Regarding Work Study: you do not need to be Pell eligible to be awarded Work Study. There is a question on the FAFSA if the students wants to be considered for Work Study.
An estimated amount is calculated (student can earn $X at a work study job) but the student doesn’t get awarded that money. It’s up to them to earn it.
Schools vary how they handle work study jobs. Both my children had work study calculated into their award packages.
S’s school had work study jobs for every student who wanted them. He worked all four years.
D’s school didn’t have enough work study jobs to go around. Her first and second years, she couldn’t get a work study job, so she found an off-campus job. She found one first semester her third year (second semester she was doing study abroad) and also found one her last year of school.
One book that might give you insight into the college admission process (just a glimpse of a specific school, Wesleyan, book was written in 2002) is called The Gatekeepers. It’s interesting reading.