I am in an accelerated 2nd bachelor's program. Many students, like myself, must take out student loans.
I chose a (somewhat) more prestigious private school - not realizing that the biggest egos there reside. Now I wish I had chosen a school where more of the student body was working class. Something I wish I had known to consider when applying to programs is the date that the school releases funds to the students. I had to come up with thousands of dollars for living expenses and books and did not see a refund until the 3rd week of classes. (I guess they assume that their students don't need to factor in money). When I expressed my dissatisfaction with not being warned in advance - they said basically "everybody's doing it". However, when I recently looked at a different program's website - they listed that funds were paid on accounts 4 weeks before classes begin.
Definitely check with a school's bursar's office and find out when the funds are actually are put into student direct deposit accounts. (At first they used the term "dispersed" and gave me an earlier date - apparently "disperse" doesn't mean to your bank account). It made for a very stressful beginning to an already stressful program.
What are you talking about? You really can't see the bigger picture here - can you? - but tell me exactly how one "saves" several thousand dollars while working and paying for living expenses these days. Because that just isn't realistic. And I was not the only student waiting and hoping for their funds - unsure when they were coming. Others were not aware of the distribution date either - because even the fin aid department was wrong. You live in Arizona. Do you have a bachelor's degree mrsboots87? How did you pay for it? I was in a second degree - many of us had already maxed out the amount allowed to borrow as Undergraduates between our first degree and at least 2 additional years of pre-requisites.
What are you talking about? You really can't see the bigger picture here - can you? - but tell me exactly how one "saves" several thousand dollars while working and paying for living expenses these days. Because that just isn't realistic. And I was not the only student waiting and hoping for their funds - unsure when they were coming. Others were not aware of the distribution date either - because even the fin aid department was wrong. You live in Arizona. Do you have a bachelor's degree mrsboots87? How did you pay for it? I was in a second degree - many of us had already maxed out the amount allowed to borrow as Undergraduates between our first degree and at least 2 additional years of pre-requisites.
If you look around these forums, you will see that there are meant people who have paid for their degrees in cash, while still working and paying for living expenses. I am paying out of pocket for nursing school, in cash, so it is possible. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and getting creative with what you've got.
Almost every school does exactly what you are complaining about. There is a very specific reason they do it, and it will probably never change. You will just need to make arrangements in the future to avoid a situation like not being able to get books, etc. Some programs will allow you a credit from your potential refund at the bookstore to buy books for the semester if you are needing the funds to purchase books.
"I couldn't get the book because my loan refund didn't come yet," is not an excuse to any instructor. While they shouldn't have publicly shamed a student, I understand their reaction. It is not the school's fault, but the student's.
Also, what the schools don't want to tell you is that they could technically disperse sooner but they do not. They want to make sure that they get paid. Why should they get 1/4 or 1/2 of the full cost if a student withdraws after a month of class? They are supposedly an "institution of higher learning" not a for-profit company. How is that fare to students?
Schools set penalties for dropping classes after a certain date because you took the class up to that point. You need to pay a prorated amount for taking that class. You don't just get to take 4 weeks of a class for free after you decided you didn't like it. It is completely fair to students. College is not a "try it then buy it" industry.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
The expensive school was of your choosing. I understand your frustration...however, every program my daughter and I researched did the same thing. Her school however does not bill for the classes per se....they take into account the pending funds and bill the balance.
We had to use the bookstore for they only give vouchers...however some of the books markedly cheaper elsewhere we paid cash.
What kind of financial aid did you receive? My daughters school made it very clear that she was responsible for any unpaid balance. They were very upfront in the application practice. Is this Loyola in Chicago? I found their financial aid office informative and helpful.
YOur instructor was rude and that is unnecessary. I hope the next semester improves.
What are you talking about? You really can't see the bigger picture here - can you? - but tell me exactly how one "saves" several thousand dollars while working and paying for living expenses these days. Because that just isn't realistic. And I was not the only student waiting and hoping for their funds - unsure when they were coming. Others were not aware of the distribution date either - because even the fin aid department was wrong. You live in Arizona. Do you have a bachelor's degree mrsboots87? How did you pay for it? I was in a second degree - many of us had already maxed out the amount allowed to borrow as Undergraduates between our first degree and at least 2 additional years of pre-requisites.
I have to pay for all of my stuff cash. I don't qualify for grants. I pay for school, books, and supplies out of pocket. And yes, I budget and save. I have cut down on all my extra expenses. I had a flood in my basement this fall that ended up costing me over $10k and now I have some costly dental expenses. You need to understand your financial aid up front. That is your responsibility and not anyone else's. You are a grown up. I get very frustrated when I see myself budget and pay for my stuff out of pocket and then I see people who are getting absolutely everything paid for and it's not enough in their eyes. They are entitled to everything this exact moment. It honestly bugs me a lot. Be grateful you are getting aid. There are many of us who don't.
What are you a drug dealer? CASH. That must be nice. I bet you have mommy and daddy money or you are married and have help with bills - your husband works and helps. You aren't making 10$ an hour. I came from a working class background and worked my way through college the first time waiting tables. I have my first B.A. degree in spite of many obstacles. I am simply relaying what I went through recently at the college I chose for nursing. I regret my decision to attend there. Take it or leave it. You may have a completely different experience. I am simply relaying mine. I learned a lot - the hard way. I will now be applying to Master's entry programs and I won't assume that just because a college is "private" and has a reputation - that it will lead to a better experience as a student - or that I will be a better nurse.
What are you a drug dealer? CASH. That must be nice. I bet you have mommy and daddy money or you are married and have help with bills - your husband works and helps. You aren't making 10$ an hour. I came from a working class background and worked my way through college the first time waiting tables. I have my first B.A. degree in spite of many obstacles. I am simply relaying what I went through recently at the college I chose for nursing. I regret my decision to attend there. Take it or leave it. You may have a completely different experience. I am simply relaying mine. I learned a lot - the hard way. I will now be applying to Master's entry programs and I won't assume that just because a college is "private" and has a reputation - that it will lead to a better experience as a student - or that I will be a better nurse.
Umm, no I am actually a 38 year old single mom. That's right a single mom. I grew up poor. There was no money for me to go to college when I graduated high school. So guess what? I went to work and worked my buttocks off as did my ex-husband. We saved every penny we could. We never went on vacations or bought stuff we didn't need. We lived simply. But we worked. I worked in retail management. He worked and still does in HVAC. Neither one of us came from money and we are living proof it absolutely can be done if you want it enough.
Our divorce was final last January. We owned 2 homes paid for completely. His business was paid for. Oh and I went and bought a brand new 2014 Chevy Traverse and paid cash for it. I don't normally get on and talk to people about money or my situation because if you had taken the time to learn anything about me and go back and read my posts, I know my situation is not what most people have. But I was extremely insulted that you would insinuate that the only way someone can make it is to deal drugs or come from money. That's crap. My ex and I worked hard for what we achieved. That was part of our issue, he was never home. I would have traded all of my money in the world for some of his time.
But I still live within my means and simply. My motto is, if I don't have cash, I don't need it. I don't have a single credit card and I don't go into debt for anything. I save and save. I have little jars hidden all over my house for things I am saving up for. A vacation when I graduate, a new table in my kitchen, money to hire someone to paint. Any extra change or dollars I get go in the jars and when I have enough, I go buy it. That is how I live. You chose the pricey, private college, not me. I'm going to a community college. We will both have the title RN behind our names, the difference is, I won't be in debt.
Umm, no I am actually a 38 year old single mom. That's right a single mom. I grew up poor. There was no money for me to go to college when I graduated high school. So guess what? I went to work and worked my buttocks off as did my ex-husband. We saved every penny we could. We never went on vacations or bought stuff we didn't need. We lived simply. But we worked. I worked in retail management. He worked and still does in HVAC. Neither one of us came from money and we are living proof it absolutely can be done if you want it enough.
Our divorce was final last January. We owned 2 homes paid for completely. His business was paid for. Oh and I went and bought a brand new 2014 Chevy Traverse and paid cash for it. I don't normally get on and talk to people about money or my situation because if you had taken the time to learn anything about me and go back and read my posts, I know my situation is not what most people have. But I was extremely insulted that you would insinuate that the only way someone can make it is to deal drugs or come from money. That's crap. My ex and I worked hard for what we achieved. That was part of our issue, he was never home. I would have traded all of my money in the world for some of his time.
But I still live within my means and simply. My motto is, if I don't have cash, I don't need it. I don't have a single credit card and I don't go into debt for anything. I save and save. I have little jars hidden all over my house for things I am saving up for. A vacation when I graduate, a new table in my kitchen, money to hire someone to paint. Any extra change or dollars I get go in the jars and when I have enough, I go buy it. That is how I live. You chose the pricey, private college, not me. I'm going to a community college. We will both have the title RN behind our names, the difference is, I won't be in debt.
My husband and I are planning ahead too. We are saving all my income for the two years I will off work and have to pay cash for school so I know what you're talking about. We aren't doing any vacations or anything fancy, we budget for everything and I know the end reward will be no debt, and school paid for. Congrats on paying for your things and not getting into debt. I thought about private but unfortunately it's too much and out of the question to my husband.
What are you a drug dealer? CASH. That must be nice. I bet you have mommy and daddy money or you are married and have help with bills - your husband works and helps. You aren't making 10$ an hour. I came from a working class background and worked my way through college the first time waiting tables. I have my first B.A. degree in spite of many obstacles. I am simply relaying what I went through recently at the college I chose for nursing. I regret my decision to attend there. Take it or leave it. You may have a completely different experience. I am simply relaying mine. I learned a lot - the hard way. I will now be applying to Master's entry programs and I won't assume that just because a college is "private" and has a reputation - that it will lead to a better experience as a student - or that I will be a better nurse.
Wow, where did this come from? Sorry you are upset with your choices.... Yes, it was your choice, it doesn't change the fact because you are upset about how the financial aid off disperses your book money. Many of us here made sacrifices to go to nursing school. I did have financial aid money but it didn't pay for living expenses. I quit my job to go to nursing school and because we planned ahead we had money to live on while I studied.
My wife and kids gave up everything so I could go to school for two years. No television, no internet at times, no cell phones, no Netflix, no fancy things, no eating out, no presents we wanted for Christmas, and we survived on what we had.
I am going to go easy on you because it is difficult, life is difficult but the people that succeed are the people that overcome. Look into scholarships, a friend of mine had a scholarship as a woman returning to school to improve her life. It was a free ride. It can happen, you have to figure out how.
If you want help, the way to go about it is not coming on here and attacking us. We can provide ideas and support but not with that attitude. Life isn't all about you.
What are you a drug dealer? CASH. That must be nice. I bet you have mommy and daddy money or you are married and have help with bills - your husband works and helps.
Wow. Just wow. Are you really going there? To accuse someone who pays for college of being a drug dealer because you can't possibly understand how that is possible without committing a crime? Really? Thousands of people do it EVERY year (and you'd be surprised about how few of them have "mommy and daddy" paying).
Many people pick AFFORDABLE programs that they don't need loans for. Many people have paid for college with cash without resorting to dealing drugs. I know, crazy right? It takes hard work, dedication, and budgeting but it is possible if you don't select the most expensive program available.
I pay cash for my program by working hard, saving, and budgeting. It is not impossible. I do come from money but I refused (and still do) to take money from my parents to pay for school. You will find a lot of people on AllNurses who have done the same without help from parents, some rich uncle, or a significant other.
I left a program for the very reasons stated by the OP. When it came time to access my scholarship because I needed money, I was told by the school's administration that my "scholarship" was not there. My parents told me they could not pay for it, so I went home. I never found out what happened from the entity that supposedly awarded me the scholarship. You would have thought that they would have had an issue with the school if they had indeed sent the scholarship money.
"the school I started at dispersed and refunded about 7-10 days before the start of school. I honestly didn't even think about being any different when I transferred. The school I'm at now refunds several weeks into the semester. I can honestly say I hate this method. It pretty much forces you to buy your books from their book store (they don't do book advances but they do allow you to spend your FA in their book store before the refund date). Luckily I found the rest of my books used for very cheap from local students and only ended up buying one from their store."
This supports my argument that the schools have a choice in when refunds are given out. At Loyola the max amount of credit given was 800$. My expenses including required supplies and books was closer to 2,000$. The lab instructors went as far as to tell students that they would be sent home if they didn't have all the materials. What bothers me the most are the people on here saying "that's just the way it is". If this system doesn't work for the majority of students then it should be changed. Nothing in the U.S. should be unchangeable if it doesn't work for the majority. I have learning disabilities that would make working and going to nursing school unrealistic. Yes - I could accomplish a different degree more readily but I think that my personal challenges would make me a very good psychiatric nurse. And I have taken all of the pre-requisites for just about any B.S. or M.S. nursing program out there. It was very difficult for me. I just don't think it is right that schools get to make all the rules and take all of our money. Students should have more authority over the college system than they do. And I don't believe in accepting "that's just the way it is". Especially given that a college degree seems such a necessity these days.
losthorizon43
7 Posts
What are you talking about? You really can't see the bigger picture here - can you? - but tell me exactly how one "saves" several thousand dollars while working and paying for living expenses these days. Because that just isn't realistic. And I was not the only student waiting and hoping for their funds - unsure when they were coming. Others were not aware of the distribution date either - because even the fin aid department was wrong. You live in Arizona. Do you have a bachelor's degree mrsboots87? How did you pay for it? I was in a second degree - many of us had already maxed out the amount allowed to borrow as Undergraduates between our first degree and at least 2 additional years of pre-requisites.