Living expenses + WCU tuition fees....

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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So I'm pretty sure that I want to go to WCU for their 39months BSN program. It's 15k per semester and there are 8 of them so in total it comes up to 120k. See I could go through that whole community college route then transfer to a state college which would be cheaper, but I am married with a young child, so I need to get this over with and start making money to support my family. Plus I don't even have my prereq yet and WCU includes all that into their 39 months program. What I would like to know is how much am I allowed to take out for living expenses on top of the 40k a year fees? Anyone of you been through the process and would like to share?

I haven't read this entire thread yet, but I just wanted to mention that I go to WCU currently and I'm 100% positive I made the right decision. Yes, we all know the tuition is ridiculous, but I sincerely believe it is worth it.

moorejulie... please enlighten me. What are the pros and cons about this program?? Why do you think its worth 120k? What are you plans on paying off this loan? Which school are you attending? I really want to do it but I need input of students like yourself to help me make a decision since you have first hand experience with classes, prof, administration, fin aid etc. Any advice is appreciated.

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I haven't read through all the posts. But, from my schooling experience, you qualify for a certain amount of aid. The school as a certain amount of cost they will deduct from your "award" and whatever is left over is yours to save, or to spend on school related things. You should be able to visit your financial aid office and have them do an expenditure sheet for you that will give you pretty exact figures.

I am currently a student as well. Just my opinion, but 120k is a HUGE amount of debt to take on for a BSN degree. Have you exhausted all other efforts and this is the very last option you have? I just hope that it is beneficial to you in the end. I would worry, personally, that I wouldn't actually bring home very much after paying my normal expenses plus the student loan payment. A payment on 120k isn't going to be cheap.

Good luck you to in all your endeavors. :D

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your right, I will be loosing 1/3 of pay check without OT if I decided to pay off the loan in 5 years. But it will be double what I make now (I am a mother working PT making 20k or so a year). Is it impratical to think this way? I mean my situation will only get better after I become an RN. What bothers me the most is some people dont think twice about investing in a house etc for X amount of money, but people have to think twice about investing in their education. I guess I am one of those people because I am having a HARD time making a decision. But they way I calculate numbers in my head over the years, the money will be there after my education. Money will not be there if I do not invest in my degree.

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p.s

I have already wasted TWO years to finish my pre-reqs TEN months to apply to some nursing programs with no luck since they have this long wait list at the time and now colleges need a 4.0 gpa for the point system. At this point I can continue to apply to CC and hope to get in next year and finish in THREE years with an ADN then a year and go back for my BSN for another year. Thats if I get in this filling period to be able to start next year. At that point I have taken 7 years to finish my BSN.

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People used to invest in houses that were worth what they paid for them, then everyone wanted a house and the market price went sky-high to an unsustainable level and people were paying more than they could afford for a house in hopes of making money. Eventually the bubble burst and those that paid too much were sol.

Pair that to nursing. Its a great idea to get an education, and a worth while investment. But is it really wise to spend 6 times the amount necessary? Spending that much seems like a bad investment.

I get you on the pay. But I am doing research on the viability of nursing as a career and found that it's not very easy to find work in Cali (I assume you are in Cali). Your idea of making more only works if you can get a job, so are you ok with moving to BFE to work to pay off your loans? Are you sure that nursing is for you? I don't have facts on how many Nursing students drop out of school, but I assume it's a good amount (life happens), and have heard it can be between 10-50% even at good schools, and would think that WCC is likely to be at the latter part of that band. And even when (and if) you graduate and get a job, 13% of new grads quit nursing in a year.

So all these hurdles are before you, and coming from a guy that stayed in a holiday inn last night it seems like a bad investment. I wouldn't loan you the money based on the risk, and I really can't see anyone else doing do either, at least not at a reasonable rate.

Please do a google search on student loan debt, it's crazy.

As an end note, I do like that you are going for a BSN, it has a better placement than ADN, but as the competition for jobs continues to ramp up (148,000 RN grads pass the NCLEX each year) hospitals are going to move beyond the BSN-ADN preference and towards a how good of a school did you get your BSN from. Yes, we will all pass the same exam (hopefully), but that doesn't make the edu equal.

I know I sound like a downer, but I truly wish you luck and just want to point out some things that you might have overlooked in your quest.

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7 years is a long time for a 4 year degree. I definately feel your pain on this one. It's going to take me closer to 3 years to get my 2 year ASN. You are right about investing in your education. You are your best investment. You just have to do what's right for yourself and your family. I am enrolled at National American in MO. The NCLEX pass rate for the graduating class of 2010 was 100% and 100% of the graduates are currently working. The school is a little pricey, but there is no wait list for the clinical core classes.

It is competetive anywhere you go, I think. You are going to hear good and bad about any school you choose. I guess the bottom line is, what can you do right now that makes the most sense for you? One thing to consider is if you get your ASN right now, maybe a future employer will pay for you to get your BSN. Most hospitals here in my state offer tuition assistance. That's always something to think about.

Don't feel like you've wasted 2 years getting pre reqs out of the way. It's never a waste when you are doing a requirement for a core program. I am being required to get my CNA before being able to apply for the nursing core at NAU and I feel like THAT's a waste b/c I'll never be a CNA. I'm already an MA and feel that the CNA is pointless. But, I need to practice what I preach, and feel like it's not a waste. lol

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