<p>I'm very confused about work study. </p>
<p>I got it on my financial aid award and have no idea what it is. </p>
<p>Do you have to take a work study job? Or is optional?</p>
<p>You don’t have to take a work study job. The federal government will allocate a certain amount of money for students with financial need to earn by part-time jobs, often on-campus. It’s sometimes easier to get an on-campus job if you have been awarded work-study than if you’re just looking to get one on your own. Your earnings from work-study jobs are also excluded from your overall income in terms of its effect on next year’s financial aid.</p>
<p>But you don’t have to get a job if you don’t need to, and you also can take a workstudy job if you want without having to earn the entire amount of your award. My son was awarded $1800 in workstudy last year, but I think he probably actually worked for (and earned) less than half of that.</p>
<p>It’s up to you. It’s just an offer if you want to take it.</p>