I read that some financial aid packages require work-study. I have a friend in another college that is working at the bookstore as part of her work-study. I’d rather try to work in something more academic or closer to my major. Are their paid opportunities to work in labs or on scientific research or is it always retail and receptionist type stuff?
From what I understand, any department on campus can hire work-study students. If I had to guess, a lot of students work in the libraries or dining halls because they’re eligible for work-study right away and those are the easiest kinds of jobs to get when you first get onto campus. I personally work at a library, and while it has nothing to do with my major, it is a job and I do get paid so I really have no complaints. You can get an idea for the types of jobs available on campus here: https://studentjobs.seo.cornell.edu/ although there are probably fewer jobs listed now than at the beginning of the semester.