Paying for nursing school?

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Now, a little background... I've been going to Baker College for about 4 years now. I've gotten my Associate's degree in computer information systems, and am coming up on recieving my Bachelors in the same. However, ever since I got my Associate's degree, I've had an incredibly strong desire to switch into nursing. For the past 2 years I've been telling myself that it is too late now, I am close to finishing so I might as well do it... But the computer field is no longer a field I am at all interested in.

Now, the problem is, I will not have access to financial aid if I were to switch.

So, I was wondering how the lot of you who have/had decided to go to nursing school after already obtaining a degree were able to afford to do so?

Also, would it be worth my while to get cna certification, or should I just look for a job in the computer field?

Oh, and another question... It's been very, very difficult working towards my BA in CIS. I've begrudgingly been trying to move forward with it, but my grades, along with my motivation, are becoming progressively worse. I had been on the Dean's list/President's list throughout my first 2 years up until my associates, maintaining a gpa of aournd 3.8... Since then, it's steadily dropped to a 2.5. I have approximately 10 courses left until my BA... Should I try to finish with this? Would I have an easier time getting into nursing school if I already had a BA (moreso than already having an associates)? I am absolutely positive this isn't what I want to do... Which is why I asked if I should go to work as a CNA.

I'm a nursing student at Michigan State and when I first went to college we called to see about this scholarship....turns out it hasn't been given out since Engler was governer and the program has more or less been discontinued. shame because I could sure use it!

Hmmm, I don't know why they told you that.

I personally received the scholarship this year :yeah: & know of 3 classmates who have also received it. Unfortunately, I also know of students who were told they were not eligible. The money is there.

If you have a problem at your school, I would go up the chain of command & contact the number on the website, & even write the governor if need be. Good luck!

http://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/0,1607,7-128-1724-54524--,00.html

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This scholarship is such a mystery to me. How DO they award it? The girls at school that are getting it were called out of the blue one day and simply offered it by the nursing office. Who decides who gets it???? Anybody know? It doesn't appear to be based on need or grades.

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This scholarship is such a mystery to me. How DO they award it? The girls at school that are getting it were called out of the blue one day and simply offered it by the nursing office. Who decides who gets it???? Anybody know? It doesn't appear to be based on need or grades.

I found it online & immediately went to financial aid, they told me the nursing office handled it. So, I went there & was told it was only offered to 2nd yr students (WHY?). I went on another day on different business, inquired again & they gave me the application. I turned it in early & received my 1st disbursement last Dec. I started my 2nd yr in Jan.

Maybe it has to do with which day of the week it is? Who is in the front office at the time? How persistent you are? Yes, I think persistence... I was ready to write the governor (like I had time with all this studying!) It's there though, just keep at them.

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I asked about it my first year as well, and was told it was only for 2nd year students because they want to make sure you are going to make it all the way through - so many drop out in the first year.

I just wonder how they picked the students they did - out of the blue, and asked if they wanted it. (!!!!)) Talk about pennies from heaven. (No sour grapes here - they called me with another program.)

I agree - there is a lot of money out there for 2nd year students.

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I have been told by several people that if you are willing to sign a 2-3 year contract with one of the local hospitals they will pay your way through the actual nursing school. You have to already accepted and willing to give them 2-3 years of your life. If you quit before your contract is up they require you to pay it back.

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Specializes in Home Health Clinician.
I have been told by several people that if you are willing to sign a 2-3 year contract with one of the local hospitals they will pay your way through the actual nursing school. You have to already accepted and willing to give them 2-3 years of your life. If you quit before your contract is up they require you to pay it back.

I know someone who did this, and then had to pay it back when she didn't work for them anymore.

But it got her through school.

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Well, at least as far as Baker is concerned, the Dean of Nursing told me that they would only consider the pre-req's for the nursing program in figuring out my GPA (of which I've only completed 2 classes of the 8 or so pre-req courses and have an A in both... So atm I have a 4.0 as far as the nursing school is concerned, at Baker). And tuition is $750 a credit hour, so finishing through with my current BA is just going to tack on another $7500 to what I already owe, which would just present more of a problem for paying the nursing school tuition fees in the future.

Hi there.

I'm quitting the Engineering Field (been one for 8+ years now, received my degree at Lawrence Tech (Where they were charging asinine amounts per credit as well, right now I think up near 700), and I'm headed into nursing. I'm giving up over 15k in salary and Engineer level 3 status (next step would be senior engineer or manager in the Engineering world) I am selling my prized 2002 Trans Am WS6 to pay for it...hopefully it will cover enough of the 1 year accelerated cost at Oakland Univ.

My advice is go to a diff school for the nursing, because that tuition is ridiculous. Also in case you haven't, get that technical degree just so you can have it since you put all that time and money into it. That way you will always have that option if you ever want to go back into that field. I wish I would have had someone tell me to go to another college to pay less than 1/3 the cost I had to pay to go to that stupid private college and pay a fortune. Just my 2ml.

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Specializes in Home Health Clinician.

The tuition at Baker is NOT 750 a credit hour, the OP clarified and said it was per class = to 4 credit hours.

Hi there.

I'm quitting the Engineering Field (been one for 8+ years now, received my degree at Lawrence Tech (Where they were charging asinine amounts per credit as well, right now I think up near 700), and I'm headed into nursing. I'm giving up over 15k in salary and Engineer level 3 status (next step would be senior engineer or manager in the Engineering world) I am selling my prized 2002 Trans Am WS6 to pay for it...hopefully it will cover enough of the 1 year accelerated cost at Oakland Univ.

My advice is go to a diff school for the nursing, because that tuition is ridiculous. Also in case you haven't, get that technical degree just so you can have it since you put all that time and money into it. That way you will always have that option if you ever want to go back into that field. I wish I would have had someone tell me to go to another college to pay less than 1/3 the cost I had to pay to go to that stupid private college and pay a fortune. Just my 2ml.

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The tuition at Baker is NOT 750 a credit hour, the OP clarified and said it was per class = to 4 credit hours.

Oh Ok, i didn't read the entire thread...whew. I didn't think there was a college in Michigan higher than LTU anyways ;)...

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I have been told by several people that if you are willing to sign a 2-3 year contract with one of the local hospitals they will pay your way through the actual nursing school. You have to already accepted and willing to give them 2-3 years of your life. If you quit before your contract is up they require you to pay it back.

How does one get involved in this? Do you wait until you are accepted, then go to a hospital and sign the contract at that point, or do you go through college and then they reimburse you the amount afterward?

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Specializes in Home Health Clinician.
How does one get involved in this? Do you wait until you are accepted, then go to a hospital and sign the contract at that point, or do you go through college and then they reimburse you the amount afterward?

My friend did this through St. Johns Hospital. HTH

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I think you need to wait until you are accepted and then sign a contract. Look at whatever hospitals website you want to work at and see if they have a continuing education area or tuition reimbursement section. You may also try calling their human resources or education dept. and see if they can point you in the right direction.

My sister-in-law works for Henry Ford and she says they require a 3 year contract.

Also it was the person that originally signed me up at Baker that told me about it first, so maybe an advisor can tell you more.

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