FAP844: Nursing shortage, cheaper textbooks

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Student Financial Aid News
+ Inside Higher Ed: An annual survey by the National Retail Federation to project back-to-college spending by college students sees a 7 percent drop this year, to $599.38, from $641.56 last year, Reuters reported. With college students paying more for gas, there is less money available for other goods.
+ US News: Textbook prices, which have nearly tripled in the past 20 years, may finally start to decline thanks to some new laws, technology, and upstart companies. Undergraduates who take advantage of the new alternatives could easily slash their textbook costs in half this coming academic year. That means the typical student could save more than $300. “We’re making progress,” says Nicole Allen, who heads the affordable textbook drive for the Student Public Interest Research Groups. “Things are changing for the better.”
+ New laws, eBooks, open source, and rentals
+ Reason #5: piracy is easy. 31 seconds to find the book mentioned in the article on a DVD with 235 other textbooks, and no, I’m not going to tell you how, but that’s how easy it is
+ $83 on Amazon

Scholarship Update
+ Connecticut League for Nursing Scholarships
+ CLN has a scholarship program for state residents enrolled in an accredited, CLN supporting member nursing education program in Connecticut. Awards are presented at the annual Student Day, held in late fall every year.
+ Students in Diploma nursing programs are eligible after completing the first year of the two-year program.
+ Students in Associate degree nursing programs are eligible after completing the first year of the two-year program.
+ Students in Bachelor’s degree nursing programs are eligible after completing the third year of a four-year program.
+ Students in RN to BSN nursing programs are eligible when entering the senior year of study, verified by the dean or director of the program
+ Students in graduate nursing programs are eligible after successfully completing 18 credits in the nursing program, verified by the dean or director of the program The number of scholarships and the amount of each reward is determined by the Scholarship Committee and based on the amount of money available and the applicants’ qualifications.
+ $25,000 total
+ October 10 deadline
+ Details at our free college scholarship search site

Mail Bag
+ Chris writes in: My mom, who is just turning 60, went back to school for nursing, and because her grades are so good in the prep classes, she’s been accepted into the actual program.
+ My mother currently works at the hospital full time as a unit clerk, and makes just over $17/hour, and after taxes and retirement, she brings in just under $1,000 every two weeks.
+ Her tuition for the course will actually be covered by the hospital and student loans, so that’s not a problem at this time.
+ The brick wall we’ve hit comes from the course itself. It requires 40+ hours per week in class time and real-world experience. Real-world experience is basically interning without pay. She would have to change her work schedule to evenings and weekends, and would be lucky if she could handle 20 hours/week.
+ At her current pay, her income would be reduced to roughly $1000 / month.
+ Her living expenses amount to roughly $1800 / month.
+ She needs to come up with an additional $800 / month for 9 months. Then she would return to work full-time for the summer. Then she would complete her second year where she would again need $800 / month for the next 9 months.
+ Since this technically isn’t ‘tuition’, where would we start to look for this kind of money? Obviously grants and/or scholarships would be the optimal choice, but most are geared for young people with their entire lives (or at least several decades of productivity) ahead of them. Any idea where to start looking for seniors grants/scholarships?
+ Barring ‘free money’ and your own $10K scholarship, what are her other options, short of selling her house in this down market? I’d appreciate any direction or links you could send our way.
+ Today’s scholarship, of course
+ This is a unique time and opportunity for your mom due to a severe shortage - demand is on your side
+ Connecticut has had a major nursing shortage looming for quite some time
+ Contact CNA, CLN, CT DHE, and the administrators of every hospital nearby, and ask if they have a program for COLA issues exactly as you’ve described
+ Would someone exchange a promissory note for $7,200 or more in exchange for X years of service?
+ Check out Three Rivers Community College nursing scholarships directory

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Reminders
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