<p>I can answer some of your questions:</p>
<p>(1) I would say that about 50% of freshman work. Most of those working are doing work-study which entitles you to all different types of job across the campus--ex: office work in virtually every department at Penn; research for professors in both science and non-science departments; some office and/or research jobs at HUP & CHOP (Penn's health system); working in the libraries, dining halls, commissaries, in the college houses, and at the student union. Working at labs or just researching for professors is good, especially if you have a specific interest in their research area; it gives you a mentor within the department who can often recommend classes, majors etc. In recent years, I haven't heard of people earning less than $8-9/hr and usually its more than that, especially if you're working for a professor. Money is kind of a tradeoff sometimes--there are lots of work study jobs that involve little work and students just sit around studying on the job, these tend to pay a little bit less.</p>
<p>In terms of non-work study jobs around campus, not many people tend to do those. There isn't a whole lot of hiring going on for part-time waiters and cashiers--mostly because all the surrounding businesses have full time employees [and there are so many restaurants opening and closing every year, it would be hard to keep a stable job]. Some people who want/need to earn more money than work study will pay [or aren't work study eligible], tend to get jobs as waiters, bartenders etc in Center City--they tend to make great money due to tips, particularly at the upscale restaurants.</p>
<p>(3) I would buy a cheap printer and bring it. Printing around campus isn't that expensive (about 10 cents/page--may even be 7 cents) but its kind of a hassle. If you're in the library or in the Wharton building, printing is convenient; otherwise its a hassle. Theoritically you can always print in your college houses' computer lab but those labs aren't always open at the hours that they're supposed to be open or often, they are open but so packed with students working on group projects that you have to wait a while just to get a computer. I'm thinking you're an SAS student--printing will be a hassle because all your classes won't be in 1 particular building and not every building has a computer lab.</p>
<p>(4) Most frosh in all the schools take 5 classes first semester. For many, they only need to take 5 for 1 or 2 semesters and are then down to 4 due to APs. 5 is manageable [depending on what those classes are--if you're taking organic chem your first semester, certainly you wouldn't take 5]. However, 4 is much easier and less stressful--you have time to acclimate to college and still keep up with school without the constant stress of grades. If you only have to take 5 classes for 1-2 semesters, you may consider taking just 4 in the fall and then 5 in the spring. Again, all of this depends on the specific classes--if you have some sense of what you're taking, post it and I'm sure people will offer advice.</p>
<p>(5) My advice--bring as little as possible because you accumulate a TON of junk over the year [and you add to it every single year]. I think its sufficient to bring like 2 big suitcases and a duffel bag for clothing--this can encompass clothing for all seasons; and the duffel bag will be handy for weekend trips. I wouldn't bring a ton of HS stuff--lots of people bring boxes & boxes of pictures, yearbooks, notes from AP classes which go unused etc; if you must have some HS stuff, over the summer, condense your most important pics etc. into 1-2 albums and don't bring HS notes--if you find that you absolutely must have them, your parents can send them or you can get them at Fall Break or Thanksgiving. The less you bring the happier you will be at move in & move out--and believe me, you rarely say 'oh i wish i had brought that thing from home.'</p>
<p>Hope this helps. Feel free to post other questions.</p>