Just started my prerequisites. Program options

I'm in the process of starting my prereq's at a local community college. Though I would love to say I will be applying to the ADN program within my community, I have found it to be more of a lotto to get into and more time consuming to assume it might work. With that said I am currently trying to figure out another avenue for getting into a ADN or BSN program somewhere else once I am done with basic prereq's. I know I am not alone on this venture and was hoping someone can give me a little advice as to what they did to find the right school that fit their needs. For me I am a single mom to a 9 year old son. I do not have a co-signer for loans and am hopeful that everything will fall into place. I figure a private school is best since they do give more scholarships than non. I'm in the Chicagoland area and am willing to commute a few hours away if it speeds up my education process. Also, has anyone done or know more details with these forgiveness loans? I hear you have to work in a low income or rural location as an RN and they write off/pay up to 35k a year.