Federal work study jobs have been used by college students for many years. Work study jobs allow students to be able to earn money and gain work experience. Students can earn a set amount of money per semester which could be used to pay for tuition. The purpose of a work study is to allow students to pay for college with the money earned from working. Every student should be required to have a work study for at least one semester. It allows student to gain skills in short period. Work study provides long term benefits, short term benefits, time management skills, reduce debt and prepares you for your career. What individuals gain from a work study job will apply to things experienced with everyday situations. Colleges and universities benefit from having a work study program it is not just limited to the students. 

The level of importance for each student to have a work study job in college varies. The federal government funds public universities and colleges work study programs. A college or university offers a work study as a part time job. In 1964 work study jobs were first created when the Economic Opportunity Act was passed. The government wanted to “stimulate and promote the part-time employment of students” while the students were pursuing a degree in college (Scott-Clayton). People that where in college where able to earn money and work experience on while working a job on campus. A university could only offer work study jobs that were related to the degrees offered. The Economic Opportunity act wanted students that required aid need help to apply for work study jobs. The act stated “from low income families” they wanted to help students that had to earn money to make it through college (Nces). Students that had a work study could use the money earned to pay for college. The passing of the Economic Opportunity Act made it easier for students to pay for college on their own . Student would not have to accumulate as much debt upon graduation. 

Federal work study jobs are still able to limit the debt accumulated during college. Each semester a student is given a set rate they can earn. The rate limit at the University of South Carolina is $2,000 per semester (sc.edu). The rate limit makes a normal job more favorable since there is no limit on the amount you want to make when working. Once the money you have earned has reached the rate limit you can replace the previous work study with a different one. The money that you earn will be able to be applied towards any debt that you may have earned. Earning from the work study job can also be applied to pay for tuition and other fees at school. It allows students to avoid getting loans and accumulating debt. The student is now able to pay for books with the money earned from working. It prevents students from worrying about how they will be able to get the things they will need. The work study job provides a sense of stability with the constant flow of money and still being able to focus on academics. 

College students assume that having a work study job will lead to them having a lower GPA. The statement is inaccurate the only time this occurs is when students work more than 20 hours. This is the reason why universities require work study jobs to limit college students to 20 hours per week. Students who are full time college students that do not have a work study fall behind “when it comes to grades” stated by Adams. When working on the work study job you are able to it does  not hinder them from gaining knowledge and focusing on school. It allows you to focus more on your grades since you know that you only have so much time to get things done. When you are constantly studying when you are at work and when you are out of class your GPA will rise. The GPA boost from the work study job will pay off in the end. I believe that every student wants to have a higher GPA if it is possible for them. The why every student should be enrolled for at least a semester of work study. The ability to graduate with honors and the many other opportunities that come with having a higher GPA in college

Having a high GPA allows college students to further their education after graduating. Students are more likely to get into grad school if their GPA can compete with their peers. Even though you had a work study job you were still able to earn a high GPA. It makes you look like the better candidate just because of your GPA and the work study. The school wants to see if you can do other things and still able to earn a high GPA. With the work study job it proves that you can manage going to school and work. Most students in grad school work so they figure that you will be working and going to school. It shows that you are prepared for the school since your GPA is high and you reach other requirements. 

On a work study job you are able to focus on your academics and work. The job is “convenient and located on campus” which makes it easy to reach (MoState Real L.I.F.E). With a work study job students do not have to go off campus to make to work. They may have to just have to go down stairs to get to their work study job. It could also just be in walking distance from their dorm. When the student is at work they can easily go to their room if then return, if they leave material that they need to study with. It shows that while working students can still work to earn their degree with worrying about keeping their job. A student can also call out of work when they need to focus and study. They can do it without dealing with any consequences since they have a work study job. The job understands that academics comes first to students then their job. Work study jobs can work around your class schedule. It shows that work study jobs are convenient to college students. The job cares about students getting their educational goal done first. The only problem with a work study job is that it interferes with your free time during the day. Even if it interferes with time during the day it does not interrupt free time outside of school hours. You are still able to complete the work you need to get done without any problems. 

A work study job is cost efficient for college students. The student already lives on campus and their job is most likely located on campus also. The would not be required to use their car to make to their job. It means that students won’t be required to use the money they earn to pay for gas. They will be able to avoid the cost of making a trip to work and back. It allows a student to save the money they have and pay for things they need. A work study benefits a college student financially. They can work without losing some of the money that they earn.

Having a work study jobs gives a student an example of being financially independence from their parents. The student can decide what they want to do with the money . They can either get what they need for school or do without it. A work study job makes student become responsible and reliable. When you earn money you know what your needs are but you want to get your wants.  The student should be determined to get everything they need before going after they wants. The student should try to save up to purchase their books before buying a new pair of shoes. Students with a work study understand the value of money and its importance after working for it. The time and effort it took to earn the money will play in their before spending it. It makes them realize that they must be able to earn the money and spend it on the important things. Work study jobs benefit students in the long term with money management. They learn that having money and spending it quick is not helpful. With the financial stability from working the work study allows them to focus on studying. The work study doesn’t hinder them from being able to study and earn money. 

Students begin to create a work ethic on their own from working a work study job. They understand what they need to get done with the limited time they have. It allows the student to work hard and get the work done. Someone with a work study want to be able to earn money and go to school. If they can complete this difficult task they will believe they can do it for many other task. When they have accomplished juggling school and work, they will use the same skills in the future. The student is determined to work to earn money to buy things they want but do not need. The determination to get the wants can easily be transferred to situation outside of school. Work study jobs creates a high work ethic for students. Students will become determined to earn their degree and pass classes. When a student work hard a put in the effort they can reach the goals they have set for themselves. It shows a student that working hard will lead to achieving things that they didn’t think they could. It leads to student keep trying until they reach the goal and work harder every time if they are not able to complete it. 

The need for money to pay for college and to have money to survive through college. The importance of becoming independent from your parents some. Once a student has a work study what will they do with the money is determined on them. Many students will use it for need for school. They amount of money they receive from working can be enough just to cover 2 book when there is need for more books. It is important for students to have the things that they need. The way they can get this to happen is by having a work study. It also allows students to realize the value of money. The amount of time and effort it took to get that amount of money. It makes them realize that they must be able to earn the money and spend it on the important things.They know that if they want to get something they need to work for it to earn it. If they are willing to put in effort to earn the grade that want to get. It improves your work ethic being determined tow complete something. Will feel accomplished of being able to work during college and earn the degree that you wanted. It will allow you to be successful in future endeavors, knowing that when you are preparing for a test you know what to do. To put forth the efforts of trying to earn money and gain an education will be a difficult task. Students can complete this task by focusing on how hard they had to work at their job to earn money. It shows students how hard they must work to reach their goals. 

When a student is required to work they understand that the free time they have can be used for studying. Using this time wisely allows student to gain time management skills. A student may have an assignment due around the same time they must go to work. The student would have to complete the assignment and then make it to work on time. It would lead to them completing the assignment probably days before. Students know they have to work the same day so they would want to get it out of the way. They would not want to be late to work since they want to be a bad worker. It causes a student to be aware of the limited time that they must complete something. Will be able to use the same skills to be on time for many other things. They will try to complete things before the deadlines approach for future assignments. A student will learn what time to leave to make it at the right time to work. 

Some people know that work study jobs hurt in some area but it is helpful overall. Clayton states that there is a “a reduction of .011 to .017 in GPA per hour of work”. This is an example of the students that work more than the recommend 20 hours. Even though the decrease in GPA they are still able to earn the experiences from the work study job. A work study job will still be beneficial for them. The minor hit to GPA will not hurt a student chance of reaching their goal drastically. They will gain the ability of networking from having the job. They will have connection that could lead to future jobs.  Students will have greater chances of finding jobs after graduation. They will have help from people that have the job that they are interested in. They will be able to network and find many job offers that are not known. It allows students to have help when they need it. It may lead to a student having a job before graduation if they begin networking early enough. 

A work study is also helpful for a University that offers it since they receive a student work. With a work study they are able to “…fill campus jobs at lower cost to college institutions “(Weiburst). Being able cut cost for workers since they don’t have to promote the job for someone that is not on campus. Schools want to help students and minimize the cost of trying hiring people. It also shows that student will be treated with respect since they are working for the university. The university knows that they are receiving a great work since they know who the student is. When the student applied to the university they already have some background knowledge about them. With a student applying for the job make the hiring process easier. A work study program benefits the school just as much as it benefits the student. The student and the schools needs are met when this happens.  

Overall work-study jobs are beneficial and helpful for a student’s GPA and future goals. A student that work more than 20 hours a week will not gain the same benefits. A work study job gives students the ability to gain knowledge from working. The knowledge learned will be used throughout the student’s life. The knowledge will lead to a student having a greater chance of being successful after graduating college. Student gain the ability to use work situations for situations that happen in school. The student knows how to handle certain situation better since having the work study job. Interacting with other people will be easier since on their job they are required to communicate. The ability to communicate without fear is important is very important, since you are going to deal with stressful situations at work. Student would be able to work easier when they don’t have to worry of not being able to continue going to college. The reason why the amount of money they earn from their work study. Students won’t have to stress to pay off the debt the money earned from working will pay for it. Work study jobs help student improve on maturity and their determination to achieve their goals. Universities should promote work study jobs more than they do. They want student to attend their University but they cannot do this without any financial support. It only gets harder and harder since the cost of college is increasing. The benefits all rely on the student if they want to be able to increase their GPA and gain experiences that school alone cannot provide for them.
