Young Single Mother taking pre-nursing classes...is this a good idea?

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Where do I began....Well after graduating HS in 2008 I enrolled at my local community college in Pensacola FL. Clueless as to what I wanted to major in I choose nursing because everyone convinced me that this would be one the best fields to work in. Well my 1st year of college I goofed off. I managed to complete a few classes but withdrew from most for whatever reason. 2nd year of college I met who would soon be the father of my child. I'm embarrassed to say that I allowed our relationship to interfere with my schooling and I found myself skipping out on classes just to hang out with him. Eventually I withdrew from my classes and a month later found out that I was pregnant Nov of 2009. I did not return to school spring semester and still havent told my parents that i missed an entire semester of school. My parents left FL the beginning of my 2nd year so I had no parental supervision whatsoever and i totally abused that. Well my father is currently active duty in the army and he plans to let me use 2 years worth of his GI BILL. After having my daughter my parents convinved me to move to GA with them to complete school. I realize that I am very grateful to have such a wonderful support system and I really want to take advantage of this. My question is should I continue working towards my pre-nursing AA degree and retake those classes I did poorly in then transfer to a univeristy? Or should I try getting into an LPN program than bridge my way to RN? Im only eligible for two years of free tution (GI BILL) which means if I re-do my two years at community college ill have to pay out off pocket of get a loan(I dont mind getting a loan) once I transfer to a university. With me being a single mother would which would be the better route? Im also having a hard time finding school here in ATL with and LPN program. I dont want my parents supporting me forever...Im 20 btw

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If I were you,I'd retake the classes toward an AA degree.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

Since you are a single mom, I suggest something different. I would do the LPN program and bridge at a later time for several reasons. First, you will be able to complete school at no cost to you. Second, you will be in the workforce sooner getting valuable experience and earning a living. Finally, many employers offer tuition reimbursement. So, once employed, you could have your employer finish paying for your RN, BSN, MSN, ect…

Since I already had a Bachelor’s degree, an accelerated BSN program only made sense. Had I not already earned my degree, I would have done the route I suggested.

Regardless, good luck to you!

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Do you know if you qualify for a Pell Grant? You should talk to a financial aid advisor at one of your local schools before you fill out your next FAFSA to see. If you do qualify for a Pell you should be able to use that to pay for school and if you go to a community college it should be enough to cover 2 semesters and books each year. Then over the summer you could look into a CNA or PCA course to get your foot in the door. That way you could save your GI Bill for when you're ready to transfer over to a university to complete your BSN. Just a suggestion/thought. I don't know if it's even possible. Getting your LPN is a good choice too, schools even offer LPN to BSN programs so you do have options.

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It is not likely that she is eligible for a pell grant as she graduated in 08 and is single (under 25, not married and not a vet means she is a dependent). It's still worth it to fill out a fasfa, but it's not likey to pan out into grants.

However, you are exactly right about saving the gi bill for university.

OP, take out loans to finish your pre-reqs at the community college, then use the post 9/11 gi bill to pay for the much more expensive university courses.

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I am also a single mother, but I had my child way before you. If I had a young child I would go for the LPN so that I can began working sooner, also sometimes in order to get pell you have to put the parent who makes the least amount of money down and hem only. So if your mom makes the less than your father, only put down your mother's tax information. Good luck to you though I know from experience it is hard.

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Wow, telling people to cheat on the FASFA. People like you are the reason that we continue to spend so damn much on education and end up with so little. Christ her parents tax information will clearly show the deciet even if they file separately, and it's much more likely that they file together. Anyways, do not cheat the system. It's not the best system, but it's the one we have now, and fraud can always come back and bite you.

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Do you know if you qualify for a Pell Grant? You should talk to a financial aid advisor at one of your local schools before you fill out your next FAFSA to see. If you do qualify for a Pell you should be able to use that to pay for school and if you go to a community college it should be enough to cover 2 semesters and books each year. Then over the summer you could look into a CNA or PCA course to get your foot in the door. That way you could save your GI Bill for when you're ready to transfer over to a university to complete your BSN. Just a suggestion/thought. I don't know if it's even possible. Getting your LPN is a good choice too, schools even offer LPN to BSN programs so you do have options.

Im not eligible for FA :crying2:. I've tried every years since I gradutated HS and got nothing. My papa makes too much money. I really wish I could do that and save my GI Bill for later like you said.

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Wow, telling people to cheat on the FASFA. People like you are the reason that we continue to spend so damn much on education and end up with so little. Christ her parents tax information will clearly show the deciet even if they file separately, and it's much more likely that they file together. Anyways, do not cheat the system. It's not the best system, but it's the one we have now, and fraud can always come back and bite you.

Whoa I def would'nt go that route. I'm waayy too chicken and besides like you said its against the law. I'll just have to suck it up and take out a student loan for my last two years.

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THANKS FOR THE GREAT ADVICE LADIES:D. I'd be so lost without this site!

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Take the loan out for the first two years at a cc if you plan on going right to a bsn and are transferring from a cc to a 4 year. Not sure about your rates, but my cc tuition is 100/hr while the 4yr I am transferring to is 450/hr. If I only had 2 years of gi bill it would make alot more sense to use it only at the 4yr ( 2 years cc loans: 60hrs • $100= $6000 (well within gov't loan limits), 2 years 4yr loan 60 hrs • $450= $27,000 => if you wait you will save $21,000, and that's before factoring in interest). After a very crude interest calc (@ 6%) the cc loans will cost you 80 a month for ten years with a total af about 7800 (1800 in interest) and the university loans will cost you 360 a month for ten years with a rough total of 35000 (14000 in interest). Using the gi bill for cc when you plan on transferring to a university for a bsn will cost you an extra $27,000.

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I agree with everyone else, except for cheating the system! Lol. I'd take the LPN, and then later go for RN, that way you're providing for your daughter and can have some experience under your belt. You sound like me with the parents--I am blessed that my parents have allowed me to quit my job and are supporting me 100% financially and emotionally while I go straight through and get my RN. Just make sure you're going to school because you WANT to be a nurse--nursing isn't for everyone, and noone wants a nurse that doesn't genuinely care about them, and is just in it "because it pays well" :)

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