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. :)

I had money saved up but had an emergency arise and had to use the money=( I did know about the laptop but did not realize everything the first semester would be almost 6800. i am very on top of things, i never procrastiante. And they make up by the books new, its a set. They told us we can not buy them used. same with lap top.

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I had money saved up but had an emergency arise and had to use the money=( I did know about the laptop but did not realize everything the first semester would be almost 6800. i am very on top of things, i never procrastiante. And they make up by the books new, its a set. They told us we can not buy them used. same with lap top.

Gee whiz. What a rip. But still, I don't see why you can't find a laptop for a more reasonable price and then have the programs loaded. Seems like I read here on Allnurses somewhere that there was some kind of law or act being passed that stated that colleges couldn't dictate where you purchased your books? Not sure though...

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Thanks for all your advice=) I talked to a financial aid advisor yesterday who was very discouraging and actually tried talking me out of doing nursing if i had to take out loans. I have been so excited up to this point but since its what i want to do, im gonna do it even if i have a lot of loans to pay back

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It should be. That is what all of us are confused about, and i have a laptop at home that is perfectly fine!! And the books to HAVE to buy brandnew is ridiculous. i think this school is trying to get as much money as possible...

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It should be. That is what all of us are confused about, and i have a laptop at home that is perfectly fine!! And the books to HAVE to buy brandnew is ridiculous. i think this school is trying to get as much money as possible...

I smell a scam :idea:. Everything you have told us has lead me to believe that your school is not accredited. Want to know why?

-Financial aid, scholarships and grants are not available at non-accredited schools.

I talked to a financial aid advisor yesterday who was very discouraging and actually tried talking me out of doing nursing if i had to take out loans.

Why are they discouraging you from taking out a loan? Never heard of such. Why didn't they recommend financial aid, scholarships and grants last year or whenever you applied?

Go to another school that allows you to apply for grants, finical aid and scholarships, you obviously can not afford the expenses since you just became aware of them a month before school :uhoh3:.

I'm not trying to be mean, but you did procrastinate:

-A month before school, you don't have health insurance.

-A month before school, you are surprised about the way your school operates.

It is ok to make mistakes, no one is perfect, I have been scammed before (craigslist). You just have to realize what mistake you made and learn from it. :nurse:

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Thanks for all your advice=) I talked to a financial aid advisor yesterday who was very discouraging and actually tried talking me out of doing nursing if i had to take out loans. I have been so excited up to this point but since its what i want to do, im gonna do it even if i have a lot of loans to pay back

HUH?! I don't know many people who can afford college by paying out of pocket. That's what scholarships, grants, and student loans are for! I don't know what that financial aid person was thinking.

Something smells fishy with this school.

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Specializes in Med Surg/MICU/Pediatrics/PCICU.

That really sucks about the laptop. The first school I went to when I was a freshman said they wanted you to have a specific laptop from Dell and you could pick which package (for memory and stuff). They pretty much insisted you have that specific one and when I got to school a lot of people just had which ever ones they wanted. The only reason the school wanted you to buy that specific dell was because 1. they had a deal worked out will dell and 2. the guys that worked on computers didn't want to have to deal with a bunch of different types. Hopefully those aren't the reasons for your school. Had I known those were the reasons I would NOT have purchased my computer threw them it was expensive and pretty much horrible it broke about 5 months later and I had to get it fixed. :-/ But Best Wishes to you through school!

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Specializes in Med Surg/MICU/Pediatrics/PCICU.
I smell a scam :idea:. Everything you have told us has lead me to believe that your school is not accredited. Want to know why?

-Financial aid, scholarships and grants are not available at non-accredited schools.

Actually that school is accredited I was curious about it as well after I heard what the OP said but I looked it up and it is. http://onlinenursing.fhchs.edu/lpkp/accreditations.php

The Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)

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That really sucks about the laptop. The first school I went to when I was a freshman said they wanted you to have a specific laptop from Dell and you could pick which package (for memory and stuff). They pretty much insisted you have that specific one and when I got to school a lot of people just had which ever ones they wanted. The only reason the school wanted you to buy that specific dell was because 1. they had a deal worked out will dell and 2. the guys that worked on computers didn't want to have to deal with a bunch of different types. Hopefully those aren't the reasons for your school. Had I known those were the reasons I would NOT have purchased my computer threw them it was expensive and pretty much horrible it broke about 5 months later and I had to get it fixed. :-/ But Best Wishes to you through school!

When I first went to University, they gave us a pitch like that. Had to have a particular Gateway with this this and this. As is par for the course, my dad said that was ******** and bought me a computer that was a Black Friday special. Worked like a charm!

And yeah, most everyone just had whatever except for those that got sucked into the scam.

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Special programs only available to Dell computers? What?? My dream laptop is only $2300.

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There is no way the could require you to have a specific laptop. Demand for a list of specs required, and I bet you that any late model laptop is covered. I got my laptop for $399. Just comb through websites for their weekly specials. As far as the other fees, I wouldn't consider it to be expensive or out of the norm. Most of us plan on taking some sort of student loan to cover part of the tuition.

As far as applying to other schools and waiting, how competitive is your GPA? Personally, I am going to start school on Aug. 30, at the first school I was accepted into. All the other schools would not let me apply till I was done with my prereqs, which means waiting till January or even next fall. Nursing programs are competive...I am not taking a chances by doing the wait and see.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

Did you try UCF or the community colleges? I work for FL Hosp as an RN in the ED and can't even afford the RN-BSN with the employee "discount" so I could imagine being saddled with that kind of tuition for my initial degree, Polk has a great RN program as well. I'd seriously consider all options, now that being said, I do love working for FL Hosp, I most likely wouldn't consider moving within the state unless it was to an area with an AHS facility. Good luck with your future career :)

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