Many students are interested in working for an on campus employer or at one of the participating local community service agencies during a leave term. There are many opportunities to gain valuable experience while utilizing leave term FWS eligibility. However, there are financial implications, which should be considered before making a final decision. If, after reviewing the information below, you have questions about the feasibility of your plan, please take the time to discuss your budget, total earning possibilities, and any borrowing opportunities with a financial aid officer. The Financial Aid Office encourages students to pursue the opportunities available while encouraging students to plan ahead for the financial impact this decision may have.
The maximum possible award for leave term work-study for the 2009-2010 academic year is $4,225. This limit is based on a student working full time at the Dartmouth minimum wage. Leave term FWS, like all financial aid at Dartmouth, is awarded based on need. Students must complete a Leave Term Request Form and submit it to the Student Employment Office for processing. Each request is reviewed by the Student Employment Office, and students with less demonstrated need may be awarded an amount below the maximum.
Please take some time to project your expenses in order to determine whether the maximum award of $4.225 will meet your needs. For 2009-2010, the Financial Aid Office projects that expenses for a leave term will include:
Room $2250
Board $1515
Miscellaneous $ 460
Total Leave Term Budget $4,225
Students may find that expenses in each of these categories are above or below these projections. Consider factors such as the cost of living, benefits provided by your potential employer (such as free room), and other mitigating factors. Be inclusive in determining these expenses. For example, "room" may be more than just the rent. It can include gas, electricity, phone, and other bills, as well as general supplies for your apartment. Students may also find that it is possible to earn more than the $4,225 award. This may be the case if it is possible to work a second job funded through non-FWS funds or if your employer will be able to fund the position with non FWS funds after eligibility has been maximized at $4,225. If this is the case, consider factoring that into the calculations as well.
After determining whether expenses will be covered, students should also take into consideration the student contribution from income that is part of each financial aid award. This contribution is what students are expected to earn and to be contributed toward the total cost of education. This is the amount of educational costs that students are expected to pay over the course of the academic year. If you find that you are unable to contribute this amount toward your education, you may have to rely on additional loans or an increased contribution from your parents to cover the amount that you are unable to contribute.
