<p>I decided to post here because I was looking for advice from parents who have already done the whole college deal and/or have experience with work study.</p>
<p>One word so far: UGH.</p>
<p>So as a part of my financial aid package, I got the max ($2500/yr, so $1250/semester) work study award available. Yay, max work study! We can even choose from traditional work-study jobs, or volunteering/community service jobs that become paid work-study positions.</p>
<p>If I want to get the max amount of work study funds, I'd have to work roughly 10-12 hours a week. That's pretty do-able since I don't have a lot of classes in my schedule, but the problem is...none of the work study jobs I'm even remotely interested in offer that many hours. Most of them are maybe 3-5 hours a week, and the ones that have more hours aren't doable because I have a lab on Friday afternoons (one program is from 2:30-6 2x a week, with field trips from 3-7 every other Friday...lab is from 1:30-4:30). Even if I switched the lab to the other time, Wednesday, I wouldn't be able to do it. </p>
<p>However, there is the possibility of working for Jumpstart, which requires a minimum commitment of 10-12 hours. I would probably be able to fit this into my schedule but it wouldn't be pretty. It isn't exactly what I want to do (I want experience with older kids since that's who I'll be teaching when I graduate), but if I get enough hours I would also get an AmeriCorps grant (max of 2 for about $1.1k each) in addition to maxing out my work study and I would be pretty happy doing it. It would be a lot simpler than finding two smaller work study jobs. I could also try to find a desk-type work study job (only a few have been posted on the school's website so far, and it mostly involves answering phones), but I want to do something that's exciting and relevant to my interests. </p>
<p>I would also likely need to get a weekly/monthly subway pass ($18/wk or $70/mo) to get to the Jumpstart locations as they're a 25-30 minute commute. For the spring semester I can get a 10% discount on the subway pass.</p>
<p>At the same time, I'm worried about making a large time commitment my first semester...as excited as I am to go to college, it will still be a huge transition for me. I feel like I have to choose between being potentially overworked, or not using all of the work study money I've been given. I have enough to cover my personal expenses already but I was going to put the WS money towards some of my loans. I'm kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. Anyone else in the same boat or have any experience/advice to give? I am thinking that going with Jumpstart is the best option - if my nextdoor roommate (nursing major & honors program student) can fit it into her schedule, so can I...</p>
<p>I would pick on campus job that gives me enough hours, but might not necessarily give me the experience I want. Meanwhile I would keep looking for on-campus job that I am interested in and gives me enough hours and switch when the right opportunity comes along.</p>
<p>You can worry about getting the right experience during summer internships. At this point having flexibility of on campus job is more important.</p>
<p>Mmm, I was thinking the same thing. Jumpstart requires a yearlong commitment, which I’m willing to give. More work-study jobs will be posted by the end of August, I was told. Training for Jumpstart doesn’t start until late September but I want to get my application in ASAP since it’s a fairly popular program. I might wait another week or two and see if anything new is posted…</p>
<p>Are you looking online at jobs posted on the school website? I suggest going around the first day back at school and stopping in at the places you would like to work and asking for a job. You probably still have to fill out the app online, but might have a better chance with a face to face meeting. My S got his job working as a dept receptionist that way. My H had to push him to make the effort, but it paid off with a clean relatively easy job working in the dept he was majoring in.</p>
<p>When I was in college, I bussed tables and served on the food line n the cafeteria. Not because I was interested in the least in the work, the job, in fact, I did not like it. But it was available, flexible and with some free meals included, got a little bit more than the hourly rate. </p>
<p>So, if you can find something that interests you, that’s fine. It’s great to get something that gives you the experience you are seeking. But if you need the money, it means finding the jobs that you can get right away, fit into your schedule both time and logistics wise.</p>
<p>@mamom: yes, I am looking at the school website, however I have been reassured that more jobs are posted as school starts. I am hoping that as school goes on I could do some kind of work in the department(s) i’m majoring in but since I’m a freshman I can’t officially declare.</p>
<p>@cpt: indeed, indeed…Jumpstart seems to be pretty flexible as it’s only 2x a week on the weekdays, with Saturday development…I will definitely ask if they are accommodating to someone who has late classes twice a week. Otherwise, desk job it is.</p>
<p>As a freshman it is hard to be too picky. Some colleges require all freshman with work study to work in the cafeteria for the first year… I think you should just take what you can get this year to get in your hours, and scope out carefully for next year. It won’t hurt you to scoop potatoes or whatever for a year, and would reduce the stress to get the actual number of hours you think you could really spend.</p>
<p>I think that as a freshman, you should definitely on campus job so that you can have the flexibility to work around your school schedule (you will be grateful for this flexibility).</p>
<p>My D worked for Jumpstart through americorps between graduation and grad school where she set up events and went out into the field to support a lot of college students. She enjoyed her year immensely and is still in touch with a lot of people from JS. I can tell you it was a lot of work and she had a lot of long hours including weekends. Jumpstart is an amazing organization but working with them can be a lot of work and it is a big time commitment. I would recommend doing this at a later date after you have the routine of going to college and working your schedule under your belt.</p>
<p>Learning some clerical skills can be very helpful in the long run. I agree that since you are just a freshman, you should focus on taking a job on campus so that you don’t have to add commute time to your schedule. I worked as a admin. assistant in the Psych/Ed dept of my college and learned a lot of really good skills I had never needed before. They have come in very handy, even as a teacher. You many find some postings for very interesting jobs coming up just as you get on campus. Have a great resume ready to go, and clothing appropriate for interviews ready and looking fresh! You might be a shoe-in compared to people who show up in flip-flops, etc. Good luck!</p>
<p>Cafeteria jobs should almost certainly be work-study!</p>
<p>In my experience, employers who offer work-study tend to be pretty flexible. They get such a great rate on your labor hours that they don’t mind if you work more/less than they need. </p>
<p>Even if a position has concrete hours that don’t fit in your schedule or aren’t enough for you, it’s worth your time to contact and ask them about flexibility. You may find one of those 3-5 hours a week jobs can be stretched to 8-12, or a position asking for specific times/days can be shifted around.</p>
<p>Yes, after reading through the replies and talking it over with my mom and our orientation leaders (who I also have a science class with, yay!), I think I’m going to wait until the week before school starts, which is the week I’ll have a lot of free time as my summer job ends the week before. The girls I asked said they were hired in late August/early September because there were a LOT more jobs posted. I really actually enjoy doing clerical tasks (my senior year I spent a lot of time helping out my favorite teacher with such things)…I think my “reluctance” towards them has been encouraged by all the girls crowing about how they can’t wait to do Jumpstart and other tutoring.</p>
<p>Worst case scenario, I will consider Jumpstart again either in the spring or next year.</p>
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