How bad does a student employment affect grades at Amherst?

<p>Hi guys, I was wondering how a student employment would affect my grades at Amherst. I am glad about my fin aid package, but this worries me a bit since I know that Amherst is a rigorous institution and I believe my grades would falter with work-study.</p>

<p>How manageable would doing well academically with work-study be?</p>

<p>Amherst does not expect students to work more than 7-8 hours a week. That will not affect your study time nearly as much as all the social distractions and opportunities you will be wrestling with. You can definitely do as well academically with a little job as you can without it. It’s all about time management.</p>

<p>You should be able to handle 7-8 hours a week work-study job. The work is on campus, not off-campus, does not require driving. You may have less social distractions, but definitely wouldn’t impact your study.</p>

<p>I have two jobs on campus-I work student security and I’m also a project assistant for a literacy initiative. I don’t work more than 7 hours a week for either job. You’ll be fine.</p>

<p>One could work up to 40 hours a week, if one wanted to do so.</p>

<p>Or, one could simply not work.</p>

<p>To answer the question I believe you are asking–it’s okay if you don’t want to work. You don’t have to work.</p>

<p>If you’re asking us to help you with time-management, that’s something you have to learn on your own, if you haven’t learned it already.</p>

<p>If you want good grades, you will be able to do it, even with other obligations. I have been in college for the past 3 years as a full-time student, handled leadership and volunteer positions, and I have two special needs children at home. I have a 3.89 GPA right now. It all depends on how determined you are.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for your responses!</p>