Just got accepted -- student loans

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello,

I am a 35-year-old male with a previous BA in communications who just got accepted to the Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing. They have an accelerated nursing diploma program that can be completed in 15 months, but you can only go for partial evening in the first year.

I admit it -- my finances are ridiculous. My credit was wrecked in my first marriage and a nasty divorce -- and I'll be filing for bankruptcy in the next month. I am now remarried with two kids whom I see all the time -- but I still pay $210 per week in child support. Always pay it on time because my ex is poor and I know she will try to have me jailed if I fall behind even a little. I run a marginal small courier business, which I think I can keep active the first year, but then you have to go during the day, so I hope to gain enough experience from my clinicals to work part-time as a CNA and still see my kids. But part-time isn't enough -- unfortunately, working full-time in an accelerated program could be academic suicide. I'm sure I can get the child support modified, but that's barely scratching the surface. The trouble is that all the private student loan companies (govt. loans don't seem to cover much in living expenses) say they have to be "affiliated" with the school. Co-signer is no problem for these, but they are demanding affiliation.

I know Bridgeport has a partnership with Housatonic Community College where you take your non-nursing courses. Does anyone know if you can obtain private student loans as an HCC student while attending Bridgeport? My expenses are very high and I don't know what I'm going to do come second year.

Anyone with experience with this or similar hospital-based programs and loans -- I could really use your advice.

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Specializes in Cardiology, ED/Trauma, Med-Surg, Telemetry.

Hi:

I'm going through the same issue actually. I have my BS in Biology and decided after I graduated that I wanted to become an RN. Only this is I have reached my max for federal aid and I need to take out a private student loan as well. I have read a lot about the affiliation part but I don't know which places are. I was planning on contacting the financial aid advisor and/or speaking to someone during my orientation on Aug. 7. I am doing the partial evening for the first year & hope that I can save enough and be able to get a loan.

I think contacting and asking where they take private loans from is the best bet. Trust me, your not alone. If you have any updates on this info please inform. I will keep you posted as well!

Jeana

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I would check with your school to see what loan companies are affiliated with them. They should give you a list that they are affiliated with. It is better to go through the school for assistance than go out from private company to private company hoping they are affiliated with you school.

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There are federal scholarships for nursing. There is one that I applied for two years ago that I did not receive but it offered all my tuition, books and fees, plus a $1300/month stipend while receiving the scholarship. It is through the government but I forget the name of it. You just have to prove that you are in a nursing program that is accredited. Do you qualify for pell grants? My pell grant covered tuition and books. I know you can still receive pell grant post bachelors. You can try your private bank although I did not have any luck with Wells Fargo when my credit was 720 (it's nowhere close to that now) on getting a student loan. You could take out a personal loan. I know some banks will lend for that even if credit is an issue. Private companies will charge a higher interest rate though. I agree that working full time in an accelerated program would be brutal. I worked full-time in a program that was not accelerated and struggled to find time to sleep. I'd talk to the school or look into that federal scholarship. I found it by google before.

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Specializes in Cardiology, ED/Trauma, Med-Surg, Telemetry.

Hey; thanks so much for the replies. These really helped and I will continue the hunt for the government funded scholarship. I have been looking but the websites aren't very good OR all the deadlines are closed which sucks because I JUST found out I can't get financial aid for the Fall. I did however change my FAFSA, my mom has her Master's Degree and she said that because I already have a Bachelor's degree I really can't reverse and go back to get an Associate's in Nursing, so it's technically considered a GRADUATE CERTIFICATE. If you over the age of 24, you should be able to apply as independent on the FAFSA and this gives you up to $50,500 in federal aid. I haven't met that limit yet so I'm hoping it works; Maybe this can help you as well @PETEM35.

Once, I get the list from the school I will pass it along as well. Good Luck and stay positive (: where there is a will there is a way, especially in this country.

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Ouch, being maxed out on federal aid is rough. I feel your pain, believe me.. I'm about to max mine out and I still have 1.5 yrs of school to go :( My school works with a couple of different lenders; the financial aid office at your school is who you need to talk to. I go to a private diploma mill (a for profit) school, a very expensive one.. but class is only 2 days a week, one class is online, and in 2 years (total time) I will be an RN, not LPN, with an ADN degree. It was either that or spend 3+ years at the local state college, praying I could get into the nursing program. Its going to cost a fortune but I will get what I want as fast as possible, which is my RN license. Other than the cost, I like the school just fine.

Here in FL you can get to work as a CNA immediately if you have money to burn.. you can take a 2-4 day class (avg cost $200-250) that teaches you the skills and preps you for the CNA exam. (Folks who do not graduate from a CNA school are considered to be challenging the exam by taking it cold.. but a LOT of people do it this way so they can get to work.) You do not have to go to the little CNA prep schools but they will make sure you pass the state CNA exam. I've seriously considered doing that just so I can go to work part time and make contacts and get experience while I'm in school. The hard part's coming up with the money. I'm not currently working. :-\

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Specializes in Cardiology, ED/Trauma, Med-Surg, Telemetry.

Hi:

Well I've spent time trying to figure out the answer and unfortunately I am being provided no federal aid after all. I've decided to get a third shift part-time job to cover the costs of tuition for every semester and thank goodness my mother is willing to help a bit. It's going to be rough but if you want it you CAN get it. It just takes a lot of effort.

As far the CNA thing, it's really a good option. I got my CNA license right out of HS and been working in the field on and off every since. I may pick up a few cases here and there if I can to make some extra cash. It's really a great open and home care companies have extremely flexible hours!

Wish you the best of luck!

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If you over the age of 24, you should be able to apply as independent on the FAFSA and this gives you up to $50,500 in federal aid.

So you can apply as independent on the FAFSA if you're over 24yrs and are married? I've been trying to figure this out before I apply in October.

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Specializes in Cardiology, ED/Trauma, Med-Surg, Telemetry.
So you can apply as independent on the FAFSA if you're over 24yrs and are married? I've been trying to figure this out before I apply in October.

CarrieGL, you should be able to as these are the terms for THIS year's FAFSA. I know some of the questions vary by the year. I haven't been able to test this out as I am only 23 and not married. Hopefully it works out for you. I'm pretty sure but not positive; you may only need to qualify for one of the criteria above.

Best wishes!

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