Do I have to use accepted federal student loans in aid package? How to start work-study?
I'm trying to figure out the next steps after receiving my financial aid package. The school portal shows federal loans and a work-study option, but I'm confused about what happens when I hit the "accept" button. If I accept the federal student loans through my school's portal, does that mean I HAVE to take them? Or does accepting just mean I can access them later if needed? I don't want to commit to debt if I can avoid it. Also, I was offered work-study ($3,800/year), but have no clue how to actually get a job. Does the school assign me somewhere? Do I need to apply for positions? When should I start this process? My school's financial aid office is swamped right now and takes forever to respond to emails. Any insights from people who've been through this would be super helpful!
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Miguel Harvey
Good questions! Let me clarify a few things for you: 1. When you "accept" federal student loans in your school portal, you're simply telling the school you WANT those loans to be processed. This doesn't obligate you to use them - it just makes them available. The actual loan disbursement typically happens when you complete entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN). Even after that, you can usually return unused loan funds within a specific timeframe (typically 120 days) without interest charges. 2. For work-study, you'll need to be proactive. The award just means you're eligible to earn that amount through a qualified position. Most schools have a job board specifically for work-study positions. You'll need to apply, interview, and be hired just like any other job. I'd recommend starting this process ASAP when the semester begins, as the best positions fill quickly!
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Finnegan Gunn
•Thank you SO much! That makes a lot more sense. So accepting is more like reserving the option, not committing to it. That's a relief! I'll definitely start checking for work-study positions right away. Do you know if they typically give preference to students with financial need for these jobs?
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Ashley Simian
About the work study - I got one last year and it was a pain to figure out. The financial aid office might be slow but the CAREER SERVICES office might be able to help faster. That's who handled work-study at my school. They had a special online portal where only eligible students could see and apply for work-study jobs. The jobs go SUPER FAST though, like within the first two weeks of the semester the good ones (library, admin offices) were already taken and I ended up working in the dining hall which wasn't my first choice lol.
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Finnegan Gunn
•That's really helpful to know about Career Services! I'll reach out to them instead. I definitely want to avoid dining hall if possible (no offense to your experience!). Did you have to show proof of your work-study eligibility when you applied?
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Oliver Cheng
When I was in college last year I rejected the loans and just took the grants cause I didn't wanna pay anything back but then I ended up needing money later and IT WAS SUCH A HASSLE to get the loans back!! Had to submit like 3 forms and wait forever. So now I always hit accept on everything and then just don't use what I don't need.
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Taylor To
•This is why the whole system is garbage!!! They make it impossible to make good financial decisions. If you reject loans you cant get them, if you accept grants they reduce them next year. The financial aid system is DESIGNED to keep us confused and in debt!!
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Ella Cofer
For work-study, something important to understand is that $3,800 isn't guaranteed - it's the MAXIMUM you can earn. You get paid hourly like a regular job, and if you don't work enough hours, you won't receive the full amount. Also, about accepting loans - while it's true you can accept now and decide later, be careful with the timing. Some schools have deadlines for reducing or canceling loans. Missing these can mean you're stuck with origination fees even if you don't use the funds. I'd recommend accepting everything now, then making a final decision about what you actually need about 2 weeks before disbursement.
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Finnegan Gunn
•I had no idea about the origination fees! That's definitely good to know about the timing. And thanks for clarifying about the work-study amount - I was thinking of it as a guaranteed sum rather than a cap.
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Kevin Bell
FYI I've been trying to call the Federal Student Aid office for TWO WEEKS about a similar question and kept getting disconnected. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through in 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The FSA person told me accepting loans on your school portal is just step 1. You still need to complete entrance counseling and sign the master promissory note on studentaid.gov before they'll disburse anything. So you have multiple chances to back out if you change your mind.
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Savannah Glover
•Does that service actually work? I've been trying to reach someone about my verification issues for days.
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Kevin Bell
•Yeah it worked for me! They basically hold your place in line so you don't have to stay on hold forever. The FSA agent I spoke with was actually super helpful once I got through.
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Savannah Glover
For work study it totally depends on your school!!! At my college we had to apply through the student employment office and it was first-come first-served. I waited too long and all the easy desk jobs were taken :( But my roommate's school ASSIGNED her a position in the department related to her major so it varies alot.
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Finnegan Gunn
•That's interesting that some schools assign positions! I wonder what my school does. I'll check with both the career center and the student employment office just to cover all bases.
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Miguel Harvey
One more tip on the loans - if you decide you need them, make sure you understand the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized. Subsidized loans don't accrue interest while you're in school, which makes them much less expensive in the long run. Always use those first if you need loans.
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Finnegan Gunn
•That's a great point about prioritizing subsidized loans first. I think I was offered both types in my package. I'll double-check the amounts of each before making decisions.
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Taylor To
i accepted my loans last semester but then got a scholarship later and didnt need them, financial aid office said i could just decline them after accepting no problem. but different schools probly have different policies
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Finnegan Gunn
•That's good to hear! I'm still waiting on a couple of scholarship decisions, so this flexibility would be really helpful.
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Ella Cofer
About your work-study question - typically these positions are reserved exclusively for students with work-study awards, so yes, there is preference built into the system. You'll likely need to provide your financial aid award letter or some verification when applying. Many departments hire work-study students because the federal government subsidizes a portion of your wages (usually around 75%), making it cheaper for the department to hire you compared to regular student workers. This is why these positions are specifically reserved for work-study eligible students.
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Finnegan Gunn
•That makes sense about the subsidy! I think I'll compile a list of all departments that might need assistants and start reaching out before the semester even begins. Hoping to find something related to my major if possible.
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