Single Mom Trying To Become A Nurse

november17, ASN, RN · May 3, 2008

Actually financial aide works on a sliding scale. If you don't make enough money to pay income tax, you'll probably qualify for a pell grant. Especially if you are single with two children. You'd probably benefit more from actually going and speaking with a counselor or the financial aide people at whatever college you go to vs asking people on here. Why the adverse thoughts on loans though? They really aren't that big of a deal and the interest rates are extremely low.

PinkFuzz · May 3, 2008

I don't know what school you go too.

But basically you start with doing all the FAFSA junk and getting what you can from there...and if your community college is like mine, there's a mess of scholarships based on different qualifications and needs you can apply for. I know one of ours was specifically for single parents.

Good Luck! Struggling to find money for school totally sucks!

nursingisforme · May 3, 2008

I Do Not Want To Grduate From Scholl With Any Debt. Ia Have Enough Already

beachbum3 · May 3, 2008

I took out student loans and am graduating with $21,000 worth.

Its not ideal, but for me it was a worthwhile investment, and I didn't see any other option. It was either take on the debt or don't become a nurse.

nursingisforme · May 3, 2008

You Know You Are Right. I Will Just View Loans As My Last Option. Thanks Alot

aainme · May 3, 2008

i went to school in fla and right after i started nsg school my ex left and took all the money and closed the bank accts....they had a displaced homemaker program in fla and it payed for all my school and books and such..if not for that program i don't know what i would have done...but he left me 15,000 in debt and i payed that off in two years after graduation and i had enough to support myself and my daughter....just keep moving ahead....do what ever you have to do to graduate....the strong will survive:yeah:

AprilRNhere · May 3, 2008

First...since you said this is your first time posting...please only capitalize at the beginning of the sentence. It's much easier to read that way.

Loans...they aren't fun..and on paper they look aweful. BUT- figure what you can make after you're a nurse..compared to now..and it's worth it. It really is. BUT- just DO NOT quit before you are done. Degree or not..you'll still have to pay the $$ back.

I pay $200 a month on my student loan bill. My income went from roughly $800 a month (after taxes) as a CNA to $3,200 a month (after taxes) as an RN. Honestly...I do NOT mind paying that student loan AT ALL. It was WELL worth it.

angel337, MSN, RN · May 3, 2008

i agree with the poster that said you should talk with a school financial officer. from what i observed while i was in college, single parents got way more than those that did not have children. my dear friend had one child while we were in school and she always had a nice refund check at the end of every semester. she did have to take out loans because it was a bsn program, but she did not have to take out as much as i did. good luck to you.

zamboni · May 3, 2008

I was also a single mother when I started to school. I qualified for grants, and made the decision to take a bit longer to do my prereqs , so I could pull it off without loans. The Pell covered my tuition and most of my books (I always bought used books, and if there was more than one book required I would hold off on buying it until I figured out if the teacher was going to use it in the course...you would be amazed how many books nnever get cracked open!). I had the flexability to work courses around my job and the Kiddo, and was able to enter the nursing program with no debt.

Once in the program, I took out the basic loan, and between that and the Pell, it was enough with my cut in work hours. It also meant that I only had two years of loans to pay back, rather than four like a lot of my friends.

It's the best investment you'll ever make for you and your child. Talk to your finacial aid office, and they can hopefully steer you in the right direction. Good luck to you!

twinkerrs · May 3, 2008

I am a single parent in nsg school right now. I have student loans but I also have a pell grant, a single parent scholarship, and another scholarship. the loans are the thing that keep me from having to spend a ton of time worrying about how I am going to keep all of the bills paid, so I can devote that worry time to school. I have found the less outside stress I have the better for my kids and my education and the loans provide just that.

chevyv, BSN, RN · May 3, 2008

I attend tech college in WI and also have 2 children. I qualified for grants that take care of all of my tuition and part of my books. I will graduate with very little debt from this program, but did have to take out loans for a Health Care Admin degree but am only about $15,000 in debt. Many employers have some sort of tuition pay back package if you agree to work for them for so many years. Might help you. Good Luck