money anxiety...

[ZenStudent]

Well I finally made it into an accelerated BSN program for the fall (yay) and now I am getting quite anxious about paying for everything. I already have about 7,000 out in loans and I will need to take out another 50K or more for the program( including housing, books, etc.). I am just wondering if anyone else is in the same boat or if anyone is out of school and paying back loans and possibly wishing they had done things differently. It is just such a huge amount of money and I am suddenly freaking out thinking about being in debt for so long. And then there is the talk about new grads having trouble getting jobs...but that is a whole different issue!

So I guess my question is: Do I go ahead and take out loans for this program and get my BSN in a little under a year and hopefully start working right away....or do I go to a local CC for my ASN for two years ( much cheaper obviously) and then back eventually for my BSN? My family thinks I should pay up and go for the BSN since it will get me the degree I want and get me working as a nurse the fastest. Time is money right...or is it?

[ZenStudent]

I could have started this thread. Been spending the last 3 months online trying to figure this out. Now Im considering my local CC Assoc. degree. The deadline is tomorrow. Applied to 3 Accel BSN programs cuz Id like to put my psych degree to some use (which I received 12 y ago). Im still waiting to hear back from 2 schools. Im 9K in credit debt and no idea where any of the money will come but I feel like it will definitely be worth it in the end. I do wonder......do hospitals look at where you got your BSN? Does that even matter? Im looking at 50K student loans. Spent $150 to apply to one school and have to wait till Im in to see if I can afford it.. this is screwed up. Thanks for all the help and reassurance that Im not the only one in this sit.

Yea I'm like 3K in credit debt--all on pre-req tuition (no fancy shoes or purses:wink2:)

I'm not sure about whether or not hospitals care where you get your degree. My concern about the CC degree is that it might make it harder for me to find my first job in a new state with a degree from a school no one has heard of. (I realllly don't want to live where I am living so maybe that is why I don't want to go to the CC!) I am kind of under the impression that once you get some actual work experience, it won't matter where your degree came from...but i could be wrong.

Good luck figuring it all out! In an effort to remain positive about it I am just trying to look at it as a really big important purchase that is going to be well worth it. And isn't living on less the trendy thing to do these days?

[Jules A, MSN]

I think you are wise to be cautious and think this through. This is just my two cents but I would not be comfortable taking out that much in student loans. I'm not a fan of debt and there isn't much that I would call "good debt". Take some time to skim through threads here and you will find plenty of people having trouble making their loan payments and that was before jobs got tighter. I totally do think that nursing jobs are secure in the future but I also think that either saving up to pay your tuition and/or working while you go to school makes more sense than not. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Bella RN, BSN, MSN]

I can't believe that institutions are charging that much for a BSN--Wow $$40,000. For undergrad?? I know grad school is pricey like that but undergrad...wow. I attended a community college and obtained my ADN RN degree. Started working for a year and went back to the USF and got my BSN. My employer paid for it (BSN) but for the 1.5-2yrs I went back for my BSN my tuition was only $4,000!!! That's it. So maybe the school you are attending is private. I went to a state University and had no problem. I Never took out a loan for either programs....I am really wondering is it because private universities charge so much?? Is that why people take out loans?? I really am curious not condescending at all.... When I was in ADN nursing school I did receive financial aid and worked two jobs to get me through so I know about sacrifice and discipline. I Thank God that he gave me the strength to prevail and endure the torture at times on top of having to work while in school. NOt only that I almost literally lost my mind while working on my BSN due to a med error that a pharmacist made on my antibiotics----ANOTHER STORY!!! But you have your parents support and you can make it!! Do what you feel in your heart is best. Good luck!!

[w2bhappy]

Wow mellie, we are in the same boat. I, too, dont like where Im living. I always seem to end up here again, the place I grew up. Im always dreaming of a better place to live. It is easy though, free rent. Close to my family here....(a little too close), but it does make it easier. Not to mention Im 33 and want to get RN asap so I can start a fam! The CC here is still $24K, not cheap...and I wont have RN until June 11. W/ accell (if I get in) I could be RN by next year! with a better degree. Im losing much sleep at night over this whole thing. I say take out the loans and get what you want. I really dont know.