<p>I’m a rising freshman at Brown, and I’m trying to decide whether or not to get a job first semester. I plan on taking four challenging (and mostly math/science) classes, but I don’t expect them to take an inordinate amount of time. I’m debating whether I should get a job that would require 8-12 hours/week. During your first semester is there enough time for a job, or is it best to wait until second semester? Hopefully some current students can give me some first-hand advice.</p>
<p>I did Physics 7, Math 20, CS 17, and an anthropology class my first semester, along with working with BuDS for 9 hours/week, as well as doing debate. It wasn’t too much, although I didn’t work second semester because I felt that I wanted to do more social activities, and joined Taekwondo and took a fifth class. But it still wasn’t too overwhelming at any point. Working could sometimes be a nice stress relief, too.</p>
<p>I don’t have time to do anything except my classes, but I take 5 courses and 3-4 of them tend to require 12-20 hours of work a week outside of class. If you take Math 35, you can expect quite a bit of work for that class. In the end, it depends on how much of an adjustment you’ll have to college life, how long your courses take you, and what ECs, if any, you’d take part in.</p>
<p>im pretty sure that i’ll be working in the fall–anyone have suggestions for jobs where i’d get to see people. i dont want to just file books away by myself you know</p>
<p>A lot of jobs for students are posted here –<a href=“https://financialaid.brown.edu/JobX_FindAJob.aspx?t=as”>https://financialaid.brown.edu/JobX_FindAJob.aspx?t=as</a>. Not much here now, but there will be more posted later in the summer.</p>
<p>I’ve been working since freshman fall. I was lucky enough to get a research position in my department, and I went to the lab 10 hours a week first semester and 10-20 in the spring. I found it manageable initially, especially since my high school course load/work was on par with Brown’s, but when I got a second job second semester, I felt slightly taxed.</p>
<p>I’d say go for it. The Student Employment site, which fireandrain has linked above, is a great way to find a job. BUDS (Brown University Dining Services) is the largest student employer on campus, and the libraries often hire student shelvers, administrative assistants, etc. You can also get involved filing for admissions. I did that over winter break, and they said they hired people year-round.</p>
<p>If you get a job, here are some things to think about:</p>
<p> Even though you’re (probably) taking fewer courses at Brown than you did in high school, you’re likely to have more work. For example, in high school I had nightly homework assignments (~1 to 2 hours per subject). At Brown I have a block of reading/a problem set/a project due every week that could take me up to ten hours for each class. As a result, I needed to figure out a schedule that allowed me time to go to class, do my homework, go to my job, and also hang out/explore/do random things. In short, give yourself time to do your homework. You’re here to learn.
*You need free time. Even if you keep yourself occupied through the waking hours, you should spend freshman fall making friends, getting to know campus, and finding time for yourself. The first few weeks can be overwhelming, and you’ll want to acclimate to the environment.
If you apply for a job, make sure that it’s a job you’ll be happy doing. You don’t have to love your job, but you don’t want to despise it, either. Most large-scale student employers have different jobs to choose from: BUDS, for instance, hires students to swipe cards in eateries, make food, serve it, clean up, etc. You can also select shifts to suit your schedule.</p>
<p>If you have more questions about student employment, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Personally, I would recommend making time for a social life before making time for a job, because that’s a big part of the reason you’re going to a residential college. And friends are important. But, different people have different priorities, and 10 hours/week shouldn’t be an overwhelming amount of work. Especially if you get a more social job, like being a worker at the Gate.</p>
<p>I don’t recommend a job for first semester. My dd was on work/study and Brown funds your first year for that so you don’t have to work. However, you can if you want. </p>
<p>Allow time for adjustment and other interests. It is important. After 1st semester, you will have a better idea how it all works, how many classes are good for you, and how to get a great job.</p>
<p>Almost all my daughter’s jobs were with professors or in research. It isn’t that hard to do there.</p>
<p>I really disagree that you are going to a residential college to have a social life.</p>
<p>I believe (and I certainly could be wrong), that Brown no longer funds the Work Study component for first year students. I believe that they discontinued this a couple of years ago when they revamped their FA policies, and do include FWS in their first year financial aid packages.</p>
<p>franglish is correct, freshmen on financial aid do need to have work/study jobs now.</p>
<p>chsowlflax17, many students don’t have a choice – to afford a school that costs $52,000/year, they NEED to have a job.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the first-hand advice. While I want to have plenty of social time, I feel like I’ll probably have enough time for both. I was considering doing something like working at a computer help desk which is good for me because I like fixing computer problems and it would allow lots of interactions with people (though some of the time the interactions probably wouldn’t be too pleasant).</p>
<p>If you’d like to… and can log on to thecriticalreview.org, where surveys of Brown classes are posted, and are able to find the average weekly workload for your classes…</p>
<p>you can make a little chart. Say you take four classes at 6 hours a week each (which seems likely for science classes that don’t include compsci classes, which I would put at closer to 8 or 9 hours a week). Say you work 10 hours a week. Right now you have 34 hours of work, plus the time you actually spend in class (10-15 hours a week). Now think, what do I want to do in my free time? Any activity will probably take 2 hours a week at a minimum. Now add in 3 hours for food, an hour for grooming, and some time for sleeping, and look at how that all adds up.</p>
<p>I took 4 classes (admittedly not “hard” classes) first semester and had WAY TOO MUCH free time. That’s why I took 5 the next semester.</p>
<p>I realize some students don’t have a choice. I worked with people, and have friends who need to work, and more than Brown expects them to, to go. But if you have the luxury of not having to have a job, I think having a strong social life, participating in things that’ll enrich you in other ways (plays, debate, etc.) may be the way to go your first year, depending on what YOU value.</p>
<p>It might be a good idea for you to try to have as few expectations as possible. You really have no idea what you will need, what your classes will involve, etc. If financially possible, perhaps wait until mid-term first semester to revisit the job situation. Or wait until the end of the first semester, if at all possible. It can get overwhelming… In any event, I would suggest limiting your work hours to around 10 a week.</p>
<p>I’ll add that most employers are understanding about the transition. The linguistics professor I was working for last fall let me move my hours around when I had papers, midterms, or wanted a day to relax. If you’re working for BUDS, you might not have this flexibility, but I know a lot of people are able to swap shifts with other employees when necessary.</p>
<p>As a few people have already pointed out, not everyone is able to hold off on jobs until second semester or sophomore year. If you need the money (regardless of what FA requires you to do), then try to find a job that isn’t too strenuous. The financial aid office has walk-in hours M-F 9-4 (or something like that), and they can probably talk to you about jobs if you want guidance.</p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>One more thought on jobs. My son works at one of the smaller library checkout desks. Much of the time, it’s not very busy, so he is able to do a lot of his assigned reading for classes there. It’s a nice combination of social interaction when checking books out for people, and quiet time to get paid while doing his readings.</p>