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

cokeforbreakfast · Apr 26, 2008

I would love it if this new thread were available!

GaMBA · Apr 26, 2008

i'm also very stressed about doing this. what if i hate this as much as my first degree. i'm scared to waste 2 years of my life and a lot of debt, just to be right back where i was before. it is very exciting, but very scary.

i totally hear ya! i feel the exact same way, which is why i intend to thoroughly check out this profession before committing to join it. i don't hate my first 2 degrees, on the contrary i'm glad i have them as they've been very helpful and will continue to be so (ba in econ and an mba). the skills and education from those 2 degree programs are very transferrable. however, i do have the same concerns that you do about "wasting time". they say no education is wasted, but still, who wants to put in all that time, effort and $$ to get a nursing degree just to find out you don't want to do that...either. :bugeyes:

what appeals the most to me about nursing versus a lot of other careers i've looked into is the flexibility it has in terms of career options. there are so many options and they all seem to pay fairly well for the most part. also, it's nice to know that our previous education--no matter how different it was from nursing--could end up being a huge benefit to us in our new careers.

Bormio · Apr 26, 2008

I completely agree. A lot of the issues faced by second degree students, whether due to the different demographics of the group, the different programs we apply to, and the different requirements for each program make the discussions among this group unique. I understand the technological limitations, but in this instance, the additional bandwith for the forum, may reap enormous benefits in customer service, but also increase the cohesiveness of the forums and reduce the size and dilution of some of the larger forums.

Is there a specific process that we need to follow to initiate a new forum?

And finally, with regard to student loans, I just have to mention that they will very soon be deducting my payment from my social security check (if I'm lucky enough to get one of those)!!!!

Bridgett · Apr 26, 2008

I'm not going to actually get into the nursing program for a few years due to a wait list, so I haven't started to really looking into how I will pay for it. I am paying for the pre-reqs out of pocket .I am planning to save up money, pay off debts, and hopefully pay in cash when the time comes.

However, after reading this yesterday I decided to talk to WellsFargo. I scheduled for someone to call me to discuss student loans. I explained my situation to him (I have an AA and a BS and would like to go back for a ADN, and I already owe money to WF for student loans). He said I am viewed no different than any other undergraduate and can borrow more federal loans as an undergraduate. Is this true? I wasn't sure if he knew what he was talking about? He kept asking what grade level I would be counted as. I'm not sure? Are we considered Freshman again? I have 124 credits!

lifesacomedy · Apr 26, 2008

I love this! Thank you! Often times I have to type out the whole darn story and we second or third degree students in our second career are truly a unique bunch (and truly sometimes, I feel like we're a whole different animal, too). There seem to be some common struggles:

money (money, money, money)

drive (read: we overwork ourselves both in school, jobs, and homes)

We just tend to carry loads that younger or first degree students haven't acquired yet (mortgages, car payments, a standard of living that we have already become used to, sometimes kids, pets,ridiculous class loads plus full or part time jobs, prior debts...I could go on, but I won't). And that's not a value judgment, of course...just my reality.

It's nice to know there are others out there as "crazy as I am" (according to less-encumbered students in my classes).

Thanks for creating this space! :bowingpur

LStiff · Apr 27, 2008

I agree! I'm 27, work full time and attend school at night. I'm lucky enough to work at the hospital and the school is literally right there so I can park in 1 place all day and night! It's tough to juggle all of the things that live includes and then say "Hey I want to be a nurse" lol I think in the end we will be happy we made the effort! :)

WantAccel.BSN, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2008

I agree that an additional forum would be appropriate, and appreciated. Okay, this financial aid thing has me concerned. I have a pretty substantial debt from the year I spent in law school (and it was a public institution!!! Geez!). Anyway, am I understanding this correctly--that I will not be able to borrow additional monies for an accelerated BSN? Will someone please clarify?

You 2nd degreers rock!

:)

AtomicWoman · Apr 27, 2008

I'm not going to actually get into the nursing program for a few years due to a wait list, so I haven't started to really looking into how I will pay for it. I am paying for the pre-reqs out of pocket .I am planning to save up money, pay off debts, and hopefully pay in cash when the time comes.
However, after reading this yesterday I decided to talk to WellsFargo. I scheduled for someone to call me to discuss student loans. I explained my situation to him (I have an AA and a BS and would like to go back for a ADN, and I already owe money to WF for student loans). He said I am viewed no different than any other undergraduate and can borrow more federal loans as an undergraduate. Is this true? I wasn't sure if he knew what he was talking about? He kept asking what grade level I would be counted as. I'm not sure? Are we considered Freshman again? I have 124 credits!

As a second-degree student, you are eligible for Federal student LOANS, but not Federal GRANTS. There is a cap to the total amount of Federal loans you can have, but I don't know the exact dollar amount. I am so glad I kept my first-degree Federal student loan borrowing to a minimum! 'Cause man, now I *need* that money. :chuckle

Asherah, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2008

Anyway, am I understanding this correctly--that I will not be able to borrow additional monies for an accelerated BSN? Will someone please clarify?
:)

Yes, I can provide some clarification regarding this common misconception. The only federal aid that a 2nd bachelor's student is absolutely NOT eligible to receive is a Pell grant.

There is a lifetime maximum of $46,000 for Stafford Loans. This means, that you can have 3/4/5/BA/BS degrees and if you haven't reached that max, you're still eligible. For example, I borrowed $2,500 at my first university, $11,000 at my second, and I still have $32,500 leftover for my two-year BSN at Johns Hopkins. There are maximums per year that the Stafford loan will allow you to borrow. If you are independent student, this is $7,500-$10,500 per year, depending on your year of study within your program. Much more information is available if you google the term Stafford Loan. Also, these loans are not based on credit worthiness and you can qualify for them if you have not defaulted on a previous federal student loan.

Private loans are a whole different ballgame and are based on your credit worthiness and are available for living expenses and tuition. However, based on the economic downturn and subprime credit situations many larger lenders are restricting their private lending significantly. Due to this it may be harder for some students to qualify for private loans and many may require co-signers.

I would encourage anyone with questions to use the financial aid offices of their schools, these questions are what they are there to serve you for!

FL-MOM-O-3 · Apr 27, 2008

I am a SAHM 2nd degree seeker. I have a huge amount of debt from my previous degree (private school, no less). I opted for the ADN, mainly for price, doable schedule (evening program), and length of the program (18mo, straight). I am getting ready to start my 3rd semester!YAY!

I was able to get loans and scholarships. I am surprised no one has mentioned scholarships. Check with your financial aid office they may have one specifically for moms/dads. I was able to get a scholarship and reduce part of my loan. The financial aid office said that EdAmerica is best for nursing students.

Also check with the local health system, many of them have a program that will pay for your school, you just have to work for them for an alloted time after. I think it is usually it is a year for every year the pay for. Not to sure on that though. That wouldn't be bad if you plan on staying put for awhile and are only doing a 2yr deal.

good luck to all

Sarah Bellum · Apr 27, 2008

Another 2nd degree person here! I'm starting a 2 year direct entry MSN in August and also haven't quite figured out how to pay for it. Thankfully we have no debt except our house but the program I'm going to is expensive and my dh is going to lose his job in the next 2-12 months (nice that they are so sure about the date, eh?) So I'm sure Stafford loans are in my future. I'm hoping the school will have some scholarships and I'm going to look for funding on my own as well.

I wanted to mention to everyone to look into WIA in your state/county. WIA is Workforce Investment Act and it's a federally funded program to help pay for education to get into a better job. Every county runs it a little bit differently so you'll have to check locally. Here you have to meet income requirements and go to a school on their list of approved institutions. If you meet those specifics they will pay up to 5k for tuition and books so not a total free ride but a good chunk of money to help out! And here they don't care if you have a previous degree/career.

Oh, and I agree we need a forum to discuss all the weirdness that comes from being a non-traditional/2nd degree student. Like being away from the classroom for 15+ years and feeling terrified of going back! Well, I'm over that now but 6 months ago when I was starting prereqs @ community college that was my main concern!

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2008

"How in debt we already are from our previous degrees (OUCH!)..."

You're telling me. I hyperventillate when I think about taking my current $50K debt and adding $10-$40K to that depending on where I go!

"How to pay for nursing school when you don't qualify for more loans..."

Definitely- I've looked at a lot of these programs to get more people in to nursing through special loans, scholarships, loan forgiveness, and you're looking at 4,000 applicants for 200 awards. And my credit is not great (I'm working on it, but it's not going to be great anytime soon), and I really don't have anyone I can ask to cosign, so.... yeah.

"The ADN vs BSN debate when you already have the undergrad degree..."

For me this is the easy one- in half the time it takes to get an ADN, I can get a BSN from an accelerated program. I live in a metropolitan area, and a few of the local hospitals are only hiring BSN new graduates right now. Plus, I've known I want to be a nurse for several years, am just getting to the prerequisites, and want it DONE!