<p>I was just wondering, how many college students actually have a job? Does it make you feel limited activity-wise, or are the hours flexible? Do any of you have an off-campus job, or do most who have jobs work on campus?</p>
<p>I've had a few off-campus jobs.</p>
<p>My freshman-mid junior years, I worked for myself as a nightclub DJ. I worked between 2-5 nights, usually from 9 pm-2 am.</p>
<p>During the second semester of my junior year, I got out of the business. I got a temp job at a private equity firm making copies and stuffing envelopes 9 hours a week and a part-time job (worked this one between 15-30 hours) working for a small CPA firm. I still work for the CPA firm and have had a few other small jobs (mostly contract accounting work).</p>
<p>I like working because it forces you to manage your time better. The DJing did interfere with my personal life a little--as I didn't get to hang out with my college friends on the weekends (I worked in 21+ clubs/bars)--but I liked it. It essentially was my hobby, so I didn't feel too "limited." The big issue with this was my sleep schedule.</p>
<p>The two jobs I had my junior year were pretty flexible with hours. I got to pick when my hours were for the temp job and the other place pretty much asked me to just come in whenever I could. I liked my job at the CPA firm because it gave me a lot of valuable experience and paid REALLY REALLY well. Most employers seem to be understanding when it comes to structuring your time around school, you just have to be smart about it and strick to what you tell them the first time. I was a bit limited this semester, but that's because I was taking 20 credits and working all those hours. My choice.</p>
<p>I know a bunch of people who have on-campus work study jobs--those are great if you don't want to work too much and are just looking for a little spending money. They're very understanding with hours and won't fire you.</p>
<p>I guess having a job does limit you somewhat, but I've always felt that it was in a positive way -- as in, I screw around less when I'm home because I know I have to get homework done.</p>
<p>Freshman year I worked 7 hours/week at a library on campus. It wasn't particularly flexible, but if I needed to switch hours, I just had to find someone to switch with. Now I work as a research assistant at a lab on campus about 15 hours/week, although it's pretty flexible since there's no set timeline for when stuff needs to be done.</p>
<p>I am also a member (and former captain) of a club sport, so I certainly don't feel limited activity-wise by having a job.</p>
<p>That's scary! I want college to be an awesome time! I want a good, fun job. :( But if you have to have financial need to work on campus, then I dunno...</p>
<p>I would LOVE to be a lab assistant or teacher's assistant. I suppose when I visit the college I will ask about it.</p>
<p>i worked on campus at the IT help desk my fresh-junior years, for 5-10 hours a week, and my senior year i worked off campus at a motorcycle merchandise business for about 10 hours a week... as well as my summer jobs, some of which went till october (came home and worked weekends.. this past year i was working 30-40 hours a week till the end of october, and taking 18 credits.. my one professor told me i was crazy, haha.. but i got a 3.75 that semester.)</p>
<p>My son (a rising college junior) referees soccer games for a league with fields about 1/2 mile from his campus--a lot of money for very little time, and you maintain complete control over your schedule. This year he will also be tutoring bar mitzvah students--again, limited hours for maximum dollars. This affords him the opporunity to do the things he loves--he is a volunteer with a social justice task force, on the board of 2 organizations on campus, sings in an a capella group--and still study and have a social life.</p>
<p>is working in a lab.. like actually helping with the experiments or just doing dishes and stuff. also would it be too much of a time commitment freshman year?</p>
<p>I work at a law firm, that for the past two years has allowed me to work according to my high school schedule. Now that i will be a freshie, I dont know if I want to stay or not. I want to do the college full time thing, live the college life and have fun without obligations. While I could have went to the states flagship school (College Park), I chose the school that offered the most institutional scholarships (to save for grad school) which was Towson and I will get a $4000 refund each year because I won a ton of scholarships that exceeded cost of COA.</p>
<p>But i just dont know what to do, I will need spending money and I have a lifestyle that I need to keep which includes nice clothing, ipods, video games, partying, motor racing and having a good time. I also need a laptop and will have car insurance to pay (I'm first gen college so I dont have a rich daddy) so I dont know what to do. Its a really secure job, very flexible and considerate, its a reknown law firm, looks good on resume, has good contacts and influentials etc and all and i just don't know what to do.</p>
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is working in a lab.. like actually helping with the experiments or just doing dishes and stuff. also would it be too much of a time commitment freshman year?
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<p>Depends on where you go to school. My job is an actual research position; I get treated basically as a grad student on training wheels. :) I have had friends at other schools whose "research" jobs entailed running the autoclave. Check into the research opportunities available at your school and see if you can get a feel for the general policy regarding undergraduates.</p>
<p>I don't think working in a lab would be too much for a freshman -- research is nice in that you can work a few hours a day a few times a week and be fine, although it will take a while to get results. The only caveat is that I think it would be easier to get a meaningful job (vs. the dishwashing variety) as a sophomore, or at least after you've taken a lab class.</p>
<p>I work as a lifeguard and the hours are incrediblely flexible and I have met a lot of new friends through jobs.</p>
<p>Thanks molliebatmit!</p>
<p>I work in a game store... Have been working there for 2 years now. I have a lot of hours... Just means I have to be more disciplined about studying.</p>
<p>I might go back into the bakery business if I can find one close to campus.</p>
<p>Free (good, not wonder) bread is great when you are a poor college student.</p>