How does Work Study Work?

Colleges & Universities Cornell University
1

<p>Work study was included as part of my financial aid award, so I was just wondering…</p>

<li><p>Do I have to pay up front and then be reimbursed later? I mean…since it’s PART of my Financial Aid, will it be reduced at the beginning of the year from my cost…or do I slowly pay them my wages, or what? The reason I’m asking is I finally got the financial aid office to cover my full tuition, room, and board with grants, plus work study. If work study doesn’t count up front, I’ll have to pay them that $2,000 bucks, and we just don’t have it.</p></li>
<li><p>Work study is on campus, right? Do they help you find jobs? How often do you work…and can you work extra to make more money?</p></li>
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2

<p>Ok…in my case my loan, grants and scholarship more than covered my expenses…and I had some money left over.</p>

<p>You do not pay your work study money up front. Work study students are desirable employees because a portion of their wage will be subsidized by the government. Cornell will not place you in a job, it’s up to you to find one. But, they do maintain a listing of jobs on their website. Your work schedule is up to you…this is something you negotiate with your employer. You may work up until you run out of money. So…for instance if your package included $2,000 work study the max you can earn is $2,000. You can apply to the FA office to have this amount increased.</p>

3

<p>But the jobs are AT Cornell, right? Like…I’d work on campus? </p>

<p>Thanks for the answers, dew.</p>

4

<p>you would work, for instance, in the libraries, gyms, or dining halls. it would definitely be on campus</p>

5

<p>I have a question about work study</p>

<p>If I earn less than the amount listed in my FA package, will the difference be added to the family contribution component?</p>

6

<p>im not knowledgeable about how FA works, but from dewdrop’s initial answer, i think you can assume that in each semester, you will earn what is outlined in the FA. of course, you probably have to calculate the amount of hours you have to work each week…</p>

7

<p>If you don’t earn the total amount or choose to not work at all nothing happens.</p>

<p>The amount is listed is just what Cornell decided you were eligible for.</p>

8

<p>^ But it’s part of the FA award.</p>

<p>So like will it say on my bursar account (example - not actualy numbers):</p>

<p>Tution: 35,000
Room: 5,000
Meals: 3,000
Total: 43,000</p>

<p>Cornell Grant: -41,000
Total due: 2,000</p>

<p>But on my FA, it was:</p>

<p>Need: 43,000</p>

<p>Aid:
Cornell Grant: 41,000
Work Study: 2,000
Total: 43,000</p>

<p>Get what I’m saying? The work study won’t be applied immediatly since I haven’t worked yet…so how do I pay that 2,000 in the beginning?</p>

9

<p>you should probably call the FAO to get the exact answer you are looking for…im sure there is someone there now</p>

10

<p>My response was to Nesquik’s situation, not yours. </p>

<p>You’re either going to have to earn $2,000 this summer or apply for a need-based loan…if I’m doing my math right.</p>

<p>The FA office will help you with this.</p>

11

<p>If someone were to get a work study of 2k but had saved up the cash over the summer to pay that could they avoid doing the work study and still get the rest of the grant money?</p>

12

<p>Yes…you do not have to use your work study allotment. If your aid package is enough to cover your bill in full or you have enough money saved to cover the difference, then you do not have to have a job and you can keep your financial aid.</p>

<p>However…even if your grant money/scholarship/loans covers the entire cost you may still work. You are paid biweekly and can use the money however you choose.</p>

13

<p>Yeah, I am working all summer/fall to save up as much as I can since I am taking only a very light load (1 class this summer and 1 next fall) to finish the recommended classes before trying to transfer to ILR spring 09. Not sure what I would do on campus as far as jobs at CU, I would probably not work while getting adjusted first semester, and then maybe stay over the summer to work, or get a job the following semester.</p>

<p>I also have the florida prepaid college plan which will give me a little extra. Does cornell take your pell grant into account when putting your package together (is it included in the grant total?). That isn’t that big of a deal to me though, as I am mainly just trying to stay from going in debt, and not trying to turn a profit.</p>

14

<p>To clarify, you can also use your federal work-study loans off campus.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>And to clarify, you don’t need to pay your tuition in full (of however much you owe) at the beginning. Many students/families choose to make monthly, interest-free payments over the course of the year.</p>

<p>Generally speaking, I advise students to always appeal their federal work study allowance to ask for me. Most students end up in jobs that allow them to study (working the libraries, etc.), so you end up getting paid to study.</p>

<p>Not a bad deal if you ask me.</p>

<p>[Cornell</a> University Student Employment](<a href=“http://www.sws.cornell.edu/SES/fws.html]Cornell”>http://www.sws.cornell.edu/SES/fws.html)</p>

15

<p>soccer_guy: keep in mind that the financial aid usually also factors in books, travel expenses, and misc expenses that would obviously not appear on your bursar bill, so you wouldn’t have to pay them upfront. I would recommend charging books to your Cornell card (like a credit card on your cornell ID, but without interest) and then pay that off using the money you earn while working. </p>

<p>I had work study every year, BUT since I often found cheaper apartments and bought a cheaper meal plan and bought my books online (or borrowed them from a friend), I never had to actually earn that amount of money through out the year. There are ways to avoid having to work during the school year. But I worked anyway because it was nice having spending money, and a lot of jobs you can study while you work. If you are going into science, a paying lab job is the way to go.</p>

16

<p>^ Actually, I’m leaving out my student contribution. Only counting the rest, it exactly covers my costs.</p>

17

<p>Post 14 and 15 give the OP the correct advice. Re read the link to work study as well. Your job will give you the opportunity to earn money towards your miscellaneous expenses, books, food etc. You should plan out what meal plan makes sense for your, since they cost different amounts. For example, if you rent or buy a small fridge, you can have breakfast in your room every day, and it is less expensive than the meal plan charges. I believe that the dorm costs, and perhaps the meal plan are payable per semester, as well as tuition. I am not sure if they apply any loan amount in full in the first semester, which reduces what you pay at that time, or half for each. It is worth finding out.</p>

<p>Additionally, the summer work study is something to keep in mind for next year. You will have some success in finding jobs in not for profit places due to the subsidy, and you can get great experience. Keep your eyes open during the year for it, since it is a separate application.</p>

<p>Based on personal experience, the library jobs are quite good. If you have other skills/experience like working in an office, these are sometimes available, and may pay slightly more.</p>

18

<p>Half of your loan is disbursed each semester. So if you have a $2,000 loan $1,000 is sent in August/Sept and $1,000 is sent in December/January.</p>

<p>Most of Cornell jobs are over minimum wage. I earned $8.70/hr while working as a lifeguard and $8.00/hr in the library. Some office jobs can pay $10.00/hr or more. If you want research experience, there are labs that will pay you if you’re a work study student.</p>

19

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<p>They cracked down on that this year! No books allowed…but if your readingg were online then you could get around that :-)</p>

20

<p>theres definitely some varied jobs as dewdrop pointed out regardless if ur FWS or not. a lot of researchers/admins post jobs early in the semester most in August/September. Start looking for postings online and apply in August as jobs are filled up in the beginning of September.</p>