I am new to this website and hope I am doing this correctly. I am currently a full time college student at a community college. I am taking pre-requisites to enter the nursing program in fall of 2018. Even though this semester has only been going on for about a week, I am having a hard time balancing school and work. I am 23 years old and have been on my own since I was about 18. I pay rent: $700 a month (rent out a bedroom), gas, car insurance, food, cell phone etc. I have been juggling full time school and between 24-32 hours a week of work for the past semester but this semester I am taking A&P, statistics, multicultural studies, and developmental Psychology. I am currently freaking out because of how hard classes like A&P are. I chose to take 4 classes this semester because I want to complete my associates at a decent time. This being my hardest semester yet, I feel as though I will have a tough time getting good grades while working (currently 24 hours a week). My question is, is there anyway I can somehow attend school with these current classes but not work at all? I am still considered a “dependent” student and I did not qualify for any financial aid. That is funny because they took my mothers income only and she was a school custodian and did not make good money at all. I take out student loans and because I am a dependent student, the maximum I can take out per semester is 2,750 (5,500 a year). That 2,750 wasnt even enough to cover my books. Any advice would help. Thank you everybody.
Unless you can magic up money, I am not sure what it is you think can happen? Can you live with your mum (assume not) because that is your biggest expense.? Realistically what you can do is take less credits at school to balance your work/school life and optimise grades.Once 24, you are independent so you can do a financial reassessment at that point. I assume you are taking classes through all semesters including summer. You just might need to adjust your timeline. Most dependent students live at home or have living expenses paid by parents. What is your plan for once you are in the real nursing program? financially?
Not sure where you live, but $700 sounds like a lot for just a room. And more than $2750 sounds like way too much for textbooks for 4 classes at a CC. (Did you look into used books, textbook rentals, or even textbook sharing?) You might be stuck for this semester, or have to drop a class. Can you find a cheaper living situation–like assisting an elderly person in exchange for room/board? Do you have any connections with a church/religious community? Sometimes a situation like that can be found through through those types of connections.
Since you already have your maximum loan, you need to cut your budget in order to cut your work hours. Go through everything you spend money on and see if there is a cheaper substitute.