New student with financial aid question

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hi all, i will be starting lpn in september 2011...i have a question to those of you who are students right now or have recently finished..i am attending a vocational school in nj...i am hearing what a great program it is and it is also EXTREMELY TOUGH.....lots and lots of studying......which is what i expect..HOWEVER..since students really shouldnt work full time hours (this is what im hearing) since the program is so intense...is it possible to use student loans for living expenses? is that allowed? this way students dont have to stress over bills on top of studies..... i am new to the whole financial aid thing...i have been out of school for a long time...i am 47 years old....so i dont know how it works......anyone who has any opinions/facts about this, i would appreciate your input....

THANNKS!!

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I have used financial aid for living expenses.

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Specializes in SPN.

New to it all too. Dont know about loans but Pell you can. The way it was explained to me, the school gets your Pell, they take what they need for tution, then give you the rest for supplies,uniforms, books, and whatever is left, you can use however you need to

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ok thank you...my school is almost 10 grand so im thinking i may have to take out loans too...really dont know what to expect as far as grants go

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Specializes in Rehab.

you can used sub and unsub loans and pell grants for living expenses while in school, but u have to realize the disbustment dates on these loans or grants, i go to eastern center for arts amd technology inwillow grove pa and i startes school feb 7 this year and we wont get a refund check til the end of june, so make sure u can survive until this chheck comes, LPN programs dont run on the typical semester schedule so our loans are disbursted differently, when u do the fin aid paper work it will tell u that u can borrow enough for livingg expenses, but the maximum a year (2 semesters) is 9500 for both the sub and un sub loans,and u will most likly get some pell grant money, so be aware of the dates that these pay out, mine wont pay out until im in my 5th month of school

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hello and thank you for that detailed response...the disbursment dates of course are very important as the bill collectors dont want to hear "oh ill pay you in 4 months when i get my check"...i didnt know thats how it worked so i appreciate the info...i thought you got all the money in the beginning to use as you needed....this may change a lot of my plans :crying2:

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Specializes in Pediatrics, OB/GYN, ER, Geriatrics.

I would talk to the financial aid office to find out the dispersment dates for your school and state. Every school works differently in regards to financial aid and dispersments.

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hi again and thank you...im going to speak to the school to get exact details for my situation....eally, this forum has been such a great place..i thank you all for taking time out of your day to help

maria;)

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Good Luck to you, I am currently enrolled in NTC, a vocational school in Virginia. I would definately check with the financial aid department as stated earlier, because all schools are different...I am part-time until August, of this 18 month program, and this particular school because of its affiliation with the public school system does not offer loans, only financial aid. But yes, since I have been in school the past few years I have taken out student loans just to help me out during my studies, and I also substitute teach on my off days at my leisure which is some extra (easy) money...I would not recommend anyone working full-time unless they absolutely have to in the nursing program.Good Luck to you, remember study, study, study!

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