How are second degree students paying for school?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I am getting frustrated! I filled out my FAFSA and I got a letter in return congratulating me on my bachelors degree, but unfortunately it disqualified me from any aid at the undergraduate level. The financial aid advisor at my community college told me that because of the new healthcare law prohibiting private student loans, I am on my own to fund my education. That wouldn't be so bad except that the community colleges are so competitive in my state. I have been accepted to several BSN programs ($$$) but have been rejected from all of the community colleges I have applied to so far (I got B's in writing and psychology which is what is holding me back). It is my dream to become a nurse and it is starting to break my heart that I might not be able to because of a lack of funds. :crying2:

I funded my BSN program with a full time job and one or two part time jobs.

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I was unable to get any grants due to the same problem. I am taking my classes slowly, one a semester, so we can spread out the payments (our of our pockets). Once I am in the Nursing Program, I hope to receive a scholarship in order to pay the tuition and will apply for any other scholarships that come around in order to get a stipend for expenses.

Sometimes honors students are able to plug into special scholarships in the CCs. I am hoping to get one of those--it is actually a stipend.

I don't mean to hijack your thread, but what happens when you do your Master's in the same situation? Are you eligible for FAFSA and state grants then? I'd really like to know. Tx.

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I gave you the link to stafford loan limits in my previous post. The aggregate as well as subsidized vs unsubsidized are listed on that site. If the link doesn't work google " stafford loans". Should be the 1 st hit. Off the top of my head I believe the unsubsidized limit is 23 k and the total limit is around 50k. So you get unsubsidized (if your income meets need limits) up to 23k then you get unsubsidized to make up the remainder. These are lifetime undergrad limits. Unless you didn't get any subsidized the first time around I would imagine you have some left. There is also a yearly max I believe.

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I was unable to get any grants due to the same problem. I am taking my classes slowly, one a semester, so we can spread out the payments (our of our pockets). Once I am in the Nursing Program, I hope to receive a scholarship in order to pay the tuition and will apply for any other scholarships that come around in order to get a stipend for expenses.

Sometimes honors students are able to plug into special scholarships in the CCs. I am hoping to get one of those--it is actually a stipend.

I don't mean to hijack your thread, but what happens when you do your Master's in the same situation? Are you eligible for FAFSA and state grants then? I'd really like to know. Tx.

There are different limits for graduate school. There are still limits but it goes up. Look at the stafford loan site.

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Since I have a bachelor's degree already, I can't get student loans for either an AA or BSN degree. However, I could get funding for an entry level master's degree program ( of which I am just completing the first semester). You might want to check out entry level master's degree programs.

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Specializes in NICU.

Because this is my 2nd degree, I will have to use student loans. Hopefully I get approved for them....

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Since I have a bachelor's degree already, I can't get student loans for either an AA or BSN degree. However, I could get funding for an entry level master's degree program ( of which I am just completing the first semester). You might want to check out entry level master's degree programs.

I am really confused. I also have a bachelor's degree, but I was under the impression that at the very least, I may be eligible to receive federal aid in the form of unsubsidized loans.

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Since I have a bachelor's degree already, I can't get student loans for either an AA or BSN degree. However, I could get funding for an entry level master's degree program ( of which I am just completing the first semester). You might want to check out entry level master's degree programs.

I did look into a few of those programs but was quickly intimidated. I went to an information sessions at Seattle University and it seemed like everyone there had advanced degrees and very impressive resumes. I am also a single mom and so I am not sure that I would do as well as I would like to in a program like that. Are there any single mom's in your program?

Do you know if most of these programs are as highly competitive as all other nursing programs? I have a bachelor's degree in music education in which I only had a 3.1 gpa, but I have a 4.0 in all of my science pre-requisites. I am also working as a CNA2 to gain experience. Would I stand a chance at getting in?

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You should give it a shot. My University has competitive admission and only takes in 50 people per year for the fast track 1 year BSN program. My cumulative GPA is 2.7, Science GPA is 3.5, my TEAS scores are competitive, and I was able to get in. I really didn't think I was going to get accepted considering many other qualified applicants got turned away. You never know unless you try.

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Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

Sorry that happened to you I hope you find a way. I don't know about your state but in NC we haespecialized scholarships, and contractual loans that students accepted into nursng school can do. Look into that and talk to a counselor in the financial Aid office

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