IMPORTANT NEWS!!!

There is a new *FEDERAL* loan coming out for graduate and professional students! It is called the GradPLUS. It is similar to the current federal loans, especially the federal PLUS loan. Why is this loan wonderful?

1. It's federal, which means fixed interest rate and 10-25 years to repay!

2. They DO NOT use fico scores or credit ratings in the decision process!

3. The student does not require a co-signer and parental information is not a part of the application process (this is what makes it different from the original PLUS loan)!

The loan is still fairly new and not tested yet, but let me tell you I am THE perfect person to try it out as my credit has gone to hell.

**NOTE: There seems to be a caveat about not having a recent report of a current bill 90+ days past due . . . I will be sure to post when this loan becomes available (supposed to be NEXT MONTH) and my results after applying because I actually do I have late payments, although none recent**

Go here to sign up to receive the packet and be notified when the loan becomes available:http://www.edamerica.net/money/loan options/gradplus.htm

Go here to see a comparison sheet: http://www.wm.edu/financialaid/gradplusloan.pdf

3 for 3

I have somehow managed to get into all three schools I applied to. I feel weird. And still speechless. But this blog is supposed to be more about the process and less about my feelings for right now, so here's the update:

Ivy1: My dream school. I finally received the financial aid award packet and it is pretty darn close to being exactly what they said it would be, which is a HUGE relief!

**If you will review my "THE NIGHTMARE" post about financial aid, you will see what Ivy1 quoted for financial aid...I did receive *everything* they said would be available. The scholarship amount was raised by $70.**

Ivy2: They have also sent their financial aid packet, and it left much to be desired. One major difference is that Ivy2 classifies its first year students as "5th year freshmen" which significantly lowers your maximum allottment of federal loans in comparison to "graduate student" status. The difference in cost between Ivy1 and Ivy2 is also r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s. Cost of year one of Ivy2: $90,000.

Ivy3: I just heard word from Ivy3 and so I don't have much news from them yet, including a financial aid award letter. I was a bit suprised by my acceptance to Ivy3, as they were the school with the strictest policy on criminal background issues.

There is also great news for us professional students, which I will give its own post...

Oh to scream

would be divine! I want to go somewhere and scream as loud as my lungs allow. Not a grunt. not a loud sigh of exasperation, but a real gut renching scream. I feel choked on my emotions. Numb. Like I need to get it out but can't. I want an open field. All by myself. To just let it out. People keep asking me "aren't you excited?" And the answer is YES (of course) but I can't get it out. Not even a cry.

My first future-nurse diagnosis...shock maybe?

Speechless

My, my, my. What a 24 hours I've had.

I just spoke with Ivy1, and they said

"You're in. Of course, you're in. Are you coming? You're such a strong applicant, we really hope you choose us...?"

It was just like that, there was inflection and a long pause as if she were holding her breath for my answer...

This one is different. Yesterday I was ready to scream for the Ivy2 news. But right now, I'm speechless. Simply speechless.

I'm in! I'm in! I'm in! I'm In!

The "what if I don't get into any of them? blues" are over!!
I am officially accepted to Ivy2!!

OMG.

Yes.

Uh Huh.

I'm in.

I'm going to graduate school.

Wow.

Still in the running...

Ivy3 has emailed me. They were waiting on confirmation of a prerequisite that I submitted. My application will be reviewed for the second time next week. By then I will know about my first choice schools and hopefully it won't matter what they decide.

This week I am waiting (and I do mean waiting) on a call from Ivy1 and a letter from Ivy2.

I have an A&P lecture exam tomorrow morning (eww) and lab exam on Thursday morning (double eww).

What a week this will be...

Ivy3

All of a sudden it's deadly quiet with Ivy3. I know a few folks who have already received their acceptance letters, which leads me to believe I am not among those accepted...

The NIGHTMARE...

that is financial aid.

First, let me warn you that this may come off as a rant to some of you, but to others, it will make you shake your head in agreement and shout AMEN.

The basics:

COST of ATTENDANCE for year 1: $56,000
year 2: $42,000
year 3: $42,000
TOTAL for 3 years of graduate education: $140,000. Absolutely ridiculous. A down-right shame. And folks, this aint medical school. It's nursing school. Unless you're a CRNA, there is no six-figure starting salary.

Q: What could possibly be worse?

A: The school not providing an adequate amount of aid to cover the cost of attending. That's right, there aren't enough federal loans to cover this amount. In fact, here's the breakdown...

(FOR THE FIRST YEAR)

Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan: maximum $8,500Federal UNSubsidized Stafford Loan: maximum $10,000
Federal Perkins: maximum $6,000
Federal Nursing Student Loans: maximum $4,000Federal Workstudy: maximum $1000

Scholarship from the school: maximum $8,500
TOTAL ------------------------------>$38,000

So, what's left? ----------------------->$18,000

Where is it supposed to come from?

ME.

Yep, that's right, this is the portion that I am responsible for. Me, whose EFC is an absolute ZERO. (0). Nothing. Yet, I am responsible for $18,000 worth of my FIRST year of nursing school. What's the problem with this?

It eliminates people. A lot of people. Certain people. People like me. This is why *almost* everyone looks alike and comes from the same background. Of course I had to be the person to raise my hand and ask "Where do students get this $18,000 from?" (because I'm thinking it may as well be 18 million for all it matters to me) What was her response?

"Friends, family, & private loans."

OK. Friends and family are out of the question...but private loans, that might work.
Think again. Private loans are bank loans that require one to actually qualify for the loan. (think new car or mortgage) I don't qualify for these. 1. My credit isn't good enough. 2. I don't make enough money. But don't worry, the financial aid office is well aware that not all students qualify for these loans. What do they suggest? Get your parents to cosign. Hmmmmm. That would require my parents to be doing better than I am at the present moment...and as a first generation college student, that's not likely.

This is why there are very few low-income students in nursing school. And, because of how closely race and class are related in our society, this is also why there are so few minorities in nursing. Simply put, we can't pay for it. And neither can our families. But it's not only this, there isn't enough financial aid out there. Yep, I know how to turn over rocks, and I know there is usually stuff out there, if only we would look...but folks, I assure you I am a PRO at finding the money for school, but this has been impossible. Where are the grant programs for graduate nursing students? Where are the fellowships? The assisstanceships? You know the ones that exist for people in the "hard" sciences? A million opportunities for minorities who want to go into medicine, where are these programs for graduate nursing hopefuls? Yes, I know about the National Health Services Corps, but people in the first year of bridge/graduate entry programs do NOT qualify for this program...

Why doesn't the school have scholarships to increase the diversity of the student body? Why aren't there any merit scholarships? How can an institution say they "value diversity" when they do not have any financial programs in place to promote that diversity?
No, I dont have to go Ivy league. But answer me this, if I can go Ivy for the same price as public, why not get the name,prestige, and research benefits for my money? I am applying to a public school too, but out of state tuition at that school is the same as it is for Ivy 1!

In-state tuition is not an option as there are NO midwifery education opportunities in my state.

I am ranting, but this is also informational. If you are thinking about going to graduate school through one of these programs, know the cost. Figure out how you plan to get there, and figure it out early.

I will keep you updated as to whether or not I get in, and if i get in, how I plan to pay for it...

The INTERVIEW...

was amazing. It really was. I flew out on Sunday morning at 6 am and arrived a long 12 hours later - just in time for the first event of the interview session. That event, a gathering of students, was very laid back. We ate food they cooked for us and had drinks. The students really opened up to us about their experiences at the school and were very personable. There were a few minority applicants, which surprised me, but we didn't really speak to each other, which surprised me even more. The event ended at about 10, and I was glad to get back to the hotel for some sleep!

Next morning, rise and shine at 7 am! A shuttle took us from the hotel to the nursing school. We had a light breakfast, then followed this schedule:

9-10 Orientation as a big group (there were around 70 of us)
10-11 Orientation broken down by specialty (ie:midwifery applicants wet w/midwifery faculty)
11-12 Financial aid or break
12-1:00 Lunch with current students in our specialties
1 pm MY INTERVIEW with one faculty member
2-3 Financial aid or break
3-4 LBGTQ seminar or break
4-5 Diversity seminar or break

Throughout the day applicants had their individual interviews with different faculty members. they usually lasted about 30 mins, others (including mine) lasted over an hour.

The interview was great! We talked about my grades, my future plans, why I wanted to go this school over another school, about diversity/transcultural nursing, international opportunities, my research interests and how they came to be, and myriad of other topics that I never thought would come up. It was wonderful, I could have talked all day but, alas, it had to come to an end - as I was late for the financial aid session... I must give financial aid its own post...