Molly08

That sounds wonderful!! I love pittsburgh but do plan on heading somewhere south when I finish out my contract with UPMC. My dad was really pushing for me to sign on with a VA hospital to see if they would pay my education in exchange for work, but I was to quick to sign on with UPMC. I really wish I would have looked more into the VA when I started researching SON. I Will def. be looking for a good VA hospital when I am finished though. Would you know if they buy out contracts I have heard some hospitals will do that?

I start Nursing school this mon. and I am in the same situation as you. I do not really have to work but would like to just to have some of my own money. The general response I have got from current and past students is do not do it if you do not have to. So I think I am going to start school and if i feel like a can handle it I may find a place to work a few times a week.

The VA would prob. be your best bet. I have a friend that works for them who is an RN and has a 20 yr retirement plan like 4 weeks payed time off and loads of other benefits, she loves it. I am hoping to one day get into a VA hospital.

I am currently attending UPMC Mercy SON in Pittsburgh, PA. They have what is called a tuition loan forgiveness program. They pay my tuition but when I graduate I must work in a clinical setting full time in any UPMC hospital for 2 years. This is nice because UPMC is a huge branch and I will have many options where to work. UPMC has a few different Nursing programs in the pittsburgh area and all of them participate in this program. The only thing you must pay is taxes on the loan which ends up being around $6,000 and what they do is the first year you start working after grad. they deduct around $118 from each pay to go toward the taxes. The program is also non-competitive so as long as your enrolled in a UPMC SON program you have the loan forgiveness option.

Congrats on your letter! and thank you for that information it was very helpful im hoping to find a place soon.. there is just so much to do in such a short period of time! I bet you were so happy to get your letter im so excited to start but also really nervous

Julia I think im going into the city next tue to look at some places with my parents but I will keep you posted and take some pictures of places. My dad is also good friends with a cop that works in the city and he can look up apartments and see how many police calls were made to the complex or the area in the past week or month so that will be helpful in finding a safe place. But if you make a trip to Pittsburgh b4 orientation let me know we should have lunch or something! Did you figure anything out about getting loans for rent I applied for that loan through PNC im just waiting to hear if I got approved. TTYL

Thank you :)

Hi I start nursing school in fall. My school (upmc mercy) does not require pre-reqs before starting, but I have already taken psy, chem, nutrition, eng and am currently in a&p 1 but fear I will be retaking it in ns. My school breaks the semesters down into 9 ten week semesters. for example my first 10 week semester i will be taking nsg 101 and a&p 1 and second semester I will have nsg 102 and a&p 2. I know alot of nursing students say they would never be able to handle their nursing classes along with academic courses, but i know most schools do not break the semesters down like this and many have more than 2 classes per semester. Do you think I will be ok with having two classes per ten week semester?

I actually applied my senior year around the end of 07 and was rejected I did not have to take a pre-entrance test then. I then took the pre-entrance again on march 27th of this year and about a week later they sent me my scores and a letter of acceptance. i did not have to send in a new application or recommendations b.c they already had them from my senior year this may be why I go my decision so quickly.

Juliaanne! Im so excited to hear from someone that will be in my class! I called the financial aid advisor at mercy to ask about the best way to pay for housing and she said everyone is eligible to get at least 5,000 from stafford and then PNC Bank in pittsburgh offers a private loan for up to 25,000 that can be deferred till after graduation. But you need a co-signer for that one. My boyfriend is actually moving down with me in Jan. after he graduates so im not looking for a room mate. I am going to start looking for apts. in the next month. I only live an hour outside of pittsburgh so I will update you on the places I look at in case you want to check them out.

I plan on Moving to Pittsburgh in July. I want to find a decent apartment in a safe neighborhood close to hospital if possible. I know Mercy Hospital parking sucks you have to pay and then be shuttled I guess to the hospital so I would like to be within walking or bus distance. From what ive looked at so far prices near the hospital seem high and apartments are crapy. would it be worth it to live in this area or drive a short distance from another surrounding area?

Just got my letter of acceptance for August 2009! I have a few questions....1) I have heard good and bad things about the tuition loan forgiveness program what are your views on it? is it worth it? 2) I have taken psy, nut, eng, and chem already and I am currently in A&P 1, I have heard other nursing students say they cant imagine taking their academic classes along with their nursing classes but I understand Mercy is a little diff. and has 10 week terms with only a few classes per term. Does this make it a little less challenging than other nursing schools or is it still very difficult taking both academic and nursing courses at the same time? 3) I am moving to Pittsburgh and will have to get an apartment. I do not plan on working while going to school and I do not get any financial aid from FASFA b/c of my parents income. Is it possible to get loan money to live off of? the pa student loan website says a dependent undergraduate can only get up to $5,000 a yr. but others have told me there are ways to get as much as you need. I would need around $10,000 a yr. for rent.