<p>So I'm a 2nd year UF student applying for the UF nursing program. After this semester, my nursing GPA might be a 3.6, and my overall GPA a 3.8. The average nursing/overall GPA for those who get in the UF nursing program is around 3.8, so I'm a little below average. </p>
<p>My parents' ultimatum: If I get into the UF nursing program, they will continue supporting me (they pay for my rent, tuition, living expenses, everything). If I don't get in, they will cut me off, and I'll have to start supporting myself...I've never worked a day in my life, so I'm pretty terrified. </p>
<p>If I didn't get into UF's nursing program this year, my previous backup plan was to apply for UF's accelerated nursing program after getting my bachelor's in another major, but since my parents gave me this ultimatum (yesterday), I think I may need to transfer to another school's nursing program...but I still don't know how I would support myself.</p>
<p>This seems ridiculous that I can't support myself at age 20, because I know plenty of people have to work or take out loans for college, but I've been overprotected and sheltered under a rock throughout my life, and I've lived on-campus in a dorm for the past two years because it's "safer"...I still don't know how to drive, and can't cook.</p>
<p>I guess I'm looking for advice, and comparisons between Florida BSN nursing programs.</p>
<p>Did your parents give you any reasons for their “Nursing at UF or nothing” stance? If there is any possibility that they might continue to help you pay for your education if you transfer elsewhere, you need to find that out.</p>
<p>Until you are 24, you will need to have your parents’ financial information in order to apply for financial aid. So find out if they will be willing to file the FAFSA each year with you even if they don’t shell out a penny.</p>
<p>Are you receiving any money through the Bright Futures program? Find out how much that covers. You will have to come up with the difference through financial aid or though your own earnings. </p>
<p>You also should pay a visit to the Nursing advisor, and find out about transfers within the FL state system. Do students with your GPA get into the other universities? Do any of the community colleges offer an ASN that will prepare you for the RN licensing exams, and if so, do any of those accept transfers from your university?</p>
<p>Find out if you have had enough training to qualify as a CNA, phlebotomist, or other allied medical job. You might be able to get a job pretty quickly if you do, and you could work full-time while finishing up your studies part time.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>
<p>My parents think that nursing at UF is the best, because UF is the “most prestigious” public state school in Florida…they said they might support me at FSU’s nursing program (nowhere else, especially not at a community college), but I don’t know anything about it. I’ve just heard that USF’s nursing program was comparable to or better than UF’s.</p>
<p>I receive the top level reward for Bright Futures, which covers almost half of my tuition at UF, and I think starting last year, FAFSA wasn’t required for Bright Futures recipients. Even if I filled out FAFSA, I wouldn’t get any financial aid (unless you’re talking about loans? I don’t know how loans work!) because my EFC covers more than enough.</p>
<p>I was thinking of getting training to be a CNA in the summer, if worst comes to worst, but I don’t know whether my parents would pay for it.</p>
<p>Go meet with the Financial Aid Office, and learn about student loans. If your EFC exceeds the cost of attendance, you will not be able to borrow any loans othe than unsubsidized loans even if your parents refuse to pay. That means that you have to find a place where you can cover your expenses with Bright Futures and a student loan and a part time job. As a junior, you will be able to borrow $7,500. That’s it.</p>