Using Work-Study to Make It Through College

Many college students look anxiously forward to their first semester of college. Nervous parents wonder how they will ever keep their offspring supplied with the cash needed to exist as a college student. One solution to this problem is to have their child get a job. Jobs for college students are often difficult to manage because class schedules change every few months.

Then, there is the problem of semester and summer breaks. If the student lives away from home, special housing arrangements have to be made, or the job is often forfeited as a consequence of going back home for the break. Just when everything looks bleak for a part-time job, here comes work-study to the rescue. The federal work-study program was never designed to pay for college. The number of hours allowed, 10-15 per week, at near minimum wage is usually enough to help with ancillary expenses.

Most students find that work-study gives them advantages beyond the money. It is an employer that is forced to comply with all of the demands of your class schedules without penalizing you for it. Your employer has to work with you.

This is a tremendous advantage when there are special projects and meeting times. It’s also good during finals when most colleges switch schedules about to make room for finals that require longer times than the standard class period. During class breaks, the job goes away and then comes back when the student returns for classes.

Many schools try to fit work-study students into jobs associated with their major. This means more interaction with instructors and departmental people. It can give students a leg up to receive the best opportunities for internships and such. This extra contact can also be beneficial when looking for references for employment after graduation or when applying to graduate school.

The money received for this work is usually enough to help pay for the student’s social life. It keeps them from being always left behind because finances are too short to go out for a cup of gourmet coffee or a pizza. Sometimes, if the student is exceptionally frugal, it can be used to help with clothing and books. Most students like having their own personal income source. It provides them with a heightened sense of independence.

The $600 to $800 per semester of most awards is small compared to the cost of books, fees, tuition, and room and board. It is often better with the benefits than most part-time off-campus jobs. Work-study students often get other perks and frequently have jobs that are among the easiest to keep and perform.