Resident Assistant

[COMom]

<p>Does anyone have experience with how being an RA affects taxes and Financial Aid? I am trying to explore this with the Financial Aid office but continue to be unclear and uncertain about it. They said that the value of the room and the stident the student receives would be treated like an outside scholarship (and could therefore reduce the current aid package). I gather that (at least) the portion for the value of the room would be considered a taxable scholarship? Would this additional income count against the student for the following years Financial Aid - or does it get subtracted out on FAFSA- like Work Study earnings do? It is starting to seem to me that being an RA may not net as much savings as it initially appears. Seems like it is a better deal (you would net more savings) if you don't get any financial aid then if you do - which doesn't make any sense at all - because the student who is doing this to try to reduce his own debt may loose other grant aid if he does it. Am I understanding this correctly?</p>