Hello, I had a quick question about whether or not to take advantage of the work study package within my USC financial aid for this upcoming college year. The student contribution for freshman year is 2500 dollars, and I am making almost close to that by the time I will be done with my current summer job, and the work study package is also 2500 dollars. I am afraid that I by completing a work-study job, I will go over the student contribution, in a way, “over-earn” and have my aid reduced for next year. So I am thinking of not doing work study at all…
However my situation is a bit different since most of this summer’s earnings will go to paying my medical expenses (more than half) , so in reality I’m only earning 800 ish. But the only time to show USC this special circumstance would be around the time to re-apply for next year’s aid in February, which means I don’t know if I should stay safe and not do work-study or do work study beforehand. Also, there’s the possible outcome that USC won’t recognize those medical expenses.
I would really like to have the 2500 dollars from work study. But then I just don’t know if I will be “over-earning” in the process to then jeopardize my aid.
What should I do?
Anyway, thank you for the help.