USF ADN to MSN Clinical Nurse Leader online 2013

[MyLady23]

Hi everyone,I have only found old information from 2010 and 2011 in this forum, that's why I am starting a new one. Here my story:After graduating in May 2012 from an ADN Nursing Program I was lucky enough to start working one week after passing my Boards. I am doing Home Health with a staffing agency. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and it is really difficult to get into a hospital. Not in the field I want to do, but hey, it's a start. I just found out that I am admitted into the ADN to MSN CNL at USF!!! I am beyond exited!!! BUT (and here is my question for you all):This program is very expensive, $55 k for everything. I am married, a mother of two children (6 months and 3 years) and we have a monthly mortgage to pay. Not to forget the ridiculously high amount of money we spent for preschool. I know, I know, I knew that I would have to pay for school before applying, but I just want to know what options are out there. Any current student at USF who can tell me how they afford this? Scholarship searches don't get me very far because I am neither African-American, Hispanic or any other special group. I am the first in my family to graduate from college though.Any tips? I heard about the stafford loan. Do I have to pay that back right away or start when I finished my studies? Any Grants out there for ADN to MSN? And how did you apply. Was it easy to get? How about Loan Payback Programs at your work - who offers it?I am looking forward to reading all of your answers and thank you!! And FYI, moving is not an option due to my husbands work.

[craizy_man]

I was accepted into it as well, but forfeited due to not getting a job in sf, and getting a job in a different state, and also it was very expensive. I think it is a rare breed nowadays to find CNL's, i know ucsf only has a handful, it's just a broder MSN, and many aren't sure what it is so they don't really hire them. NP's will always be around, I decided to go into an MSN education track, it's cheaper, and someday when I leave the bedside I'll have an MSN and can do management or teaching, which is what I really want.

It's a lot of money, and I know my hospital gives me money for education, but I know that's only specific to each hospital, ask HR when you call around but you'd have to be employed with them. Best of luck also to your new job! There are pell grants from FAFSA and loans thru them also which you don't have to payback until after you graduate when you begin working. I really can't see the worth of the cost, when so many other schools are cheaper. I believe dominican university is only slightly cheaper, again, I just don't see the value in that particular position with that debt. It seems to me many higher graduate programs are becoming business factories, and since people know these school names, students run to them, but an MSN is an MSN regardless, slightly different focus but still an MSN.

[MyLady23]

Interesting thoughts. Thank you for sharing them. I also think it is very expensive and my husband and I have a lot to talk about.