Thinking of going back to school.

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Hi this is my first post so i'm just gonna give you some back ground and hope to get some input from people who have been in my situation. I am 30yrs old and thinking of going back to school for nursing.

Its a scary thought really, there are so many unknowns! I wasn't great in h.s. cause i was too wrapped up in being a stupid teenager andi had some bad people in my life that convinced me i was stupid and couldnt' do it.

I've always wanted to work in the animal field, i wanted to be a veterinarian, but that didnt happen. As i dropped out of college after 1 semester. I am now working in the law enforcement end of the animal field, and i do like the work mostly. BUT the big problem is the pay! I'm just barely over $20k and i dont imagine making that forever. I need a better career, and nursing is something i've considered in the past.

I've been married for 3yrs now, and have no kids, so that makes it easier than it is on some of you. But then we still have to worry about the bills. And between my husband and i i'm sure i make too much for any financial aid, we can get loan, but thats just one more payment. And when it comes time to do the clinicals i'd likely have to quit my job and be a full time student. Which will take a couple years probably to get me thru all of the prerequisites.

I talked to a counselor at the CC who was very rude when she pulled up my old grades (from 11yrs ago) as i said i dropped out before and my grades were poor. i was also very immature then and didnt appreciate her being so rude to me. That didnt help how i'm feeling at all.

There is a EMT class coming up in January in my area, that is a 3mos class. Im thinking of taking that, to see how it goes and see if i CAN do it. And if i can pass that class maybe itll make the nursing program a more realistic goal for me.

HELP any advice is appreciated. Sorry this was long.

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Specializes in 0 as RN, 3 in ICU and Tele as Tech.

First off I just want to say to you congratulations on even thinking about taking the next step. I am not much younger than you, 27 actually and my husband is 30. He has no desire to continue his education and I have been working on Nursing pre-reqs on and off for the past seven years. What I want to tell you is that nursing is not for everybody. I think it's a good idea to do the EMT course and see how it goes. Get your feet wet in the health care field and see if you like it. I don't believe that you should pursue a career unless you 100% want to do it. I myself have changed my major three times since being in college each time because I did not think with my two children at the time, now four, I could swing being a mother, wife, student and employee all at one time. I had doubt but each time, I went back to Nursing because ultimately that is what I want to do. Although it may be a hard burden to bare, I know that with patience and prayer I can do it. And if this is something that you really want to do, then I say go for it. Good luck with whatever decision you make :up::mad:

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Thanks so much for the support. I'd never thought about becoming an EMT and its not really a career goal for me. As you said its more of a step to see if i can actually do it. Even if it doesnt count towards my future education. My low self esteem and the counselor at the school making the comment that maybe i couldnt do it didnt help!!!!

i'd have to take all the pre-reqs which kinda bothers me! i've never been good in English and those type things but if i ahve to take it i obviously will.

A friend of mine just finished the pre-reqs and is about to finish her 1st semester or nursing. It took her 3+semesters to do the pre-reqs and now it'll be 4semesters of the nursing. so it gives me an idea of what i'm looking at.

I never knew there was a board like this and i really appreciate the input. i'm pretty positive i want to do this, its just a matter of getting all the pre-reqs outta the way and starting the nursing classes.

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You can receive student loans for which you defer payment while enrolled in school (and you can get subsidized loans--which I would recommend). I would suggest this for your situation. Also, you may consider checking into the financial aid like grants---I'm not sure what the income requirements are, but it's worth a try.

Good luck!

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I am 29 (soon to be 30) and just started back to school after a 10 yr hiatus. I was an A/B student in high school, but had 2 Incompletes, which turned into F's, on my college transcripts, both in Nursing Prereqs. I went in and talked to the dean of admissions at my school to see how it would affect me getting into the program. Basically, it won't, I have to retake both classes, but because I took a full course load this semester at their college, they will only look at the grades from this past semester. I have worked my tail off, but am sitting on a 4.0 currently.

That being said, I am trying to get into an ADN program at a community college. We aren't required to take a pre entrance exam, it is totally GPA based. Also, you don't have to have all of your prereqs finished before being enrolled in the program. You can take your academics at the same time. You just have to have a Chemistry w/ lab and Biology w/ Lab (A&P counts towards this), with a C or better within the last 5 years, before you can apply. For me it is basically going to take 3 years because I had to take the Bio and Chem this semester. I am going to finish my academics in the spring and summer, but I am not required to before I start the program in Fall '09.

Another Idea for you might be a Diploma program if there is one in your area. You can complete those within 2 years including your academics. Most of them require an entrance exam. The diploma program where I live has a payment option where they will pay for your schooling if you promise to work for them for 2 yrs after you graduate. It is an excellent program. I would be persuing it if I didn't need the ADN to get into a postgraduate program.

As far as financial aid goes. Almost everyone qualifies for federal loans, but that isn't necessarily the only option. My DH and I have 2 kids and are a middle class family. I got enough in federal grant money to cover all of my tuition and some of my books. If I would have applied earlier I would have been able to get a state grant to cover the rest of my books and then some. Don't think that just because you are above poverty level that you won't qualify for some "free" money. Talk to a financial aid advisor and see what they have to say, they might surprise you.

Don't give up if this is your dream. Just keep pushing until you find your path.

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Hi, Im 52 and back in school so I know you can do it. I am finishing up my last quarter of pre-reqs this quarter. I am trying to get into LPN program and then I will bridge over to ADN while working. I dont know what state your in but here in GA. I did not qualify for pell grant either but we have the Hope grant funded by the GA lottery that helps me with my tuition. School is very fun for me , I wasnt the best high school student and suprised myself on how much more focused I am now. I guess because I really want this. Im not a 4.0 I wish I was being it is so competitive but I have a 3.35 and I actually proud of that. Get started youll be glad you did. The pre reqs go by faster than you think. Good Luck, Amy:D

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I too have just entered school for a nursing career at age 34. Since everyone can get student loans and the payments are deferred, I would suggest taking the loans. Most hospitals, at least in AZ, offer to repay student loans up to a certain amount each month in exchange for working for them. To me that is a win-win situation. I am still taking my pre-reqs too....and treating it as if it is my job. I think you need to commit all in or you are wasting a spot for someone else. In AZ where I am, there is a 18-24 month wait for entry into nursing school.

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