Managing Your Finances

It is normal for students to work part time while studying in universities in developed countries.IThis is understandable because university costs keep rising and are often beyond the reach of an average middle income family.

When my youngest daughter went to college in US, she needed around  USD$30,000 a year even with a scholarship. This amount naturally posed a great challenge for our family. We have spent years saving for this particular need. Of course my daughter, like all the other students also helped to support herself by working part time on campus.

I would like to give you the latest immigration regulation in US, so that if you are looking to work part time to supplement your college fund, you will know what to expect.

Firstly, if you are holding a student visa (F1), you are not allowed to work during your first year of study. After your first year, you can work on campus for not more than 20 hours a week. However, during extended holidays or during summer, you can work full time for 40 hours a week. Part time work on campus will normally be paid about $8.00 per hour.

Secondly, you are not allowed to work off campus unless it is education related and authorized by the Designated School Official.

Basically these are tough economic times and you really need to work hard on your studies and at the same time, work on campus to help your family finance your education.

Scholarships

Most American universities award scholarships based upon your SAT scores and CGPA. I hope you will set your heart to work hard at your studies. To win a good scholarship you will need to get a high (1200) SAT score.

Every year, your GPA points should be around 3.8 to keep your scholarship. You should also be involved in extra curricular activities. These are important guidelines for you to remember.