2nd degree student, having financial aid issues--anyone else?

Nursing Students Student Assist

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I'm a second bachelor's degree student, married with two children. Because I have a degree already, I'm having a very difficult time with financial aid. I got a financial aid suspension letter in the mail last week. It was from the school, stating that because I had so many credit hours, why don't I have a degree already. Well, I do but I'm back again. So the nursing department sent them a degree plan, but now I'm hearing about a 60 hour cap for second bachelor's degree students.

Anyone knwo anything about this? Are appeals ever successful?

I have 18 months left of an accelerated program, so I can't quit now. It is going to be beyond difficult to stay afloat financially for the next 18 months with NO aid at all. AND having to come out of pocket for my tuition.

Anyone have any insight?

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*waves hand*...apparently Dept of Ed now requires that schools audit any student with over 90 credits to make sure they are progressing toward a degree...

sooooo...because I have 135 credits (first bachelor's degree and NS pre-reqs) I have to go to financial aid tomorrow and sign a waiver so they can audit me before I can get a financial aid pkg...

pain in my....

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Ugh, I'm hoping it's as easy as that for me, but I have a feeling it won't be. good luck to you!

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Are you going for the BSN or ASN? If you're going for the ASN schools won't pay out if you have a Bachelors. If you're going for the BSN then you'll be fine. There going to make you do a degree audit and have it signed by a counselor and will only pay for classes deemed necessary to earn the degree! (I was in the same boat)

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Just re-read your post. You're clearly seeking the BSN so you'll be fine!

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Are you going for the BSN or ASN? If you're going for the ASN schools won't pay out if you have a Bachelors. If you're going for the BSN then you'll be fine. There going to make you do a degree audit and have it signed by a counselor and will only pay for classes deemed necessary to earn the degree! (I was in the same boat)

when you say schools won't pay out you mean financial aid from the school? I'm not expecting any however since I'm on unemployment the ADN degree I'm seeking is on the list of "retraining programs" I wonder if that will have any weight...

as long as I get Stafford loans then I'll be fine...

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Federal Aid programs are generally limited to 150% of the credits needed for your degree. So it is possible to be cut off from Aid because you have a previous bachelor's degree even though you are now going for a new degree once your total undergrad credits exceed 150% of the number of credits required for your new degree. You can apply for a waiver, which is usually based on if you are pursuing a new degree as "re-training" There are also other financial aid programs for 'displaced workers', which usually involves pretty generous grants for students pursuing a degree because they were laid off from their last career, their company went bankrupt, etc.

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Specializes in Med/Tele.

I'm having problems with that now! I don't already have a degree bc I changed my major but bc I have too many hours and I go to a CC they say i have too many hours. They accepted my appeal last semester and the denied it this semester even though I am half way through!! I was approved for Pell too and now I can't get it or loans bc of financial aid. My only other option was to go to a bank and take a out a personal student loan...well they require a co-signer and I have nobody who could cosign so I'm stuck in a big way! School starts in a month and I don't know what i'm gonna :(

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Are you going for the BSN or ASN? If you're going for the ASN schools won't pay out if you have a Bachelors. If you're going for the BSN then you'll be fine. There going to make you do a degree audit and have it signed by a counselor and will only pay for classes deemed necessary to earn the degree! (I was in the same boat)

Thanks, I hope you are right! I'm going to be over the 60 hour limit. I really don't need the stress of worrying about paying for all this up front. Ughhh!

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I'm having problems with that now! I don't already have a degree bc I changed my major but bc I have too many hours and I go to a CC they say i have too many hours. They accepted my appeal last semester and the denied it this semester even though I am half way through!! I was approved for Pell too and now I can't get it or loans bc of financial aid. My only other option was to go to a bank and take a out a personal student loan...well they require a co-signer and I have nobody who could cosign so I'm stuck in a big way! School starts in a month and I don't know what i'm gonna :(

Oh no:crying2:, I'm sorry to hear this. I know some schools can put you on a payment plan. That wouldn't be an option for me, cause I won't have the money then either! Good luck to you, this really sucks.

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Thanks, I hope you are right! I'm going to be over the 60 hour limit. I really don't need the stress of worrying about paying for all this up front. Ughhh!

If you're in undergrad (asn/adn/as/aa) and only have 60hours you shouldn't get flagged until 90 hours. That is because of the 150% completion rule. It goes by courses attempted not credits received. For example if you withdrew from classes for whatever reason they still count. If you are in Bachelor program you have 180 credits to worry about. But if you have earned a Bachelor's degree and are trying to seek another undergrad degree.... you're on your own. Not 100% if that includes student loans (i think it does).

\\But your original question... you should be perfectly fine with 60 hours. no worries :-)

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

The reality is that there's just not enough money in the bucket for all the hands being held out and they're tightening requirements.

Second-degree students are in the cross-hairs, I'm afraid.

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