Work study financial aid?
I’ve received work study aid for the first time, and i haven’t had a chance to speak with a counselor at my school, so i haven’t had an opportunity to ask these questions im about to ask. It would be very helpful if i knew a little bit about it before speaking to a counselor.
Ok, so i know what it is, but how does it work? Does the school find me a job? Or do i have 2 find it myself? What happens if i can’t get a job? Its a recession.
Another question is, so, the money that i make at this job, all of it is being used towards paying part of my tuition? Or can i use some of it to pay bills?
I have a car loan and a cell phone plan, im concerned that the job i’ll get through work-study will not, a) give me enough hours, aren’t the hours you work limited? and b) give me enough money, aren’t the wages also limited?
What if they find you a job that you do not want or like? Is it possible to find a job i want on my own,and use it towards Work-Study?
If all the money im getting through work-study is going towards my tuition, where will i get extra money to pay for my bills? What if i can’t handle a second job? Im a fulltime student.
Any insight on this will be very helpful, thanks in advance.
Tags: car loan, Cell Phone Plan, Counselor, Extra Money, financial, financial aid, Fulltime Student, Insight, Limited, Little Bit, recession, Second Job, study, Thanks In Advance, Wages, work
4 Comments at "Work study financial aid?"
Each school might be different, but at my college, the school finds you a job. You just pick a department to work in. Work-study normally gives you a certain amount of money per semester that you can make. For example, if you have $1000 work study this semester, no matter how many hours you work or how much you make, you cannot earn over $1000 that semester.
OK…
Work study is just like any other part time job. But in my opinion it pays the same as your typical Burger King (8 to 9 dollars).
I did work study and YES you have to apply by yourself for positions. When/if you filled out the FAFSA and your parents had low income last year you will be considered a priority student and they will pick students with low income for the jobs first.
When i was in college i did work study and had another part time job because work study is basically based on your class schedule and its not enough working hours but it can be high pay though, it depends what school.
They usually pay you bi-weekly at the bursars office just like any other part time job.
They are also serious about the student going overtime.
Good luck!
you need to get a job. yes you have to find it yourself. but they make it really easily. my school has a different job registry just for work study jobs. they will pay you with work study money for up to 20 hours a week. right now i work 35 hours a week and 20 of it is paid at 8.25 and hour and 15 is paid at 8 an hour. and i use that money to pay my bills. being a fulltime student does not mean you cant work. i take 20 credits per quarter, work 35 hours a week, and still have alot of time to hang out.
No the school does not find you a job. Your school will have a list of available Work Study jobs on campus and you are responsible for finding someone who is willing to hire you, just like a regular job. You will be interviewed and selected from other applicants.
Work study jobs are not regular jobs you get at McDonald’s or where ever. The job MUST be designated a “Work Study” job if you are to earn this type of financial aid. If you do not find a Work Study job, you won’t be able to earn any of the money designated for you. Also be aware, none of the money you earn from Work Study will be applied towards a bill for tuition at your school (a few private schools have exceptions, but this is rare). The reason being is that the school has no idea that you will even find someone to hire you, much less guarantee that you will work the hours to earn the money.
You can use your paycheck from work study for anything you want…. just like a regular job. Pay bills, go to the movies, car payment, gas, clothes… whatever.
The money you earn from a Work Study will be limited. Usually you are limited (depending on how much work study money you were awarded and the hourly rate you are paid) to 15-20 hours a week. If you find a job you do not like, you quit… as long as you don’t need the money.. just like a regular job. Since the amount of money you can earn is limited, a lot of Work Study folks (who have bills to pay) will work two jobs.. one Work Study and a regular job off campus at WalMart or McDonald’s or where ever.
Yes, you should definitely find a job on your own so you can do something you like… but again, it has to be a designated Work Study job to begin with.
Again, none of the money you earn through work study will go towards your tuition. Yes, you can use it to pay bills.
You are probably wondering why someone would even bother to do Work Study if it is so limited on where and how much you can work. To understand this you need to know WHO it’s offered to. Work study is only offered to those who have a lot of financial need. So the benefit of work study is that it allows those who do it to earn money from a job without having it “Count Against” them when they apply for financial aid the following year, risking any grant eligibility they may have now that might be taken away from them when they have to go out and find a job when they need pocket money.