<p>My husband and I are arguing over how to calculate the $2,000 work study my daughter was offered. On the back of the financial paperwork they sent that shows her total award and loans and a $2000 work study annually, it has a little worksheet that shows this: </p>
<p>Tuition: 39,900.00
Subtract total FA from award letter 36,032.00
Add total work study 2,000.00
Add direct total Stafford loan fees 2% 80.00</p>
<p>Our Annual Share of Bill $5,948.00 (this is our calculation)</p>
<p>I'm sorry to ask such a dumb question, but we are so confused. We are making an apt to speak to the FA person, I was just hoping someone here could help me before then? </p>
<p>The paper says that you add that work study back into the amount of the bill we have to pay up front, but he doesn't think that sounds right, to which I told him "then why does it have a line that shows that you add it back in"! Obviously I am right, right? But then I wonder, why do they make us pay up front for that, when they don't know if she will even earn that much, more, or less? I'm so confused?</p>
<p>Generally the COA ( cost of attendance),will include tuition, books, transportation, rm& board, fees, & personal expenses.</p>
<p>There is some wiggle room with some of the charges. You wouldn’t be paying the school for personal expenses, books ( in most cases you can buy books elsewhere), or transportation.</p>
<p>Work study monies are paid to the student just as with other jobs. Generally students use that money to cover those flexible expenses like books, transportation, or their personal expenses, depending on what they earn. It is not deducted directly from what you owe the school.</p>
<p>As EmeraldKitty wrote, the work study money will have to be earned by your daughter, so while it is money the school is giving to your D to help with costs, it is not guaranteed unless your D works for it. So, it is listed with FA, but you can’t subtract that $2000 from the cost to see what you will owe. You have to figure on paying that portion until she earns it back.</p>
<p>I think that the school’s worksheet had you add back the Work-Study award because it actually is not a direct award. Your student has actually been given the opportunity to earn the $2000 throughout the year. Work-Study is paid when it is actually earned by working at the job, so it isn’t available at the beginning of the year. Not all students, who are awarded Work-Study, actually work enough to earn the entire award, either. If meeting the cost of attendence is a burden to your family, I would seriously consider talking to your child about your expectations for the use of their Work-Study pay. If they know they will have to pay for their own books and supplies for second semester, then they can plan to save enough from their job in the fall to pay for those books in January.</p>
<p>Thank you for explaining that so well. I’m going to make my husband read many of the threads on this message board when he gets home. It has helped me so much.</p>