<p>How hard is it to have a job during college? Is it easier to work an on-campus job? If I had a job, would it be impossible to have a social life/study and do all my homework?</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat. I have a job right now but contemplating if I should keep it or focus more on my studies once I enter college.(prospective premed student)</p>
<p>It depends on where you go. At our state flagship, the majority of students live and work off-campus. At a small LAC, nearly everyone lives on campus, and the majority who work do so on campus. Some campus work study jobs are only a few hours a week, and don’t interfere with studying or socializing.</p>
<p>Okay, thank you, maybe once I enter I’ll do like without a job or the first year, then maybe do something once it gets going in my sophomore year. The only thing I know for a fact is that I have to work at a CVS at least twice a semester to keep my job at home, but I might wanna get a job that’s not just once a month</p>
<p>Our son had a job at the college tutoring center for 8-10 hours/week. It provided a lot of social interaction and gave him insight into how other students think and work. His coworkers were typically high-performing students and he could always ask them for help in courses that he needed a little help in. When there weren’t students there, he could do his own homework.</p>
<p>That left him plenty of time to do his schoolwork and other things too.</p>
<p>The on-campus job has the benefit of working around your course schedule and observing school schedules and unexpected shutdowns (such as a snowstorm that cancels classes).</p>
<p>I currently work 19 hrs/wk at my college’s tutoring center (and am taking 18 hrs/wk). Really, what it is is a lot of time management. My first semester, I started out with less hours (I think 12 or so) and I’ve worked up to the hours I’m working now. I love on-campus jobs because I don’t need gas, and tutor is a particularly flexible job in that it works around my schedule. Many of my friends who have off-campus jobs often struggle because they hae to choose classes that work around a work schedule. I wouldn’t work too much your first semester, but once you figure out how much time you need to study and relax and what works for you, go for it.</p>
<p>On-campus jobs are often easier because they understand a student schedule and are often willing to allow you to work just a few hours here and there. If you need money I suppose any job is a good job. However I had a friend at a large public that worked in the convenience store (kinda like a 7-11) at the student center. What a job! It seemed like thousands of people on campus knew her by name, so there may be something to be said for jobs like that where you meet tons of students.</p>
<p>It might be a good idea not to work 1st semester until you get settled in, but after that you should be fine. People that get a job often find they become more organized because they have less time to fritter away. </p>
<p>Working at the tutoring center is a great job. Not only are you helping people, but answering questions really helps drive the material home to you and often gives you a different way of looking at things. That said, as a frosh you are probably not going to be qualified to tutor many classes; they usually look for juniors or seniors that have done well in the subjects.</p>
<p>Yes, you can work and have fun and still study - just keep in mind that everyone is different, and so will have different limits and abilities. </p>
<p>That said, work study can also open doors - my D got to be listed as a contributing author on her boss - PhD’s paper. And work will also give you a new circle of friends - different from your dorm and classs circle friends.</p>
<p>Not very.
Yes, it’s easier on campus.
Absolutely.</p>
<p>Many people work a bit (say 10 hours a week) without hurting their grades or social life. A job on/near campus would help, unless you can get to the far-away job by car/moped or bus easily.</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies everyone! A job on campus starting my second semester or sophomore year sound like a great idea! :D</p>
<p>I go to school in NYC and am able to maintain an internship(15-20 hours a week) while still being able to keep up with school.
Obviously it requires a sacrifice, primarily dedicating the weekends (during the day at least) to studying/HW, but certainly worth it Looks great on a resume.</p>
<p>I go to school in NYC and am able to maintain an internship(15-20 hours a week) while still being able to keep up with school.
Obviously it requires a sacrifice, primarily dedicating the weekends (during the day at least) to studying/HW, but certainly worth it Looks great on a resume.</p>
<p>I discovered a work-study job is best for me for the following reasons:</p>
<p>1) my school is in a small town and most off-campus jobs available are in neighboring towns; here’s the thing - I don’t have a car and public transportation doesn’t go everywhere</p>
<p>2) my class schedule is pretty packed and due to the way I’m scheduled, I would having to be working late nights - that means less time to study the way I would like</p>
<p>3) my particular FWS job is extremely flexible and isn’t as demanding as say - a food service job. I don’t have to worry about being “late” and they are generous about sick days and needing time to study</p>
<p>I work 18 hours a week, I have a 3.8, am actively involved in several clubs, and I have a social life.</p>
<p>It’s totally possible. It sucks sometimes, but I have Saturday and Sunday off. I only work until 4 on Fridays, so I have pretty much the whole weekend free.</p>
<p>Ah, it’s possible, but is it worth it?</p>
<p>For me, yes. I work 40 hours a week (down to 36 now!) and take a full load. Worth it because I am going in to less debt and graduating with quite a nice chunk of savings 
</p>
<p>For those who don’t need that much money (ie- parents paying) then no it’s probably not worth it.</p>
<p>^^Yes. If I didn’t work, I wouldn’t be getting an education at all. Not all of us have our parents paying for school and/or received a full ride.</p>
<p>I’m getting a significant amount of financial aid. ($5500 in scholarships, $5550 in pell grants, something like $7000 in loans) That in itself is not enough to cover my living and educational costs.</p>
<p>My parents help me some. They definitely do. For example, I called them and asked them to send me $50 today. That being said, I paid for my tuition bill in full by myself this semester and did last spring as well. If I didn’t have a job, there’s no way I would be able to be in school. I also buy almost all of my own food. No job=me starving</p>
<p>So, yes. It is worth it.</p>
<p>As other posters have said, whether it’s worth it will depend on your financial situation. I personally have a very cushy on-campus job at our writing center, where I work 4-6 hours/week for very good pay. This money goes straight into my savings and funds my “extras,” aka my coffee addiction, and future unpaid internships and whatnot. </p>
<p>Basically, I like having the ability to pay for just about whatever I want (as a girl, it’s usually clothes or Starbucks, but I have enough in savings from babysitting in high school to travel or buy a car or rent an apartment if I wanted). But the job is also something I love and not a huge time commitment, so I’m not sacrificing much.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies everyone! :D</p>