On Campus Jobs

FauxNom · 10-08-2009, 01:12 PM

I was disappointed to learn that a student who gets outside scholarships has that amount deducted from her eligibility for federal work study or Pomona-subsidized student employment. (And once that's exhausted, deducted from Pomona grant funds!) Not much incentive to seek outside scholarships. So my question is whether there are many opportunities for students to work on campus in non-subsidized jobs. If there any available, how hard are they to get? Is there any kind of cap on earnings if one is lucky enough to find one of these jobs?

Also, my D and I were wondering about what paid work opportunities there are generally, including the subsidized ones. Do RA's get free room and board, or a set salary, or hourly wages? Are tour guides paid or volunteers? How about residence hall sponsors?

twomules · 10-09-2009, 08:32 AM

My daughter found her job the first week on campus. I think they had a job fair. She worked 7 hours a week last year and about 4 or 5 this semester, but this semester's classes are killers. I think sponsors (and RAs?) are unpaid positions. My impression is that tour guides are volunteers.

Anonymous91 · 10-10-2009, 04:15 PM

Ra's are paid positions.

Little Mother · 10-11-2009, 08:13 AM

Sponsors are volunteers - no pay but the guarantee of a single room. D had several paid positions while at Pomona - research assistant for a professor, working in the dean's office, paid internship. Check out Pomona's Career Development Office: Pomona College : Career Development Office.

FauxNom · 10-11-2009, 01:01 PM

Thanks all. I will pass on the info.

Keilexandra · 10-14-2009, 07:11 PM

Since Pomona is loan-free for all students, the stated outside-scholarship policy is the most generous possible, I thought, for need-based schools. Some schools will deduct directly from institutional grants before touching loans or workstudy.

FauxNom · 10-14-2009, 08:48 PM

Good point, keil. I was whining because I think there are schools that let outside awards reduce EFC. Maybe I just hadn't thought through the actual effect of that in practical terms.

Keilexandra · 10-14-2009, 09:01 PM

^ Really? What schools would that be?

FauxNom · 10-14-2009, 10:05 PM

I can't remember right now, and don't have time to search. They might be colleges other than the no-loan schools, though - it was just something I read on here somewhere. If they are indeed schools that use loans to meet need, then that could indeed be less generous than reducing an award by the amount of outside scholarships. And I realize I didn't phrase my last post well. What I meant was that these schools let you satisfy the EFC with outside scholarships.

Keilexandra · 10-14-2009, 10:19 PM

^ Yes; I'm wondering what schools allow you to cover EFC with outside scholarships before deducting from FA. I wasn't aware of any.

lolcats4 · 10-15-2009, 03:05 AM

Pomona let my outside scholarship cover part of my EFC.

I originally was going to have to pay ~$4,500/year, but my National Merit Scholarship reduced it to $2,000 and I kept my work stipend.

So I guess they sometimes make exceptions.

Keilexandra · 10-15-2009, 08:32 AM

Hmm. I know Bowdoin also does this with (college-sponsored) National Merit scholarships. But NM seems to be a general exception.

momgeh50 · 10-30-2009, 07:35 PM

I spoke with the FA office about the issue with outside scholarship and work study. They still allow many students with outside scholarship that has covered their work -study to have work study but it may be somewhat modified. Just talk with the FA. Nothing is set in stone. Great school.

Parentus · 11-02-2009, 08:32 AM

see recent articles in The Student Life [student newspapers] as Pomona is changing its rules on the limits for students not on financial aid and how much they can earn from on campus jobs.

redlightbulb · 11-10-2009, 02:37 PM

I'm a student who both runs a club with paid staff and works a position for a department.

Pomona is amazingly work friendly, and while it does limit the amount students can earn (changes from student to student, but has been historically a little less than $2000 a year for non-work study non-financial aid) there are ways to change this or get around it.

The recent change in work allotments (now a little less than $1000 a year for the above group) is a hopefully non-permanent one. The change comes from the college trying to reduce overall expenses to insure it's not put in a bad position form the economy. The change has been one of the more controversial (and one of the more visible to students) but as before, there are exceptions and ways around it for many student's I know.

The impression I've gotten is that the college tries to balance 1) The need for students to earn money and 2) the need for them to be students first, employees second.

Generally, while some toes are step on now and then, people who truly need this or that tend to find a way to get it - There always seems to be a readily available kind ear at this school.