Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A Work Study Program Can Help Those Students Who Are In Financial Need

A Work Study Program Can Help Those Students Who Are In Financial Need
These days it is greatly encouraged to continue education after receiving an undergraduate degree, but after gaining four years of student loans, how can you possibly go back to school? Even though there are many different loans and scholarships out there, you may have trouble finding ones that help you enough, especially since the possibilities are limited for graduate school. A different route you can take if you fit a certain degree of financial need is to apply for the Federal Work Study Program.

Make sure you fully look into your financial aid opportunities before committing to one. If you are eligible for Federal Work Study you may have a hard time receiving other loans since most financial aid is awarded based on your profile. However, if you think you are one of those who could use the extra help, the program will be a great relief.

To find out if you can acquire a work-study award, you must first apply. The award reads as a lump sum that is the limit of the amount of total money you can earn through a work-study job. At this point you can apply for jobs listed on a work-study website through your graduate school. If hired, this becomes your work-study job. The pay is at least minimum wage, but the more skills the job requires, the higher your earnings will be. You can have this job until your total wages match your award amount.

It is possible to have more than one work-study job over the years of your education so that you can experiment with different lines of work. These can be either on-campus or off-campus. Some on-campus jobs are at campus facilities, such as libraries, labs or buildings with reception areas and offices. Others can be research positions with faculty.

Off-campus jobs are normally with non-profit companies, such as an organization devoted to the community or a public radio station. This collaboration with the college not only helps students financially but also benefits the non-profits that may need extra help.

With such a wide array of choices, you can find a job that is related to your studies or a job in an industry you've always wanted to try out but would not have time for in the future. It is definitely recommended to do the former for at least one job in order to gain experience and show dedication to your focus. This is a great thing to add to your resume since it shows commitment to helpful work even during a busy schedule.

This program is not the same as receiving money directly for your tuition, but you can use the money you earn in any way you need it. It could be for books, groceries, rent, or keeping up with an enjoyable social life to balance out your studies. If you chose, you could still put this money toward your tuition. This could be considered a better situation than a loan because you do not have to pay it back and there is no interest involved.

The wonderful thing about work-study jobs is that employers understand that you have the schedule of a student. They work with you to create a schedule that prevents a stressful workload and are normally lenient when it comes time for finals. For instance, you do not have to contribute a normal workweek when papers or exams build up. This program provides financial aid for graduate school that works to create a well-balanced environment throughout your graduate education. Keep that in mind when performing a grad school search.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kayla_Russell
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6760349

By Kayla Russell

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