Reinventing myself

Firni
Firni Member Posts: 1,519
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

I don't know if this is even appropriate for these boards, but I'll give it a shot.

Two weeks before I was dx with BC, I was laid off from my job.  I finished treatments 3 months ago and now I'm just really frustrated with the job market.  I've decided I want to go back to school to become a surgical tech.  My problem is money.  I was always the primary wage earner and the tuition for this program is $40,000.00.  I already have a BS in education so I cannot apply for any federal or state grants.  Does anyone know of any grant money out there for retraining or women or cancer patients or private grants or anything?  I've done some web searching but can't find anything.  Thanks

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  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited June 2009

    Have you ck'd out your local vocational school, state run?  In TN, we have a less than a year of classes to become certified as a surg. tech.  It blows my mind that in CO it would cost half of my daughter's 4 year college tuition.  Besides, the voc schools also have $ help available,

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited June 2009

    Hi Iodine, thanks for the reply.  I've been looking for a more condensed program here somewhere near me.  So far, I'm only finding associate degree programs that are taking 2 years and lots of money.  I was pretty much blown away by the cost as well.   This private college only holds classes twice a week and then there's 500 hours of externship.  6 of the 24 months of classes are general studies which I've done already.  They do have financial assistance but, for me, since I already have a degree, it would only be in the form of loans.  That wouldn't change at a tech school.  I know a 9 or 12 month program that meets every day and doesn't require general studies would be just as much training hour wise, get me to work a lot faster and cost a lot less. There are a lot of MA programs at the tech schools, but I'm not finding the surg tech programs.  I will keep looking.  I'll still need some grants regardless of how long I go to school.  It really should be easier for older, displaced people to get retrained.

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited June 2009

    Good luck with this venture, Firni! I didn't realize surgical tech school was so hard to come by! It's almost like going to nursing school, then becoming an OR nurse.

    I hope you find funding. I agree, it shouldn't be this hard to retrain!

    Anne

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