How can I get money for college?

How can I get money for college? Parents make too much for financial aid!?

• I'm planning on going off to college this upcoming fall. I have gone to community college since graduating last May, and because of taking summer classes and working very hard all year, I'll have 55-58 hours total (depending on how many summer classes I take) by the end of the summer. I live in Texas but want to go to a college for nursing in St. Louis, MO. Long story short: I can graduate 6 months earlier at this college than the one I'd go to in Texas, plus my boyfriend of 2.5 yrs is going to school in St. Louis. Problem is, the school is $25,000/yr, and in addition to that I'll have to rent an apartment, and pay for food/gas/utilities. The school offers anywhere from $2,000-10,000/yr financial aid based on merit/need. I have a 3.9 GPA and I'm an officer for Phi Theta Kappa (a really big honor society) at my school, so I should get -some- merit aid. But I'll still be looking at quite a bit of expenses. My parents say they can pay $12,000/yr, but I know this is an extreme stretch, and money would be tight if they tried to do this. They're both in their mid 50's and need to be saving for retirement, so I want to plan on taking about $10,000 max from them per year, preferably closer to $8,000. My FAFSA results said I qualify for a $7,500/yr subsidized loan, and if need be I'll use that, but I'd like to know what my other options are. I'm applying for scholarships and everything, so I would like to hear other options. Does anyone have advice on how much student debt is reasonable and would be easy to pay off with a nurse's salary? Also any help with other financial aid sources or tips for saving money on an apartment or food/utilities would be greatly appreciated! Oh and I already have a job and I'm saving my money from that, I'll have about $3,000 by the time I go to college. I've narrowed it down to 2 nursing schools after almost a year of intense research and contemplation. The school in St. Louis costs $43,000 for 2 years (5 semesters, one of which is a summer semester), but when you add in all the student fees, books, nursing supplies/exams, etc, I'm estimating $50,000 to be on the safe side. But I could get up to $20,000 scholarships from the school, and I'll probably get $10,000 at least, which would cut down my cost quite a bit. The other school will cost $35,000 total, and I can get a whooping $2,000/yr in scholarships. Plus I'd be in school an extra 6 months at that school. It's not just about being with my boyfriend. We've been long distance for the last year and have dealt with it, but being closer would definitely be nice. I want the St. Louis school because I would graduate and be working 6 months earlier.

• Answer:

  have you found out if the Nursing program has a wait list? at many schools the wait lists can be 2 + years long so, before you go any further with your plans... it would be smarter to find out if you can even get in.... also, find the application deadline to apply to that program