Hi Im a freshman going into college this fall. I was wondering how I should use my federal financial aid. I was awarded $5400 a year so I realize that I can work as many hours as I desire. What is the recommended amount of hours I should work? Should I start from fall quarter or wait until the winter? Also I really want experience in working in labs but is that a competitive position freshman would hardly get? Is it better to have entry jobs like in the library so I can study on the off time? I know its a lot of questions but thank u in advance!!
You should start applying even before you get to campus. There are a few jobs where you can study, but many are things you need to actively to the job - cafeteria, library (most jobs aren’t just sitting and checking out books). $5400 is really a lot, so try to work as many hours as you think you can
@twoinanddone do u think its possible for me to cop a research assistant position as a freshman?
Start with what you can get and works well with your schedule. I would say 10 hours max a week.
Sounds like you might be a science major so I would stay on the low side of hours to start.
My D was offered a job as part of the bio lab she took. They needed students to prep things for the class. They tried to get work study students but not too many applied.
The nice thing is that if a department has work study jobs, students who are FWS eligible usually have priority to get them.
Your work study money won’t count as an asset towards your FAFSA EFC, and will be subtracted from total income on the FAFSA
@mommdc am i allowed to apply for jobs before i get to campus? Will i not be called in for interview or anything?
@mommdc by the way thank u for ur detailed response
If your college has a website where you can search for campus jobs, you can try and apply there ahead of time. You might be able to filter by “federal work study” to just see the ones for work study eligible students.
A work study job is is job. You apply, they hire the person they feel is most qualified. If lab needs a worker and you are more qualified than the other applicants, you’ll get the job. Do I think you are going to be splitting atoms as a freshman? No. Do I think you could get a job cleaning up a lab or organizing supplies? It’s possible.
Some of the work study jobs require students to be available at certain times. I’ve seen them posted for the Dean’s office and they need 4 hours on a Tuesday afternoon. It’s sort of the luck of your schedule. Upperclassmen have more control over that, and if they worked in that office last year may have set their schedule to free up Tuesdays.
Yes, you can apply before you get to campus. It is unlikely a job will be posted now, in April, to start in Sept, but start looking in July or Aug. They are not hiring highly qualified workers. A phone interview is often fine.