Going to be denied f/a because of maximum credit rule..

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Hello everyone, I am hoping that someone who experienced a similar situation can help me with this dilemma. I am currently almost finished with my pre-reqs for the ADN program where I live. Recently I was told by f/a that since I will go over the allowed 90 credit hours to complete my degree after the first semester in nursing school I will have to find another way to a pay for it. I have been out of school for so long and actually didn't even start college until I was 39 years old. I didn't even know such a rule existed. I have taken classes like College Success, Stress management etc. I also have a documented disability and medical issues that warrented me to have to drop a class a couple of times because the load became too much to handle. Of course my thought process was to "try" to do as much as possible and if I had to withdraw out a class at least I tried. Keep in mind that while I was thinking this I had no idea about the max credit rule.

Have any of you had any success in the appeals process and do you think given my medical issues I will be successful in obtaining financial aid. Thanks so much.

Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.

BTW- the actual nursing program is 37 credits. That abviously makes a total of 110.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

Okay, so how many credit hours do you need to earn your nursing degree? The number of hours should be the total including prereqs (the degree requirement).

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Butterfly,

How many credit hours have you attempted? In other words, the total number of classes you registered for and began regardless if you completed the courses or not? What is your current major at the school? Generally there are two options. First, you can make an appeal, but know that the rules are set by the federal government, so the appeal may not work. However, if you original major is not nursing, change it. This resets the maximum rule. I should be clearer. The slate isn't clean, but you will have much more breathing room. Also, the rule applies for Pell Grants and other state grants, but it DOES NOT apply to student loans.

I wish these Financial Aid counselors would get more training. If I had a dollar for each time I taught my FA counselor something new, I could retire today. It pays to research EVERYTHING.

Let me know the answers to those questions so that I can steer you in the right direction.

The financial aid counselor at my school is a complete witch and a total stark raving idiot. True story.

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Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.

72. Of course the math requirement is math 120 or higher and since I have not been in school for over 20 years I had to take 4 math classes before I could take the 120 required. So that is a total of 12 more credits I HAD to take. So that totals 84.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

Okay, which school do you attend? Are you going for a BSN or ASN?

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.
The financial aid counselor at my school is a complete witch and a total stark raving idiot. True story.

I love your witty comment :lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

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Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.

ASN.:uhoh3: I know that could make a big difference because BSN allows 180 max credits. I do appreciate you helping me out..

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Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

I also had this happen, because 15+ yrs ago, I didn't know what I wanted to do, and took many pre-reqs for different programs. I'm at 78, and have all but one pre-req (fine arts) for my RN program, but will exceed the 99 so they shut me down. I have filed an appeal, and hope I get it.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

Happy to help!!

Okay, so the required number of credit to earn the ASN are 72 credits. That means you are permitted to attempt a total of 108 credit hours. Take your number of attempted and subtract from 108. That is the number of hours left under the nursing major. So, if you have attempted 62, which leaves you 40 credit hours left. Okay, I am estimating this rather conservatively because I don’t know the number of credit hours the school will kick back. So, you have enough to cover the nursing program of 37 with 3 credit hours remaining. Again, you may have more than that after you change your major. I wonder why your financial aid department is telling you that you have reached your maximum number of hours when you have a significant amount to go. Okay, I would schedule an appointment with the Financial Aid Director…not a counselor. The Director is the one who gets things approved and done. Have a plan in place. So, if you need an additional 9 hours of prereqs before starting the nursing program, communicate the information with him/her. Ask the Director of the total number of allowed credits after changing your major to nursing. This number will let you know how many were kicked back. From what I can see, you are fine. I will say that there will be no room for error. You will be walking a tight rope during the program, but I am sure you can do it. Good luck. If there are any other questions I can answer, feel free to PM me.

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Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.
I also had this happen, because 15+ yrs ago, I didn't know what I wanted to do, and took many pre-reqs for different programs. I'm at 78, and have all but one pre-req (fine arts) for my RN program, but will exceed the 99 so they shut me down. I have filed an appeal, and hope I get it.

That just is not right! I wish you all the luck in the world and pray you get approved. Seems crazy and utterly stupid that the government has such rediculous rules. I get that they are just trying to prevent some from taking advantage of the system, but with all of the technology there has to be a better way to monitor someones personal usage.

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Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.
Happy to help!!

Okay, so the required number of credit to earn the ASN are 72 credits. That means you are permitted to attempt a total of 108 credit hours. Take your number of attempted and subtract from 108. That is the number of hours left under the nursing major. So, if you have attempted 62, which leaves you 40 credit hours left. Okay, I am estimating this rather conservatively because I don't know the number of credit hours the school will kick back. So, you have enough to cover the nursing program of 37 with 3 credit hours remaining. Again, you may have more than that after you change your major. I wonder why your financial aid department is telling you that you have reached your maximum number of hours when you have a significant amount to go. Okay, I would schedule an appointment with the Financial Aid Director...not a counselor. The Director is the one who gets things approved and done. Have a plan in place. So, if you need an additional 9 hours of prereqs before starting the nursing program, communicate the information with him/her. Ask the Director of the total number of allowed credits after changing your major to nursing. This number will let you know how many were kicked back. From what I can see, you are fine. I will say that there will be no room for error. You will be walking a tight rope during the program, but I am sure you can do it. Good luck. If there are any other questions I can answer, feel free to PM me.

So what you are saying is that because they did not have me down as a pre-nursing major until august 2010, that actually helped me when they did change me over to pre-nursing? Am I understanding this correctly? You have been incredible! Thank yo u soooo much..

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Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.

How did you come up with the 108 hours?

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