work study job vs regular part time job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op here. I didn't realize there were opportunities for academic or major-related jobs for work study. I thought they were basic jobs like library assistant, or cafeteria/food worker etc. Guess we will look into them.

A prof friend of mine suggested that some students might view work study students "differently" as though there may be a stigma associated with it, which I'd want to avoid. Don't recall this issue at all when I was in college -

Also wondering how it will affect fafsa/css in the future since we will have to report student income as well. And if work study might be better in this regard than an off-campus job. I'm pretty sure all the work study jobs at this particular college are federally subsidized.

It's not a new thing. Work-study is typically required if it is part of the the financial aid package, and does not affect future aid though it continues to be a required part of the aid each year.
I did research in a science lab as my work-study job at my ivy in the 90s. Later they hired me as a paid research assistant for the summer. I also tutored physics (for underclassmen) as work study job when my research job was changed to an independent study and my professor helped me get an undergraduate fellowship for it. Most professors advocated strongly for their work study students even then. Many of my friends on work-study/aid back then had lab jobs or tutoring. Others did library or gym shifts so they could study.
Our kid is at a different ivy and is not on any aid as we are well beyond the full pay line, though they have many friends in work-study lab jobs. More students have work study than don't these days--opposite from my time--but there are plenty of paid non-work study research positions to go around for the full pay kids too. No stigma at all, if anything there is a bit of full-pay guilt as they are the minority (40-45% full pay at most ivies).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op here. I didn't realize there were opportunities for academic or major-related jobs for work study. I thought they were basic jobs like library assistant, or cafeteria/food worker etc. Guess we will look into them.

A prof friend of mine suggested that some students might view work study students "differently" as though there may be a stigma associated with it, which I'd want to avoid. Don't recall this issue at all when I was in college -

Also wondering how it will affect fafsa/css in the future since we will have to report student income as well. And if work study might be better in this regard than an off-campus job. I'm pretty sure all the work study jobs at this particular college are federally subsidized.

When I was in college, serving your classmates food in dining hall was happening. I can definitely see that is not great. I think that has been curtailed.

I worked IT help desk, back when no one knew what IP address was or how to configure or even connect their Ethernet (many many phone cords)….

[Anonymous]

My kids both started in food service (with a lot of other first years), then found interesting jobs to apply to in future semesters. Worked well for them.

[Anonymous]

Some places on campus only hire work study kids (it's cheaper labor for them) so there are more jobs available.

[Anonymous]

My kids report zero stigma associated with work study. Much more significant is the social stratification that happens more organically between wealthier students and their work-study counterparts. It's just different to be able to buy new clothes, go out to eat or drink, or doordash / instacart, plan vacations or off-campus housing vs having basically no discretionary spending at all. It's not really about snobbery or anything like that: It's just... different realities and lifestyles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IME, the better on campus jobs are reserved for work study students. If you aren't work study, the options are mostly food service.

When I was in college a lot of the really nice jobs (ushers/box office at the theaters, reception jobs, library jobs) were all work study. My roommate who didn't have work study worked as a barista but she did have problems with her job not respecting her class schedule.

I also never experienced any stigma for being in work study.

[Anonymous]

I graded Spanish homework for my work study. I was able to make my own hours. Pay was crap though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in a writing program and my work study job turned out to be in the university’s news office. It was an awesome experience. I had choices of work study jobs in a number of major areas.

I did something very similar! It was a great job.

[Anonymous]

Go with Work Study. Students not on work study can't get the better on-campus jobs because they are reserved for work study.