Hi @awaitingoffers - my oldest has work study at her college AND I supervise work study positions in the art department where I teach, so while I don’t know specifics of Pratt, here’s how some info from my experience. The amount of work study is set by the school and the student must take the initiative and get the position. HOWEVER, most colleges have an office and website that lists all the positions. As a freshman they might be able to find/apply before arriving on campus.
Generally a freshman hunts for the job during orientation/first week or so of classes. At my school we have a full department meeting with all students the first week week of classes, announce available places with jobs, and fill in the shifts on first-come first serve. Returning staff (so upper classmen) get first dibs but I’m always looking for more staff. There’s also a bunch more positions on campus which students find via the financial aid office too.
Similar routine at Ds school (RISD) - her first one was off-campus (by choice, it was the Children’s Museum, she visited as part of a pre-orientation event, one of the counselors worked there too and gave her the info to apply). Ds also worked as a TA and in their mailroom (she caught on that this was an easy job where she could study!).
The student is NOT guaranteed the full amount listed on your financial aid agreement - have to WORK those hours and student is paid directly by the school. Our D uses it as her spending money, school supplies, savings etc. Some semesters she hasn’t made the full $1k per semester due to work load and/or illness. It does not roll over per semester either. And a student can NOT go over the allocated amounts. They just won’t pay you OR if they’ve already cut the check for that pay period, students have to pay it back. Yikes. Altho to be fair, our financial aid office forewarns them when they’re getting close to running out.
Not sure what Pratt allocated for your student, but my son was given $5k…which frankly is an impossible amount of hours. So honestly, not much of a plus to his financial aid package (and the school is off his list since it’s just too expensive). Most art schools consider $2k ($1k per semester, about 10-12 hours per week) doable. Art school expects LONG hours of homework (way beyond most majors) and freshman year is a big acclimation to that.