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For those of you who have gone back to school - sm

Posted: Sep 06, 2013

How did you support yourself/family while you were in school? I sooooooo want to go back to school, but I'm a single parent, sole provide for my child and myself, and there's just no possible way for me to go to school and work. I live in a very rural area so my commute to school would be about 45 minutes one way, there all day for school, home to pick up my child from school and then when would I have time to work and study? I am barely making it financially now as it is and I'm working 45 hours per week. I feel like my dream isn't going to happen. I want to be a nurse desperately but I just can't figure out how to make it work!

You might have to - xx

[ In Reply To ..]
move to somewhere that will offer a school and a job in close enough proximity for you to work and go to school. You could do a short CNA course that would qualify you for a job, but you would need to be in a more populated area to make it work. It's not going to work in a rural area with limited employment and school choices or opportunities.

There are some employers, hospitals, usually, that will provide tuition assistance for their employees. So, if you take a CNA job at one of those employers, you could get some assistance with your nursing school tuition while working and attending school.

If you stay where you are, it looks like you won't be able to make your dream come true. It's going to be up to you to see that it happens; no one is going to hand it to you on a platter. It will likely be necessary for you to leave your comfort zone and move to a place where the opportunities and logistics are better.

going back to school-so much easier now - meme

[ In Reply To ..]
You can take classes on-line from most schools now. It depends on what you want to take, nursing of course has to be hands on but there are lot of things you can take from a good university or community college like coding that don't require any travel time. With the low incomes we you are sole provider you can probably get grants to pay for school. That is what I did and then got loans to cover the bills. You will come out with debt but worth it for a new career and a chance to provide for your family IMHO. Look into it. It is more than possible. :-)

Agree that it might require a move - Leaving MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Even if you did take online courses, it sounds like you might need to move to find a job once you finished up your training. At least you can take your MT job with you if you have to move to a better area for opportunities.

Back to school here - my experience

[ In Reply To ..]
This is how I do it. It may not work for you. I have 1 online class, 3 on campus. here is my schedule: I drop this kids off work 2 hours in the morning before class, go to class, come home and work 1 or 2 hours depending on the day, then go back to work for my night shift, which is either 4 or 5 hours. I work 8 straight hours on Sundays.

My husband isn't much help. He's depressed because he thought all these years he was going to be a rock star (lame yes I know,trust me) by now. So i'm doing all of the housework, getting up at 5 am to study and get the kids ready for school. Tough? of course. But it is something I truly want.

Good luck with nursing. I thought I really wanted to be a nurse too but half way in the first semester I dropped out. They don't teach you if you get sued you do this and this. They tell you WHEN You get sued this is what you do. My math skills are too poor for me to be responsible for someone's life like that. Personally I chose social work and I get crap for that so i'm not one to tell you what to do. Just make sure it's what you really want to do before you make such a huge sacrifice. My pell grant did not cover all the supplies I needed with nursing school and I had to come out of pocket A LOT and of course since I withdrew it was a total loss. If you go into something a bit more broader than nursing at least if you decide to do something else you can salvage something. Nursing school is very skill specific, it doesn't really transfer into anything else, like business or even HIT.

Good luck!

well you already are in your own way because you - said theres no way possible

[ In Reply To ..]
there is always a way. You said you work already, do you work as an MT from home? If yes then i'm sure you can change your hours. Work nights because anything related to nursing is not going to be offered online until you get some years in...I think you can get your BSN online but the 2 years you will have clinicals. Nursing is quite hard so you will need lots of time to study. A lot of math and anatomy. But if you really want to do it you will find a way. Just don't say there's no way because there is...just find it :)

Look in to,on-line classes. There are more and more online - Me

[ In Reply To ..]
now. I have gone back to school. I am taking all the courses I can on-line. I still have to go to school 3 times a week though for other classes. I'm not sure of what direction I'm going yet, so I'm taking a variety of classes. My state's CC system has several degrees you can get all online.

Get your prereqs done from a regionally accredited school - JustAnIdea

[ In Reply To ..]
offering online classes. I read great reviews about this site and what they offer: http://edukan.org/

I'm certain, though, there are many others. WGU (http://www.wgu.edu/) is supposed to be wonderful (if they offer what you might like).

Good luck!

Paying for school - Nick

[ In Reply To ..]
Loans and scholarships. My loans cost me around 50K.

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