Please let us know you called and someone at Harvard got you a blanket by now.
I’ve never thought people would be so nice here! Thank you everyone. I will contact someone today.
Also back in the day, my university would give short term loans of something like $200 that might be available.
When I started my first job after college, my pay was delayed unexpectedly. I went to my boss and explained that I needed the money to pay rent. He arranged for an advance which I then paid back the next pay period when I got a check covering both pay periods. It was embarrassing to ask, but there was no reason I should not have gotten paid, except for a delay in their system.
The school knows you are counting on this employment as part of your financial aid package. You need to tell them that you need money now. They could give you a loan that you can pay back when you do get paid.
Never feel embarrassed/ashamed of asking what you DESERVE
ANd what you are LEGALLY ENTITLED to! It’s illegal in Massachusetts for you not to have been paid your wages in a timely fashion. Look at the left-hand column on this poster :
http://www.mass.gov/ago/docs/workplace/wage/wagehourposter.pdf
Software issues are no excuse. We don’t make people work for free in the US. You need to push for your wages and remind everyone that it’s a violation of law not to pay you. The delay is probably caused by some doofus in the payroll department who isn’t bright enough realize an alternative has to be found if the software doesn’t work for you. Escalate!
I know it makes no sense. There should be a good number of international students in Harvard, and the school (or the system) should have no problem processing your payment.
Thanks everyone! The problem was my nonexistent security number. I signed up to get a temporary one, so hopefully it will all be sorted out soon.
Don’t wait for the SSN issue to sort itself. Go ask for assistance to pay for the laptop. A laptop is not a discetionary item for college. It is an absolute necessity. I’m surprised harvard didn’t already offer this as u are a full FA student.
Also ask for a small, short-term loan while u are waiting on the SSN issue.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease…
it’s good to know that you prioritize the things that you usually need to survive by yourself. since you already thought of not asking money with your parents, then continue with it, its a good habit. as suggested by other users here, ask for assistance especially if you think that you are not getting what you deserve. if you continue this habit, then believe you’ll be successful in life because you started living independently at an early age.
Also, don’t be surprised if your paycheck is a little smaller than what you expect. They take out money for taxes. So before your make plans for your parents, assume a lot less money than full hours.
Have them get a blanket for you!
I agree with others…colleges have those offices/departments to help you succeed. Use them!!!
Of course it was. The real question is, assuming you are not the first international student this college has ever had, why did it take so long to remedy?
Has this taught us anything that will help us in the future?
Perhaps the bureaucracy is worse because I am also a transfer student. There aren’t many international transfers here and maybe the registration process is different.