Even though you have been awarded work study you are not required to accept it. If you feel that you would be better served in taking on a Stafford loan instead of work, then yes, you can talk to a financial aid officer at your school about canceling your FWS and applying for a Stafford loan.

Good luck!

You can refuse the work-study, but they are usually pretty cushy jobs. I had a college work study job providing tutoring for Veterans and made triple what the minimum wage at the time was. (These were returning Vietnam Vets, so this gives you an idea how long ago it was). My son was offered a work-study job his freshman year of college, but didn’t take it, because he did not want to do telephone prospecting for students on behalf of the University- it was “too much like telemarketing” for him. He did get a work-study job that was right in line with his Computer Science major, and when the computer maintenance was outsourced to a private company, he got a job with the company at a very good wage for a college student.

But you have to do what’s best for you and not risk your GPA. Maybe you could find out what the job is before you turn it down- is it working in the college cafeteria or is it something more in line with your major, which you could also use as job experience and an employment reference after graduation?

you can apply for your loan I am sure, but the work study money is something you dont have to pay back. most work study jobs are less than 9 hours a week and the jobs are pretty good about making sure that they dont conflict with your studies. Mine at times was answering the phone and I could study in between calls. Look at what jobs there are available and what they entale before you decide to take out any loans. Loans are a good way to go but really if you dont have to take them out don’t. I have a whole bunch of them to deal with when I graduate and I am not looking forward to it. IF nothing will work for you talk to your financial aid advisor and they will be able to fins what will work out best for you. I aknoe plenty of people that take full course loads, have kids and do work study along with being in the honor society. It is doable.

This means the school must make $2500 worth of work study available to you. You are not required to take it. They will not, however, cancel the award.

You might be able to do work study, however, for just a few hours on the weekend, in the quiet library. Or in the offices of your major, which can really help!

Don’t discount it altogether. Once you get into an office, you can do it for an hour here and there in-between classes.

You can always not take the work study, it happens. Personally though I’d take it because work study is designed to work around you. The work study students we have working in our office often do homework in between tasks we have for them. And students set their own hours most of the time so it’s an easy way to earn a few dollars.

You can deny any finanical aid you want. Usually in your awad letter or some paperwork there is a form you sign accepting or deny what every you want it not talk to the financial aid office and they can get you the paperwok.