Rikki08

Hello all! I am looking to begin taking pre-requisites for nursing school this coming January but am having some trouble figuring out how to pay for these classes and where to take them. I currently have a bachelor's degree from University Of Maryland in Broadcast Journalism. I currently live in California but am thinking about returning to the east coast to live with my parents (in southern Pennsylvania) so that I do not have to worry about rent for the prerequisites, and I am definitely planning on attending nursing school in Maryland (either at UM or Salisbury most likely). My problem is, because I am out of state back east, the tuition for 12 credits at the cheapest community college is around $3,500. If I were to stay in San Diego, the tuition for 12 credits is around $320. However, I pay around $650 or so each month for rent and utilities. What, if any, are the options in paying for prerequisite courses? Is it possible to get financial aid (loans and/or grants) for those classes? Because of credit issues, I am unable to take out any private loans so I'd be looking at paying cash, or getting financial aid. I have never attended a community college so I am not sure what is even offered in terms of financial aid. I'd take any loans I can get to help me get through the prereqs. Is this even a possibility? If so, how does it work at a community college? Are there any other options out there? If not, do you have to pay for the classes in cash one large sum? Also, in terms of schools, has anyone has any trouble with their prerequisites being recognized by a BSN program if they are taken at a community college? Has anyone taken their prerequisites in another state then their chosen nursing school? I am looking at taking my prerequisites at either the San Diego Community Colleges, or at Harrisburg Area Community College in Pennsylvania, or even somewhere in Maryland, though the out of state tuitions tend to be much higher and I would have a longer commute). I am concerned that if I take the prerequisites in another state other than Maryland, they will not be recognized or may hinder me in the admissions process at UM or Salisbury. Lastly, does anyone have any opinions about the best option for a student who already has an unrelated bachelor's? I'd like to go to school in Baltimore, and am not really interested in the astronomical tuition for Hopkin's Accelerated BSN program. I have thought briefly about getting my ADN first then doing a RN to BSN program, but it seems like it will take a lot longer than going straight for my second bachelors (even in a non-accelerated program). It just seems a little easier to take prerequisites at the same school I hope to complete my degree, however, I do not want to pay the higher price to take those prerequisites at a 4-year school. Another note: I am hoping to eventually pursue a career as a nurse anesthesis so I will be pursuing a masters if that helps with your responses. Thanks in advance for you help! I am going crazy trying to figure all of this out! I am open to any suggestions about the best way to get this done and get started with school as soon as possible!

Hello all! I am looking to begin taking pre-requisites for nursing school this coming January but am having some trouble figuring out how to pay for these classes and where to take them. I currently have a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field so I will only be taking the science courses. I live in California but am thinking about returning to the east coast to live with my parents so that I do not have to worry about rent. My problem is, because I am out of state back east, the tuition for 12 credits at the cheapest community college is around $3,500. If I were to stay in San Diego, the tuition for 12 credits is around $320. However, I pay around $650 or so each month for rent and utilities. How have all of you paid for the prerequisite courses? Is it possible to get financial aid (loans and/or grants) for those classes? Are there any other options out there? If not, do you have to pay for the classes in one large sum? Any suggestions would be extremely helpful. Also, in terms of schools, has anyone has any trouble with their prerequisites being recognized by a BSN program if they are taken at a community college? Has anyone taken their prerequisites in another state then their chosen nursing school? I am looking at taking my prerequisites at either the San Diego Community Colleges, or at Harrisburg Area Community College in Pennsylvania. I am hoping to attend school at University Of Maryland. Anybody with knowledge of any of these schools would also be helpful. Lastly, does anyone have any opinions about the best option for a student who already has an unrelated bachelor's? There arent really many affordable accelerated BSN programs in the areas I hope to attend school. I have thought briefly about getting my ADN first then doing a RN to BSN program, but it seems like it will take a lot longer than going straight for my second bachelors (even in a non-accelerated program). It just seems a little easier to take prerequisites at the same school I hope to complete my degree, however, I do not want to pay the higher price to take those prerequisites at a 4-year school Another note: I am hoping to eventually pursue a career as a nurse anesthesis so I will be pursuing a masters if that helps with your responses. Thanks in advance for you help! I am going crazy trying to figure all of this out!

I just recently decided I was going to pursue my BA in nursing and am looking to apply to Salisbury University's ABSN program (I already have a BA in Journalism from UMD). I currently live in San Diego, but am originally from Maryland and plan on relocating within the next couple of months to start my pre-requisites. I want to get everything completed as quickly as possible so that I can start school as quickly as possible. Does anyone have any suggestions about where to complete the pre-requisites? Unfortunately, I am going to be considered an out of state student. Any suggestions on how to pay for pre-requisites? How difficult it is to get accepted to Salisbury's program? Also, are there any other affordable schools to pursue 2nd degree BSN that take no longer than 2 years in Maryand? How long has is taken some of you to complete the pre reqs? I will be quitting my job and moving back across the country to pursue this so I am getting a little worried.