campus employment

ChiSquare · 02-24-2009, 05:58 PM

In looking at the websites for my D's shortlist of colleges, it looks like a job on campus is guaranteed *if* you are eligible for financial aid according to FAFSA. I'm not sure yet how that will play out for us; on paper we do not qualify for aid. However, H lost his job in January.

I'm wondering how hard it is for non-FAFSA aid eligible students to find campus jobs. Do any of you have experience with this? D's potential schools are small LACs in a non-urban environment, and without a car on campus, it's very unlikely she could find a job off campus.

bessie · 02-24-2009, 10:05 PM

It can be difficult because the federal government subsidizes the wages of those eligible for work study so naturally the university uses that subsidy first. Having said that, there are always jobs to be had for those determined to work.

hj0519 · 02-24-2009, 10:13 PM

It depends on the school. At my school, unless you're on financial aid you can't even access the site that has the on-campus job listings on it.

historymom · 02-24-2009, 10:18 PM

chisquare don't know if that one school our girls share is still on her your DD's list but at the accepted students event everyone on the student panel said that they did not know anyone who was looking for a job who was not able to find one on campus.

interesteddad · 02-25-2009, 01:30 AM

Depends on the school. At Swarthmore, there are just under 1400 students on campus each semester. 1100 of them have some kind of paid campus job.

At other schools, jobs can be limited to workstudy dollars to financial aid students.

You really have to check on a school by school basis.

OperaDad · 02-25-2009, 07:33 AM

Just because you are "guaranteed" a job, you are not guaranteed a job you will like. You may have to do food service, or some other mundane job.

NorthMinnesota · 02-25-2009, 07:49 AM

Hey Chisquare! D1 is at a small private OOS LAC. She is not eligible for any FA but did get a great work study job working for her business profs. I'm sure it varies at each school.

ChiSquare · 02-25-2009, 09:20 AM

Thanks for your comments! It's on the list of things we need to ask the schools before the final choice is made. (This assumes, of course, that there will be a choice to make! Have only heard back from one of the 6 schools so far.)

Little Mother · 02-25-2009, 09:36 AM

D has been able to find employment on campus at her LAC for the past four years - tutoring, being a research assistant for a prof in her major, and working in the dean's office. She's not on FA, so these weren't work-study positions.

When S was in college, he also had non work-study jobs - community service officer and freelance designing.

oldfort · 02-25-2009, 10:12 AM

My daughter started her search even before she arrived at school. She was able to interview for a few positions during the orientation week. Most of her friends did not start job search until the second semester. In this type of environment it's best to get a head start.

ChiSquare · 02-25-2009, 10:29 AM

Wow, thanks for that tip. That may be hard for us since the campuses are far from our home. But I'll plant that little seed and see if it blossoms!

JHS · 02-25-2009, 10:30 AM

My non-financial-aid kids have had no trouble getting on-campus jobs at their college. One of them has had as many as four of them at a time (briefly). The university made her cut back to keep her from qualifying as a full-time employee.

oldfort · 02-25-2009, 11:07 AM

My daughter was not on FA, but she was able to access her school's employment database from home. She applied for a few positions online, then arranged for interviews as soon as she arrived on campus. She got a very nice office job, and has progressed with additional responsibility as time went by(this is her second year). I think she will be able to have the job for four years.

NorthMinnesota · 02-25-2009, 11:33 AM

D1 was asked by one of her business profs to apply for an opening in their department. She hadn't even thought of looking for a job. She applied, got it and is now in her second year. Some jobs are worth more than what they pay you. She has had excellent mentoring in her major, first pick at internships that come through and great personal letters of recommendation.

Singersmom07 · 02-25-2009, 01:27 PM

DD has a job as a lifeguard at the pool. No financial need required. There are other ones around, too. I know kids can do fund raising calls without FN since I saw it advertised. I think you just have to check and search them out.