Would you complain if a $3,500 institution scholarship was replaced with work-study requirement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC has been at college for two weeks and financial aid award updated right around move in. Very generous aid overall, but now instead of an essentially free $3,500 DC now has to work part-time for $3,500. We were attracted to the school because of the aid and no requirement to work the first year. I want to complain to financial aid office but I feel like we have no leverage (school already began) and whoever I get on the phone will think I'm acting entitled (due to already very generous aid) or that my teen's spoiled and doesn't want to work. I sincerely don't mind DC working other years but DC is first to go away for college and we would prefer focus on clubs and grades. Any advice?

The thoughts of the person on the phone are not your problem. If you are polite I think it is perfectly appropriate to call to express your disappointment with the change, explain how the initial package factored into your decision, and ask why the change has occurred and if it can be reversed. If it makes you feel more confident, start with an email expressing your views and asking who you can speak to.

I understand that you feel self conscious because your child is already receiving aid. But having a conversation and politely expressing your disappointment is not "acting entitle". It's being assertive, and you deserve it as much as any other family associated with the school.

-Parent whose child will be eligible for $0 financial aid.

[Anonymous]

I did work study my freshman year. I worked 8 hours/week in the school of architecture office. I have ADD and it actually helped me structure my time better. I need downtime, but when I have too much I tend to procrastinate on the things I actually need to do because I always feel like I can do it later. I don't remember what I made hourly, but this was back in the early 2000s. I had a job every summer and during my senior year of high school, so working wasn't a new thing for me. I get you feel like it's a bait and switch but if there's a disclaimer on the letter then this is what can happen. You can either decline and pay the $3500 if it's that big of a deal or your kid can do work study. I think it's a bad precedent to set for your kid that you'll bail them out of having to put some skin in the game before even trying the work study option, but you do you.

[Anonymous]

I would need more details but this work study could be the opportunity to gain some very valuable experience.

I actually see how this could wind up being a total win-win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a freshman. First generation. No change in grades or behavior. The previous letters do all have * disclaimer language that things can change this is estimate . . .

Haven’t called yet. We have no leverage and I feel like they’re going to be like that post above. “No . . . again, no . . .”

So you've known about this for at least two weeks and haven't bothered to make a single phone calls to understand what happened?

[Anonymous]

I do think that the university that puts a rule like this in place after the fact should be responsible for making sure that these work study positions are available. It would be very unfair to make this a requirement and not have available positions for those that want them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a freshman. First generation. No change in grades or behavior. The previous letters do all have * disclaimer language that things can change this is estimate . . .

Haven’t called yet. We have no leverage and I feel like they’re going to be like that post above. “No . . . again, no . . .”

So you've known about this for at least two weeks and haven't bothered to make a single phone calls to understand what happened?

No, we only noticed yesterday because DC received an emailed about work study process. Went back and checked award history and a change occurred about 2 weeks ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even at $10 an hour, it's not easy to earn that full $3,500 unless the kid works 20 hours a week. That's a major chunk of time, especially for a first-generation kid. And if it's a strenuous job where they have to be on their feet they're going to be physically fatigued for study and class time, which could snowball to screwing up their grades.

Why the heck is 20 hours worth more to a first generation kid? What a strange comment.

[Anonymous]

I know kids need skin in the game but first-gen kids overall have atrocious grades and I believe sub 10% graduation rates. Paying them to go to a study hall and meet with tutors would be far more effective than a job requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even at $10 an hour, it's not easy to earn that full $3,500 unless the kid works 20 hours a week. That's a major chunk of time, especially for a first-generation kid. And if it's a strenuous job where they have to be on their feet they're going to be physically fatigued for study and class time, which could snowball to screwing up their grades.

Why the heck is 20 hours worth more to a first generation kid? What a strange comment.

When I hear first gen I assume bottom half of the entering class. Kids in the top of the class can juggle everything. First gen kids are likely to get overwhelmed and start missing assignments ditching class and then dropping out. I’ve seen it hundreds of times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know kids need skin in the game but first-gen kids overall have atrocious grades and I believe sub 10% graduation rates. Paying them to go to a study hall and meet with tutors would be far more effective than a job requirement.

Really? It's not enough to provide free help, study groups and mentors. You think that students should actually be PAID to go to free tutoring?

I just can't express how strongly I disagree with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even at $10 an hour, it's not easy to earn that full $3,500 unless the kid works 20 hours a week. That's a major chunk of time, especially for a first-generation kid. And if it's a strenuous job where they have to be on their feet they're going to be physically fatigued for study and class time, which could snowball to screwing up their grades.

Why the heck is 20 hours worth more to a first generation kid? What a strange comment.

When I hear first gen I assume bottom half of the entering class. Kids in the top of the class can juggle everything. First gen kids are likely to get overwhelmed and start missing assignments ditching class and then dropping out. I’ve seen it hundreds of times.

I the $3500 is merit money based on HS GPA/test scores, the first gen kid is probably quite capable of juggling priorities. Some of the on campus jobs are actually pretty study friendly positions. I would see if I could nab one of those.

Are these work study positions on campus?

[Anonymous]

First gen meaning their parents came here as immigrants? I must live in bizarro world but almost every "first gen" I know is top of the class. I've never associated immigration with poor academics? Quite the opposite. Maybe that's just being a product of Northern Va. (Koreans, Chinese, Indian)

[Anonymous]

My work study positions were always on campus. I worked in the dining hall and as catering staff (easiest jobs to get), and as tech support (wasn't able to start doing this until my second semester), and as a tutor (wasn't able to start doing this until my second year).

The tech support and tutoring jobs were helpful on future resumes. Dining hall and catering staff not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First gen meaning their parents came here as immigrants? I must live in bizarro world but almost every "first gen" I know is top of the class. I've never associated immigration with poor academics? Quite the opposite. Maybe that's just being a product of Northern Va. (Koreans, Chinese, Indian)

First gen meaning the first in the family to go to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My work study positions were always on campus. I worked in the dining hall and as catering staff (easiest jobs to get), and as tech support (wasn't able to start doing this until my second semester), and as a tutor (wasn't able to start doing this until my second year).

The tech support and tutoring jobs were helpful on future resumes. Dining hall and catering staff not so much.

The kids who did work study tended to be more serious and better students. I'm all for work study. But if you are requiring work study in exchange for their institutional award, have enough positions available for all of them.