claudia1986

Just got my denial letter

Congrats on getting into RN school! I would do the same thing! That's exactly how I feel about waiting!

Story of my life!!! Seriously!!! Thanks for the advice. :) It's great!!! Yes, the reason I considered LVN first is because my original plan was to pay off all my debt BEFORE I started an RN, BSN or MSN program (whichever I can get into). So I thought, why not work on my LVN as I pay off debt? I do expect to be done with my debt in about 2 years! So my idea is, by the time I'm done with my original plan of paying off debt, I'll have a head start and have my LVN. I'll still have my current job if worse comes to worse, but I'll also have my "foot in the door" at my medical facility to take up an LVN position when it became available. Then, having an LVN would give me an advantage to RN program because I'll have experience & a better understanding of nursing and I'll have the option to work as a night/weekend/PT or FT nurse.... An option I don't really have as an administrative assistant, which is the only experience I have other than teaching/daycare, which limits my work hour options as well! Before I considered LVN, my plan was to wait until 2013 to apply for RN school. :) I figured I could get something done in the meantime. I don't expect it to be easy. It's just that the school schedule that I looked into seems so perfect and it just feels like I should really take advantage of it.

Applying to both is a great idea. I guess i'm trying to get ahead of myself and i want to start LVN NOW lol... It's really tough to feel like i'm just waiting and waiting. I just have to really sit still and make sure I am making the best decision for me!

I'm glad you found something that worked for you! :) I guess I'm reaching a stage where I am realizing that my goals wouldn't be as quickly attainable as I thought. I decided to become a nurse at 21, and now I'm 25 and have only gotten pre-reqs out of the way. I thought I would for sure be in nursing school by now (keep in mind, when I decided to switch careers to nursing, I was only a year away from completing a bachelor's in English so I decided to finish that first!) My debt situation has really set me back... I've worked part time at my clinic (very recently became full time) and most of the time held a second part time job as a tutor so that I could pay even the minimums , I also started a tiny photography business on the side to bring in more money, & for the past 4 years I have been very actively volunteering at my church, something that with all the pain in my heart I have decided to drop as soon as the year ends so I can focus on my career. I'm pretty much an "all over the place" person, and many times think with my heart and not my head. It's crazy how writing it all down makes me think "wow, I worked that much and I'm still in debt!"... Debt is really hard to get out of. It's easier said than done. I have only recently been able to apply more of my money to my debt... By the end of this year I will have paid off 3 of my 8 cards... By mid-late next year, another 4!!! Then I'll be left only with my biggest credit card (which is at about $12K right now) and my car. Makes me regret my financial choices when I was younger verrrrrrrrrryyyy much All I can say to myself is to focus... I know how much I want this and am willing to do whatever it takes!

I truly wish I could turn in my car But I have done some research and I believe that would be considered a "voluntary repossession" and would appear on my credit as such. It has the same value as a regular repossession. Then there is also the possibility of me having to pay any difference of my loan of what the car is worth and what I still owe. Doesn't seem worth it!!! I'm going to try to see if someone in my family is willing to keep it and take over payments. It's really not an expensive car ($269 a month, I know people who pay soooooo much more) but my total car expenses take up about 25% of my monthly salary, and such a payment while I'm trying to pay off debt is really big to me. I could be making some serious contributions to my credit cards with an extra $500 a month.

That is true! We have some great ADN schools in my area but they are competitive. Most are through lottery systems, some do it with point systems. It would be naive for me to say that I am starting RN next semester because I haven't even been accepted. There are also several non-profits for LVN, but they are full time. For example, Long Beach City College has an 8 month LVN program (although my friend who goes there is taking about a year, I guess it includes a couple breaks), you're in school from 8-3 on a daily basis. It's only $5K but it's also pretty competitive and has some college level pre-reqs (not the same ones as nursing!!! I know one of them is Bio... among several others). The way I see it is I can quit working, go the full time route, pay $5K and miss out on $30K a year from work (what I make now)... Or pay $20K for a 16 month LVN program while working at my medical facility, keeping my pay, benefits, seniority, etc. Also, the community college route would still set me back some time so that I can complete pre-reqs and get accepted. All in all, I think it would take me about the same time for me to complete either or. The difference is of course the money and keeping my sanity knowing that I can already get started! Another option is for me to transfer to a night-time position at my job, which I have considered but haven't looked into. It's definetly doable for me!

LPN sounds tempting! Especially because I can get started right away, and I have seen a demand for them where I work. I feel that I am safe to say that my current boss will even create an extra LVN position at my clinic to hire me. And I do feel like the experience would be in my benefit since I have very little direct patient experience (I do have patient contact now but not enough to, say, put it on a resume and have it mean something significant). Most of the time the cost of school doesn't even concern me... I feel as though debt is only temporary and with hard work I can get through it. But then again, that mentality is probably what got me in the mess I'm already in in the first place. I'm really thinking it through and giving it time. I don't want to act impulsively on this important decision!

Hahaha thanks for deciding for me! I think I am leaning towards the RN route first. Be it ADN or BSN (whichever I can get into). I am all for working while in school... I would just have to find some kind of night/weekend job. Thanks for the advice! It's tempting to get into debt just so I can feel like I'm "getting somewhere"... The school I looked into for LVN says I can start NEXT WEEK! However thinking of putting another $20K under my name just makes my stomach turn... This is a tough decision!!! But I'm really thinking it through!

Most of my credit card debt is under my dad's name, with a card he let me borrow to consolidate my debts when I was about 21. So declaring bankruptcy would only clear me of very little... That's the main reason why it's not an option...

The perks and benefits are great... And I will have lots of opportunities if I become a nurse. But my current position is not where I want to be forever. I'm in a huge medical facility and my options are practically endless when it comes to positions... I see new LVN's getting hired all the time, but the key is that they get hired from within. The marriage thing isn't for sure. It most likely won't happen for that very reason.

Does anyone know what happens if you already took the TEAS?

ok, ok. :)

i have looked into those! they sound great. thanks!

I guess I have an advantage because I don't have kids or a husband!!! Thanks for your advice and insight. Makes complete sense. That is alot of money.