Money

BrandyBSN · Dec 3, 2001

My parents are unable to help me, so I am paying for it ALL with loans.

Lets see....

I have had $5,500 a year from Stafford Loans, 500 a year for Perkins Loans. The rest is from a Norwest Student loan. I am currently $36,000 in debt from all of the loans I have taken out this far. My repayment schedule starts in November of Next year, and I will be paying $637 a month for the next 10 years. Its going to be a lot! But, atleast I got the degree that I wanted, and will be working at the job I wanted. I just might have to put that PT Cruiser I want on hold for a while :)

Good Luck!

BrandyBSN

nrice · Dec 3, 2001

Brandy, wow that is a lot of money. It sounds like a 4 year degree?

I think the nursing program is here (two year) is closer to $5,000 give or take. Not 100% sure though. They do require you to pay that upfront or half down. I think we will get some sort of loan.

It would be nice to find some grants out there for sure!

pkmom · Dec 3, 2001

I'm going to the community college because it is really cheap compared to most 4yr colleges. At least it was in Dallas. These out of state fees are crazy so I'm just taking 2 or 3 courses at a time. I get a pell grant, but after that, I'm just not taking more hours than I can afford. This two year degree will take me four, but at least I won't be in debt and I can still stay at home with my kid.

nrice · Dec 3, 2001

PK,

I thought that you had to go full time in order to get a grant? I understand about wanting to stay home and not go into debt. We are almost debt free and I don't think we would do anything that couldn't be paid off before I finished school. It will take me 4 years as well.

I am new at all of this so help me here

Katnip, RN · Dec 3, 2001

I'm in Maryland, and got a partial scholarship from the school, which they offered out of the blue. Same with a state grant that pays for the bulk. My husband pays for books and the other $500 and year. UMD tuition is $5014 per year. Not bad, really. I took the prereqs a little at a time at a community college, which made it cheaper.

With the state grant I need to keep a 3.0 average, and the school scholarship requires a 3.2 gpa to renew it. Neither is need-based, and I'm not sure how exactly they decided to offer it. I did have and above 3.9 gpa going in, but there were others with that or better who did not get the offer, and others with lower who did. First to apply, first to get the offer? I don't know.

Katnip, RN · Dec 3, 2001

Sorry. Maryland does require full time status for the grant. And you have to work within the state in some kind of institution other than an HMO or doctor's office for two years after graduation. The school does offer scholarships and grants to part-timers.