I have 2 daughters attending the same university. My oldest daughter, starting her senior year, has never been offered FWS. My youngest daughter, a freshman, has been awarded FWS. Does anyone know how this can happen, or if this sounds right? I sure wish my oldest daughter qualified.
What are their respective federal (FAFSA) EFCs?
What are the benefits you perceive that your older daughter missed out on by not having been offered work study?
10927 sr and 10907 freshman. Not much difference
First dibs on best jobs on campus.- my freshman already has 2 interviews set up, and Senior can’t even apply yet to many because FWS gets first priority.
She can contact FA office and ask. Sometimes they can move other aid and make it WS. Last year my daughter didn’t get it but was told to return in Aug and if anyone didn’t accept their WS, it gets redistributed to other students. Daughter found a different job. This year she did get WS.
Did your Sr daughter check the box on her FAFSA form?
Since they both have almost he same EFC, and senior has lower EFC than last three years because now there are 2 in college, I agree to have her ask FA if she could get FWS instead of a loan.
Did they both indicate on FAFSA that they were interested in FWS? Did they both file FAFSA/tax return at the same time? FWS is given out depending on availability and upperclassmen often have later financial aid application deadlines so that could be a reason why she didn’t get FWS offered but freshman sister did.
My daughter got work study the year her brother was a senior in college also. She was a freshman. DS did not get work study.
But really, he was a senior and had established himself in an off campus job that was way better for him than work study anyway.
Has your senior daughter worked on campus in the past? Have her contact her previous employers and ask them to keep her in mind for the upcoming year.
At my kids’ schools there are many jobs that are for work study students only, so I can understand the desire for FWS.
I suspect that your DD had a “too high” EFC when she first enrolled in this school, and even tho her EFC is now lower, the school reserves WS for new frosh…and those who’ve had it since frosh year.
Did your kids submit their FAFSA forms at the same time? Federal Work Study has limited funds per campus…and is awarded on a first come, first served basis. If your senior student filed later, it is possible the WS finds simply ran out.
Thanks for the info, everyone. We are going to look further into this and hope to work something out!