<p>Sorry if it's a stupid question. I am signing up for summer classes soon and I was applying for scholarships for next year, but I saw something about summer aid, and it said I was eligible for $2000 in workstudy. The hell?</p>
<p>You work and all of your salary goes to paying off tuition. I think the schools try to make your job similar to your major (like a marketing major would be a school ambassador).</p>
<p>^ Sorry, but totally wrong.</p>
<p>Work-study means the federal government pays a good portion of your salary on behalf of your employer (which is usually the University or whatever department). This means that, although you are making the same wages as everyone else (like non-work study), your employer has to pay less out of pocket for the hours you work.</p>
<p>Basically, as far as I can tell, this makes hiring work-study students a priority and very favorable to employers, as they are getting the same work for less payroll cost. I guess your “work-study” runs out when you make $2000 total in wages (which is difficult to do if you’re working part-time) and the federal government stops paying part of your paycheck. But I suppose it doesn’t matter for you once you’re hired anyway.</p>
<p>But no, the money you make doesn’t forcibly go into tuition, although the university sorta makes it look like on your financial aid that “this will help you in the cost of attending.” But no, you get a normal paycheck like everybody else. I guess they figure if you use your paycheck for personal expenses, you will have more money available for tuition anyhow, in theory.</p>
<p>I’m not sure which jobs are eligible for work-study or not, but usually, it’s every single job that’s affiliated with your university at least. Many will say “work-study only” or “prefer work study.” So basically, being a work study student is a very good thing if you’re looking to get a job on-campus.</p>
<p>*So basically it makes getting hired easier. But you’re still working for the same wages as everyone else, so it’s not really “Free money” or anything like that.</p>