Do I have to use accepted federal student loans in my aid package? How to start work-study?

Accepting the loans in your financial aid package just means you're approving them as an OPTION - you're not committed to taking the full amount (or any of it). You'll need to complete entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note before any money actually moves. Most schools let you reduce the loan amount anytime before disbursement. For work-study, that's handled entirely through your school. There's usually a separate job board for work-study positions. Check your school's student employment office or career center website. Sometimes they have special work-study job fairs during the first week of classes.

Accepting just means u qualify, they don't actually take the $ until later. My brother accepted but then only used half when he got a scholarship later.

Be careful with accepting loans!! When I did this last year, the money went straight to my account even though I thought I was just "pre-approving" it. I ended up having to return part of it and it was a NIGHTMARE. Maybe it depends on the school but mine automatically disbursed the full amount. And the interest started right away on the unsubsidized ones!!

For work-study, each school handles it differently, but most have a dedicated student employment portal where work-study jobs are posted. You'll apply through there and mention your work-study eligibility when interviewing. Popular positions fill quickly, so look ASAP! Some common work-study jobs include library assistant, campus tour guide, department office assistant, computer lab monitor, etc. You can also ask if your academic department has any work-study positions - those are often less competitive and more relevant to your major.

I had the EXACT same issue trying to reach my financial aid office last semester! After trying for weeks, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to FSA when I had questions about my loans and work-study that my school wouldn't answer. They got me connected to a real person at the Federal Student Aid office in like 10 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ FSA was actually super helpful explaining exactly how the loan acceptance worked and what my rights were regarding the work-study funds. Saved me so much stress!

my roomate got work study last year and ended up working at the campus bookstore. she said they hired her right away bc most places on campus love work study students (the fed govt pays most of ur salary so its cheaper for the school lol). just go to student employment office first week of classes with ur award letter!!

Don't forget you can always do a partial loan amount too!!! I originally got approved for $5,500 in subsidized loans but only took $3,000 because that's all I needed after my other scholarships and my summer job money. Just tell the financial aid office the exact amount you want.

work study is a huge scam tho. you can make way more $ working literally anywhere off campus. my friend had work study and made minimum wage in the dining hall, meanwhile i worked at a restaurant off campus making 3x as much with tips. something to consider...

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies! I feel much better about the loan situation now. I'll accept the loans as an option but won't use them unless absolutely necessary. And I've found the student employment portal on my school's website - looks like they have a work-study job fair the first Tuesday of the semester, so I'll definitely be there. Thanks again!

Great to hear you're feeling more confident about everything! Just wanted to add one more tip - when you go to that work-study job fair, bring a few copies of your resume and dress nicely (business casual is fine). Some departments will do mini-interviews on the spot. Also, if you don't find something at the fair, keep checking the student employment portal throughout the semester - new positions open up as students graduate or leave their jobs. Good luck with everything!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this process! One thing I didn't see mentioned is that you can also check if your school has any emergency aid or short-term loan programs if you're in a pinch before your work-study income starts coming in. Many schools have small emergency grants ($200-500) that can help cover immediate expenses while you get everything sorted out. Also, regarding work-study timing - don't stress too much about the tuition payment deadline. Most work-study jobs don't start paying out until after you've actually worked a few weeks, so it won't help with immediate tuition anyway. The work-study money is better thought of as helping with ongoing expenses like textbooks, meals, and living costs throughout the semester. You're asking all the right questions though - shows you're being really thoughtful about your financial decisions!