Which way....Which way....

caliotter3 · Jul 14, 2007

I haven't looked at what you said about your financial aid. That is a strong consideration, but usually works out just as long as you have a school to go to. Most people nowadays are applying to every program under the sun and dealing with making the big decision if they get more than one acceptance. I know it is quite disturbing, but unfortunately, that is how the admissions process is at this time. The only way to get around this is to only apply to your number one choice, wait for an answer, then go on from there. You can waste time doing this. Good luck in your choices.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Jul 14, 2007

I can't answer all your questions, nor make your decision any easier, but as to a couple of points --

You can call the 4-year programs and ASK what their application/acceptance process includes. They are just as easy to talk to as the folks at your CC. Locally where I live, there are college nursing "recruiters" looking for students in the same way as hospitals are. They want the best and the brightest and they should be very happy to talk to you and attempt to sway you to their side, lol. Call around. Talk to them directly instead of relying on what you have heard third-hand. Go to the local universities' websites and look through their nursing school pages; a contact should be listed somewhere in there. If you don't see a name that looks "right", just call someone and they will refer or transfer you. Be tenacious until you get some answers that satisfy you. That will help you a bit with that decision.

As for the loans at the CC, if something happens where you have to take a semester off for whatever reason, most lenders have options for deferment. It usually entails completing some paperwork that indicates why you are out of school or giving them an explanation for why you can not make payments at the current time, and the ones I have loans through have been very understanding. Not saying it's 100% easy (as anything dealing with money isn't), but it can be done fairly quickly as long as you take the initiative and contact them once you realize that it's possibility. The only consideration you might have is whether your loans are subsidized or unsubsidized. Some will continue to accrue interest even if you are in a deferment status, but if you're in a position where you can't afford payments at that time, this is not usually the first consideration. My loans are subsidized, so they do not collect additional interest while I am in deferment.

Good luck with your final decision....somehow it all just has a way of working out the way it's supposed to!! :icon_hug:

tmyers2656 · Jul 14, 2007

I am a 23 year old student who just graduated from ccp with an applied science degree. I have 84 credits that all go toward nursing,but my gpa is only a 2.5 do you know of any schools who will accept that?

For the last couple of year I have been taking my pre reqs to get into a 2 year ADN program. I am an older student, pretty much single parents of 3 boys so I can not relocate or travel very far.
When I started I didn't realize how difficult it appears to be to get into a program. I get grants and loans, but there are limits. I am not sure what the limits are on the grants, but my community college district has there own limitations. At Dallas County Community Colleges you can only take one loan out your freshman year, and one your sophmore year. One financial aid advisor tells me that in order to take a loan next year I will have to have completed 90 credit hours which I think means I won't get a grant because that 150% of my total credit program hours. I will also have to appeal for special circumstances. Another advisor says not to worry because I do not need to complete 90 credit hours, and the appeals are almost always given to nursing students with good GPA's.
I have my grants, and loans for the upcoming year. My plan was to apply to the 2 year in Aug, and take the semester of additional courses which will give me more points toward my next application if I do not get in. I have calculated the max amount of points that you can possibly have, and what I have, and need. The way I see it I have a 70-75% chance of getting in when I apply in Aug. If I have to apply again in Jan then it will increase to 80-85% or maybe higher. If I need to reapply a third time next Aug then it's almost 100%. Once I get accepted I have scholorships lined up.
So basically worst case scenerio I start the nursing program in Spring 2009. I am just not sure if financial aid will carry me through. And if I stop going to school for a semester my loans go into repayment.
So I was looking around, and I am being told that you can just walk through the door basically at a 4 year university. Since I have been taking pre reqs to go to a 2 year program there are about a year worth of pre reqs I still need for a university. I will need to take 2 historys, 2 English classes, 2 Governments, Algebra 1, Statistics, Nurtition, and something else. If I took 5 classes a semester I could be ready to apply to a university BSN in the fall. The great thing there is I will not have the DCCCD loan limitations, but only the cap that the federal gov gives which I am not even close to.
I feel like I am at a cross roads, and its such an important decision because alot of the classes I have taken were for nothing if I switch paths and go 4 year. On the other hand if the worse case scenerio occurs and I dont get in get into a 2 year until Sring 2009 I would graduate from the 4 year with a BSN 6 months quicker.
Then again what if all the things I have heard were wrong, and the 4 years are just as difficult to get into as the 2 years.
I need to make a decision because I have already registered for my classes this semester would need to change them. I need some advice guys what would you do?

WDWpixieRN, RN · Jul 15, 2007

I am a 23 year old student who just graduated from ccp with an applied science degree. I have 84 credits that all go toward nursing,but my gpa is only a 2.5 do you know of any schools who will accept that?

I don't know where/what ccp is, but our college only requires chemistry and biology with a minimum "C" to apply to the program. At that time, you are put on a waiting list and are required to pass a nursing dosage test. Then it's just a waiting game; no formal application/interview/weighted scale.

coolpeach · Jul 15, 2007

I am a 23 year old student who just graduated from ccp with an applied science degree. I have 84 credits that all go toward nursing,but my gpa is only a 2.5 do you know of any schools who will accept that?

I am not sure about the 4 years, but I do know about the 2 years that I am applying to. They only allow those with a 2.75 or higher to apply, but say that those candidates will more not get in. My advisors at school have drilled into me over that only a high GPA will get accepted in a year program. I currently have a 3.5 something, but I am retaking a couple of courses this semester to get it up to a 3.8. Even then I am worried it may not be good enough.

Again I am not sure about the 4 years, but if your interested in a 2 year program you will need to retake some courses to get your GPA up.

LMRN10 · Jul 16, 2007

I can't really help you with this, but I just wanted to say best of luck to you with your decision. Do some reasearch with the school and see what the deal is!

SunnyCaRN · Jul 16, 2007

Hi Cool Peach,

There are several outside of school places that you can apply for loans so don't worry to much about money -schools want you and will help you find it. Even this website has links for loans.

A 4-yr university BSN is usually based on a points system and you need to do their required pre-req's before applying. Advantage is you will receive a BSN and most hospitals pay more for BSN. Disadvantage -they are just as hard to get into (at least here in on the west coast).

A 2-yr can either be a wait list, lottery, or point system. Advantage is that their programs are normally a 2 yr program instead of a 3 yr program at the university level.

That said, my research has been for grants and loans funded by the state and government if you are in a program such as nursing they will extend the money for another year due to all the pre-req's and the length of the program. And it sounds like you are already on top of the scholarships. Most loan repayments begin 6 months after you stop school but once you enroll again they fall back into deferment. You can also defer payments while you are waiting on your program you just have to call and ask for one. If you go over your 5 years of school grants then you may need outside funding. If you are out of school for a semester see if your local hospital has an opening and then you can get some experience and exposure to management -good for hiring you as an RN when you finish your program!

Hope this helps and is not too confusing. Good Luck!

blue-eyes1234 · Jul 23, 2007

Coolpeach, sorry so long and although I have no answers for you

blue-eyes1234 · Jul 23, 2007

Coolpeach, although I have no answers for you I am in the same boat, I am 34 years old a mother of 3, and since Jan. 2004 been working on my pre-reqs and co-reqs. In fact, until this last Jan. I was just missing two classes from finishing my pre- and co-reqs for my nursing program. However, this last Jan. my school decided to add two more co-reqs to the already long list of courses needed for admittance into nursing. As well, like you didn't realize how difficult it was going to be to get accepted into my community college’s nursing program nor did I understand the total concept of finishing one’s degree within 150% of their total credits. I was especially dumbfounded when I realized that even the classes that you drop are added to the 150% of total credits you are allowed, even when its replaced by another class. As a result, of not understanding how and what was figured into the 150% and my lack of knowledge that all the classes I had dropped even the one’s dropped the first week and replaced by another would all be counted has landed me over that limit and I may not be able to finish my degree without help. I also made the mistake of taking 16.5 credits my first semester of school 7.5 of which was for an EMT course that was not needed to earn a nursing degree, only if I knew then what I know now. Although, I now understand everything included in the 150% of the credits one is allowed I found out a little to late. Only after receiving a letter from financial aid last month stating that I was no longer eligible for financial aid, based on my progress towards my degree which could not be achieved without exceeding the 150% of total credits I was allowed to finish.

When, all I have ever wanted was to be a nurse it may longer be possible no matter how much I want it or how sure I am that nursing is the path I was meant to take it may not happen now. For many years now I have worked in health care and it has led me to the assurance that nursing is for me and the path I was meant to take, but my stupidity I pray has not ruined my chances of achieving it. Even though, I can always work in this field and have many certifications my dream and passion is nursing.( I am a certified nursing assistant, a certified emergency medical technologist, as well have a certification in phlebotomy, and a certification in end of life care) Although, I did love the ten years I worked in nursing homes as well love my job for the last 5 years doing private care for the terminally ill, but know I can do so much more to help my patients as a nurse.

Even so, as most colleges mine has a very competitive nursing program as well do not care what health care experience you have only factor they consider is grades, admittance is solely on your GPA and scores from the TEAS test. I am very discouraged at this point, and afraid with the enormous applicants my school gets for nursing they easily weed out the applicants they don’t want and my mistakes makes their weeding a little easier that they will not even consider an appeal. With my cumulative HRS at 67.50 and still needing 50 more credits to finish a degree in nursing and a school that has it chose of applicants why would they accept my appeal. Has anyone out there made these same mistakes and continued or have any ideas at all and/or any advice at all will help, all I know is to appeal it. This is torture I can think of nothing else, it took me years to work up the nerve to return to school. Now, after 3 and ½ years of hard work, missed birthdays, and all the missed outings with my kids that I have sacrificed to achieve a nursing degree in the end may have nothing to show for it, but cannot imagine giving up now nor do I want to.

coolpeach · Jul 24, 2007

Thanks everyone for your advice, and support. After much consideration, and talking to my friend/financial aid advisor I have decided to continue down the 2 year program path "for now".

Blue eyes...

I totally understand. Up until just the last year or so it was less than 150% at my college and it was based on a fixed amount not on each person's individual plan. When I discovered this I was freaking. It meant if I dropped nothing I would still be like 15 credit hours short of graduation when my financial aid went over. Now it's at least better since its 150% of my nursing plan. I don't see how you can be over with just over 67 hours.

For example the program I am applying to in the fall is 72 credit hours total. This does not count the biology I had to take prior to A&P or the 9 hours of remedial math I had to take when I started. I did find out that you are allowed 30 hours of remedial courses that do NOT count toward the 150% percent limit so thats good. At any rate 72 times 150% is 108 credit hours. So my financial aid is good until I reach the 108 credit hours. Because I have already taken all the major classes when I get into the program I will only have 34 credit hours left. I have 51 credit hours now. If you add this next semester I will have 63, and if I get into the program you add the 34 then I will finish at 97. This is 11 hours short of the limit.

If you are at your limit at 67 credit hours it would mean your entire program was only 45 credit hours long. If this is not the case I would certainly bring it to their attention.

As far as appeals I would certainly appeal. My CC has made their own personal loan limits regardless of the ones the federal government sets. The government says I can take out 46 thousand as an independent student, but the school says you are allowed one loan as a freshman, and one loan your second year. They do not take into account nursing students waiting to be accepted or the fact that the nursing program requires many more credits. My financial aid advisor informed me that she handles appeals on a daily basis for nursing students in regards the the 2 year loan limit, and the 150% situation, and they are almost ALWAYS approved. So maybe its the same way at your school. Keep your chin up you can do it. File that appeal, and if you need to beg, cry, and let them know how important this is for you.