Torn about nursing school

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I am really torn. I live in Orlando,FL and I got accepted into Florida Hospital College RN program for Fall 2010. I was so excited because I have worked so hard to get to this point. However, I am now discouraged because it is a very expensive school. I have to buy a 1700 laptop, books are 1000 and health insurance almost 700 and that does not include tuition. I know laptop and books is a one time deal (its for the whole program) but it seems like so much money. I can not work full time in the program, I want to do really well so I need to take out a lot of student loans. I am so torn if I should do it or not since it is so costly. My GPA is really good but I know the schools in my area are so competitive that I don't know if I could get in anywhere else again.Id appreciate anyones advice. :)

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If you got into this hospital program, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to get into other programs. What is the total cost of the hospital program and compare it to total costs of other schools. My books for Block one at community college is going to run around 1000 and tuition is 1000 for this block and we needed a lab kit 65. a starter kit 35. (school scrubs, shoes, stethoscope, wipable watch) - pick up on your own. Just to give you an idea. I am told the first Block is the most expensive as you are getting everything but most you will continue to use.

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I say go to the school you got into. Competition to get into nursing programs is fiece (in my area anyway). What happens if you apply to other programs and don't get in?

My program is going to cost me about $25,000, not including my scrubs, shoes, stethoscope, etc. That's tuition, fees, and books. I can't afford it AT ALL, however, I can't afford to wait until I get into a less expensive school. The sooner I'm done with school, the sooner I will be bringing home a paycheck and can get my loans paid off and finances situated.

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Must you use the laptop they want you to have? I got mine for 500 bucks and it's the best computer I've worked w/ honestly. You can also find reconditioned laptops for very cheap and they should be just fine. Our textbooks were about the cost of yours, however I went to the bookstore at the school and copied the ISBN #'s. I searched online and found all the books I needed for only half that price. It's amazing the things you can get all on budget.

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Must you use the laptop they want you to have? I got mine for 500 bucks and it's the best computer I've worked w/ honestly. You can also find reconditioned laptops for very cheap and they should be just fine. Our textbooks were about the cost of yours, however I went to the bookstore at the school and copied the ISBN #'s. I searched online and found all the books I needed for only half that price. It's amazing the things you can get all on budget.

Good point and I want to add that I did buy a refurbished laptop from Dell and it has worked wonderfully. I was leary about doing this but it came with a warranty. It was a fairly expensive Latitude as when I researched the model it ran about $2,000 and I purchased for around 450.00.

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Specializes in ED.

Why do you have to buy THAT laptop? I can't imagine a school requiring a specific laptop like that when so many people already own laptops. I'm sure they will tell you it comes with all the software needed or whatever, but I'm sure you can partner with another student if you have assignments or whatever. Most of the books come with CDs too. Does your school program have a "swap shop" of sorts where you can buy a used laptop from a graduating student?

I'm guessing that if they have so many required items that they may have a scholarship or grant available to students that you may qualify for. I'd say go talk to an advisor or associate dean or someone that can steer you in the right direction regarding what is absolutely required.

Good luck!

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to save a TON of money on textbooks, rent them from chegg.com. the vast majority of textbooks that you use in school you never go back to again. and you can always buy 1 or 2 super useful texts after the fact, if you really want to own them permanently.

i did this throughout much of undergrad and saved about %50 off the cost of buying and trying to re-sell books.

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If you want to become a nurse in your situation, your going to have to become creative.

#1 Why do you have to pay for health insurance?

-Try to obtain a part time job from star bucks, whole foods or some other employer that offers health insurance.

-apply for Medicaid if your low income, throw your pride out the window.

-If your under the age of 24 and have parents with insurance...move back in and become a "dependent".

#2 network

-rent your laptop from a student in the program, problem solved and $1700 in your pocket.

#3 why are you paying full price for your books?

-all ways purchased used books online if you can.

-pay a student in your class to allow you to photocopy each chapter as needed.

I truly don't understand why you just became aware of these charges. You should have been saving money since you began your pre-reqs. Have you applied for scholarships? That is the main benefit of achieving good grades. Have you applied for financial aid?

Procrastination is never good...try to learn from this lesson and plan ahead.

Good luck:)

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If you want to become a nurse in your situation, your going to have to become creative.

#1 Why do you have to pay for health insurance?

-Try to obtain a part time job from star bucks, whole foods or some other employer that offers health insurance.

-apply for Medicaid if your low income, throw your pride out the window.

-If your under the age of 24 and have parents with insurance...move back in and become a "dependent".

#2 network

-rent your laptop from a student in the program, problem solved and $1700 in your pocket.

#3 why are you paying full price for your books?

-all ways purchased used books online if you can.

-pay a student in your class to allow you to photocopy each chapter as needed.

I truly don't understand why you just became aware of these charges. You should have been saving money since you began your pre-reqs. Have you applied for scholarships? That is the main benefit of achieving good grades. Have you applied for financial aid?

Procrastination is never good...try to learn from this lesson and plan ahead.

Good luck:)

Home Depot also pays benefits for part time workers and UPS pays quite a bit towards school, and benefits for part time workers and have very early hours to accommodate especially around Holiday time. I never worked there but I think you work like 20-25 hrs. a week.

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so, i've been a nurse for a couple years, graduated from a bsn program in atlanta. my total loans after interest for 2.5yrs is around $75k. i now pay about $600/mo. in loans, it's a chunk of change yes, but i can afford it. if you're that concerned about the financial look of it after you get done then don't do it, look at alternative schools. however, nursing school is extremely competitive as mentioned above... i'm sure even more than when i applied, so def. keep that in the back of your head. i felt the same way when i took out my loans... but i would do it again in a heartbeat at the same school. most people i work with (all bsn) have about the same amount of loans, i'm not condoning it as good thing to have that much debt for school but, when i applied going in nursing was a stable job market for 'new grads' and i knew i would be able to pay it off. so with all that i have no opinion for you, do what makes you feel right and comfortable. good luck ; )

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My questions are pretty much the same as everyone else's. Is the school requiring you to purchase $700 in insurance? My alma mater required us to have health insurance and it ran $300 a semester if you didn't have your own.

Also, why would you HAVE to buy a $1700 laptop? I bought a refurbished HP for $190 and it has be fantastic. I'm using it now! If its the software you need, you can usually find it cheaper if you look around.

I always buy my books online and save tons of money. I personally don't recommend renting because in my program, you use the books throughout.

Finally, why not find a cheaper school? My nursing school is only $50 a credit hour.

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The school actually requires you to buy a Dell through them, they said they have special programs that they want you to have their computer for....

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