I have to honestly say that I am so disgusted with the community college that I have been going to right now that I do not know what to do.  Long story short - I have had to completely drop out of school because of a mess up in the financial aid department.  The assistant to the financial aid director gave me an appeal in order to get financial aid assistance for the summer semester - so I went ahead and registered for the summer - then I get a letter from the financial aid director the week classes start telling me that I was not supposed to get the appeal that his assistant had made a mistake - therefore my financial aid was being pulled and I could no longer get assistance at this college.  On top of that - I would have to pay back to the college the money I used for books and the classes that I was registered for.  I can not pay out of pocket to attend college and this college is the only one that has a night ADN program that I was working to get into.  I have been looking into other colleges but all their programs are only offered during the day which causes a conflict with me - I am a single mother and have to work full time to pay bills and support my kids.  I am going to contact the only other two colleges in my area that offer the ADN program and see what I can do.  Anyone have any advise about this?  This honestly hurts me because I am determined to be a nurse but it seems like there are things trying to keep me from it. 

It's really a long story but to shorten it the best I can.  I went back to this CC this past spring under a financial aid appeal granted to me by the financial aid director.  He advised me that i would have to maintain a full time status and keep my grades up in order to keep financial aid.  I did that - I had all As, had a 3.5 GPA for the semester and went full time.  However, I did not meet the overal GPA standard to get financial aid.  When I got the letter informing me of this I was blown away so I tried contacting the director but he was out of the office for 2 weeks.  I really couldn't wait two weeks to find out anything because summer registration was approaching and I needed to know if I was going to be able to get aid in order to take classes that I had to take during summer semester.  So I contacted the director's assistant and she told me not to worry about it that they would grant me another appeal to get aid and to go ahead and register for summer classes - which I did.  The week classes started I receive an email from the director telling me that i should have never been granted another appeal for the summer semester and that I would not be eligible for any further financial assistance from them and that I would have to pay back to the cc the money that I had already used to get my books and for the classes that I had registered for (which were all online).  How i am going to do that I don't know.  So I had to drop all of my classes and now trying to find another cc that I can go to in the area I live in because I can not afford to pay out of pocket to attend.  My biggest obstacle is trying to find another cc that offers a night ADN program like the one I was attending - however, there aren't any.  At this point I am just grasping at straws as to what I need and can do.

Not to be noisy also, I wanted to know what State you live in.  I understand you concern.

have faith

i hope all works out for you the way you want it to

Thanks everyone - I really do appreciate your prayers and words of advise.  I know there are going to be many obstacles to get in my way on this journey - and used to I would have just thrown my hands up and give up.  BUT not any more.  This has been a life long dream of mine to be a nurse and I am going to do it.  It's a walk by faith not by sight journey.  Another thing I carry with me is knowing that the will of God will never take me where the grace of God will not protect me. 

Hey Claire

Actually yes I have thought about doing the LPN program and then bridging over to RN later.  However, I am a single mother and have to work full time and all the LPN programs that are offered around her are during the day Monday - Friday.  I am still checking into that though. I am sure something is going to work out.  I noticed the other day that a few of the LPN programs in the area I live in now have pre-requisites you have to have before getting into the program.  Honestly - getting into the LPN program around here is almost just as hard to get into as it is getting into an RN program.

believe

Have you tried contacting federalfraud.com, they look at colleges or any other entity that receives federal funding.  If this college has had unusual trouble with financial aid, maybe there is something not quite right about their business practices?  Just a thought.

I was a single mom who went back to school for my BSN.  I already had a AA degree, so it was a no-brainer to get my RN-BSN.  I sacrificed and my children sacrificed to do it.  I moved back in with my parents, took out student loans as well as grants.  I completely stopped spending for anythine unnecessary or vital.  I told my children that there would be no extra spending, that the sacrifice we made for two years I would make up to them.  They did not participate in Little League or any other sport, entertainment that would cost anything.  I know it is hard to tell your children "no" you can't play soccer or baseball but sometimes it is necessary.  I worked part-time and I just graduated.  We look forward to getting our own place again and the kids are making lists of things they want to do when I get my first pay check.

Do what you need to do, when you need to do it; and the time will come when you can do what you want to do, when you want to do it.  - Zig Ziglar

Good Luck.

Another idea for funds. Many states Unemployment Programs pay for tuition and such for situations like yours. Of course, their are financial qualifications as far as income but there is money in those. Ours is called Worksource in Texas. Good luck to you.

How have you been doing on your decision soswalt???

soswalt - sorry to hear about all the problems you are experiencing at the CC.  I admire your positive, can-do attitude and perseverance!   I hope all works out well for you.