Three Days of School

4:47 PM
me: Hey
gongerin: halo
me: Coming home soon.
4:48 PM
Not much luck on the job search.
But I am in the right micro class.
4:49 PM
gongerin: So you couldn't get the work study?
me: Probably not.
Apparently the deadline was March.
The financial aid secretary said that's a hard deadline.
Some of the folks in the department here said it's a recommended deadline.
4:50 PM
But the financial aid people are the ones who do the processing and make the decision. ... I hadn't even decided for sure to come to Michigan in March!
4:51 PM
gongerin: Was is part of the whole application for financial aid thing?
me: The school and the university have different applications. I did the school application, but not the university app.
4:52 PM
gongerin: oh
me: Even if I had I'm not sure I would have know to check the "work study" box, or whatever.
know
known
gongerin: yeah
4:53 PM
financial aid always seems to be a big mess
me: ... especially with me.
Oh, well. I can probably find a local job if I have to.
gongerin: You'll be able to work more hours for Kaplan, if that works out
me: True.
4:54 PM
Not getting the work-study job leaves me more flexible.
We'll see.
gongerin: Maybe you'll still get a GSI spot
me: Fingers crossed.
It still won't pay bills this semester...
gongerin: yeah
4:55 PM
Although Kaplan could...
Anyway, I'm going to go knock one more door then come home.
Love ya.
gongerin: love you too
see you soon
me: PS - What's for dinner?
gongerin: taco salad
?
me: yum. Ok, bye.
4:56 PM
gongerin: bye


First week of classes; they all look great. Erin is looking at programs to apply to for January. I'm looking for jobs, preferably on campus. One job in particular -- doing communications and outreach for the public policy school -- looked very promising. The director seemed to like my portfolio and the interviews had gone very well. The very last question she asked wasn't even really a question, "You're approved for work-study, right?"

Work-study?

It turns out work-study is a federally mandated financial aid program. Because it's subsidized, you have to be approved to hold a work-study position. Approval has to go through the university financial aid office, and the financial aid cycle ends in March. Before many grad students (including me) accept offers. (See my chat with Erin on the subject, above.)

So I'm not approved for work study and therefore probably won't get that particular job. A shame, really, because I was excited about it and probably as well qualified as anyone applying.

Tomorrow I'm planning on visiting the financial aid office for a counseling session. Maybe there's a loophole in the March application deadline. But my experience with that office so far has not made me optimistic. So I'm out looking for other positions. I applied with Kaplan on Thursday. Tuesday I'll hit up the Institute for Social Research to see if anyone needs a programmer/number cruncher research assistant.

All you Gong kids at BYU ought to be really thankful for an excellent education at bargain-basement prices. I know I am, increasingly.

yoroshiku
-Abe