Pre-Nursing AS this fall...then what? Advice please

[savandanurse]

This should be my last semester (FINALLY) in pre-requisite work for a nursing program.

Problem is, my school wants to discontinue financial aid because I have too many hours

I changed majors a couple times from Accounting to Nursing and back again, it was a mistake but I've learned my lesson and am ready to move forward.

I really want to finish this semester with my Associates of Applied Science in Pre-Nursing and then begin Nursing School in the Spring. This way, I can eventually get a Bachelor's without having to take pre-reqs.

I haven't been accepted to any of the three spring programs I've applied to yet, but I think my chances are pretty good.

I'm really nervous that my current school will discontinue all aid because of my abundance of hours. My counselor said this is only going to follow me because other schools have similar policies.

Has anyone experienced this? I need advice please!

Are my only options from now on private loans if I get denied?

[iPink, BSN, RN]

How about scholarships? I'm a career changer and all hope is gone trying to apply for a Pell Grant due to me already obtaining my undergrad. But, I'm constantly looking for scholarships. There are way too many scholarships out there, you just need to be actively searching in the case your Financial Aid falls through.

[njmomstudent]

Scholarships (maybe-I can't get any for my AAS RN program because I already have a bachelors) and loans... loans loans loans. They'll always give you $$$ that way.

[iPink, BSN, RN]

Scholarships (maybe-I can't get any for my AAS RN program because I already have a bachelors) and loans... loans loans loans. They'll always give you $$$ that way.

Nope. You're just not looking. I've already applied to a couple of "Non-traditional" student scholarships. These are scholarships to students who are career changers, meaning, they've already received a college degree already and is returning back to school. I already have a loan from my 1st degree (and still currently paying that back) and that alone is driving me to search harder this time around. I refuse to take out another loan.

[StayingCalm, BSN, RN]

I was in a similar situation, took some undergrad GE courses years ago but didn't graduate with a degree, went back to a community college couple years ago and started taking nursing prerequisite classes while receiving pell grants. About a year later, financial aid office informed me that I'm no longer eligable to receive pell grants because my attempted semester units had exceeded 90. However, I read in a financial aid pamphlet somewhere that if one is accepted into a program such as ADN, he / she will be eligable again up to a certain number of attempeted semester unit (forgot what that number was). I ended up being accepted into a state university BSN program and I'm eligable to receive grants again until I reach 180 attempted semester units. You probably want to ask your financial office to be sure, but I believe you'll be eligable for grants again once you're accepted into a ADN or BSN program.

[Aberdeen]

I have dealt with this twice now and the way it was explained to me was you cannot exceed 150% of the required number of hours to receive the degree you are seeking. Like some of the others have said look for scholarships and other alternative funding options. There are a couple of hospitals near me that had programs that front you the tuition money and when you graduate you are guaranteed an interview, but not a job. If you are not hired then interest is added to the money and you have to pay it back. If hired you just sign on for a couple of years and all debts are forgiven. You may be able to find something similar.