WWYD? Scholarships

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Specializes in critical care.

There are very few hospitals around me. I'm starting a BSN program in the fall, and am looking at scholarship programs from local hospitals.

The hospital that is closest to me (only a 5 minutes drive from me) has one that is a maximum of $8,000 (spread over 2 years) and it requires a 2 year commitment after graduation.

The closest hospital beyond that one is about a 30 minute drive from me. They have a scholarship that offers all tuition and fees. My school will be about $8,500-$9k per year with all fees and books included. They also require a 2 year service commitment. The difference is that this one also requires I become a CNA and work 12.5 hours per week while I'm in school.

My commitments beyond school are two children that will be in school full time. They are too young to stay home alone and usually require a great deal of one on one from me. My husband works from 3-11 pm, 7 days on, 4 days off, 7 days on, 3 days off. From the time my kids get home until they go to bed, there will be no school work done when my husband is working.

My husband and I are very, very broke and are desperate for every penny we can get to go toward bills. The last two years have been such a struggle with me in school. Money absolutely is a HUGE selling point for me, but I do worry that this 12.5 hour per week commitment could be the difference between me doing awesome and doing poorly.

Which scholarship would you go for?

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Specializes in L&D.

I would go for the one that you have to be the CNA. You will gain a LOT of experience as a CNA. BUT I would find out how those 12.5hrs work out...Can you do it all as one shift, or does it need to be broken up(such as over 2 days). Are you paid as a CNA or are they considering your "payment" your scholarship?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Apply for both. Take the one that offers it to you. Don't worry about which to choose from until you are given an actual choice. The likely truth is that both of these are probably highly competitive and either one would be a huge break for your family. Why apply for just one? Apply for both and hope at least one of them is interested.

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Apply for both. Take the one that offers it to you. Don't worry about which to choose from until you are given an actual choice. The likely truth is that both of these are probably highly competitive and either one would be a huge break for your family. Why apply for just one? Apply for both and hope at least one of them is interested.

Hey!

I was gonna say that...

:yelclap:

Because the OP is assuming that whichever one she wants, is going to be the one she gets.

Keep your options open, OP.

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Specializes in critical care.

My plan is definitely to apply to both and see what happens. I'm thinking so much about this now because what if I do manage to get both? What an amazing turn of events that would be!

I'm pretty sure the one offering more money is actually less competitive, if that seems possible. It's in a tiny little town, is a tiny little hospital, and is far enough away from schools that they've upped the pot to get more applicants. I've been leaning toward this one, and think it would save us in so many ways. Those that I speak with in real life have been recommending against this one, so I wanted to present the choice here, where other BTDT nursing students could give experience behind their advice.

*crossing everything* Obviously getting both would be the best case scenario, and may not be likely, but I'm still going for it!

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