Paying for college

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
Paying for college
15
Mon, 09-18-2006 - 12:08pm

A couple of the discussions about college brought up this question--My DD is a senior who wants to be a nurse. She has top grades, is in National Honor Society and I think her SAT scores are pretty good. She is taking them again because she wants to see if they go up--totally her idea. So I think she could get into a really good school, but we can't afford to pay.

Obviously, we are going to do the FAFSA and look for scholarships. I did an online search for nursing scholarships and you wouldn't believe the wierd ones that are out there, there's one for people w/ Italian ancestors who want to be nurses, for example.

I am trying to convince her that it would be great to go to the state univ. and not have the burden of student loans when she gets out. There's a nursing shortage, so she should have no trouble getting a well paying job, then she can afford a car, an apt., etc. and not have all her pay going to pay off the loans. She is resentful that I was able to go to a private college that now would probably cost $40,000/yr. Unfortunately, we are regular middle income people and because I got divorced, I could hardly pay my bills, never mind save for her college.

Now I think she is resigned to going to state univ. (there are a couple of locations to choose from). I think she should also apply to a couple of private schools to see what fin. aid she gets, but I know she would be really disappointed if she got into the school she really wants to go to, and then couldn't afford it.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2003
Mon, 09-18-2006 - 3:59pm
I would play the "wait and see" game. We just sent our oldest daughter off to college this year and have another daughter who's headed to college this coming year. Please make sure you don't miss the FAFSA deadline and apply to those schools (both private and state) that she's really interested in attending. You might be amazed at the scholarship opportunities you'll find (both private and public). Please don't pass up the opportunity to apply at private schools. Also, the college campus tours are very important. A few schools that were on the top of my daughter's list were eliminated once she toured the campus and met the personnel. It's just a matter of "fit". She might wind up loving a state school. Also, as you mentioned, there's lots of opportunities for scholarships other than from the institution. Please don't pass those up. They can add up quickly. And last, I know in the medical profession there is a federal funding program that will pay your college expenses providing, in turn, your daughter commits to working a few years in a rural environment. Perhaps the nursing profession has something similar?
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-28-2006
Tue, 09-19-2006 - 4:28am
If your daughter is dead set on having a degree from a private/more prestigous university and money is an issue, what about looking into transfer programs available from community colleges in your area? I know our local community college has guaranteed transfer programs; the community college has a deal of some sort with a few different schools, some just run-of-the-mill state schools, and others a little more prestigous (UC Davis, for example). As long as the student keeps up their end of the deal, they are guaranteed acceptance for the last 2 years of college. A lot of kids do that here, especially with the UC Davis program. It allows them the prestige of a UC Davis diploma, but it is also more economical.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
Tue, 09-19-2006 - 11:23am

For nursing school, it is usually not feasible to transfer. She would have go to a college that has a 2-yr RN program, then go to a 4-yr. college that has a special degree program for RNs getting their bachelor's, which is kind of a pain. I went to Boston College and my roommate actually had to transfer to a different school because they wouldn't accept transfers into their nursing program and she was already a pre-med student at the same college!

Well, I'm sure we will work it out somehow. It is just adding to her & our stress.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
Tue, 09-19-2006 - 2:39pm

I am reading all the posts and kinda getting shaky. My daughter is a freshman in a private college that is about 20 mintues from our house majoring in nursing. but she had to live up there. We do not have enough vehicles for her. She did all her own funding information. My husband is physically and mentally ill. He does not work. He has not yet received any Social Security for income. We literally have nothing.

She got mostly state grants and a couple of small loans. Now we are in Pennsylvania. She knew going into this there would no be money for fancy clothes or gadgets. She has worked a little to save some money for snacks and such up there. She comes home on the weekends. That saved money because she didn't need to weekend meals with room and board.
She knows this will be a long road and I hope she gets through. She is determined and I have so much faith in her. She went from having a compfortable life to two years ago having nothing when her dad fell ill.

As far as the private vs state colleges, actually where we are it wasn't all that more expensive. We, of course, have a Penn State campus about 5 minutes from our house. Yes it would have been cheaper and I believe the education would have been just as good. Penn State is a prestigous university known all over the country. She wanted to go this particular private college. We just pray all will work out. The need for nurses in our area is tremendous. Jobs in the paper every day. She knows all the consquences of what could happen and she said she will do what it takes to work it out. We have left it up to her. Just praying.

Andie

Avatar for heartsandroses2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 09-19-2006 - 2:59pm

{{Andie}} Growing up my dad became disabled and it was simply understood that my parents would not send me to college at all. Little did I know, I could have gone without thier help but I was ignorant to that fact. Not sure it would have been the right choice at that time anyway, as my parents retired 3000 miles away from me following my graduation from HS. I would not have had any support system in place and I wasn't strong at the time.

Your dd sounds like a very strong and ambitious young woman and I know you're proud of her. I'm sure she realizes this and puts her personal challenges into the proper persective to help her achieve her goals. What a very mature disposition.

My 18dd will be leaving for college in 2 weeks and it is one of the most world reknowned culinary schools and most expensive, but she will be getting a very good education and earning a bachelor's degree, unlike most other culinary schools, which usually offer only certification. She wanted to go there. I told her I'd do whatever I could to pay for her first year, but that she had to work hard too so she could stay there. She is so looking forward to working her butt off and learning everything she ever wanted to know about baking and pastry arts - she claims that she is willing to do the work required to reach her goal and that's what this is all about.

So many kids are raised with the understanding that they will attend college, but without the planning and forethought of what is required. I think it's a disservice to hand everything to them on a silver platter without making them work for it.

Your dd will appreciate her education and degree so much more for the work she had to put into it = and the pride on her parents' faces.

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