils to the NCLEX. It doesn't affect student aid, either, so when you get that back on track, you'll be able to use every penny toward living expenses.

Keep your chin up, and don't take no for an answer. Will be thinking of you :)

Deana

Veronica..

guessing here, but was the grant trouble due to how things worked out for you at the end of the semester? Sometimes it's a matter of pushing things a little and talking to financial aid and seeing if there is some kind of appeal process. You never know until you bug the crap out of them ;)

Check with the job service (unemployment office) office about a program called WIA. I don't know how this program varies from state to state, or if it is even available in all states, but it is most certainly worth checking on. It pays for ALL school expenses, from tuition to uniforms to pens and pencils to the NCLEX. It doesn't affect student aid, either, so when you get that back on track, you'll be able to use every penny toward living expenses.

Keep your chin up, and don't take no for an answer. Will be thinking of you :)

Deana

i agree with this! i have heard of academic probation for people on financial aid. I don't know how it works or who qualifies but if this is your first semester with a failing grade it seems like you should be able to get probation and not just be booted off of your grant program. Please check into it, if for no other reason than knowing you truly checked every avenue. Godd luck and keep your chin up things will turn around!

No, my tuition was paid in full by another program I was on...WIA. The grant was left for living expenses, so of course I used the money towards bills and what not...that's what I was advised to do. I think the DON kind of took advantage of the state I was in and told me to withdraw instead of taking an F(in one course)So, I did....now everyone's telling me they would have taken the F instead, so the grant money wouldn't have to be repaid. Dumb on my part....I wasn't thinking. But now that I think about it....it was to the schools advantage....doesn't make them look bad. BTW, I wasn't the first this year that they had convinced to withdraw. I was like the 7th. The class is down to less than 20 now...does that say something about the instructors...yeah I think so. Something's wrong their.

Public schools (like community and state colleges) can decline your enrollment if you are in default on federal student loans, until you get the mess straightened out (not necessarily paid off, but you have to take care of business).

Most schools (maybe all), whether public or private, will decline your subsequent enrollment if you owe them money. (Would you keep selling your product to someone who was happy to receive it but continued to not pay their bill? Of course not.)

And if there is grant money involved, and bills went unpaid, then the question (spoken or otherwise) is, we have evidence that you received the money to pay your tuition (etc) but it wasn't paid. So, like, where's the money?

Make sense? (It's a rough lesson to learn that when money comes in earmarked for specific expenses and it gets diverted--usually because of a problem or emergency--it is harder to get caught up. Learned that one early.)

lol, Yep I was on WIA. They have agreed to keep my case open for a year, but I have to pay fall semester on my own since I didn't pass one class out of 7. Had Bs, As, and one C. This whole bruhaha is over less than half a point. It's mind blowing.

Veronica..

guessing here, but was the grant trouble due to how things worked out for you at the end of the semester? Sometimes it's a matter of pushing things a little and talking to financial aid and seeing if there is some kind of appeal process. You never know until you bug the crap out of them ;)

Check with the job service (unemployment office) office about a program called WIA. I don't know how this program varies from state to state, or if it is even available in all states, but it is most certainly worth checking on. It pays for ALL school expenses, from tuition to uniforms to pens and pencils to the NCLEX. It doesn't affect student aid, either, so when you get that back on track, you'll be able to use every penny toward living expenses.

Keep your chin up, and don't take no for an answer. Will be thinking of you :)

Deana

My reason for going into nursing is not just about money, but at the same time I need a stable job asap. LVN is the quickest way. We do have a few ADN programs here....and i have gotten some of the pre-reqs out of the way, but it would still take me forever to finish...more than 1 year. I'm not trying to be a struggling student for 2 whole years with a little one to look after:) So, therefore I chose a career ladder option for my education....for me personally it's the best way to go.

I don't know about the OP's school, but at 1 university I went to, if you failed a semester that you received grant money for, you had to pay back that grant money before you could enroll in classes and then you had to pay 1 semester on your own before you could receive financial aid again. It happened to me and it sucked big time, I was lucky that I lived at home and my parents were able to chip in some, but it was still tight.

Veronica, you said that that scholarship program was only for ADN and not LPN. Why not go for your ADN instead? Is the LPN program the only one in your area? I know some of the hospitals where I live will pay for your tuition in exchange for your working for them for a few years but you don't have to work for them while you are in school. Maybe you could find a program like that. I hope that you find a solution!

A

No, my tuition was paid in full by another program I was on...WIA. The grant was left for living expenses, so of course I used the money towards bills and what not...that's what I was advised to do. I think the DON kind of took advantage of the state I was in and told me to withdraw instead of taking an F(in one course)So, I did....now everyone's telling me they would have taken the F instead, so the grant money wouldn't have to be repaid. Dumb on my part....I wasn't thinking. But now that I think about it....it was to the schools advantage....doesn't make them look bad. BTW, I wasn't the first this year that they had convinced to withdraw. I was like the 7th. The class is down to less than 20 now...does that say something about the instructors...yeah I think so. Something's wrong their.

Yea I wish I had known this too.:o If I had just flunked out of the courses instead of officially "withdrawing" I wouldn't have to pay back the $407 they now say I owe, I could have just repeated the course like I'm going to anyway, but just with no financial penalty.:rolleyes: This system makes no friggin sense. And yea I was 'encouraged' to withdraw too. So I guess the school gets the benefit of my $2000 + pell and now I owe them more on top of it. :uhoh3: Go figure.

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