This blog post shares a comprehensive account of participating in the Work and Travel USA program, detailing costs, earnings, challenges faced, and the overall experience of working and living in the USA as a student.
Hello everyone! My name is Umka, and welcome to my travel channel. Today, I want to share my experience with the Work and Travel USA program. I will discuss how much I spent, how much I earned, whether I managed to break even, and the pros and cons of the program.
The Work and Travel USA program allows full-time students to travel to the United States during the summer to earn money and explore the country. As a student from Belarus, I had a limited time frame to participate in this program, only 10 weeks instead of the usual minimum of 12 weeks available to students from other countries.
Before diving into my experience, let’s clarify some important terms:
The program is not free; you pay for it before flying to the USA. You make an initial payment to the agency, and once you confirm your job offer with the sponsor, you pay the remaining amount. Additionally, you need to cover the visa costs. Since American visas have not been issued in Belarus for several years, I had to travel to Lithuania for my visa appointment, which added to my expenses.
Here’s a summary of my expenses before arriving in the USA:
In total, I spent around $3,500 before even starting my job in the USA.
Upon arriving in New York, I shared a hotel with friends for the first night before heading to my work city. It’s crucial to have enough money for the first few weeks since your salary may not arrive for two to three weeks after starting work. I faced a tough situation where I had to choose between paying rent or buying food.
I paid $175 for my first week’s rent and a $150 deposit. My friend had a higher deposit of $300, which shows the variability in housing costs.
My primary job was as a barista at Dunkin’ Donuts. The work was demanding, requiring early morning shifts starting at 4:30 AM. The training was intense, and I struggled to keep up with the coffee-making instructions. The first week was particularly challenging, but I managed to adapt.
Fortunately, I found a second job within my first week, which is usually difficult. I worked as a henna artist, which I enjoyed much more than my first job. The pay was lower, but the work was fulfilling and allowed me to express my creativity.
I earned approximately $9,000 over the summer, working hard and taking extra shifts whenever possible. However, I realized that to break even on the program, I needed to work multiple jobs or long hours, especially as a waiter, where tips can significantly boost earnings.
To cover the costs of the program, I calculated that I needed to earn around $6,000, which included:
My English level was between B1 and B2, which was sufficient for my jobs. However, I faced challenges in understanding everything initially. I had prepared for my trip by taking English lessons, which helped me communicate better.
Despite the challenges, my summer in the USA was one of the best experiences of my life. I made friends from various countries, learned to adapt to a new lifestyle, and gained valuable work experience. I highly recommend the Work and Travel USA program for anyone looking to grow personally and professionally.
I plan to participate again in my final year of studies, as it offers a unique opportunity to experience life in the USA. If you have any questions about the program or my experience, feel free to ask!
