I need all the help i can get

IMOKAY, BSN · Jul 2, 2011

Hi there, I'm 39 with 3 kids and I didnt have any money when I first started nor do I have any now. I decided to enroll for my first class and pay for it on credit card. I worked days and attended class nights, paying off the card until next semester. I rented my text books from Chegg.com which is way cheaper than buying them. I did that each time until now; I am just getting ready to begin the nursing program this fall. I will have to quit my job, so I will be getting student loans. normally I tell everyone I know to avoid debt at all costs, but this is my dream and I am willing to take the risk. I have read tons of threads about new grads not finding work and having to pay their loans back...this scares me and you should consider this risk.. do you want it bad enough?

happy2live · Jul 2, 2011

vegasmomma

thank you very much for the confidence boost. i think i am just scared... i will overcome this scare so i can reach my goal. :nurse:

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2011

I always tell everyone I meet that you cannot put a price on education, that being said I would encourage you to take out student loans if you do not have the money. If you do not own a BA/BS degree then you might be eligible for state and/or federal aid though FAFSA, this includes and is not limited to PELL GRANTS, TAG GRANTS, etc.

If for some reason federal/state aid cannot be obtained you could always take out a private student loan through a bank of your choice. If you choose to go through a community college your cost will be much less than someone who goes through a 4-year university.

Community Colleges around NJ typically charge about 100-150 dollars per credit as opposed to 1500-3000 per credit at a university.

Best of Luck!!

busymom35 · Jul 2, 2011

Hello Happy2live I completely understand where you are coming from. I decided to go back to school( I was 42) to become a nurse because that has always been my dream. I got married right out of high school and started a family so I put my plans on hold. My husband had to go on disability and our income was reduced. It has taken me 2 years to get done with my pre regs but I will be entering the Rn program this August ( and at the age of 44 lol) Check all your resources for financial aid. Thankfully I have received pell grants and another type of grant that has paid all my tuition. I have also taken out a few student loans to help pay for things along the way. I also rented books from chegg at a much cheaper price than buying or renting them from the school. Just make the decision to do it and follow your dream. each quarter that you complete will put you one more step closer to being finished. It will get frustrating at times and you will want to give up (believe me I have) But I am so happy that I hung in there and will finally start the nursing program in about 6 weeks. Good Luck!!!!!

ProudMom511 · Jul 2, 2011

Eight years ago, I was the new immigrant who did not speak a word of English. Now, I am getting ready to start the nursing program this fall. For the first 5 years, I worked and took 2 classes each semester (evenings), it took me 5 years to go through the pre-reqs, but it is all finished, and I am ready to start this dream journey. All it takes is passion and determination, any time is a good time to start, first step is for you to register at your community college, they will guide you it will happen some day :)

GoldenDomer63 · Jul 3, 2011

My advice would be to begin taking your prerequisite classes at a community college. As a previous poster stated the tuition is quite a bit lower than the traditional four-year colleges. The community college I attended the tuition was

With respect to books, peruse the bulletin boards in the campus bookstore for book deals. Also search the internet for textbook resellers; I know that Amazon is a pretty good place to purchase used textbooks, often times in nearly pristine condition. Furthermore, look at previous editions of required textbooks; more often than not these most current editions simply have a few more charts and/or pictures with no substantive revisions over the previous ones. There is absolutely no reason why you cannot pick up textbooks at prices substantially lower than what the campus bookstore charges students. Some schools also rent books as well.

With regards to financial aid, access to the website of your state's higher education commission. They have a plethora of State Financial Aid programs available to potential students. There are also Federal Pell Grants available (assuming you do not already have a Bachelor's Degree) and other assistance. Be sure you file your FAFSA prior to 3/1 to be eligible for State Financial Aid; if you file after that deadline I believe you will only be eligible for Federal Aid, but you are further down on the totem pole for financial aid awards. Be sure you register to vote in your state too. There are Senatorial Scholarships available for students entering college, which are based on GPA and demonstrated financial need, but you must be a resident of the state in which you are residing, be a registered voter in that state and file the FAFSA by the deadline date. You must be aggressive and seek out funds...lots of unique financial aid programs are simply not advertised.

If you are a good student, look into peer tutoring opportunities or becoming a student supplemental instructor in a prerequisite science class at your school. These are paid positions ($10-$12/hour), but require an "A" or "B" in the class and faculty recommendation. I did both and it was a great experience and I even managed to network a bit given I was tutoring quite a few RNs who were going back to school for their BSNs, which required completion of Chemistry I. Another ancillary benefit is that these positions look great on applications and resumes for nursing programs.

I know the transition may seem daunting at times, but follow your heart. I too was a transitional student having worked in the banking/finance industry for twelve-years (my degree is in Finance/Business Economics). I made my decision to embark on a nursing career in August 2009; I resigned from my job and started taking classes at a community college. I worked hard and was accepted into my top two BSN programs and start nursing school this August.

Last word of advice...take A&P I/II back-to-back in summer school if at all possible. Yes, it is intense, but it will be your only class, rather than one of four or five classes; therefore, you can give it your undivided attention. IMHO of all the prerequisite classes you will take, these two are by far the most important.

Good luck! I will be more than happy to answer any specific questions you might have.