yelle418

Toya, did you try getting a loan through Discover? I was very surprised at how easy they made it for me after all the trouble with other lenders. I would definitely give it a shot if I were you, I saw on your profile that you are 28 - I think the only reason I needed a cosigner was because Im only 21 with limited credit history (only credit cards), do you own a house or make car payments? I'm sure that you will be able to get a loan from somewhere, just dont give up :) Also, Im not sure about Perkins loans, but maybe those are an option? According to Staffordloans.com you can get 4000 a year for undergrad, so maybe that can help you try to take out a smaller private loan that might be easir to get?

I am starting a BSN program in a couple weeks, so I can't really say how difficult it is, but from what I've heard and read on here - ADN programs seem to be more difficult because it is a shorter amount of time to learn the same amount of information, and usually their clinicals start the 1st semester. In my BSN program the clinicals start 2nd semester. So i can imagine that it would be pretty hard to get thrown right into nursing school and clinicals immediately. However my program is 6 semesters - so Im nervous that its gonna be really difficult for longer than most programs - but who knows, maybe it'll be easier since its a little spread out . .. but thats not what i hear from fellow students. .

I'm from Redding and Shasta College has a crazy long waiting list! Currently I am # 210 on the waitlist and they take 30 people a semester!! But I applied to Several BSN programs and I got into one of them and will be starting in the fall, so I wwill soon call and remove myself form that waitlist and give someone else a spot :) My plan was to use the ASN program as a backup plan and fulfill the prereqs for a BSN program and if i didnt get into a BSN program, go get a Bachelors in a related field (like Health science or health education) and then go back for my Nursing - and that way i was guaranteed that i would start nursing school eventually.

Wow, Im sorry I did not mean to post incorrect information at all - I had no idea you could go on without a BSN, that's why i wanted a BSN in the first place lol. However now that I think about it I remember that there is a program at UC San Francisco (i think - one of the SF schools if not) that has a clinical nurse specialist program for non-nursing majors.

No you cannot apply to an MSN program without a BSN, and Yes it is absolutely required to have a BSN. Have you looked into any Accelerated BSN programs?They are for those with a Bachelor's degree in another field and want to pursue nursing. More than likely you would be able to complete an accelerated program before you would be accepted and complete an ASN program. I think UC San francisco and Samuel Merritt have these programs, and Im sure there are a lot more - check the CA board of nursing site - http://www.rn.ca.gov/schools/rnprograms.shtml . As for ASN programs in the spring - they are going to be VERY competitive for the spring because none of the CSUs are accepting applicants. Community colleges have gotten much more difficult to get into this past year because of the crappy economy. Well I hope this helps some and good luck to you in pursuing nursing, keep us updated!

I was able to get a loan through Discover after getting rejected from PNC and Wells fargo. However, I have a cosigner. PNC rejected me before i even got to the part to put a cosigner in though, and my dad who is my cosigner has good credit, but not great - he was rejected for the Wells fargo app. The economy is so crappy right now, i hear that it's very difficult to get a loan without a cosigner. i was told that 2 years ago I wouldnt have needed one, as i have good credit, but am young. . so i dunno - its definitely a pain in the butt tho. Im sorry you're going through this, I understand how frustrating it is.

I just read that Chico state will be accepting new transfer students from the North State ONLY. . Im in Shasta County, so i dunno if other counties can .. . http://www.redding.com/news/2009/jul/26/north-state-students-get-chico-state-admissions/

Nicki - Usually after your fafsa is processed it takes 4-6 weeks to hear back from the school. You definitely need to talk to your financial aid office though, because they require you to submit all your w-2s and taxes, as well as your parents if you're a dependent. I was in a similar situation where things got screwed up - I claimed myself and then my dad went ahead and decided to claim me too - and i didnt know until the school contacted me and i had to redo EVERYTHING - taxes, paperwork, , ,uggh so frustrating. After all that it took 4 weeks and i got my award letter. Also - to get student loans you have to have already received your award letter. You will get your federal loan (if u applied) amounts then also. I highly recommend Discover certified loans - I finally found someone to loan me money! lol I hate this economy. I hope this helps :wink2:

I am having a HELL of a time trying to get a student loan! I have pretty good credit but i still need a cosigner, i was rejected for a student loan through pnc because i have to be currently employed?? how stupid is that?! And my dad was even rejected from one at Wells fargo - Thank god though after reading the above posts! lol - anyway, just wanted to vent. I am suppose to move into a new house in 2 weeks, school starts in a month, and i have no idea where Im gonna get all this money from So stressful! I am currently waiting to hear back from Discover - hoping and praying that this one goes through!

You are going to come across a lot of people that are going to have the same attitude as your "friend", especially once you get in your prereqs - It seems like many have that ****** attitude that assumes that they are better than you and you will never make it. And you're right, it can be discouraging, but at the same time it is motivating - to prove them wrong! In your prereqs will be a lot of people all going for nursing, but you have to remember that you want this MORE than they do, and you are going to work harder and do whatever it takes! You're always going to hear about the people that have been tryign to get into NS for 5 years or whatever, or schools that only take 4.0s (which is totally not true, high GPAs, yes, but they usually want a well-rounded student) - But whatever you do, just keep your faith, and tell yourself that you are going to make it, and you will! Good luck to you, and "Keep your head up, because they'd kill to see you fall"

I took them together, and am so glad i did! At my school they are separate - Anatomy class and Physiology class . . Anatomy was much more memorization and physiology was more concepts. In my opinion, they really complemented eachother - Anatomy gave me a better understanding of physiology. It was definitely stressful at times having 2 labs and sometimes tests on the same days, but i was able to get As in both classes. There were about 5 other people that were in both my classes and we all studied together and kept eachother motivated. It is totally doable, and I really would recommend it because they have such similiar subject matter, I'd really think if you took them separately it would become redundant. Plus - Nursing schools like to see that you can handle taking more than one science at a time, it shows that you are able to prioritize and multitask

$266.00 . . . really?? I took the TEAS and it was only $45.00 at a CSU . .that is so strange. What school do u go to? I've heard that many nursing schools are working on incorporating the test into their entrance requirements, and many CCs make their accepted nursing class pass the test before final admission to the program. So im thinking maybe your class are like the guinea pigs - they're just trying it out to see how you do maybe?? But geez, $266 dollars? Thats pretty steep!

Oh man . . i wish i didnt read this thread . LOL. . I wasn't even worried about it until i read this. I don't know if I'd rather expect the worst or just go in blind not knowing what to expect. Geez . .i keep checking to see when someone's gonna say "Ohhh its not bad at all" .. . hahaha . . its okay . .deep breaths . . Its for a good cause . .

I am moving about 300 miles to attend a BSN program. And i have not even found a place to live yet!! Ahhh!! Im going next weekend to hopefully find a place. . but yes I am very stressed out! Especially since i am waiting for my financial aid to process so i can move forward with my student loans. . Ughh!! School doesnt start until Sep 9th for me, so i do have a little bit of time, but Im still stressing . I know exactly what you mean about skipping the whole stress/packing/moving part and just be in my new place ready to start school . .

May I ask what you dislike about being a CNA? And also what appeals to you about being an RN ? I was a PCA, which is very similar to a CNA, and though i cant say that i hated it, it definitely wasn't my cup of tea. I worked in a nursing home and I can't say that i love working with the elderly, but i gained a lot of knowledge doing so, and feel that i walked away with a lot from the job. I liked the caring aspect, the relationships i formed, the respect i received from the patients' families - and those are all things that i think as a nurse, i will also enjoy. Of course as a CNA, you are doing a lot of the "dirty work" ,though that isnt a bad thing and will be benificial to you in the future, is this part of what you dislike? What do you think about the Nurse's role in your work setting? (other than them being rude, which is too bad). Im assuming you are working in some kind of Long term care facility? Personally, i dont think that is going to be the type of work i want to do as a nurse, though Im not sure what the future may hold with this economy.But keep in mind that as a nurse, you will have so many options in terms of work environment and you may find that it is just LTC that you hate and your passion may lie elsewhere. Im sorry I know im not really answering your question, Im about to start nursing school in the fall, so i cant tell you how its gonna be like. Just thought Id offer my opinion and persepective :nuke:.