@thumper1 Am I not allowed to earn it throughout my first semester? I can do a summer job if necessary.
No you earn the work study money through out the school year. You work approximately 10 hours a week
@sybbie719 Okay, that is what I thought was the case. There are lots more jobs available at campus in Wisconsin than there are in my town, so I was a bit nervous about finding a summer job. Thank you.
Excellent. Congrats.
Yes, have the money for the initial bills set aside, whether through a job now or something from your parents. At some schools, it’s hard to make 3500 through work study, the average is closer to 2000-2500 (I don’t know if Banner supports this higher figure.) So also consider that in your background planning, it’s CYA.
Good going. Best wishes.
@lookingforward Okay, thank you.
It sounds like the amount you will need to pay the school will be covered by the FA, so they’ll send you a bill but the credits from the grants and loan will pay it. Your contribution toward the $1500 and the work study money will be needed to cover things like books, travel, insurance (if you need it) dorm set up. The good news is that those are all costs you control. Really, you don’t need matching waste baskets with your roommate. Towels from your mother’s linen closet work just fine.
Congrats.
I have to tell you…it would be just about impossible to get enough hours in one semester to earn $3500. It really would.
Plus, your award possibly is divided in half…per semester.
My DD had a $4000 WS award one year…and worked a lot of hours…at the highest paying job on her campus…and she almost didn’t earn that amount in the full YEAR.
And in general, you can look into renting textbooks or buying used (sometimes, via the school bookstore, so they’re the right editions,) plan travel in advance (if flying,) to get a good deal. Same with coming home on breaks.
@lookingforward Wisconsin is thankfully in driving distance! I’m wondering, my financial aid package has Books & Supplies listed in it, and they have estimated it to be $1200…does that include textbooks? Do you believe that’s a sound estimate?
@thumper1 I’ve informed my mom about this, but it appears my work study of $3500 is applied to the year’s tuition, and not semester tuition. It’s listed as $1750 per semester on the package. I will definitely be doing a summer job, however, as a safety net as another person suggested.
@twoinanddone I didn’t know matching waste baskets was a trend. :)) Thank you.
Rent books, don’t buy them. Work like mad in the summer, sell everything you can on eBay or OfferUp.
Once you’re at school – if you’re doing great and have the time – maybe you can snag some tutoring income.
Congrats!
Just as an example, my friend buys the ‘dorm bedding’ package for each of her kids. I think they run about $250 and have a pillow, blanket, sheets, towels, etc. My kids took all that stuff from their own rooms, saving me $250 (and it is much better quality). I think the only things we bought were the XL sheets, and I found one set new at the thrift store for $3. (On sale right now at Macy’s for about $15). You don’t need all the stuff on the ‘dorm move in sheet.’ You DO need a foam mattress pad. Absolutely necessary. But pass on the waste basket. Use a box.
Of the budget, the school has included about $3000 for things you can control the costs. You can’t eliminate the entire $3000 (you really do need to buy books, eat, wash your hair), but you can cut it way down. $1200 for books? You may need to buy a few codes and it’s hard to get around that, but you can rent some books, borrow others from the library, sometimes find them from friends. We bought the $800 in books the first semester from the book store. Rookie mistake. Since then, my daughter has figured out how to get them much cheaper by renting, finding someone from the class to give them to her, figuring out that the chapters she needs are available online for free, Khan academy, etc. An edition or two past prime? It’s okay.
@Gatormama Thank you for the tips!!!
This means…you can earn $1750 during the fall semester…not the whole $3500 in the fall term.
If you worked a job that paid $10 per hour, you would need to work 175 hours in the fall term. If your term is 15 weeks long…that would be about 12 hours per week.
But again…you won’t have that upfront! So that summer job will be very helpful in terms of having money to cover some fall term costs.
But it’s doable…with some commitment and hard work!
Congratulations.
@twoinanddone Incredible information. I will pass this info on to my folks.
Depending on your comfort level with such stuff, you could even do a GoFundMe.
Haunt yard sales over the summer … hit the back to school sales (which begin in early August) at Target etc. Find your friendly local couponer (they’re everywhere) - maybe work out a trade … they can get stuff for zero out-of-pocket…
Also remember that any free money above the cost of tuition and books is taxable income. You must save some money to pay tax
It is a fabulous package, for sure.
Congrats! 