So I'm applying to nursing schools, hopefully to start Fall 2011 or Spring 2012. Here's the thing, I am approx a 3.2 GPA and I've done very well on my ACT's, I have excellent references and my GPA should be up to about a 3.6-3.7 (I'm redoing a few credits this semester). I have doubts that I'll get into my first choice school, which is KU because it will take me right until the end of the summer to complete all my required pre-reqs and I know its VERY competitive. But I am about 99% sure I can get into Research College of Nursing or Mid America Nazarene which start in the Spring of 2012. The thing is, if I don't get into KU this year, I think I should be able to get in next year. This brings me to my big question, KU will cost something like $15k for tuition... MNU approx $40k and RCON approx $50k.
Is it worth it to take out THAT much more in student loans to get in a semester earlier (if I can get into KU the following year)? I feel like I'll make a comfortable living as a nurse, but I'm not going to be a millionaire by any means... when is it too much to pay for an education? I would love the thoughts of some other nurses out there on the tuition thing, I just don't know if I should go for the school that I'm pretty sure I'll get into or one that I "think" I can get into in a year, even though its drastically more expensive.
OlatheJessica - I love that you are thinking about this. VERY SMART! BSN is BSN no matter where it comes from. Private school is a HUGE financial comittment. Maybe take that semester and work every job possible and SAVE SAVE SAVE.....to help pay for school as you go- I have read a TON of post from people who start school and have "life" happen and cannot complete it. I think that the statiscs is that only 64% of students that start college actually complete it. A $400 to $500 a month payment is HUGE is for some crazy reason you need to take time off. You sound very smart - nomatter what you decide you will do amazing!
The job market right now is very bad for nurses and it looks like it will be that way for a while. It might be worth considering taking the cheaper alternative even though you'll have to wait to start.
That way, hopefully, you'll be coming out of school when the market has opened up a little.
No need to incur a large debt to start school earlier if you're just going to be scrambling to find work once you get out.
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
Hi.
My 2cents is that if you really do have the option of waiting a semester, to then save a lot of money, then you should do that.
For me, it's not quite so simple. It's not just that the private school's in my area don't have waiting lists, it's that the public schools have never-ending lottery systems in which you might not get in for 2 or 5 years or ever!
I am forced to strongly consider financing my education with student loans, something I do not want to do at all. However, I do not want to not get my education because I am waiting on the public schools. I also don't think I want to wait even 2 extra years to obtain my education.
Sometimes, people have 2 really bad options.
I do think that it is critical for people who take out loans to look at a student loan calculator online as the OP suggested and understand that they WILL BE MAKING THOSE KINDS OF PAYMENTS. It is so easy to take out free money with no payments and not be prepared to actually pay it off.
blessedw2&ahubby
48 Posts
OlatheJessica - I love that you are thinking about this. VERY SMART! BSN is BSN no matter where it comes from. Private school is a HUGE financial comittment. Maybe take that semester and work every job possible and SAVE SAVE SAVE.....to help pay for school as you go- I have read a TON of post from people who start school and have "life" happen and cannot complete it. I think that the statiscs is that only 64% of students that start college actually complete it. A $400 to $500 a month payment is HUGE is for some crazy reason you need to take time off.
You sound very smart - nomatter what you decide you will do amazing!