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I'm paying for part of my edu through work/study. It says I need to pay 2000 per semester. So how many hours per week is that? IDK what the wages at UChicago (or Cornell) are but currently I work about 10 hours a week and volunteer about 5-10.. it depends. I'm just askin because I know someone who worked 30 hours a week while studying at college and struggling through college. if I work 15 hours a week, do you think there is enough time to join an antiwar group and do some undergrad research with a prof?

By Soulofheaven8 (Soulofheaven8) on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 10:05 am: Edit

I'm having similar concerns. Work-study is going to account for $2300 of my financial aid from Columbia. Given that I will be a first year student and such, I wonder if it will in anyway negatively impact my adjustment/schoolwork.

By Crimsonrider (Crimsonrider) on Friday, May 07, 2004 - 08:44 pm: Edit

Confused86

That sounds like you have alot on your plate, but it is entirely possible that you can do all of those things. The downside is that you wont have a social life and spending all of that time at work and extra cirriculars may hurt your GPA. The good news is that it sounds like you are used to doing alot, so you shouldnt have too much of a rough transition (you work AND volunteer, what job and volunteer work do you do??)

By Seleucus26 (Seleucus26) on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 12:06 am: Edit

i read somewhere that working 15 hrs a week improves a students grades on average. 15 hrs a week x 16 weeks per semester (i think) x $8.00 an hour gives u 1920 a semester. it sounds doable.

i dont no if this applies, but im doin a co-op to pay off my debt. they say u can make 20,000 over the course of the 3 semester program (1 summer, 2 school year i think)

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 07:49 am: Edit

Confused,
Depending on the job, you should also have time for some extracurriculars. However, I suggest that you not try to juggle 2 ECs plus a job freshman year.

Pick one EC and do a job, preferably 10 hours a week, if possible. See if you can earn the rest of the money during school break periods.

Freshman year is a big adjustment, so while I think that 15 hours a week of work plus 2 ECs is possible for people who are at least sophs, I think that such a schedule might make it hard for freshmen to adjust and to be very organized.

If you have work study, the secret is to the minute you hit campus go to to the work study office and find out what's available. The best jobs to do as a freshman are on campus, things like answering the phone in a department or working in a library.

Typically, they allow plenty of time for you to study, are willing to be flexible during exams and school breaks plus you don't have to travel far to get to them.

Off campus jobs are more difficult because of transportation issues.

My advice comes from my own experience of working while I was in college. I also did ECs.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 07:57 am: Edit

Confused,
You can have a social life and do the ECs and work. What happens is that your ECs become your social life, and your friends will be the folks in the ECs.

Not everyone wants a traditional social life with partying, drinking, etc. For some people who are into their ECs, going to meetings and doing things like protest marches is more enjoyable than going to a party.

By Grace226 (Grace226) on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 08:52 am: Edit

Isn't the work study listed in teh award per year? thats what i thought. your schools offered alot of work-study.