College Planning: Important Facts About Work Study

summary:Work study has the potential of providing college students with an important alternative form of income
during the college years. How does a student apply for work study and what do they do if they receive it?


For those students who qualify for work study, the unique opportunity to earn a few
dollars throughout the college school year can be quite beneficial to their finances.
Not every student will be able to apply for a position within the work study venue.
Typically, only a select number of students will qualify for the even more select
grouping of jobs designated on campus as work study positions.
Qualifying for Work Study
In order to qualify, the students and their parents need to complete the FAFSA (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid) as well as any required financial aid forms for
each of the colleges that they have applied to for admission for the coming year.
Based upon the information presented, the financial aid office of the college will
determine the student’s eligibility for various forms of financial aid including work
study, student loans, parent loans, and grants.
Depending on the guidelines of each college and the number of applications that have
been received, a student may or may not be deemed eligible for financial aid. The
student is notified of the decision in the financial aid offer that he receives from each
of the colleges. He will see it listed along with any other forms of financial aid.
Typically, the amount of the potential work study earnings is also listed.
Work study is usually offered for each college semester within a single school year.
In order to qualify for subsequent years, the student must reapply for financial aid
submitting both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the college financial
aid form. Work study is usually offered to college students who exhibit financial need.
Finding a Work Study Position
It is important for students to understand that just because they qualify for work study
of some type, it does not mean that they will receive a work study job. Depending on
the employment guidelines of each college, the student may also need to complete an
application for the particular work study job that he is currently trying to obtain.
In some cases, more than one student may be applying for a position and the
student’s qualifications will come into play. Therefore, it is important for the student to
list all of his previous employment work experiences and job skills.
Since a limited number of these positions are available, it is important for the student
to apply early in order to have a better chance of finding a job that he likes and
wants.
Additionally, this is an important task since the choicest positions are sure to be
snapped up quickly, leaving less desirable positions for those who dawdle before
applying.
The Benefits of Work Study
While work study does not help to pay for that initial tuition bill, the money can be
used for any number of expenses including:
• Cab fare to the train station or airport
• Additional text books needed for mid-semester
• Additional stationary expenses
• Plane fare or train tickets
• Medical expenses for flu shots, colds, etc
• Supplemental food expenses
• Leisure activities
Additionally, the money earned through a work study job can be saved up in a bank
account for the next semester’s tuition. Moreover, taking a work study job helps to
establish a student’s employment history, which can assist the student in the future
when trying to:
• Obtain a co-op or internship
• Obtain outside employment
• Obtain additional forms of credit
Work study can assist in defraying the expenses of attending college. Moreover, the
experience can provide students with growth experiences from which they will benefit
throughout the rest of their lives.