<p>I just got my financial aid package for Syracuse University (transfer), and I noticed that $2,400 per year comes from work study. I was unfamiliar, so I did a little research and found that work study jobs pay an hourly wage that can't exceed the amount granted per year. When I thought it over, it seemed to me that I might as well get a part-time job in the city where I could easily cover the $1,200 per semester AND have a little money in my pocket. Have any of you done work study? What were your experiences? Would you recommend it? The thought of working in an office with University staff members really makes my skin crawl. Where I'm at now, they aren't particularly nice to the students they're there to help, so I'm imagining that they're even worse to student employees.</p>
<p>RLS - My son received the same thing in part of his financial aid package. The best thing I can see is the hourly amount that they pay you. The minimum amount was $8.35 and the max. was something like $12.85. I don't think that he could make that much money hourly anywhere outside his campus so I think that's a pretty good thing (you wouldn't have to worry about travel time/expenses either). It would be a lot better to work less for the same amount of money than have to work more for the same total. What I would suggest is taking the work study and then another job in the summer for pocket money. Now if you were a waiter/waitress making great tips then that might be a different story. Also, there are many jobs to choose from & the college is very good about scheduling your hours. Check out the job services dept. at your prospective college & ask them what they have available. Good luck.</p>
<p>The upside to work study is the felexibilty that you are given to work around your class schedule, exams, when you are not feeling well. this is an opportunity that is sometimes not always available in a job off campus. The money you make as work study is not counted against you onthe fafsa like an outside job is (counted against you as it increases your income and increases your EFC). </p>
<p>In addition, some research and internships come via workstudy-so not all work study is working in an admin office at the college. Daughter who is pre-med has had work study opportunities in day care center, family medicine and as a research assistant in a genetics lab, at the Medical school. I would suggest that you look up your student employment wesbiste at Syracuse to see what type of job opportunities are available.</p>
<p>D's work-study job was in the Dean's office of her Major(business) they were very helpful re: helping out with her class schedule, career counselling, help obtaining internships when she decided it was time to get out into the real world, and advice about her resume...someone on the Hamilton forum advised students to work in the Writing Center, which would be a great idea for my son who will be majoring in creative writing(even if it's a volunteer job). And yes, it's great to have that spending money not count towards student income on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>workstudy is totally worth it-
not all jobs are in office- my daughters were in the lab stockroom & computer services
No worries for transport you are already there.
Workstudy does not count for income on FAFSA- an outside job will.
We have also gotten workstudy cap lifted when needed.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who've responded. Great info! Now, if concerneddad reads this, do you know what the wage range is at Tulane? If no one here knows, I'll post elsewhere to you.</p>
<p>Wait, so from what emeraldkity said we can get the cap lifted. Does that mean we can use the money from work study for ourselves???</p>
<p>That's good news if the cap could get lifted. That's the main thing that's turning me off of the whole process. It would basically be like working for free if they set a limit to your earnings. I'm gonna check on my school's website for a little more information.</p>
<p>RLS - I think when you arrive at the University, you can find out what work/study jobs are availabe & what they pay per hour... they won't expect you to work for free... if you take a job that pays $9.00 per hour, you'll be able to work 133 hours and if you take a job that pays 12.00 per hour, you'll be able to work 100 hours. On campus jobs can be pretty convenient!</p>
<p>RLS - we were told at several places that you can either have your check directly deposited into the schools account or you can just cash the check yourself (meaning if your parents paid the amount already you can keep the whole check for yourself).</p>
<p>Consider the opportunity cost of travel. What is an hour of travel time worth to you. A week of travel time could be in place of a Sunday away from school work. Working in the library seems pretty convient, as does working around food for most students. On the other hand if your aunt has a law firm just off campus and is willing to give you $20 an hour go for it.</p>
<p>I was allowed to use my work study to negotiate a great summer job with a state agency.</p>
<p>umm im not sure if workstudy is the same at syracuse as it is at princeton but at pton workstudy is a grant and really it just gives those on financial aid an opportunity to work on campus to earn some extra cash to buy books and stuff. i know its optional at many campuses and at princeton as well. i dunno about syracuse tho. at many universities it is a grant so i would check up to see =P</p>
<p>Duaghter has her work study checks directly deposited into her bank account. Most of the money you earn from work study is used for your day to day expenses, most of the time it is not used to make payments to your college bill</p>
<p>Just to clarify--a cap on earnings means a cap on hours! A student would not be expected to go on working (without pay) at the job after the earnings cap was met!</p>
<p>Work study is a good thing. Convenient, student-friendly, good pay, and it might get you hooked in with someone else on campus to look out for you. If you need additional $$ you could pursue a second (off-campus) job. But I wouldn't turn down work study altogether.</p>