Only 9 credits- how can I get full financial aid?

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I'm not sure if this is an issue for anyone else- I'm attending Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland. I noticed that the 4 semesters of nursing course work is only 9 credits each semester (10 for the last semester). Most of my financial aid is based on full time enrollment (12 credits). Are there exceptions for the nursing program since it's so rigorous, or should I find an easy online class to take to supplement my 9 credits and bump me over to full time? Anyone else encounter this "problem"?

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If I were you, I would sign up for another class, online, something interesting.

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Specializes in Neuro, Geriatrics, Progressive Care.

No there are no exceptions. In Orientation we were told by the financial aid department that 12 hours is still full time and you would have to pick up extra classes. :( I know it sucks because next semester I will only have 8 credit hours

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I would look for an easy 3 credit course online. Maybe a gen ed that you haven't completed yet that won't be too hard.

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Most of my gen eds were completed when I was in college the first time, so I only had Micro and A&P prereqs to take. I took other Psych classes (and nutrition, health, medical terminology) to push me over to full time status then. I guess I'll try to find easy online classes to push me over to 12 credits.

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Specializes in Emergency.

We are encouraged to enroll in simple one or two credit courses such as health fitness to make up for the credit hours

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I'm in the same boat. My first semester is only 8 hours, so I've got 4 hours to fill for my financial aid. I talked to someone at the school about it and she said I could still get the aid with 8 hours, but it wouldn't be the full amount. I NEED that full amount to hopefully help pay for books, so I enrolled in a history class and a pilates course.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Thats interesting, for those with 8-9 credit hours, does that mean you only have 3 classes? Or perhaps even 2 classes and a lab? My NS is the opposite and is chock full of credit hours.

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Same issue here! First semester is 8 credits. 6 for Fundamentals and 2 for Pharm. The next semester is 11, I believe and 3rd and 4th semester are 9 credits. I dislike that it's considered full time, but not worth full time credits. Pretty crappy! Messes up a lot of peoples insurance too, if they are still on their parents insurance they have to get waivers to stay on it!

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Messes up a lot of peoples insurance too, if they are still on their parents insurance they have to get waivers to stay on it!

Didn't they pass a new law that makes parents keep their children on their health insurance until the age of 26?

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I am not sure about that. The students I know in my classes who are on their parents insurance have to be full time to stay on, and with 9 credits it's not full time, so the nursing department has to write a letter to theinsurance telling them it's considered FT because of how many hours of class/lab/clinical and studying we do.

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it's def full time work with the labs and clinical, but not full time credit.

i would definitely try to take an online course or a simpler class. good luck! :)

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