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Workstudy programs are something you may be interested in if you are trying to figure out how to earn money for college. Many students who want to attend college find it a challenge to pay for the rising costs of education. After all, you don't only have to pay the tuition costs, but you have to buy textbooks and other materials (perhaps even a new computer) and on top of all that you have your living expenses. While you are attending college you have less time to work, so that makes it even harder to pay for it all. That's why most students apply for financial aid.
Financial aid covers a wide variety of programs, including grants, loans and work study. Many people aren't clear about what work study is, and how it differs from simply having a job while attending school. If you have a good paying job with flexible hours, such as waiting tables or bartending, you may not even need work study. However, in today's economy, it isn't always easy to get a job, especially one that you can fit into a schedule that includes taking classes. That's where workstudy comes into the picture.
The first thing you need to do to be eligible for any kind of financial aid is to fill out the federal financial aid form (FAFSA). This is available from the Department of Education, or at your college's financial aid office. Before you do this, you must be enrolled in a college or university. So if you haven't yet applied to college, this is the first thing you must do.
In general, the best strategy to use with financial aid is to try first for aid that is simply money you get that you don't have to repay or work for. This means grants and scholarships. However, most students are not able to fund their entire education by these means, so they must apply for loans and work study as well. The way work study operates is that, if you are deemed eligible for financial aid, you are given a job, either at the college you attend or at a participating institution, such as a non-profit organization or in some cases a private company.
You have some choice as to where you will work. Based on your needs, interests and program of study, you will be given interviews for available jobs. These jobs, unfortunately, don't pay very well, usually between minimum wage and $9 per hour. However, they can help you gain valuable experience that you can put on your resume. And a work study job will not interfere with your class schedule, as it's designed for students.
Work study is usually one aspect of your financial aid package, which may include college grants and student loans (and if you are fortunate, maybe a scholarship as well). A work study job can give you spending money to live on while going to school and, if it's in your field of interest, may lead to more gainful employment later on.
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