Pre-Nursing student in need of some advice

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Hi Everyone! I'm new to this site, but so far have found it to be a great resource!!

I need some advice..... I am set to start my pre-reqs at TCC in August and at the same time want to start doing my CNA classes for my CNA license as well, since it is a requirment for the TCC nursing program. I'm sure this question is asked A LOT, but how do you guys work and go to school at the same time? I currently have a full-time job and already have my bachelors degree in an unrelated disciplne. I know there are a ton of scholarships and resources that you can apply for once your're in nursing school. But do you guys know of any now aside from just the basic financial aid to pay your tuition?

I have been out of school for a few years now and I am so nervous about going back and how I'm going to be able to go to school and have time to work enough hours to be able to support myself. Do you guys know of any other resources to help?

Sorry this is so long :D I know that many have been able to do it before; work and go to school at the same time....i just want to do it the smart way. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys! :)

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Specializes in ICU.

You sound like me a year ago! I also have a previous bachelors, started my nursing pre-reqs at TCC last fall, and work full time!

I found time-wise working full time and going to school full time not to be an issue. Now, I don't have much of a life outside those two things, but I still get enough sleep and have some time to spend with my husband. My friends, on the other hand, hardly ever see me anymore. :( Luckily, TCC has lots of evening, weekend, and online sections of the nursing pre-reqs so they work with nearly any schedule!

Money-wise has been more of a challenge. Since my husband and I both have student loan payments on our first degrees, and I know I'll be taking out loans for my BSN (I'm going to OU-Tulsa, so I know I'll need loans then), we wanted to pay as we go through my pre-reqs. TCC has been fairly affordable for us, although it has been tight. They let you set up a payment plan to make 3 payments a semester, which helps a lot. It's really been a burden on us, but we've managed to not need any loans. I didn't spend too much time seeking out scholarships or aid, since I thought we'd be able to afford it and I want to be eligible for as much as I can when I transfer to OU. I'm sure there would be something out there, though! My paycheck goes almost entirely to TCC. We manage to live on my husband's minimum wage full time job paycheck....so it's not lavish by any means, but we're making it.

All I can say is - it's totally worth it. I spent a year waffling about whether or not to go back to school, and I feel like it was a year wasted. Just getting started and knocking out those pre-reqs feels so good!

I took almost all of my pre-reqs at TCC Metro - if you're planning to go to Metro campus I can give you some advice on which profs to take and which to avoid, if you'd like.

Working and going to school is hard, but it won't be forever. :)

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All of this information is so helpful!! I work right now and am working on my pre-reqs. I am applying for nursing school to start in the Spring and was wondering how I would manage nursing school and a job. Thanks for the advice and encouragement!

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I worked full time and took my pre-reqs at TCC (SE). Some of the classes I took on my first go around (I have a BSBA from TU) so I only needed 8 classes... It sounds like a lot but it really wasn't. I took 3 classes a semester (except for the first summer, I only took 2) and got it done in one year. I start RSU's nursing program in 3 weeks. If you have a normal 8-5 job it is totally doable. I would take one Saturday class (one of the sciences with a lab) so I could get it knocked out in one day and then take two 3 hour courses through the week at night. I would do homework during my lunch break at work and at night (the ones when I wasn't in class) after the kids went to bed (ages 5 & 3). It really wasn't too bad until I got a horrible Physiology professor, but that's another thread altogether. I'm a stay at home mom now... I won't be able to work and go to nursing school at the same time. Keep that in mind... unless you attend nursing school part time you probably won't be able to work. I've also heard horror stories about TCC's nursing program. There are some threads on here about it... just search under TCC and see what you find. I don't want to scare you off, but there are a lot of NS options in the Tulsa area. Look into all of them before you decide that TCC is the right one for you. Good luck! :yeah:

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Specializes in Hospice, Nursing Education, Primary Care.

Nursing is a second career for me. I have been amazed at how many people in the medical profession work full time and take 16 hours of mostly science classes. Very few people went to school in my old profession but in health care it seems a lot of people are working towards more education. It is scary to go back to school but I started nursing school with a bad GPA from my prior school experience and I did very well at TCC and I am now in a masters program at OU. In the last 5 years I have only made one B and I had an 88% in that class.

You can DO It! You will be amazed, you will do well!

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