I have a bachelor's in business & computer information systems from DeVry, and then I attempted one semester of law school but hated it. I had a baby at 19 (and 21) too, so I used some student loan money when I was broke at that point. My debt right now - $42k!!!!!!
So I have been working in business & computers for almost 6 years now, and I'm really not liking it. I went and got my CNA at a community college, and I think I would prefer being a nurse. At my community college, they only offer day classes. The cost would be about $2,000, but it would take 2 years, so I don't see how I could work for 2 years. That would be a loss of about $104,000 for me, because I make just over $50k now. My other alternative is an ABSN degree, but the cost of that is $35,000. That's a lot.....but still, then I would only lose one year of work, so in a way it saves me $50k.
My question........is all the debt worth it??? How much did you graduate with, and were you able to pay it off? I'm really miserable in computers/business and I have been staring at a screen for the last six years!
Before you start this new venture, really check into what nurses do and try to make sure you like it. Spend time with actual nurses on their jobs and see what you would really be doing if you became a nurse.
If your research tells you to go ahead, start researching scholarships and grants. Maybe you won't need to go into more debt.
$0 I worked full-time through most of nursing school to pay for rent and living expenses. My tuition is covered 100% through the hospital I took a job with.
I had only 2,000 of debt from my first BA degree. Then went for an ASN in nursing and landed myself in 35,000 dollars of debt. It sucks. But now I'm an RN and graduated from a great private school in only two years and didn't have to wait at the community college. Debt sucks but hey, if it's for your education it's not like a credit card, your education pays you back.
I know that there have to be others out there with higher student loan debt than this. I applaud all of you that did it with no debt or with very little debt! I imagine it must have been incredibly difficult to do! Good for you!
I know there are others out there who are not in your shoes though, who are carrying larger student loan debt. Maybe you're out there working to pay it off so that's why we're not hearing from you.
Both my husband and I have made some bad financial decisions over the last few years, not taking into account all of the things that could go wrong. You'd think we would know better by now - 2 preterm deliveries, one son dying and our youngest in the hospital several months and having been sick many times among other things. I'm terrified with the economy the way it is, and because he decided to take on 2 car payments, which we've never had, plus the student loan debt I'll have to pay back after I graduate. I won't go into all the details here but it is critical that I finish this degree as quickly as I can, even though it's going to take years to pay off. I can't change what is done, but can work to make better and more informed choices in the future.
I graduated with $0 debt. I worked the days that I was not in school and paid as I went. As someone mentioned earlier, I absolutely hate the feeling of being in debt so it was never an option for me.
Vito Andolini
1,451 Posts
2k, paid off quickly.
Before you start this new venture, really check into what nurses do and try to make sure you like it. Spend time with actual nurses on their jobs and see what you would really be doing if you became a nurse.
If your research tells you to go ahead, start researching scholarships and grants. Maybe you won't need to go into more debt.
I wish you well.