So Frustrated-HELP!

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I graduated in 2006 with a degree in Business Marketing. Because I have a degree I don't qualify for Financial Aid from Public Schools, but could from a private school. A year and a half ago I moved from Colorado back to the east coast to take care of my sister who was terminally sick with cancer. I live in Charlotte,NC which is right on the border of SC. The job I found was in SC and it was outside sales so i registered my vehicle in SC and filed taxes in SC, but live in NC. Based on taxes and vehicle registration it makes me more of a SC resident so I could get "in state" for SC most likely but not for NC.

This is where I'm torn:

I want to go to the same school from start to finish from pre-req's needed to BSN. Since I don't have a science background, depending on the program I need quite a few science prereq's.

Here are my options:

Should I pay out of pocket and go to the community school in SC which I will most likely get in state for first semester or possibly year and then pay out of state for remainder once I switch everything to NC (unless I lie and keep everything under a SC address)?

Pay out of pocket and go to the community school or another program in Charlotte (there are several) and pay out of state for sure with the hopes of getting in state at some point?

Or, go to a more expensive private school in Charlotte and hope to get financial aid?

My grandparents paid for my first degree so I didn't use financial aid and am not familiar with it. Does it help with living wages so I would be able to go to school full time? If I choose the public school option in either state does anyone have any feedback on best routes for money options loans, scholarships, grants, etc. Thanks!

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I'd take all the prereqs at a community college and use whatever address qualifies you for residency. Use your home state or a relative's. These schools make a killing off students so do whatever you can to save money.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Be sure to check with a qualified academic financial aid advisor - if you didn't use any for your first degree, you may still be eligible. Agree with PP - go with the least expensive (highest quality) option. You should be able to check each program's NCLEX results - usually via the state BON website.

Also, you may want to check on the tuition discount arrangements. In Tx, CC's are organized around districts rather than at the state level, so the tuition criteria is whether you live in that CC's district or not. If you're "out of district" you pay more. There is no 'in-state' or 'out of state' designation for CCs.

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Specializes in ARNP.

Having a degree does not preclude you from getting student loans.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.
Having a degree does not preclude you from getting student loans.

This. 100% true. I have a Bachelors and masters. I am still eligible for federal loans because I did not meet the aggregate limit. Due to the previous degrees you are not eligible for pell grants or federal education grants.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.
I graduated in 2006 with a degree in Business Marketing. Because I have a degree I don't qualify for Financial Aid from Public Schools, but could from a private school. A year and a half ago I moved from Colorado back to the east coast to take care of my sister who was terminally sick with cancer. I live in Charlotte,NC which is right on the border of SC. The job I found was in SC and it was outside sales so i registered my vehicle in SC and filed taxes in SC, but live in NC. Based on taxes and vehicle registration it makes me more of a SC resident so I could get "in state" for SC most likely but not for NC.

This is where I'm torn:

I want to go to the same school from start to finish from pre-req's needed to BSN. Since I don't have a science background, depending on the program I need quite a few science prereq's.

Here are my options:

Should I pay out of pocket and go to the community school in SC which I will most likely get in state for first semester or possibly year and then pay out of state for remainder once I switch everything to NC (unless I lie and keep everything under a SC address)?

Pay out of pocket and go to the community school or another program in Charlotte (there are several) and pay out of state for sure with the hopes of getting in state at some point?

Or, go to a more expensive private school in Charlotte and hope to get financial aid?

My grandparents paid for my first degree so I didn't use financial aid and am not familiar with it. Does it help with living wages so I would be able to go to school full time? If I choose the public school option in either state does anyone have any feedback on best routes for money options loans, scholarships, grants, etc. Thanks!

You are still eligible for loans. Check the FAQ on studentloans.gov and you will see the max amounts per year and Max total. You can get tuition plus some funding for living expenses but it's not a lot. You have to be very frugal if you are friending on loans as sole income

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Here's the direct link https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans

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