How did you pay for college?

[nurse2btracy]

I think that I may be accepted into a private university for the fall. My grades are decent but not great so my chances of getting into a public college are slim to none.

This school is quite expensive 30,000 a year plus living expenses since I will leaving my job to attend school full time. I will be getting a pt job to supplement my income.

Has anybody taken out 2 loans per school year? If so, how did you do it? I am nervous since I know that I will be approved for one but unsure about 2. Can this be even done? Taking 2 separate loans out per school year - I have tapped out my federal aid/loan limits so I will be taking the private loan route this time.

I finally got the courage to apply and now I may not be able to attend for financial reasons. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[USAstudent]

Just an FYI about private student loans-My husband took out about $12000 of these when he was right out of high school and not thinking about having to pay them back. The interest rates on most of them were variable, which means now they're 8.5-9.2% (compared to 5% with his federally backed loans) and they cannot be consolidated with his federal loans. This means more payments. The monthly payment for his federal consolidated loans (about $27,000) is $130/month. The monthly payment for his private loans is $150/month (and will increase when intrest rates increase). And you're talking about taking out at least twice that amount....just be carefull. Nursing is a great field and you will always have a job, but we don't make that much money.

[clc19k30]

I had over $30,000.00 for school through the Army College Fund.

You can apply for the Army Nurse Candidate Program and get $34,000.00 for school. $10,000.00 sign on bonus in two dispersements of $5,000.00 and you get $1,000.00 a month while you are in school.

Or you can take loans, I saw Sallie Mae mentioned, and then have the Army repay them in exchange for service time.

Yes I am a recruiter, but I am also a nurse who remembers the "fun" of school.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I paid for first semester of ADN school with credit card. From them on it was scholarships and tuition reimbursement (from employer). Went thru BSN, MSN programs and paid a fraction of it all. Ask librarian how to locate help. There are really big books and stuff online with help.