Completely agree. I also don’t think that this student realizes the impact of daily living costs in the US. Working on campus to save dollars would be great if this student does not have other non-academic expenses. Plus, if this student expects to maintain a strong GPA in the competitive Biology department, keeping work hours to a minimum would be expected.
Our daughter worked a lab job and was paid $20 per hour. She never earned $10K a year while on campus. She didn’t always work those 10 hours. Sometimes, it was 2-3 hours per week because of classes, meeting with professors or volunteering in clinics. At the grocery store, she used those monies to purchase laundry supplies, toiletries, fridge supplies (water, coffee, sandwich and stuff), cheapie headphones, batteries, etc.
When there were midterms, study groups and labs, she didn’t work, and fortunately for her, her supervisors were very flexible and loved her work.
If OP thinks that any on-campus work will turn into automatic savings for academic expenses, he/she is in for a shock. Tax deductions do occur on each paycheck. Living in the US is very expensive.
Some of my daughter’s friends, with cultural ties, did not like the meals provided in the common dining halls. They ate out or spent money at Safeway, buying groceries and making meals in the common kitchens. They used their campus job earnings to feed themselves and pay for minor expenses. Food is expensive but you gotta eat.