<p>Hi,
I'm about to graduate this semester with a BA in Classics. While I've enjoyed my studies, I am serious about pursuing a career in nursing. I had started out as a Biology major completing several core science courses during my first and second years before declaring my major in Classics. Following graduation, I absolutely want to do a nursing program to get my RN. I understand that once I have my first bachelor's degree I believe that I would officially be ineligible to receive Pell grants, yes or no? I may pursue getting my RN through a Jr. college since it seems to be a better investment (cheaper and faster to complete) than through a 4 year university. However, I could (in order to continue receiving federal aid) postpone my graduation and take on a second major in nursing. </p>
<p>I have to say that I'll graduate with a 3.7 gpa. I'd prefer to graduate this semester to receive honors. A second major could potentially lower my gpa that I've worked to keep on the high side over my college career. </p>
<p>Any suggestions or advice is much appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>Once you receive your bachelors you will no longer be eligible for the Pell grant. So if money is an issue you may need to consider postponing and going for the double major if that is possible. But if you are already about to graduate and have achieved the requirements can you even do that?</p>
<p>There are other issues to consider. Financial aid requires that you are meeting SAP - satisfactory academic progress. part of this is grades, where you are fine. part of it is the number of credit hours you are taking. For instance at my daughters school you lose financial aid eligibility if you exceed 150% of the required credit hours. I am not sure how being in a double major would affect this. That is something your college would have to tell you.</p>
<p>Thanks swimcatsmom! Yes, I thought that was the case with the Pell. But, I’m going to make further inquiries since I’ve seen post-grad’s going for teaching certifications or maybe a Masters in teaching (not quite sure which one) who can get an extension on the Pell. I’m just going to search to see if any such thing exists (or scholarships) for Nursing. I would think that grants for Nursing must exist! </p>
<p>I’d rather not stick around as an Undergrad any longer! I’ve done my work in 3.5 years and I am certain that I’m not close to exceeding required credit hours even though I have plenty! I could double major so it is an option I’ll keep open. Of course, I’d prefer to graduate asap but I do have to find ways to minimize the financial impact. I already have enough loans. I don’t want to get more loans than I can feasibly manage to pay back in a reasonably sane amount of time. </p>
<p>No matter what, loans or not, I’m getting my RN.</p>
<p>It is a very limited exception with lots of rules. Unfortunately I don’t think it will be of any help to you in your nursing plans.</p>
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<p>It is the only exception to the rule - there does not seem to be one for nursing. I am not sure if you can still get the Pell even if your postpone your graduation, if you will have achieved the credits required to graduate.</p>
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<p>I would think there should be some sort of scholarships for nursing. I don’t know of any federal grants for it unfortunately. I can completely understand you wanting to avoid loans as much as possible. Good luck.</p>
<p>Getting a nursing degree at a community college may not be as quick as you think. Many of these programs have long wait lists to get in. Also, some require prerequisites before you can even apply for the program. So, first you need to look at the schools and see if this will be a problem for you.
Where I live, the nursing programs at the community colleges take 3 to 4 years to complete. I know that sounds crazy, but that is the reality of the situation. Yes, this is a cheaper way to go, but it’s not for everyone because it does take linger than you’d expect.</p>
<p>No, there are no extensions for Pell. I know this for a fact (other than the VERY limited exceptions above - I haven’t seen any such exceptions at my school of more than 30,000 with a large teaching program - probably because we have a bachelor program for teaching!). Students in a dual bachelor/masters program & in professional programs like PharmD can get Pell for a time while they take masters/professional level classes - but that’s because the students haven’t actually completed the bachelors portion yet - once they get a certain number of credits or to a certain point in the program, the Pell stops. Aid is very limited for certification & prereq (post bach) programs. Only undergrad federal loans are available, and only up to the aggregate undergraduate limits (for teaching programs, there may be a possibility of a TEACH grant for such students). Even the undergrad loans may be available only for a limited span of time - our post bachs only have a full calendar year fro the time they begin receiving Post Bach aid - if they take too long, they don’t get ANY aid.</p>
<p>RE: Postponing graduation & keeping a Pell grant … we just had a case like that. The student didn’t get into grad school, so he didn’t apply for graduation. He just figured he’d keep taking classes. However, his department considered him eligible for graduation & coded him as such … the code made him ineligible for financial aid, in much the same way that just taking classes for the heck of it makes one ineligible for financial aid.</p>