So here’s my situation. The pandemic threw off my plans, and I made a career switch before that. I transferred into a competitive nursing program at USFCA. I’ve been accepted, but I’m looking for ways to manage the expenses.
I have a 3.7 GPA, two Associate’s Degrees, and I’m part of Phi Theta Kappa (an honors society). I was also a foster youth until I was 12. I recently turned 26, so a lot of the programs I could’ve used are no longer available. Honestly, I wish I knew about some of these resources earlier.
I know it’s a bit of a long shot, but has anyone found scholarships or grants that might apply to someone like me? Oh, and I’ve been an EMT for five years—if that helps.
Thanks in advance! If this kind of post doesn’t belong here, just let me know.
You should check out the VA HPSP program. They’ll cover tuition, give you a monthly stipend, and even a yearly book stipend, but you’ll need to commit to working for them for a bit afterward. USFCA Sacramento doesn’t automatically offer scholarships, but sometimes you can apply for ones shared by the main campus.
Ellis said: @Ollie
Does the VA HPSP apply to the Sacramento campus too? And is the application on the VA site, or did you find it through USFCA?
Here’s the link: https://va-ams-info.intelliworxit.com/hpsp/hpsp-programs/. Apply as soon as you can! But if you don’t get it, make sure you have cosigners lined up with good credit. I know a few people whose loans got denied after previous semesters were covered.
@Ollie
Thanks, I’ll apply tonight. I could really use help with tuition and books. I’m planning to work one or two days a week to cover other expenses. Unfortunately, I can’t rely on my family to cosign for loans, but I’ve got good credit, so that might help.
@Ellis
Just a heads-up—one of my classmates had an excellent credit score (over 800) and a solid job but still had their loan denied after the third semester. Make sure you have some savings and maybe a backup cosigner. It’s better to be prepared.
Ellis said: @Ollie
That’s crazy… getting denied in the third semester sounds like a nightmare.
Another classmate was initially approved for $130k but wasn’t allowed to take the full amount upfront. They were declined during the third semester too. My loans were also denied, and I had to sell my car to cover costs. Without the VA HPSP, I wouldn’t have made it through school and would’ve been left with $50k of debt. It’s tough out there. Honestly, you should double-check everything with financial aid at the Sacramento campus.