I guess that door is closed:(

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Mar 23, 2012

don't let this deter you if nursing is your goal. Remember that the years will pass no matter what, and you still won't be in your chosen field. Work, chip away at your other prereqs, apply when they are complete. Even if it takes you a few more years, you will still be done, and maybe your signif other will be done with school and can help support you all.

don't give up if this is your goal.

Mama_Cashew, ASN, RN · Mar 23, 2012

You should be able to file an appeal with FA to get more aid. Speak with your financial aid office about this. We have people do it all the time where I work.

osdbmom · Mar 23, 2012

REALLY? Oh, I will start calling at 9 on the dot, when they open. :):)

I wonder why the advisor didn't mention this possibility yesterday?

Im sitting here looking at the business/computer classes I need to complete for the business degree and just HATING them. I can't stand just sitting....there is so much sitting!

And I was awake half the night wishing I could take my BIO and psych classes.....I love that stuff.

I just dont want to get myself into financial trouble with too many loans....I have four kids, one almost 16, one 15, who both are wanting to go to nursing school themselves, and I want to be able to send them when the time comes.

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Mar 23, 2012

Financial aid appeals depend on the school. Many schools are lenient and just want a decent excuse in case of an audit. Some schools are rectums. Maximum timeframe is usually the hardest to appeal, but are really doable. When it comes time to appeal, I would just stress that you wouldn't be able to complete your higher education without fin aid leaving you with limited future possibilities. You'll most likely get it with a high GPA, and no more dropped classes or degree changes.

Cherry02 · Mar 23, 2012

I am not eligible for financial because of "timeframe" as well. I've had to pay for my prereqs out-of-pocket. However, I talked to someone in financial aid and they told me that if I get accepted into the nursing program I can become eligible again since my first degree was a B.A. and nursing is a B.S. (obviously). I think they said I'd qualify for around 60ish more credits...or something around there. Maybe more. I know it was at least enough to cover an ABSN program. So it is definitely worth looking into!

Nurse2b7337 · Mar 23, 2012

I thought you could still apply for financial aid as long as you didn't have a bachelors degree. Or maybe you indicated that correct me if I'm wrong. Can you look at another school for loans?

caliotter3 · Mar 23, 2012

When I was refused financial aid, I went to work, full time and part time, to pay for school myself. Working was the only option or I would not have attended school.

drea588 · Mar 24, 2012

I have a very similar problem to yours. The FA office at my college accepts an appeal of maximum timeframe/ complete a second degree or cert. All you have to do is write why this degree will benefit you and also meet with an advisor to complete a plan of study. Hopefully your situation pans out and you will be able to get the $$!

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 24, 2012

I have an A.S., B.S., M.A.T. and I have had not trouble getting the max allowed to go to school. I have 200+ undergraduate hours and 50+ graduate hours. If you want to go to school, you should be able to get the loans. I was lucky to consolidate my loans through grad school and the interest rate is only 1 1/2%. My Nursing money will be a higher rate, but I will pay that off faster, first.

Fight for it if you want it!

Good Luck :nurse:

nowim clean · Mar 24, 2012

When the wife and I were doing school, we had used up all our aid, but we had enough credits to an associates in general education, then we got extra grants for the nursing program. Good luck

osdbmom · Mar 24, 2012

I would love to be in a situation where I am working and can pay for my own school. Unfortunately, in my area even the part time jobs at McDonalds are being fought for. The factories have closed. Businesses shut down. The nice neighborhood I moved into a decade ago (while still nice) now has orange foreclosure stickers on 1/2 the homes. The houses that do sell, are selling for 15 grand, sometimes less. I owe more than 100k on my house.....I can't move. My husband has been out of work for over two years, and is currently a TRA student. It seems like we can't get a job without a degree...can't pay for a degree without a job....can't get a job without a degree.....around and around. Even temp agencies want an applicant to have a degree in something before you can apply for any jobs. I have been a stay at home mom for about 9 years. My last job was direct care with the elderly, before that, I was staff at a Crisis Pregnancy center.

Suffice to say, my resume is not terribly attention getting. Caring for chronically ill children of my own doesn't have a spot on an application to explain what Ive been doing for 9 years.

I started with the certificates (billing/coding, medical assistant) so I could get out and done faster. Fortunately, these certificates have had a lot of classes that will transfer to the nursing prereqs. Unfortunately, these certificates have used up a lot of credits.

I do not already have an associates in anything. I was working toward an associates in business, but only bc the billing/coding, etc classes were often the same. There is a 93 credit limit for an associates for financial aid. I am already at 47, and the nursing programs will take me past that limit, bc many of the courses are 8 credits each.

I think that I will go back to my advisor next week, switch to Health Sciences/nursing before the next semester starts. I don't want to waste any more credits in business. I will file an appeal when my financial aid runs out. By fall, I should be able to start applying for work in a medical office/lab, hopefully phlebotomy. If I cant find work, I will keep taking classes until I do.

It may take me forever to finish. But, this is what I really want. this is what I am good at.

I appreciate all the advice:) Thank you.