<p>I wanted to transition without too much work the first yr of school. After completing my first yr of college I definitely feel more comfortable. When I got my award this yr the FWS was not there, so I requested it b/c I definitely do have a need and because I was offered FWS last year shouldn't I be entitled to it this upcoming year as well? My school's finaid office is denying me FWS for the upcoming yr because I declined the offer last yr. I looked on the school finaid website and the government website and there's nothing that says I cant be offered again if I declined the offer the previous year. Thoughts?</p>
<p>FWS is a campus-based program, meaning that the school gets to distribute the money however it sees fit. If the school has a policy to deny work study for students who have previously declined it, they can do that. You can always ask to be put on a waiting list, in case your school has one for work study. Schools usually over award work study, knowing that some students will decline & others will be unable to find a suitable job. Sometimes schools will find that enough students declined that they can give money to others at a later date. It’s worth asking.</p>
<p>I think a lot of students worry about balancing work and school for their first year of college, especially. It would have been nice for your college to advise students of their policy of not awarding workstudy in subsequent years to students who decline it in their first year.</p>
<p>A first-year student may make a different decision in light of that.</p>
<p>I agree that you should have been made aware of the policy. Be that as it may, you can still get a job, just maybe not a FWS one. You might be able to find one, on your own, that pays better.</p>
<p>A few of my schools warned that I wouldn’t get FWS if I denied it the first year :p</p>
<p>I thought it was a silly rule too</p>
<p>Maybe there is a policy, but I don’t see that noted anywhere on my school website. I’m going to try to appeal</p>
<p>Ah, the economy… I just called and they said the reason I was denied FWS was not b/c I decline the offer last yr… it’s b/c they ran out already (the government provided my school less $ than prior yrs)</p>
<p>It’s the first time ever my school’s run out this quickly (according to the counselor i spoke to)</p>
<p>Check again towards the beginning of the academic year or shortly after start.</p>