<p>D's original fin aid packet looked like this:</p>
<p>15,500 merit
2500 grant
2500 Perkins
3500 Stafford
1500 work study
Then our contribution</p>
<p>She received a couple of outside scholarships that will be sent directly to the school (worth $3500) so they got rid of the Perkins. Yesterday when I talked to them about this revision, they said if she got any other outside $$$, her work study would probably be the next to go. Guess what? She received a letter today of another $1300 - we're thrilled with this scholarship too, but we're hoping the work study could cover her spending $$ and then save some. She was really looking forward to working a few hours a week. </p>
<p>Any advice on how to arrange our words so she can keep at least some work-study? Not trying to be greedy, but the scholarship $ will go directly to tuition (gratefully). </p>
<p>I also wonder if many schools have jobs on campus that are NOT work study - just jobs. She really prefers to work on campus and quite honestly her school's "town" is almost non-existant - a cornfield campus. </p>
<p>If we lose WS , we lose it - but I respect everyone's opinion here so thought I"d run it by the pros!!!</p>
<p>How about asking to reduce the Stafford Loan, looks like she should have about $2300 in outside scholarhips to reduce that down to $300. I think most schools reduce/eliminate in this order:
Loan
Work Study
Student Contribution from Summer Earnings</p>
<p>Also note to the fin aid office that work study will make her a better student - studies have shown this to be true, workers have better grades than non workers because they manage their time better and she will be more integrated into campus life and will have a better sense of belonging.</p>
<p>Also...is there any way that you could ask the school to increase her cost of attendance? I have heard of some schools that will review the cost of attendance with relationsip to travel expenses, purchase of first year items (computer), etc. This may allow her to keep a bit more money.</p>
<p>At DD's school we were informed outside scholarships would be applied to financial aid package in this order: Perkins loan, work study, Stafford loan. There was no option to apply scholarships to Stafford loans before work study. Best to check with your D's school financial aid office for exact answer.</p>
<p>Mizo, I thought of that, but this most recent scholarship is possibly renewable next year, so that won't work....I will be giving the school a call this week and seeing if they will at least let her keep a portion of the WS. Or see if they could hold one of the other scholarships that is one-time only for next year - doubt it, but I'm not afraid to ask...!</p>
<p>You may have done this already, but ask if there are jobs on campus for non work study students, they have such jobs at my D's college for which she will apply because like your D she had an abundance of outside merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Ask the FA office that since she got an outside scholarship that was applied to w/s will these monies will be coming back to your D (had she kept the w/s, your D would get paid).</p>
<p>While You D had work study as part of her financial aid package, she will still be able to get a on campus job for the purpose of having spending money.</p>
<p>Well, I talked to fin aid today and kind of struck out. My choice is to either reduce our Stafford Loan or cut work study. We will probably forego the work study (though technically she can still take it and earn $276 - woohoo?) I think we'd be foolish not to take the low Stafford loan and this will for this year not put AS MUCH pressure on her to get the work-study job - in other words, it won't be as critical - plus, the school did say that not all work-study students are able to actually find the job that will meet their needs (schedule wise -etc. ) so this seems like a more sure bet. </p>
<p>Hey, $276 can go a long way in the very small hick town where her school is located...!!!</p>
<p>We are having the opposite problem. D got a couple of scholarships and her school policy is to reduce the loans first then work study. Which would be ok except she found a non work study job that is in her career field so she will not be using the work study after all. Her loans are subsidised so I would as soon she gets to keep them. I am hoping a face to face meeting may change the way they handle it.</p>
<p>Mind you they just announced a 10% tuition increase so the COA will be going up and there might not be much of a loan adjustment to worry about :(</p>
<p>there are usually 3 types of "work study", Federal work study, employment and non-work study.</p>
<p>The Federal Work-Study Program (FWSP) is a federally funded program and was established by Congress through the Higher Education Act of 1965 to assist needy students earn money to meet educational costs. Participation in the program is determined by the student's financial need and is awarded as part of the financial aid package. Earnings are not applied directly to the tuition bill, but are used by the student to cover costs such as books, personal items, and transportation. FWSP funds may only be used on campus with on-campus employers or with approved off-campus community service employers.</p>
<p>Employment is an alternative form of funding for student who do not qualify for work-study funds, usually for citizenship reasons. Regulation of the Employment program mirrors the FWSP in that a student must show a financial need to be eligible for such funding. Employment funds are usually not permissible for off-campus use.</p>
<p>non workstudy postions are for students who are not FWS or employment eligible. These types of jobs are usually available on campus through
food services , bookstore, etc. I would recommend that your D check to see what kind of jobs are available through student employement and start submitting her applications (late this month, early next month) before arriving on campus.</p>
<p>Thanks for that explanation - while she may not have much of an opportunity as a freshman coming in on a small campus in a very small town (for a non-work study job) I will suggest she call the bookstore etc. to inquire.</p>