Work Study Programs And How They Can Help
With all the talk circulating around student loan debt and the massive burden that graduating students are facing, little is said about ways for students to help themselves and decrease the amount of debt they collect while going to school. Some students (although less than the amount that should be) are applying for scholarships and grants- but it is still not always enough. Many students, when the prospect of working while attending school is suggested, shy away from the topic because they assume they can’t get a job that will work with their changing schedules or they think they will not be able to handle working while going to school. This however, does not have to be the case.
Enter work-study programs, offered by the federal government. Many students are not aware of the option to apply for work-study opportunities through their school (assuming the school has these programs available.) Here are some interesting facts around work-study programs that you should know when deciding on how to pay for college, and life, while you are attending.
Work study programs provide part-time work while you are attending school. These jobs are not heavily burdensome, full-time positions that require a great deal of time commitment in order to be successful. These are part-time positions meant for students specifically.
Jobs can be located both on campus or off. If you are working on campus, it will be for the school itself. Think Cafeteria, Library, Bookstore- something of that nature. Some jobs will even have downtime where you can study in between tasks if the day or position allows. According to studentaid.ed.gov, “If you work off campus, your employer will usually be a private nonprofit organization or a public agency, and the work performed must be in the public interest.” It is also possible to work for a private company, but there would be more restrictions and it would go through the school.
The pay is at least the minimum wage but can be more. How much you get paid (or your total work-study award) will depend on factors like:- Your skills and experience
- When you apply
- How much aid you need
- And how much aid your school has to offer
Work study is available to both graduate students and undergraduate students. Many aid programs, in general, are only available to undergrad, making work-study more unique since it can apply to both.
Work study will limit the number of hours you work to the amount of your work-study award. The work-study award will be based on your financial need as well as your workload and progress. This again will help in keeping your workload from overwhelming your school work by having more checks and balances than a traditional employer.
Applying for work-study is easy. When filling out your FAFSA, be sure to apply for work study if you are interested. You will likely still need to interview and apply for specific jobs, but this is how you would get the process started. If you need help or are unsure of what to do or whether this is a good option for you, try talking to someone in the financial aid office of the college you are attending. The staff should be well aware of work-study programs and can help point you in the right direction. Take hold of your future and gain some experience while earning cash. Working while going to school can promote better organization, discipline and the ability to balance work and life- something you will need to do regardless after you graduate.