<p>Sorry I have no link to a study proving students who work 10-15 hours a week get better grades. It is something I have heard many times, many places. Colleges say so. I have seen it hold true with myself and in those around me. I also have heard some schools recommend students, especially freshmen, not work more than 20 hours a week. I agree.</p>
<p>Why not accept the award, look for a suitable job and see what happens? Expect the best and you may be pleasantly surprised! I am truly not trying to be rude or saucy, but rather encouraging!!</p>
<p>What specifically are your reasons for not wanting to work a small number of hours per week? Try to think out how a typical day’s schedule might go.</p>
<p>My son has done work study throughout college and it has been a valuable experience. He works about 10 hours per week - very doable. In addition to having spending money - he was able to get a job in a field he enjoys - which turned into a summer job as well. So - this is a resume enhancing position for him - not just a minimum wage job. I recommend it highly.</p>
<p>Wait, you can get spending money? I thought you only worked up to the amount given in the financial aid package…you can pocket some of that money?!</p>
<p>zoidberg - you get a paycheck - just like at any other job. You can use it to buy textbooks/supplies or for anything you want really - it is your money. It is not applied against your bill for tuition and room & board.</p>
<p>My advice, always accept work/study money. You have to find the job. If you don’t find a job then you won’t get paid out of the work/study funds. You and your “boss” will determine your hours. Generally you are paid every couple weeks and yes, you can use the money any way you want…you can go straight to the bursar’s office and apply it to your bill or you can go to the bank and cash the check and use it for spending money, for books, for whatever you need. It’s in the financial aid offer because the total cost of attendance is more than just tuition room and board it includes books, travel, and supplies…</p>
<p>*So what’s the point of including work-study in the fin aid package if you can do whatever you want with the money? *</p>
<p>Because, as we’ve tried to tell you, the money is for personal expenses.</p>
<p>*one of the main purposes of work-study income (paid like a job over the school year as you work), is to provide you with an income to pay for the “day to day” expenses that college kids often face. It’s pretty hard to be a college student with an empty wallet, while everyone else is going out for pizza on a Friday night. *</p>
<p>Yes. If you have a monthly bill of say $1000 and you get a paycheck of say $200 - then yes - in that example - you could deposit your paycheck and use it towards the monthly bill.</p>
<p>I don’t have to worry about money for eating out or small things like toothbrushes, shampoo etc etc. The university gives a $2000 “debit” card for that stuff, included in the cost of room/board. I suppose I could work an extra couple hours to pay for leisure stuff like going to the movies…?</p>
<p>If I work an extra 3 hours on top of what I normally need to work per week, that’s about an extra $100 per month at minimum wage…I’m not sure if that’s enough though, but it sounds manageable</p>
<p>That $2000 is not a regular debit card that can be used for various personal expenses…it’s a Dining Dollars card. It is part of your meal plan. It can be used at various Dining venues. It can’t be used to buy “stuff”. It will be used towards your meals.</p>
<p>It does not, however, cover movie tickets/museum tickets/metro tickets and other leisure costs, so that’s the only thing that isn’t taken care of…at least as far as I can think of off the top of my head</p>