<p>I'm going to be a freshman in the fall (~1 week?!) and I was wondering about the work-study program mentioned in my financial aid package. So far I know nothing about it; how do I find a job, and does all the money I make go right back to Yale? Or do I get to keep it? Any information on work study from current Yale students on financial aid is greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat, and idk how helpful my insight is, but I talked to a financial advisor during BDDs and she said that during Camp Yale they’ll offer a lot more information on work study for us. Also, I’m almost positive the money goes to us, not to Yale. We also have the option of using outside scholarship money, or just earning the allocated work study amount during the summer, so that we don’t have to work during the school year. </p>
<p>Oh and I believe there’s a link on the Yale website that allows you to search available jobs on campus, I browsed through it briefly earlier in the summer, sorry I can’t remember the link.</p>
<p>I don’t know the specifics but tons and tons of work study job listings get posted. Be early and get the best ones (ask upperclassmen their experiences). The unionized food services jobs pay the most. The money does go to you. I earned enough to never have to ask home for book fees, travel & vacation fees and spending money. </p>
<p>It’s easy money.</p>
<p>You find a job and apply on yalestudentjobs.org. All the money you earn goes to you–it’s expected to cover your books and personal expenses.</p>
<p>Be aware, though: as a work study recipient, you are not guaranteed a job. You aren’t even actually given preference in the selection process. (Though you are allowed to take community service jobs, which are quite limited.) I applied for about a dozen jobs at the beginning of my freshman year, including rather mundane ones like library jobs. Didn’t get any of them. I am not the only one. There are problems with Yale work study.</p>
<p>I certainly hope that Camp Yale offers more information on the system this year, because they didn’t last year.</p>
<p>thank you everyone! so i should basically just be on top of things the first few days of camp yale to ensure i get a job. also, my work study was for $3,000. since the money goes to me, am i required to earn that much? or is it just a suggested amount?</p>
<p>From what I heard at BDDs too, there is apparently something along the lines of a job fair that happens during Camp Yale where prospective employers look for prospective employees and visa versa. The money that you’re “expected” to earn (I got that too) is, I think, your contribution towards your tuition and fees at Yale. Of course you can have the option of having your parents pay it for you… but I think you’re supposed to contribute at least that much, though, you could always choose to keep the $3000 or whatever for yourself for books and stuff…</p>
<p>I agree, they haven’t been very clear on all of this. If anyone can offer better insight and/or correct what I’ve said, that’d be greatly appreciated! :D</p>
<p>Yeah… I was on work study last year. Like others have mentioned, you get to keep your money. Yale’s minimum wage is 11.50 so it’s not hard to wring out a hundred bucks a week for not too much work. </p>
<p>However, jobs are hard to secure. I applied to half a dozen jobs at the beginning of the year and didn’t even hear from them. It’s the classic case of: “we like to hire experienced people, but you can’t get experience if you can’t get hired in the first place”. Yeah… the system is screwed up. </p>
<p>But I did manage to land one second semester at the Rare Books and Manuscript library… interview, security clearance, inflexible schedules… but it was a great job. I actually handled stuff like Ben Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac. Of course, it’s never guaranteed whether I will be able to continue next year. Scheduling issues, and budget cuts always get in the way. So good luck, and keep trying by applying for many, many jobs. Someday you’ll get one that you love. (and apply many, many places at the beginning of the year. That’s when most vacancies are open)</p>
<p>Woah, $11.50?! That’s amaaazing for minimum wage 
Are most jobs around that, or higher? Thanks for the info!</p>
<p>Yeah… it’s in your admissions packet. Yale has an artificially higher minimum wage for all on-campus jobs. </p>
<p>Level 1 is 11.50
Level 2 is 12
Level 3 is 12.50
Level 4 is 13
Level 5 is 13.50</p>
<p>I mean… the wage level’s don’t go up too much. Which is funny considering that Level 1 jobs require almost no prior experience, while Level 5 jobs are highly specialized.</p>
<p>What sort of jobs are Level 5 per chance?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>