I think we need a second degree student section...

MissMissy · Jul 26, 2008

Hello Eveyone :-)

Nothereyet0

I been having a similar problems for 2 years. I graduate in 2006 with a B.S in Business, Tech, Computer Systems Graphics. I am always told that I am either under or overqualified. This is one of the reasons why I decided to swicth careers to Nursing. Since you are still going to school for nurising maybe the career affairs office at your school can help you find some kind of entry level externship job.

Good Luck

Best Regards,

Missmissy

MissMissy · Jul 26, 2008

Hi Taffy48 :-)

I am not sure but I don't think you can get any grants as a second degree student, but I am sure fund should be available to you. Maybe the financial aid office at your school can help you find different scholarships. The Nursing Dept at your school should be able to help you also.

Best Regards,

Missmissy

AtomicWoman · Jul 27, 2008

I am a 48 year old student with a family who is thinking about getting into a second degree program. My degree was 25 years ago, so any student loan money I took out has long since been repaid. What grants and scholarships are available to someone like me?

taffy, as a 2nd degree student, the only thing you CANNOT get, at the federal level, is grants (e.g., Pell grants). You can still get student loans, assuming you haven't taken out the maximum before. And since you took them out 25 years ago when the limits were much smaller, it's unlikely you've already taken out the maximum federal/Stafford loan.

Some states also limit grants to first-degree students.

You can look for scholarships on http://www.fastweb.com (they are owned by Monster) and http://www.finaid.org/scholarships.

Good luck! I am older than you, getting ready to do a 2nd Bachelors. :)

MissMissy · Jul 27, 2008

Hi AtomicWoman,

I thanked you because I am looking for ways to fund my second degree education and you provided us with a website i didn't know about

Thanks again,

Missmissy

GaMBA · Jul 28, 2008

Taffy, this will be my third degree and I was able to get the Hope Grant, a program here in GA, to pay for ALL of my tuition for my prerequisites. I think I could even get an entire LPN program paid with it, as the program pays for up to 95 hours of credits. The program also chips in some money for books and all but $35 of your school fees. There are no income requirements but I think you can only use it for certain programs, of which nursing (at least at the community college level) is one. I don't know where you live but check with the financial aid office of the school you plan to attend. That's where I found out about the Hope Grant. Good luck!

penelopelp · Jul 28, 2008

I am so happy that I found this thread. I am considering nursing as a 3rd degree. I have worked as an English teacher for the past 5 years, and have completely burned out on that job. I was always interested in being a nurse, but when I was young (19), the science/math classes seemed so hard compared to my fun English classes. I have no regrets on my first 2 degrees, but I do have loans! I will be paying for my pre-reqs out of pocket. I won't be able to teach and take the pre-reqs. It is just too much. Teaching completely wipes me out. So, I'm looking for a hospital job, but of course, I don't have any experience in that area. I am considering training as a health unit coordinator, so that I can get my foot in the door. After that, I will work on my pre-reqs. I wouldn't mind taking an accelerated BSN program, but I am worried about the money. The ADN may end up being more practical. I wouldn't have any trouble getting a nursing job around here (of course), but getting in to a program is difficult.

I'm most worried about how I'm going to pay for this, trying to take classes again, and trying to juggle work, home, & school at the same time. My grandmother got her ADN when she was 50, while she was still taking care of her family. So, she is an inspiration to me.

Good luck to everyone. :wink2:

AtomicWoman · Jul 28, 2008

Hi AtomicWoman,
I thanked you because I am looking for ways to fund my second degree education and you provided us with a website i didn't know about
Thanks again,
Missmissy

No problem! Best of luck in your search for $$$. :)

mommy2three2 · Jul 28, 2008

Hello all,

I am finally wandering my way over here. I am a 2nd (or 3rd) degree student. I have a BS in Bio and a BS in Psych (I was a double major). I wanted to go into a health care related field, had considered nursing, looked into the NP route but hubby was not 100% about it and went down the med school admission route. Well, needless to say I did not get into med school, can not go through another admission cycle and am applying to various Directy entry MSN programs, an ABSN program as well as a few traditional BSN programs in my area. I know that once I am finished with the first part I want to go on to get my NNP.

As far as paying, it will be a combo of private loans and out of pocket as well as some fed. I am hoping that I will be able to gain a spot as a tech at the hospital I volunteer at after i get my EMT-B this fall as they offer tuition reimbursment and I would have no problem committing to working there.

Adams_Mommy_07 · Jul 29, 2008

I am looking into an accelerated alternate entry MSN program in my area. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree (in History). I did very well, getting disciplinary honors in my field but found it just was not wanted to do for the rest of my life. I have 23,000 in student loan debt, and will probably use the rest of the alloted amount of Stafford loans to pay for Nursing school--maybe some scholarships will help out...we can only hope. Right now I work as a Personal Banker making pretty good money but there isn't a whole lot of job security in Banking these days so...

touchhealth · Sep 1, 2008

Hey 2nd (and 3rd or 4th) degree students!

I am glad we have had so much participation on this thread! I am sure many of you are already starting pre-requisite classes, and I just wanted to say GOOD LUCK to everyone who is in school right now.

Additionally, GOOD LUCK to everyone else, wherever you are on this path to nursing!

I think I've finally decided to really try and get into an accelerated BSN program which means taking WAY more classes this year than I expected. Whew!

Take care of yourselves, and keep dreaming!!!

Marysjrfan · Sep 2, 2008

well, i start back the 15 th..a&p 1 and a nurse's aide class, which is 12 credits worth at my school. i appreciate the good luck wishes...rumor has it i may need them, lol!! i would also like to wish good luck to anyone starting, already in, or going back to classes. this is a great support for all of us.

touchhealth · Oct 14, 2008

I know that for most of us returning 2nd degree student, balancing the financial burden of returning to full-time school is quite complicated and nerve-wracking. :confused:

I was just wondering how the current economic crisis is affecting everyone? Anyone reconsidering how they're going to go into the profession?

I was so set on doing an accelerated BSN, and now I'm not even sure I could qualify for the kind of loans these programs require!

Then again, working as an RN within a year would be fantastic...

Ugh:banghead: