How did you pay for school?

Did you do the FAFSA? I don't know why you couldn't at least get loans through the school unless you make or are sitting on a ton of cash (which seems unlikely as an LVN.) Talk to your school's financial aid office as well. They often have info on resources the general public does not.

Between semesters I picked up lots of extra shifts. I was working 60 to 70 hours per week. You can apply for financial aid, loans, and grants.

Federal stafford loans and federal grants. I was able to pay all $43K for my BSN with federal money...low interest rates and good repayment.

Federal stafford loans and federal grants. I was able to pay all $43K for my BSN with federal money...low interest rates and good repayment.

Just a heads up on federal student loans, yes they are low interest and relatively easy to get. However, if you ever have to go into bankruptcy they are not discharged, they pretty much stay with you your entire life until you pay them off.

US Army picked up the bill and they paid me E-6 pay the entire time WITH vacation.

The military isn't for everyone but it sure was nice not to start a new career in debt.

....sometimes it sucked too.

I paid for my BSEd with grants and loans. Now, I'm paying for my ADN with a small scholarship and my paycheck.

you have a couple of options where, you can have school totally paid for and end up with a job after its all said and done.

1st option; loan forgiveness programs at your local hospitals, they pay for your schooling and in return you must work for them for like 2 years or something. which isn't bad, especially if you'll be working at a hospital you like and you have a job right out of school. they pay for everything.

2nd option; http://www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/scholarships/nursing/

"the nursing scholarship program is a selective program of the u.s. government that helps alleviate the critical shortage of registered nurses currently experienced by certain types of health care facilities by helping needy students complete their registered nurse training. in exchange for the scholarship, upon graduation, the newly minted nurses work at these types of facilities for at least 2 years.

in exchange for at least 2 years service at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses, the nursing scholarship program pays:

• tuition
  
• required fees
  
• other reasonable costs, including required books, clinical supplies, laboratory expenses, etc.
  
• monthly stipend ($1,326 for the 2010-2011 school year)
  
• more about scholarship benefits
  
• more about fulfilling the service obligation
  

the 2010 application cycle is closed, but the 2011-2012 application cycle will be opening soon.

i hope this info helps!

GI Bill and a full-time job (my family eats a lot and my wife's a full-time mom).

I don't know if this could help you, but I thought I'd mention it just in case: If you have any sort of disability, you could try your state's version of the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. The people there work with individuals with a broad range of issues, from major physical disabilities to cases of moderate/severe ADHD.

Depending on your financial situation, the bureau may be able to help with your educational costs. However, if you're sitting on a lot of cash, investments, or assets like homes or rental properties, financial assistance will probably be off the table. BVR reps expect you to contribute through payment or in-kind services (like providing childcare, transportation, or books) and they do triage their aid based on severity of disability. Also, they only help with education up to your first bachelor's degree; if you're pursing something beyond that, like a second bachelor's or a master's degree, they can't approve monetary aid.

Good luck with school!

ADN - GI Bill more than covered all the costs.

BSN - Double dipped the GI Bill and my hospitals education scholarship program. After paying all costs related to school I was pocketing $415/month.