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I think you can use private loans to fill the gap if your federal aid doesn't pay everything. Just be careful, the interest rates are variable and they might not be as flexible with repayment

At my school, if you're over your credits, they automatically deny your financial aid for a year. You can appeal their decision and they will give it back o you for the year as long as you maintain a certain GPA and don' drop classes, but usually they only accept your appeal once. So I have my financial aid for this year, it's my last year of pre-req's. Then staring next year I will be depending on a family member for the money. I've come to terms with it, I hated to have to ask, but it is what i is. Congras to you about the aid though!!! Im sure you'll be done before you know it.

wow thank you all for the feedback and encouragement. i know the refund check is not enough to live off of, but i've been kind of dependent on it in the past, and the thought of going without it when i'll probably need it the most is a little scary. but, at least my tuition will be paid for and i won't accrue any debt for those 2 years. going to have to start saving now for those books and uniform though

I've been on a waiting list to start real nursing school for a year now at my community college. I still have a year before I start my nursing classes, but I've taken it upon myself to get all my ducks in order now so I'm fully prepared for the craziness that will be my life for 2 years. I paid off all my credit card debt with the exception of a bank loan that I pay $56/month on. My monthly expenses, including gas but excluding food, are about $455/month. I live rent free and work 20 hours a week, which I plan to continue to do when I'm in nursing school. I will not qualify for any financial aid for the 2 years I'm in nursing school (too many college credits, 2nd degree). I have someone who has agreed to pay my tuition, but I will still have to work part time in the program to pay basic bills, have gas in my car, eat, etc. But I won't have that big refund check most nursing students I know live off of so I don't have to work. I feel in my hear that this is doable...but I'm scared. Any thoughts?

at my school chem 2 is a 5 hour course and chem 3 is a 2 hour one it looks like? or i can take a chemistry and life course that counts for both of them and it's 4 credit hours, so obviously i'll do that one. last year, when i wasn't even planning on going the bsn route, i took gob chem 1, which was basically an intro to chemistry class, it was the easiest class i've ever taken in my life! hopefully the other chem class will be smooth sailing as well because i'm taking it the same quarter as a&p 2

I have a plan. Since I need Microbiology, A+P 1, and A+P 2 for both programs next year, I'm going to take those classes. For the BSN I need Chemistry 2 and Chem 3. I'm really good at chemistry, so I'm going to take those next year as well and apply for the BSN and see if I get in. If I don't, no big deal, I'll still have my number for the ASN program and I can just do that. If I do get in, it's a pretty big deal because the BSN program is competitive. I will accept the position and probably join the air force to pay for the rest of my school since you need to be in a BSN program to join.

Right now, I'm a pre nursing student at a community college. I have a waiting list number, I'm about to finish all my pre-req's next year, and am on track to start nursing classes in the fall of 2012 for an ASN. Only problem is, I already have an associate's degree in liberal arts, so due to the fact that I have exceeded the maximum amount of credit hours for an associate's, my financial aid is being denied. I appealed their decision, and they reinstated my aid for this year. But, I have two more years of clincials to go and who's to say they will give me two more chances? I started thinking, and even though I really didn't want to have to go this direction, it might make more sense to go for the BSN. It'll be like starting this upcoming school year as a brand new freshman in college. I will have to finish up pre-req's for the college's BSN requirements, apply for their BSN program, then go to school full time for 3 years. I have a job, I pay my own bills, the college is much farther away. It will cost A LOT more then I originally planned on and take more time, but If I get the fin. aid for it and the benefits of having a BSN outweigh the strain this will put on me, I might just have no choice. I have a relative who is willing to help me out if push comes to shove, but I don't want to have to rely on anyone else for this and I REALLY do not want to have to take out any private loans. I know I've read about people being put on payment plans at CC, but 400/ month plus all my other expenses? That's a little much. Anyway, any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read.

Right now, I'm a pre nursing student at a community college. I have a waiting list number, I'm about to finish all my pre-req's next year, and am on track to start nursing classes in the fall of 2012 for an ASN. Only problem is, I already have an associate's degree in liberal arts, so due to the fact that I have exceeded the maximum amount of credit hours for an associate's, my financial aid is being denied. I appealed their decision, and they reinstated my aid for this year. But, I have two more years of clincials to go and who's to say they will give me two more chances? I started thinking, and even though I really didn't want to have to go this direction, it might make more sense to go for the BSN. It'll be like starting this upcoming school year as a brand new freshman in college. I will have to finish up pre-req's for the college's BSN requirements, apply for their BSN program, then go to school full time for 3 years. I have a job, I pay my own bills, the college is much farther away. It will cost A LOT more then I originally planned on and take more time, but If I get the fin. aid for it and the benefits of having a BSN outweigh the strain this will put on me, I might just have no choice. I have a relative who is willing to help me out if push comes to shove, but I don't want to have to rely on anyone else for this and I REALLY do not want to have to take out any private loans. I know I've read about people being put on payment plans at CC, but 400/ month plus all my other expenses? That's a little much. Anyway, any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read.

I am going through the exact same thing right now and it's a nightmare. Can you post an update on how this all worked out for you?

Thanks for the feedback. I think you're absolutely right. The fee is a little expensive ($450), but it's a great school and I might get in sooner. I'm going to find out if the classes at CC will transfer so I can keep taking them meanwhile. It would be perfect if I could start in August instead of January, but that's life.

Thanks for the advice. They're letting me transfer english, psych, and sociology so I'm pretty sure anything I take between now and then will transfer. But you're right, I may end up waiting less than 2 years so it's a hard decision to make. Anyway, good luck to you with your studies!

I got an acceptance letter to Good Samaritan College of Nursing. It's a 2 year program for an associate's degree, and it's a very good school-I didn't even think I'd get accepted. The letter I got said enrollment for gen ed courses doesn't start until the August 2011-Jan 2012 semester, but when I called to pay the matriculation fee they said I wouldn't be starting classes until probably January of 2012. I'm feeling a little discouraged because this is a really long time to wait. I've been taking pre-req's at a community college and have one left before I get a waiting list number for their program, but that waiting list is 2 years. I'm just not sure what to do at this point. I can continue taking prereqs at the CC and enroll in classes at GSC and hope those credits transfer, take time off between now and Jan and just wait, or just stick with the community college all together. Any advice?