I have wanted to be a nurse ever since I can remember. I am now 27yrs old with no college at all. I have 2 kids and have decided to make my dream come true. Well I went to the community college today just expecting to sign up for classes. Well let me first say I had to take a placement test which I need 3 math and 2 english classes to get to college level. I also cannot get into the LPN program till Fall of 2007. The community college also doesnt offer Student Loans. So now I am stuck wondering how on earth to pay for all of this. I dont qualify for any financial aid. The school also doesnt except Federal Student Loans. I just dont know what to do.. I am in Bloomington Illinois and dont know of any other school that I can do this at. I guess my dreams are being crushed and I dont know where to go from here.
Sorry for the depressing post I just needed to get it off my shoulder.
Yes that is the college. I did fill out the FAFSA and I dont qualify for any aid at all because they say my husband makes too much money. As to why they dont do student loans I have no clue why.. I talked to the Academic Advisor and the Fin Aid Dept and they both told me the same thing.
ANYONE can get an unsubsidized Stafford loan. Trust me. I qualify and we make way too much for a subsidized one. The problem may be that the tuition is deemed too low for you to qualify for a loan. I'd bet you'd qualify at a university with higher tuition (I didn't get loans for the community college, but I did qualify for them for prereqs at NCSU, though I turned them down because I ended up not needing them).
Staffords are given out by the Feds, NOT the school. Someone in the financial aid office is misinformed.
Does the school recognize Excelsior, DANTES, or CLEP exams? If they do, I'd take the College Algebra CLEP or DANTES (you can get computer software to help you with that) and the English Composition Excelsior exam. You can download free study guides from any of the applicable websites and look them over to see what's involved.
Don't give up!!! As someone else said, where there's a will, there's a way!!!
If you really want to go and your husband is supportive (it won't work unless you have a supportive spouse) you can find a way to save the money for school. A part-time job, taking off a few extras on the cable bill every month, eating out less, have a yard sale, cutting back on things you buy you don't really need...all the little things you can save will add up. You caaan work this school thing into your budget with a little adjustment, and can do so without accumulating much, if any, debt.
And I know you feel defeated with all the classes you need to get up to where you need to be. Don't look at it that way. This will take a little time, but don't let this discourage you. I am living proof that where there is a will there is a way. Just whittle away at it. You can do it.
I have wanted to be a nurse ever since I can remember. I am now 27yrs old with no college at all. I have 2 kids and have decided to make my dream come true. Well I went to the community college today just expecting to sign up for classes. Well let me first say I had to take a placement test which I need 3 math and 2 english classes to get to college level. I also cannot get into the LPN program till Fall of 2007. The community college also doesnt offer Student Loans. So now I am stuck wondering how on earth to pay for all of this. I dont qualify for any financial aid. The school also doesnt except Federal Student Loans. I just dont know what to do.. I am in Bloomington Illinois and dont know of any other school that I can do this at. I guess my dreams are being crushed and I dont know where to go from here.
Sorry for the depressing post I just needed to get it off my shoulder.
Brandi
Brandi,
Don't be discouraged. One of the things you can do right now while you are looking at schools is to take some of your nursing prereqs, such as anatomy & physiology I & II, which is required by nursing programs in the state of Illinois.
I work in higher education, nursing specifically, and I may be able to help you or point you in the right direction.
Brandi-I can empathsize with you; I was in the same boat for many years. One thing that stuck out about your post was that the collge does not accept federal financial aide-that sounds really very odd to me, and also that they don't offer any student assistance at all. You need to really double check that. You should also look at other colleges; I don't know where you are, but in my area there are several community colleges within an hours' drive.
Another thing to look into is if they have any programs to support returning moms-My college had a program called "Forward Step"-I didn't use it, but other nursing students did-it is to help moms trying to return to the work force/college.
Also look into whether or not your college accepts the CLEP for credit-it is a test that you payto take that if you score well-enough on it, the college will give you credit for certain classes.
And, find out if there are any CNA classes in your area, many long term care facilities (nursing homes) offer CNA classes; once you become a CNA, many employers will assist or pay for you to continue your education
You can do this, if it is your dream, it will just take planning, courage, determination and time. It won't happen overnight, but it can happen; I know because I did it!
I just wanted to say dont give up!! When I first took the placement exam for my school over a year ago I did horrible! I took developmental math classes, got a study book for algebra and studied! I took it again last month and passed, so now I can get in the lpn program next spring. Even though its frustrating, its important that you have some math skills. In my school, they told me to take 3 developmental math classes, I only took 2 of them, and did more studying on my own and was able to pass. So it may not take you as long as you think to pass the test.
I cant believe your school does not accept student loans. I would also possibly look into becoming a CNA to make some extra money for school. I am actually starting a CNA class on monday. Good luck!
Check w/local hospitals, I know all of them around where I live will give a certain amount of $ to pay for nursing school each semester and you sign a contract agreeing to work there for a set amount of time. Just a thought :)
Go to http://www.allnursingschools.com and do a search for online or distance programs (they might not have lpn but maybe you would be interested in your assosiates or bachelors if you do it part time online?)
There are a few hospitals around here that still have diploma programs. They have a deal with the CC system. The diploma students take the classes on the hospital campus, and do all of their clinicals at that facility. Find out if any hospitals around you have a similar program. If there is one, take a CNA course and hire on there as a tech, then apply to get into their program.
First of all, research all CCs and maybe even 4-year schools in your area that offer nursing degrees, aa or bsn. Financial aid may be better at state universities, or at other city colleges. Alternately, if it will be a year or 2 of remedial work before you enter nursing school, start putting money in an IRA or school savings account now.
Make appointments with nursing counselors at each school and let them plot a course of action for you (it's their job). Then, sit back and plan out the easiest, fastest way to reach your goal.
Second, you can brush up on math and take placements again. There is a CD set called Math Advantage that takes you through Algebra II, which should be good enough. Math is actually not too complicated. There are a limited number of concepts through Algebra II, you can do it. English courses you can take at night or online to bring your level up. Practice with GRE/SAT review materials.
Do not be frustrated. Just chart out how long it will take to reach your goal and start along the path. Sticking to it is all it takes, like with most things in life. Good luck!
can you apply for scholarships? how were your grades in highschool? are you a minority? are you a daughter of a nurse? there are all kinds of scholarships out there. I guess my advice is to look into that, get your CNA cert and work if you can and save the money to help pay for school, the LPN program shouldn't be too expensive and if you have a two year wait anyway then tha is plenty of time to work full time or even partime and save the money to pay for it out of pocket, meanwhile you can always check out a math book from the library and retake the placement tests, this is true for the english class as well, even if you just go up one or two levels that means less classes to take and less money to spend. Also if you work as a CNA you will have an easier time in LPN school I've heard! I know it seems frustrating and annoying, but think of it this way, the time is going to pass no matter what you do with it, so why not get the grunt work done and in 2 years enter nursing school. About a year later you'll be able to say you are a nurse like you've always wanted. If you do nothing you'll be sitting there 2 yrs older and still wanting to go back to school to be a nurse. Good luck, and go into financial aid again and ask about the scholarships available, there is usually a large list.
I agree with SMK. But in your investigation of financial resources, just check out your local hospitals. One of ours here (in the epicenter of the national nursing shortage) offers a tuition assistance program. Student nurses work as CNA's, get paid and also get some tuition money if they agree to stay on after graduation.
And maybe I'm just a cranky old nurse... but I think it's important to be competent with algebra if you're going to be responsible for medicating patients and running IV's. So take the math classes to improve your comfort zone in the future. I have taught in nursing schools and have noticed that students sweat anything remotely mathmatical. ("This won't be on the exam will it???") If you take these courses now, you won't have to deal with this sort of anxiety and can focus on learning how to care for patients.
Yes that is the college. I did fill out the FAFSA and I dont qualify for any aid at all because they say my husband makes too much money. As to why they dont do student loans I have no clue why.. I talked to the Academic Advisor and the Fin Aid Dept and they both told me the same thing.
The community college I'm attending doesn't certify student loans, which is a pain, but there are other other options as far as getting a non-certified student loan. I'm going with a student loan through Bank of America that does not require school verification, but the interest rate is higher than normal. I figure that since I'm going to have the hospital I work at help pay back some of my tuition, as well as when I'm done school I plan on "consolidating" my student loan, which should give me a lower interest rate. It's worth checking out, because I was in the same boat. http://www.educationmaximizer.com or do a google search for Non-Certified student loans. Bank of America approved me within one day of sedning them the requested documentation and had a check to me within four days. Best of luck to you!
I have wanted to be a nurse ever since I can remember. I am now 27yrs old with no college at all. I have 2 kids and have decided to make my dream come true. Well I went to the community college today just expecting to sign up for classes. Well let me first say I had to take a placement test which I need 3 math and 2 english classes to get to college level. I also cannot get into the LPN program till Fall of 2007. The community college also doesnt offer Student Loans. So now I am stuck wondering how on earth to pay for all of this. I dont qualify for any financial aid. The school also doesnt except Federal Student Loans. I just dont know what to do.. I am in Bloomington Illinois and dont know of any other school that I can do this at. I guess my dreams are being crushed and I dont know where to go from here.
Sorry for the depressing post I just needed to get it off my shoulder.
Brandi
hello a friend from england.
I know you don't want to hear this, but keep trying, it is worth it. I am 42 and just starting a three year adult course in the u.k . there is always hope.. good luck xxx
carolinapooh, BSN, RN
3,577 Posts
ANYONE can get an unsubsidized Stafford loan. Trust me. I qualify and we make way too much for a subsidized one. The problem may be that the tuition is deemed too low for you to qualify for a loan. I'd bet you'd qualify at a university with higher tuition (I didn't get loans for the community college, but I did qualify for them for prereqs at NCSU, though I turned them down because I ended up not needing them).
Staffords are given out by the Feds, NOT the school. Someone in the financial aid office is misinformed.
Does the school recognize Excelsior, DANTES, or CLEP exams? If they do, I'd take the College Algebra CLEP or DANTES (you can get computer software to help you with that) and the English Composition Excelsior exam. You can download free study guides from any of the applicable websites and look them over to see what's involved.
Don't give up!!! As someone else said, where there's a will, there's a way!!!