Looking for financial aid

kristimarieSC · Jan 30, 2015

I definitely agree with the other posters, but don't want to discourage you from pursuing your dreams. I do want to caution you, though on your statement "I don't want to go anywhere else." PLEASE don't put all your eggs in one basket! Deversify applications for schools, even if you think you don't want to go there. Now in my second semester of nursing school, I can tell you only a very small portions of the students in my class go to my program because they knew all along and worked to go to this specific school. But somehow every single person in my class can agree that this program is "truly where they are supposed to be." I was very cut and dry and definite before I actually experienced nursing school, but somehow nursing school has a way of humbling those who have it all figured out. The best advice I can give is NOT TO IGNORE these people who are telling you what you don't want to hear about your school. Keep your heart open to ALL alternatives, but don't give up on your dreams. Nurses are flexible above all else and not one will tell you her life and work is exactly how she/he planned. As for financial aid, it's very rare to get a "prenursing" scholarship, so you'll have to look for non specific degree scholarships. Good luck, keep your sense of direction and perseverance, but be humble an open to opportunities you didn't plan on.

Leonardsmom,LPN · Jan 30, 2015

As others have said, I would really consider going to a community college for prereqs, or at least a school that doesn't cost as much. For the amount of money that it would cost you to attend your first choice school, you could use that money towards a Masters program if you decided later on to continue your education, or could be used towards the purchase of a reliable vehicle, or even towards a house. Take the time and think about where and what you want to be able to do in the future once you are through school. That kind of money for a bachelors is not worth it, even to be able to go away for school to have the "college exoerience".

PinkEagle · Feb 1, 2015

The OP clearly stated that he/she doesn't want to attend any other institution but her first choice. Her first choice is "Ursuline College" (never heard of such a school), which charges $914 per credit. I see this tunnel vision over and over again. The problem is a lot of students lot at Community Colleges as a place for High School Dropouts or a 10th tiered College option, instead of looking at how cost effective an option, it is and all the other benefits attached to attending a Community College for 2-3 years and then transferring to a 4-year institution.
It seems that College students these days seem to think that they have to go away to College, even if their parents cannot afford it. Room and Board cost about $10K-$11K, which is an avoidable cost in my book. Why spend $26K on Tuition and Fees annually when you can attend a Community for College for $4,100 annual Tuition & Fees(Ohio CC rates; in California, it is about $45 per credit hour). In a lot of cases the CC Class sizes are smaller and the Teacher is much better than at a lot of these 4-year Institutions. I am at a lost as to why most College Students do not do the 2 + 2 Option. An added bonus is your CC grades does not get added to your 4-year College Grades, allowing you to get much higher GPA at the 4-year College.
I think the OP is quite lazy, since she is looking for someone to do her research on Financial Aide for her. In this day and age of Computers and the Internet, where information is so readily available, I find it an unusual request for information.

lol...your words are a wee bit abrasive but you do speak the truth!

OP, since you want to go to this school so badly, then the first thing you should do is contact them! If you're still in high school, contact your guidance counselor and ask for their advise. But seriously you should be able to just Google this yourself. I mean it's 2015, a 30 second google search will give you tons of stuff to look at so take the time to go through all of it.

But I 100% agree with everyone else, look into community colleges! Trust me, I went the private school route during undergrad and now I'm looking for a cost effective nursing school education so that my already 6-figure debt doesn't get significantly higher! If I could do it over again, I would have chucked out my snobby elitist attitude about public universities and either gone to my state school or gone to a community college and transferred. Student debt is REAL and it is a stifling struggle...you've been warned!

Mthom17 · Feb 1, 2015

So I would like to clear up a few things. First off, I am male. Just want to clear that up. Not a big deal.

Second, I want to address the loan issue. I realize that I will have to take out loans, I'm not blind to it. I think it will be worth it to attend my first choice school. The people there are great, the teachers are inspiring, and it is the most highly regarded program in the area, perhaps the state. I feel it is a blessing to have been accepted, and I will not pass up the opportunity.

Thirdly, I'm disappointed that I've been referred to as "lazy" for asking for help. This comment was very hurtful. I have been looking for scholarships and found many that I could apply for, but are not nursing related. I posted here asking for help from people who have been through this process, not to be insulted. The reason I joined this site was T find help, not be treated the same way I've been treated all throughout high school. I'm just saying.

And I will add, I talked to financial aid during my visit, and they encouraged me to search for outside scholarships. Kudos to CTnewgrad826. Very encouraging!

PinkEagle · Feb 1, 2015

Why do the scholarships you apply for have to be nursing related? If you are going to a 4 year school and are expected to graduate with a BSN then the first 2 years will be pre-reqs anyways. As a high school senior you can apply to almost ANY scholarship as long as they are not confined to a specific major (i.e. don't apply for a scholarship for student planning to major in business). Seriously just go to fastweb.com or scholarship.com and go from there. There are literally scholarships out there for high schoolers who are too tall! You just gotta look! I'm not gonna tell you what to do other than Google! I've been googling non-stop, digging through all types of scholarships and I'm applying as long as I qualify (and the main qualification is that I've been accepted into a school). It's a no-brainer and easy to do, so maybe that's why you were called lazy (not that I agree but that's what I'm assuming).

Also, you gotta have thicker skin! You can't let little words on an internet forum get you down, take all information you receive (including mine) with a grain of salt and move on. It's your life, so at the end of the day, no matter what anyone advises, you gotta do you. But as a nurse you are going to experience much worse so start growing that thicker skin now! My mother has told me nightmarish stories that make hearing a word "lazy" seem like a compliment!

kristimarieSC · Feb 1, 2015

OP: I commend you on your calm response, it's not easy when someone is abrasive. While not taking their side, I can see where they would come up with "lazy." Once you are in nursing school, you become a whole new breed of student. Almost a super student. They teach you to research, grab, an claw for each little piece of Information and make you a type of resourceful you've never been before. If you were in nursing school, I would agree you were lazy, but you clearly are just starting your journey, so I know very well you are not. I think some people forget what they were life before, an that's where te saying "eating you young" comes from. It's ok to ask for help, but some posters are expecting you to behave life a nursing student before you are one. Take it with a grain of salt! I do, however, encourage you to do te math on you loans with the entry level pay for an RN in your area. I think it will be an eye opener.