How do you PAY for school?????

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by RichardJBoro
Apr 12, '04 Views: 2,903 Comments: 26

Ok, here goes. I'm 32 yo and considering going back to school. I've wanted to be in the medical field as long as I can remember, but have finally "hit the wall" in my current job. I'm excited, tense, and somewhat concerned. How on EARTH do you figure out how to live, go to school, and still pay your bills??
I mean, I did it once, but I was poor as hell, didnt have a car payment, and lived in a hellhole. Can I do it with a truck payment, and have somewhere decent to live? and if so, HOW?????

thanks in advance for any help.

Later Ya'll,
About RichardJBoro

Joined: Jan '04; Posts: 18

26 Comments

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Apr 12, '04
From: US ; Joined: Apr '03; Posts: 44; Likes: 1

[QUOTE=RichardJBoro]How on EARTH do you figure out how to live, go to school, and still pay your bills??
QUOTE]

I am taking out student loans and still working full time. (I am completing my ADN though Excelsior) Harder than hell, but I don't have any other options.
Kir
Apr 12, '04
Joined: Jan '04; Posts: 37

have you ever been in the military? gi-bill is almost $1000/ month. also, pell grant, depending on your income, is a max of $4050/year. you can also get a stafford loan (federal loan), and as long you pay the interest (should be less than $100/mo), you don't have to pay that back until 6mo. after you got a job/graduated. btw, it's not based on your credit
i pay about $560/semester plus books (depends--get them used--$400).
another thing, many nursing scholarships are available, some around 3-5k/ year.
talk to financial aid@ your college. you'll be surprised what you can do!
i came from germany 12 yrs. ago, married/kids(4), and even though i had college, i had to get my ged and start from scratch. i have a 3.5 gpa and just got into lpn school--rn is my final goal i'm almost 36, and trust me, it's never too late to fulfill your dreams.
i wish you the best!

~with god all things are possible~

Last edit by sabine_rn on Apr 12, '04 : Reason: spelling
Apr 12, '04
Occupation: Nurse, of course Specialty: critical care; community health; psych ; Joined: Sep '03; Posts: 2,355; Likes: 621

Live cheap and take out loans. Sell the truck and get a good reliable used cash car like a toyota corolla; look for a half-way decent hell-hole and remember the words "delayed gratification". You can't have it both ways unless you find a source of independent income like a long lost distant relative who leaves the planet and you with a few bucks.
Apr 13, '04
Joined: Sep '02; Posts: 2,659; Likes: 21

Scholarships: school, hospital, private. Student loans - private loans if need be. A part-time job. Grants. A supportive family. If you're that committed to school, maybe sell the truck to get rid of the payment and buy a cheap "beater" to get you through college? Look into student housing?

Good luck...
Apr 13, '04
Occupation: Inpatient acute rehab Joined: Aug '03; Posts: 2,234; Likes: 52

Student loans pay for it. However, I do get tuition reimbursement , so eventually I will only have a minimal amount of student loan to pay back.
Apr 13, '04
Joined: Apr '04; Posts: 34

Im blessed to have a father that pays for school out of pocket. It told me he would beat me if I took out a student loan-soooooo I love my daddy, and when tuition is due I let him know it(joking)
Apr 13, '04
Occupation: Urgent Care Joined: Feb '04; Posts: 1,740; Likes: 49

We have old vehicles with no payments. My husband works full- time and I work minimal hours. I have a scholarship that helps, and the rest I pay as I go. I started off slow, part time and worked my way back into things.
Apr 13, '04
Occupation: Remote Site Medic Joined: Sep '02; Posts: 187; Likes: 16

Suggestions on where to look for scholarship info?
Apr 13, '04
Joined: Sep '02; Posts: 2,659; Likes: 21

Quote from Coldfoot

Suggestions on where to look for scholarship info?

Check with your school's financial aid office for school/area/state specific scholarships. HRSA. Your state's college board/financial aid department. College or civic organizations. Clubs you hold membership in. Local hospitals. Discovernursing.com Fastweb.com

A little internet searching will turn up TONS of nursing related scholarships, and there may be others you qualify for as well, based on ethnicity, grades, age, employer, etc.

It takes a little work, but it's usually worth it.

Last edit by manna on Apr 13, '04
Apr 13, '04
Occupation: RN Specialty: 4 year(s) of experience in Telemetry, Oncology, Progressive Care ; Joined: Apr '04; Posts: 352; Likes: 216

Well, we have our cars paid off. I am just hoping they last another 2 years til I'm done with school.

Tuition is expensive and that's why I am going to a community college cause I could never afford any other school around here. So, I will only be getting my ADN and then when I am working I will let my employer pay for me to get my BSN and MSN. We will have to take out equity on our house so we can pay for childcare. It's not easy but it will be worth it in the end.
Apr 13, '04
Occupation: Urgent Care Joined: Feb '04; Posts: 1,740; Likes: 49

Quote from Coldfoot

Suggestions on where to look for scholarship info?

You can check local hospitals, there are some you can apply for without being an employee, just ask human resources.
I got one through the workforce development center called the " Adult workers program". It has to do with the fact that I am going for a career in demand, plus I meet the financial requirements.
Most require you to fill out an FAFSA, so I would suggest doing that first off. Even if you don't qualify for anything they still request you apply.
Good luck!
Apr 13, '04
Joined: Jan '02; Posts: 477; Likes: 50

Also http://www.fastweb.com I believe for scholarship info.

How do you PAY for school?????

About RichardJBoro

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