BrittaBot wrote:Current UCONN students: I need some advice.
I received a $3000 work-study as part of my financial aid. But on the award letter it says something like "If you wish to reject your work-study, there may be additional loans available."
I was pretty much all set to call them and say I wanted the loans instead of the work study for several reasons. a) I work on-campus now in undergrad and while I made $4000 last year, much of that was probably during the summer. b) Will I even have time for work-study? Shouldn't I be focusing on my classes and homework? You know, etc etc.
But I went and looked at UCONN's website and FAQs about work-study. It is really in-depth and making me wonder what I should do. It says that work-study students are given the first opportunity at jobs and 1Ls usually work in the law library in various functions.
Do any of you currently participate in a work-study or know anyone who does? Is it manageable? Is it worth it? Any info you might have that would help me out would be greatly appreciated. Also, now I'm thinking maybe I should just do it...because my tuition is covered, I received about $14K in loans to make up the rest (mostly for room and board/costs of living), so that $3000 would be for miscellaneous stuff, I guess?
http://www.law.uconn.edu/node/1069
P.S.
Downing, when I went on my tour, my tour guide said they have a very small gym on campus with like 2 treadmills. But since it's so tiny, barely any one uses it, if helps at all.
I am in the same boat as you, although I have about double the loans you have. Therefore, for me, I think I will opt out of 3,000 in loans because I don't need to add on anymore debt - but then again what is the difference between 30k and 33k?
But I also will have a part-time job outside of school - where I am already employed - so I am not sure I really need the money.
Here is some input though, if you take work study, you are not guaranteed a job, its first come first serve. I do not know how much they pay, but I doubt you will actually earn all/work that many hours. Plus, I think that no 1L can get a job before November. I would bet on making somewhere between 1-2k of that, more realistically probably 1-1.5k if you are real busy or only work like 4 hours a week.
Therefore, if you really need the money, I would take the loans straight out. If you don't, try to get a work study job where you only work a handful of hours a week. I think that is what I am going to do - it will help supplement my other part-time job and meet people. Because 3k in loans over 3 years is 9k, and for me, 4 years is 12k - no thanks.
One last thought, keep in mind your living arrangements for the summer - if you need that 3k to make it through the summer grab the loans and hold on to them.
