Work Study Award Cancelled

Paying for College
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<p>Yesterday, I posted about how my student loans got canceled. I'm going tomorrow to get that straightened out, as well as this other financial aid problem that has come up.</p>

<p>Today, I received notification that my work study award was canceled as well. I knew about the Sept. 15th deadline to find a job; however, I've applied to over 30 on and off campus places and haven't been able to find a job. In fact, I have interviews still this week for two positions, but the financial aid office has told me I no longer have work study for the year.</p>

<p>I called the Financial Aid office explaining that I hadn't found a job yet and was waiting on interviews and a call back from the dining services, and asked if it'd be possible to extend the work study award. </p>

<p>From that phone call, the answer I got was that my award could be extended if I just email the office. So, I sent the email, but the response I got back was that whoever in the office told me that was completely wrong. So, I called the office a second time, and was told that it could not be extended, but if I do get a job later in the semester, the award would be reinstated. When I called again today after getting the email, I was told that I could not get work study at all this semester now it's been canceled, but I can use the Fin Aid Change form so I still have it for the spring. Three different answers, and I'm completely confused! Why is this? Why are the people answering questions on the phone giving completely different answers?</p>

<p>If I don't get my award back, I don't know what I'll do. I can earn up to $1000 (easily done by working 15 hrs a week), which I planned on using to pay my rent and phone bill. If I don't get a work study job, then I'm losing two months of rent and my phone bill that I have NO idea how to pay. Jobs off campus are really hard to get as well since I'm in a college town, have no car, and most jobs off campus aren't flexible with my schedule since I'm taking 18 credits. Is it really true that once I lose my work study award, I can't get it back? I'm depending on this to get through the year.</p>

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<p>Work study rules are completely dependent on each school. The funding is very limited and each school set their own rules. The sept 15th rule will be one your school has set, this is not standard for every school. It could be that they already re-awarded your WS funds to another student and if they have re awarded it then they may not have any more WS funding to give you.</p>

<p>At my daughter’s school they do not take WS away from a student if they have not got a job by a certain date. They do ask that a student turn it down if they are not planning to use it so they can award it to another student as they have more students that qualify than they have WS awards. But they don’t just take it away. </p>

<p>I would suggest meeting with a FA officer that is high enough up on the chain to give you a definitive answer. If they are adamant about not reinstating it and you still have unmet need then ask if your subsidized loans can be increased. This should be possible if you have not maxed out on sub loans for the year.</p>

<p>Make sure you have completed both the MPN and the entrance counseling for the loans. Good luck.</p>