Graduating with $15K in debt and they wont let me sit for boards :(

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I graduate in literally 11 days with my Bachelor in Nursing and just found out the worst news that I still owe another school $15,000 and they put a hold on my ability to receive my transcripts, which makes it impossible for me to take the NCLEX until it is paid.

I thought about working as a CNA at the hospital that I want to join the residency program at so that at least I have some kind of foot in the door and that they know me when it comes time for the residency program to accept people again in February or if I should keep my current hotel job until I am able to save up the money and pay the debt off.

Of course the CNA job is more difficult and probably would pay a little less than my hotel job but I really wouldn't mind if that meant me having a better chance at getting into my career in February. I need some advice please and thank you! :)

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-edited-

I completely read your post wrong.

Work as much OT as you can, save, borrow, use a credit card to pay it off.

Sell your car maybe?

I'd stay at your higher paying job, in addition to becoming a prn CNA. (Higher pay rate and flexibility)

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I'm not saying this at all as criticism, but I'm just really curious -- how could you owe the school that much money and not be aware of that?

If your current job pays more than a CNA job would, my advice would be to keep your current job, get a second/prn/PT job if possible (maybe that could be a CNA position at your hospital of choice?), and buckle down and start working on paying off that money as quickly as possible. Is it possible to borrow the money (at a reasonable price) in order to pay off the school, and then you could take as long as necessary to pay off the new loan while working as an RN?

Best wishes! I hope you are able to figure out a way to get this sorted out!

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Specializes in PACU.

You said it is another school. Do you owe the money to the school you are receiving your BSN from or another school entirely?

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.
You said it is another school. Do you owe the money to the school you are receiving your BSN from or another school entirely?

I think the OP earned credits at another school, transferred, and still owes them money. She can't get a transcript from the first school without paying what she owes.

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Specializes in AGNP.

Do you need the transcripts from the other school to send to the BON? I had a previous degree then graduated from an ADN program. Some of my credits transferred over to my ADN but I never had to send my first degree transcripts to the BON. You would have already had to send the transcripts to your current school if they were allowing some transfer credits so I'm a bit confused how this is becoming an issue now. Also how did you not know you owe that large sum of money?

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Yeah i know it all sounds confusing. It confused me as well when i found out. I cant explain all of the situation without giving away my schools name but ill try.

The school that i am receiving my BSN (school A) and the school i owe money to (school B) are sister schools. i went to school B only for my pre-reqs and havent been enrolled in there since freshman yr and my bill was payed off. When i started going to school A, i didnt know that school B was still charging me tuition every year for attending school A because school A was also charging me tuition. So every year they charged me tuition and added interest on top of that and didnt tell me!

When i looked at my account for school A, it says that school B has a hold on my transcripts for owing them money. Had no clue since i havent logged into my account for school B since freshman year.

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Specializes in General.

If you didn't register for classes how can they charge you tuition. I don't understand what you mean by sister schools, are they part of a state wide university system , or another college with in the university ,for example I attended ABC university but graduated from the xyz school of nursing at ABC. I think I'd be calling the registrar office. Good luck

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

So, both schools are charging you tuition for the same time period? That makes no sense.

I suggest contacting a lawyer. You should be able to get a low cost referral through your local bar association

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Specializes in PACU.

I second getting a lawyer. That is so fishy to me.

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You should be able to get this straightened out by explaining your situation at your BSN school, which should clear the "bill" at the first school since they are sister schools. If going to talk to them does not get this rectified in a timely manner, I would definitely seek legal counsel.

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Yeah i know it all sounds confusing. It confused me as well when i found out. I cant explain all of the situation without giving away my schools name but ill try.

The school that i am receiving my BSN (school A) and the school i owe money to (school B) are sister schools. i went to school B only for my pre-reqs and havent been enrolled in there since freshman yr and my bill was payed off. When i started going to school A, i didnt know that school B was still charging me tuition every year for attending school A because school A was also charging me tuition. So every year they charged me tuition and added interest on top of that and didnt tell me!

When i looked at my account for school A, it says that school B has a hold on my transcripts for owing them money. Had no clue since i havent logged into my account for school B since freshman year.

This story is ridiculous. If it's legit, I suggest you contact an attorney.

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