xnamelessx

What exactly does FAFSA mean when they ask if you are interested in being considered for work-study? Sure, I plan on working part-time when I go to college, but if this is some thing where you have to work full time and give every cent you earn to FAFSA, then no, I'm not interested.

swimcatsmom

WS is part of financial aid. WS jobs are jobs through the school or sometimes in non profit associations. The salaries are subsidized by the govt. You have to find and apply for a WS job and are then paid for the hours you work. They are taxable like any job but you do not pay FICA. The big difference between a WS job and a non WS job is that WS income does not impact your FAFSA EFC the following year.

At a lot of schools most on campus jobs are WS. Very good for them budget wise as they only have to pay about 1/3 of the salary and the govt pays the rest. My daughter had WS and got an excellent job working at a lab. She did not get it this year as the funds ran out. She is really hoping to get it next year as off campus jobs are hard to find in her college town.

WS is need based and usually goes to students with the most need. Saying no to WS does not mean you will get more gift aid. Usually the order federal aid seems to be packaged is grant aid (Pell, SEOG if you are eligible), WS (if eligible and meet whatever criteria is set by the school and if funds available), subsidized loans (if eligible), unsub loans.

bchan1

Work study is a good thing - for all the reasons listed above by swimcatsmom. In addition, if you are awarded WS and find that you cannot work for whatever reason (health, schedule, etc.) you don't have to work, you don't have to work for the full amount of hours available to you if that doesn't fit your schedule. It is an opportunity, but not a commitment if you choose or are able to cover costs in some other way. My daughter chose not to work her first semester at college and gave herself a little time to adjust because her schedule was demanding. She is anxious to take advantage of WS opportunities when she goes back.

Gardna

I have to agree with the above. The work-study money doesn't go directly towards your tuition bill (and you can't give money to the FAFSA; it's a form, not a person or a company). The money goes directly to you just like any other job, and you would probably save it or use it for personal expenses.

mom2collegekids

Work study money goes to you for your "spending money" while in college. You find a workstudy job, and you get paid in pay checks like a regular job.

It can be better than a regular job since the earning don't affect EFC. Some kids work a workstudy job during the week, and a regular job on the weekends.

2college2college

These jobs are often typically better in that they are on campus and usually won't require a car, mostly pay more than minimum wage, will often accommodate class and test schedules and there are many, like library jobs, where you can often study some of the time.