<p>OP, it comes down to the same situation a student faces when the financial aid package does not meet family need and the family and student cannot come up with the difference to meet the costs. The bottom line does not matter if the money required is in the form of a “summer savings expectation”, expected student contribuition or just part of the EFC. It needs to be paid. Those students who have a gap and live in an area where finding any kind of jobs is difficult, or nigh impossible are at a tremendous disadvantage. It’s just another way that one cannot come up with the expected contributions. </p>
<p>If your financial aid office won’t budge, and you can’t afford to go to the school,you need to find some more affordable option is the answer. I’ve found a lot of students whose family can come up with that first year of college costs through a combination of savings,borrowing, graduation gifts, and then when itcomes that time of the year to buy another Mercededs to drive off that cliff, the money is not there in subsequent years, and it becomes a problem. You gotta do this at least 4 times and other stuff happens in life.</p>
<p>I just got my son’s school bill, and don’t even want to open it. I know costs have gone up. We’ve had unexpected expenses again and it’s going to be a tough go to make that payment. We’ve beem doing this now for many years, and it doesn’t get easier.</p>
<p>Why don’t you try helping out at farms and farmer’s markets? I have friends and family that do that, and it works out for them. I even go down to a market once a week to help a local farmer sell his produce. </p>
<p>There’s always a lot to do, like pick everything, weed the fields before the flowers bear fruit, clean up market trucks/barns, etc. Even if it’s just a once-a-week deal like mine, I’m sure you’d get paid fairly and then be able to take some leftover fruit and veggies home :)</p>
<p>Rmidad, the EFC including student contribution may be higher than COA and no work study or other aid will be offered- ( or its not a school that meets need)
I agree that for schools attempting to meet 100% of need, need can be met with any combination of loans, grants and work study.
But private schools get to determine what income & assets make up EFC and for need based aid, they will not offer a larger package than the EFC suggests , including work study.</p>
<p>"I drive a 14-year old car with 180k miles on it, but I guess I have driven a couple Mercedes off that cliff!
rmldad is online now " </p>
<p>You and I both. I 'm about to drive another one off the cliff and have at least 6 more to go. When my DH grouses about the junker we own while his business peers do drive the Mercedes and such cars, I remind him of all of the ones we’ve driven off the cliff.</p>
<p>For retail jobs, I wonder if it would be best to try to work a few weeks during the Christmas season to get your foot in the door. Then, hopefully, you can get hired back during the summer, after you have proven you are reliable.</p>
<p>I had a summer job, and then I called the boss to work again for the next summer. The boss opened up my personnel folder and said “its empty -that’s great - you’re hired again.”</p>
<p>All three of my children worked full time (or almost full time) during the summer break. They found jobs on campus that also provided housing. They could have come home and worked on the farm, but of course, none of them really considered that option.</p>