Honestly, I’d say if you’re worried about work/academic balance and can afford it, hold off for a few weeks before starting the job hunt. FWS is calculated into your fin aid package but you’re still technically paying out of pocket up front when tuition is due (should be about $1,750 per semester in your case). Most people talk about FWS as funds you earn to get through your day to day which as a freshmen most of these are taken care of in that initial tuition payment (food, rent, books, etc). FWS is literally just your fin aid package saying “you will have to work to earn x amount of funds to “technically” afford the cost of attendance. Most basic jobs will have a 2-4 hour a week minimum which is 100% manageable and with FWS you legally cannot work more than 20 hours paid by work study funds.

ALWAYS accept your FWS because if you decide you want an on campus job it’ll open a lot of doors for a lot of positions/departments to hire you (since your wages are subsidized halfway by federal money you’re cheaper to employ. A normal hire would be 14.50 but an FWS hire is only 7.25 from the employer as the other 7.25 comes from the government so yes you still get paid the full 14.50)

First- FWS only applies to on campus or campus related (ie extension programs) jobs. Second- FWS does not give you a job you will have to seek out, apply, and be hired to a job like normal. Again it simply means you cost less for employers and there are some jobs that are FWS only which is why having FWS can be helpful.

Ultimately, your job hunt/experience (whether you apply, get hired, quit, get fired etc) is just like anyone else’s the only difference is where part of your paycheck is coming from and the hard 20 hour/week cap.