<p>Picking up on some questions in the "Spread Too Thin" thread: </p>
<p>My daughter will be a freshman and has work study in her Fin Aid package worth $2500/yr.</p>
<p>I understand various work study jobs pay different amounts. We'd be interested to hear feedback on things such as: </p>
<p>1) Most interesting work study jobs</p>
<p>2) Least stressful work study jobs</p>
<p>3) Best paying work study jobs </p>
<p>4) Average number of hours needed to receive $2500/yr.</p>
<p>More questions:</p>
<p>I think I've read here there is a job fair when school starts to locate work study jobs? Is that during the time frame between move-in and the start of classes?</p>
<p>Is working at the front desk in one's dorm a work study job? I remember that was popular when I was in school because you could get in a little reading along with answering the phone and greeting people.</p>
<p>How frequently are paychecks issued?</p>
<p>We were hoping to apply some of her work study toward her tuition expenses, rather than incidental expenses, but it seems like the amount might be a little erratic, plus it would be a while before the first check. If anyone here is using their work study to help pay tuition, how does it work logistically?</p>
<p>A big THANK YOU in advance to all of you who are so kind in sharing this kind of info and your experiences with freshmen. I hope we can do the same and help others next year.</p>
<p>1) Most interesting would probably be a job at Campus Cruiser. Campus Cruiser is a service USC offers where students can call in and ask to be picked up from an off campus location in the blocks surrounding USC. The job would be a driver, but you can understand why it would be interesting ;). I think this one also answers question (3)...I believe they have one of the highest starting salaries on campus.</p>
<p>2)As for least stressful, I would have to say mine was. I was lucky to get it though. It was just some random job I applied for at the job fair and I got a call back 2 weeks later for an interview. I was basically an assistant to an assistant. My boss didn't really do much, which means that I didn't have to do much either...haha. At the job fair your daughter should look around for jobs that interest her.</p>
<p>4)I worked 10 hours a week first semester @ $8.25/hour and ended up making around $1300</p>
<p>Answering your other questions:</p>
<p>I can't remember exactly when the job fair is, but I think it might be during move-in week. Make sure your daughter keeps an eye out for these things, but I'm pretty sure they'll be announced. This summer she'll receive a pamphlet in the mail that has everything about move in week and you can read through it to see if the job fair is part of it.</p>
<p>I know I've seen students work at the front desk of the dorms, but I'm not sure if it's workstudy or not. Most of them look like they're grad students.</p>
<p>Paychecks are biweekly. You can either have it directly deposited to a bank account or receive it as a check.</p>
<p>Most of the people I know who have work study end up using it for their own expenses. Unless you plan on giving your daughter an allowance, she won't really have any other source of income...so students usually use it to go out with friends to restaurants, buy clothes, etc.</p>
<p>most interesting- different for every person. In the school of architecture for example, there were a couple of work-study people who manned the woodshop. I thought that was pretty cool. But there are also event planning people, admissions office assistants, etc. that could be fun.</p>
<p>least stressful- libraries, libraries, libraries. There are a ton of different libraries, and each of them needs a front desk person to check books out. These people have a ton of free time, and can get a lot of work done during work. Many computer lab assistants have a similar setup.</p>
<p>best paying- skilled jobs, like theatre ushers and techs, lab techs at some of the more demanding computer labs (some demand you have skills, others just want you to make sure the computers don't run away)</p>
<p>number of hours- probably a bit above 300. Most make between $7 and $8 per hour to start. If you stick with one job all for years, it'll get better.</p>
<p>I work at the law library as a student assistant, and if you work during normal business hours (9-5), when the supervisors are present, you'll have work to do for the entire time. If you work early morning or night shifts, you can usually do some homework.</p>
<p>For my job, the wage only goes up $.50 every 300 hours (IIRC) you work, so it really isn't that much. If you want higher pay, get a different job. I don't know how the raise system works for other jobs.</p>
<p>How does it exactly work? (the financial part)...I am allocated 2500 in a work study...if you decided to keep some of the money to use on incidentals then how is the 2500 dollars paid back to the school (at the end of each semester?)...or do you have to pay the 2500 all up front before school starts and then make it back during the year? I am really confused about this as I am trying to figure out of pocket costs and I don't know where work study figures into everything...</p>
<p>Most students do not use work-study for tuition expenses, but for things like rent, food, transportation, books, etc. However, if you are planning to use it for tuition, there is an option to go on a monthly payment plan. But if you decide to spend your money on 'incidentals' when it should have gone to tuition, you're going to have to find another way to pay your tuition.</p>