UC Davis students involved in work-study share their experiences with the program
By GRACIELA TIU — features@theaggie.org
Work-study, a program available at many colleges and universities, allows students to work part time and earn money for education-related expenses. UC Davis offers the program based on financial need, using certain factors such as the Student Aid Index to determine qualification to participate.
“It’s made affording college easier, which allows me to focus more on school and professional opportunities like networking events and clubs,” Connor Drew, a second-year economics major as well as a peer advisor and administrative assistant at the Global Learning Hub, said.
Students participating in work-study often find the financial support to be its primary advantage, although this benefit can support them in other areas as well.
“Work-study contributed to my personal growth, because it allowed me to get a job on campus that directly applied to financial aid,” Drew said. “Financially, work-study has helped a lot with making college more affordable. It’s definitely helped me pay for groceries, food out, school supplies and housing expenses.”
UC Davis offers many jobs that satisfy work-study credit throughout the year, which range from desk jobs to food preparation.
Monica Sexton, a fourth-year history major, currently works for UC Davis Housing and Dining Services as a Student Assistant (S.A.), which hosts different positions that students can move between.
“I work at Segundo Dining Commons,” Sexton said. “My current position is an S.A. 4, or Guest Services Supervisor, but I started off as an S.A. 2 back in my first year of college.”
Finding a work-study job can feel similar to searching and applying for off-campus jobs. Many students utilize Handshake, a career platform used by UC Davis, to search for student-specific employment opportunities.
“I found this job through Handshake,” Sexton said. “I saw that they accept students with work-study and applied.”
Evelyn Ramos, a third-year political science — public service and English double major, also participates in the work-study program,
“I currently work as a cashier at [the] ASUCD Coffee House,” Ramos said. “I take orders and complete transactions in Ciao, Marketplace and Swirlz.”
A large distinction between having a job through work-study and working separately from the school is the scheduling process.
“I think the biggest advantage of a work-study job compared to a non-work-study job is that they are all on campus and built around your schedule as a student,” Drew said. “When they make your schedule, they work around your classes, so you’ll never have both at the same time.”
Despite the advantages related to scheduling, work-study can still present certain time management challenges to students.
“I balance my job with academics and other commitments mainly through planning out my week in a Google Calendar, putting in everything from classes, work, study times and the gym,” Drew said. “Also, a lot of the time, my job is super slow, so I can study a bit there.”
With many students having positive stories about their involvement in the program, some have also had particularly demanding moments in their work-study journey.
“The transition period, where I tried getting used to both my job and classes, was the most challenging time,” Ramos said. “It took me a while to understand how to healthily juggle schoolwork and a job.”
Altogether, work-study at UC Davis provides students with ample opportunities to feel secure financially while also developing professional skills.
“Personally, I love people, keeping busy and making money, so this job fulfills me in many ways,” Sexton said. “Professionally, though, my problem-solving has gotten so much better. Jobs teach discipline and time management as well, which I believe it has done for me.”
Written by: Graciela Tiu — features@theaggie.org
