mmwaters81

Hello Future and Current Nurses, I am determined to go to nursing school (have to complete some prerequisites first), sooner than later, but I have to stay local due to transportation issues. Ultimately, I want to get my BSN, and ideally would like to go for my ASN instead of LPN (no shade to any LPNs or those going for it). I applied and got into a community college that is literally 10-15 minutes tops from my house that has an ADN program. It is actually one of the top schools for ADN programs in my state, if not nation. The problem I'm running into is I already have a bachelor's degree (in another subject) and can not receive any financial aid from that school (and probably most community colleges for that matter). I'm not 100% sure if I can afford to pay for school out of pocket at this moment. There are a few schools in the area that offer LPN programs that I believe I have a better chance of getting into AND receive financial aid. The biggest downside of those LPN programs for me is that it's going to take me twice as long (monetarily and time wise) to get my BSN. I rather go to the community college because it's by far the cheapest, most accredited (if I'm saying that correctly), and it'll only take me 2 years (at most because I have a good majority of my prerequisites completed). I'll then have my ADN, which means the job/career prospects will be better and I can then work toward my BSN online while working (or may even be able to get tuition reimbursement). The only other option is to try to get into a 4-year college that is just as close as the community college to complete my prerequisites which may buy me some time to be able to afford to pay out of pocket for the community college (or whatever nursing school I get accepted into) and my transportation situation will hopefully change by then. I really don't want to wait another year to figure this out as I have wasted enough time not going for my RN sooner. Should I just give in and go for my LPN? Go to the 4-year school just for my prerequisites (and then apply to a nursing program/school)? Or just wait until my financial and transportation situation gets better (whenever that may be) to go to that community college (close to my house)? And has anyone had an issue receiving financial aid at ANY SCHOOL that already has a bachelor's? I know I will not ever be able to receive a pell grant, but I have to be hopeful that I'll be able to receive some type of financial aid at some school. I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS EXTREMELY LONG POST AMD THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ALL YOUR ADVICE.