Will I be a "full time" student

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If i go into nursing school with all liberal arts type courses done such as nutrition, psychology,etc....

will i still be a full time student taking only nursing 1, then nursing 2 each semester.......

for certain types of financial aid and health insurance I know one must be a full time student

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I've wondered about this too. I have every prereq and coreq done! I've heard that my school has a full-time waiver you can apply for, allowing for the 8 credit semesters to count as full-time. I plan to look into it after I'm accepted, otherwise I will just have to add electives to total 12. :(

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I've wondered about this too. I have every prereq and coreq done! I've heard that my school has a full-time waiver you can apply for, allowing for the 8 credit semesters to count as full-time. I plan to look into it after I'm accepted, otherwise I will just have to add electives to total 12. :(

thanks for the reply. i'll have to look deeper into this. there are many reasons why i want to be considered a full time student.

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Honestly, it depends on your program.

At my school, 12 credits is considered full time. There are certain terms where there's only 9 credits of nursing coursework, if I want to be considered full time, I need to take at least 3 more credits.

Hope that helps!

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I am in the same boat! I took all my pre's and co-reqs (well, except for my last English, but I'm putting that one on hold as lonnng as I can). I have even taken quite a few electives that complement the nursing program (med ethics, phlebotomy, med term, etc.). I start the program in January, and our first semester is only 9 credit hrs. I need to be considered full-time for financial aid, etc., so now I (like some of you) will have to take some electives, but I don't want to! I want to fully focus on the nursing classes. UGH! :smackingf

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Specializes in Orthopedics.

I am in the same boat. I have a scholarship that requires me to be enrolled in 12 hours and I have a bachelor's already so, I too have taken all the required courses. So, what I did is look into some of the required pre reqs for master's programs. I found a few classes there to take to put me up to 12. For instance, Sociology 101. I have taken a 201 level class, but they require 101 so I am taking it. Also, marriage and the family. If you don't want to look that far ahead I suggest taking something that will help you obtain an easy A. That way you can boost your GPA! Good luck guys!!

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No- I have a friend who went to the community college I did prereqs at. He ended up taking extra classes in order to qualify for his GI bill.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Definitely find out the "rules" of your school. It varies.

For the record ... I took an extra class in grad school to keep my full time status one status -- and thus keeping my financial aid for that semester. It happens.

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Definitely find out the "rules" of your school. It varies.

For the record ... I took an extra class in grad school to keep my full time status one status -- and thus keeping my financial aid for that semester. It happens.

FT/PT status is determined by FAFSA for federal aid, isn't it? I can see institutions with their own scholarships and grants offering some variation, but iirc for Stafford, Perkins and Pell etc 11 credits and below is considered part time.

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FT/PT status is determined by FAFSA for federal aid, isn't it? I can see institutions with their own scholarships and grants offering some variation, but iirc for Stafford, Perkins and Pell etc 11 credits and below is considered part time.

My understanding is that each program/school decides what is full time for their program.

Your school does notify 3rd parties if you are or aren't full time (there's a national clearinghouse database that has that kind of info),

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At my school, they write a letter for students that basically say that nine hours of nursing school counts as full time. We have lots of scholarship students, as well as students on visas who need proof of enough school time being put in.

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At my school, they write a letter for students that basically say that nine hours of nursing school counts as full time. We have lots of scholarship students, as well as students on visas who need proof of enough school time being put in.

Same with my school! + for insurance purposes.

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