don't know what to do anymore...

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I saw nursing as a way out of the house quickly but my community college is so full I wasn't even able to take any prereqs until I was 2 years in (now). I am in an abusive household where I get beat up everyday. I wanted to apply to the sf lpn program this year but from what I read, they never accept people the first application around. The only other schools in my area are vocational schools that I can't not only not afford, but can't get financial aid for. And I won't be able to get financial aid legally until I'm 24 because there's some sort of law not seperating people financially from their parents until they're 24. Trying for scholarships is like trying to win the lottery. Loans are only availble for peoplewith credit which I don't have or people with good co-signers which I also don't have. The only thing I have that will do me any good is my car,my phone and the college credits which I have earned. My whole life has basically been a catch 22 and I am just tired of,being stuck. There's nothing else I want to do besides nursing. The last glimmer of hope I had is the article I read yesterday saying that sometimes unemployment can help with job training assistant fees so I am going to ask them for help. I guess the point to this rant is to ask how people not only survived but got out of their situation like mine and went on to become a nurse and how did you do it? Thanks And god bless

Griffin- ok I gotcha when you said *pay* it didn't sound like you meant *loan*. :)

Yeah srry bout that, It was waaay past my bed time when I wrote that. There's probably a couple of things I might have phrased differently.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/home health care.
Please understand that I have said nothing so far to convey the message that you can't get financial aid. Despite that your parents can claim you on your tax returns you can still receive just enough money from the federal government to cover tuition and books. You just won't be getting much extra on top of that. (no crazy trips to tijuana) You have to fill out an updated FAFSA at the address I linked and coordinate with your financial aid office. Even though they're not always helpful you have to be persistent. Not having money is not a valid reason to not take as many classes as you have time to get an "A" in. You can get money. You just have to keep at it.
Well, I do have a fasa already. And its pretty much updated. The only problem is.coordinating it with the financial aid office who makes decisions about work study and other options and they chose not to help me.
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You need to update your FAFSA each time you get do your taxes (it's that season right now). Also, if it's not already fixed, the Vietnam thing can be addressed as well. Once you have an updated FAFSA you need to ask Financial Aid if they need any other documents from you. The next step is to wait until summer registration opens up. When it does ENROLL. Do this the very second registration opens up. Once you have enrolled in classes you will be given "x" amount of days to pay for the classes. This is where you (again) get with Financial Aid. Often when the Financial Aid folks ignore people it's because they don't have the necessary documents to provide them with your "financial snapshot". This is why you have to update your FAFSA and make sure they don't need anything else first.

Summary:

1) Update FAFSA again

2) Check with Financial Aid to see if they need any other documents from you

3) Wait till Summer/Fall registration

5) Register for classes

6) Coordinate Financial Aid Payment immediately after registering.

Also remember: Everyone has a boss. If you feel you're being blocked by an unhelpful member of the financial aid office talk to their boss. And if necessary- their boss. There is a very long chain of command you can go through at any college. But none of this will mean anything if you don't make the effort to keep trying over and over again.

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I am so sorry for your hardships, just know that once you become an RM this will make it that much sweeter :) Have you ever thought of moving out of state? That is what I had to do. I am also from California and was on quite a few waitlist until I decided to move to oklahoma. I am now at Oklahoma State University paying less than half the fees of any California program. Check into OSU they have on campus housing as well. Good luck and God bless you!

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