Nurse Candidate Program or ROTC or Loan Repayment

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2009

Why not let the military pay for your MSN?

just_cause, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2009

..agreed. In many cases if you enter as a BSN prepared student you can then apply and attend graduate school later on and this will be paid for..and you will basically attending school as an officer - but not really reporting to anyone... just going to school and getting paid and have tuition paid and getting BAH... where if you got the Masters prior... well you might not have that option as you wouldn't be eligible.

I agree with previous poster and would look at the options a bit -

v/r

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2009

And even if you don't get into the program just_cause is talking about, they will pay anyway through tuition assistance (most of your MSN programs are available as a primarily online course somewhere, and the school will work with you for your clinical experience). You'll owe them more time for that, but you'd also owe them time for the other types of programs as well.

You'll go in with more rank with an MSN, but you'll have more debt - so I say let the feds pay for it. I've paid enough taxes in my life that I've earned it...plus, in the military, I wouldn't want to be a brand new MSN with NO nursing experience at all because I'd say they're going to expect you to know an awful lot of stuff that you're just not going to know without experience.

Also, unless you're prior service I believe ROTC is capped at age 27 (I don't know how old you are, but that might be a factor). (If you're prior service, they take your years of service off your age - or at least they used to.)

T-Dasha · Aug 14, 2009

So other than doing the Nurse Candidate Program through the Army or Navy do you guys know of any way that I could get the Air Force to pay for my BSN upfront?

lifeafter40 · Aug 14, 2009

the only other way that I am aware of for you to get your BSN payed for up front (other than the before mentioned programs) is for you to enlist...serve some time, and use the GI Bill... Keep in mind that the purpose of these programs is not to give you a free education, they are to provide you an incentive to serve in the Military. Good Luck in your search, and in your education

LA40

Cursed Irishman · Aug 14, 2009

Keep in mind that the purpose of these programs is not to give you a free education, they are to provide you an incentive to serve in the Military.

BRAVO! :yeah:

T-Dasha · Aug 15, 2009

To lifeafter40 and Cursed Irishman:

My purpose is not to "use" the military for a free education. I finished my first bachelor's degree on 150% scholarship (Praise the Lord!) with none of that scholarship money coming from the military. That was just purely thorough research of my own and alot of scholarship hunting. So no, I don't NEED the money from the military cause I obviously know how to seek out private scholarships on my own. But how smart of me would it be to spend more time and more resources seeking out private scholarships when my plan is to join the military anyway. Wouldn't it just make more sense to do thorough research on the scholarships that the military has to offer and take advantage of those first.....

lifeafter40 · Aug 15, 2009

I meant no offense in my statement. I have seen a lot of people go into the military, both Officers and enlisted, strictly for financial benefits or for college money. Unfortunately, many of those individuals were disheartened with the military once they were in... but I do not know you or your situation, I was making generalities.

More to the point of my comments is the fact that, for the most part, the military wants to ensure that those to whom they give incentive monies are suitable for military service... and they want to make sure that they "get theirs first." meaning that other than the ROTC and Candidate programs... the military wants you to serve first... THEN get your college money; rarely do they offer to pay for your education in advance.

T-Dasha · Aug 16, 2009

Well....I understand your point. I was just hoping there was another option to get them to pay upfront because I've heard about the taxation of the loan repayment at 28%. And with that much taxation that would still leave me with a significant amount of debt.

But thanks for the advice and input.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Aug 17, 2009

I went to Duke's accelerated BSN program for sixteen months and my whole BSN cost me forty grand. To get a BSN and an MSN from Duke would cost about eighty grand - still less than Emory at $120K. Why Emory specifically? Just asking - I went to Duke because it was the shortest route to a BSN around here and for some reason I didn't get into UNC's accelerated OR their 2-year program (but got into Duke first try - go figure - with a cum laude BS degree and A's in all my prereqs). I was fortunate in that I'm only in debt by half the cost of attendance.

Emory's got prestige, yes, but I'd say Duke is nothing to sneeze at either. Plus I've got sixteen hours of classes at the graduate level that will transfer AT the graduate level should I not attend Duke for my MSN (which I find highly unlikely as I plan on sticking with the evil I know!).

There are other schools with equal prestige that don't cost six figures, even for a direct entry MSN. I'm not judging your decision, just trying to encourage you to explore other avenues.

Note to readers - IN NO WAY am I saying ANYTHING negative about other schools, so please don't flame me as if I were. I know I'm lucky to have been able to go to Duke; I'm a Navy brat, not a debutante; an Air Force officer, not a trust fund kid. BELIEVE me. :)

T-Dasha · Aug 17, 2009

Well I just bought a house here in the Atlanta area and wanted to remain here at least until I became active duty in the military. So if I am unable to cover the cost of Emory through private scholarships and help from the military then I will most likely attend a local university....Clayton State.