Plans on Transfer

RainMom · Dec 29, 2013

My questions are:
- will FAFSA pay for all my tuition fees for CSULB?
- can I continue up to masters immediately after getting my BSN?
- will I need a car for clinical rotations and classes? (I dont have a car for now and I think even in the future)
- do I need to do anything else to make myself more competitive in terms of admission?

FAFSA just determines what financial aid you are eligible for (ex Pell) but does not directly pay anything. Since you qualified for the current year for pell, you probably will again but it is limited to approx $5000/yr. Work closely with the school's financial aid office to learn about other grants, etc.

MSN programs may or may not require work experience for admission; check the details for programs you are interested in.

You may need to have a car unless you can make carpool arrangements or have public transportation available. Clinicals are often rotated in different facilities & are not always nearby or in the same town as the school.

Getting your BLS is good but you might want to check with the program you are entering. Mine had everyone take it together even for those who were actively certified.

Good grades are the best way to make you competitive!

kdmf12 · Dec 29, 2013

Thank you so much for repyling! I was kinda hesitating on doing BLS since I heard you have to take it as a class at the university.

For FAFSA, is the amount of Pell Grant at Community Colleges different from Universities?

Do I have to join any organizations to put in my application as an affiliation?

RainMom · Dec 29, 2013

Federal Pell grant is the same no matter where you go to school, CC or university. The amt you qualify for is dependent on your finances & how many credit hrs you take. A part-time student (less than 12 hrs I think) only gets half the amt.

Do I have to join any organizations to put in my application as an affiliation?

Not exactly sure what you mean? Your state likely has a student nurses' assoc but you probably have to be in the nursing program first to apply. Or do you mean like an honor's society from your current school? That would look good, but not sure how necessary it is; depends on how competitive the admission to the nursing program is.

kdmf12 · Dec 29, 2013

I see. So joining any academic student body is not a requisite at all. Yeah we have an ASG honor's society, and I plan on joining that one.

CSU Long Beach is very competitive since its impaction in I believe 2009 or 2010. They are directly affiliated with Long Beach Memorial Hospital and other hospitals in the region so their nursing school is quite tough both in admission and coursework.

Thanks again for your reply!

I'm really worried about transferring since my parents cant afford to send me to a 4 yr.

I'll leave this question hanging:

What is the average tuition fee at CSU Long Beach or any CSU?

I'm really trying my best to save up while building some credit because I might really need a car in the future.