<p>I'm in the summer between my junior and senior year and I'm wondering if I should get a part-time job? My family doesn't really need the money or anything, but I want to have some extra spending cash and save up a little for going off to college (I'm looking at few private universities in big cities... lots of expenses). I also kind of just want the experience. I was wondering if a part-time job would also look good on a college application, or quite the opposite? I'm a very academic student who had always done well in school and on tests (4.45 GPA, 4.0 unweighted, 32 ACT), and I do volunteer and have a few EC's (NHS, Quiz bowl, etc., but nothing particularly impressive). On one hand, I feel like a part-time job would round out my application a bit... but I've also heard some people say that it actually detracts from your application because it doesn't look "academic," and that part-time jobs are only for low- to mid-achievers or kids who really need the money. There are a few highly selective colleges I'm really interested in but I know are a definite reaches for me so over the next year I want to really try to spruce up my college application... I just want some opinions on how a part time job would affect that.</p>
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<p>This is one of the stupidest things I’ve read on CC. Not calling you stupid, but if someone actually said or wrote this, THEY are stupid.</p>
<p>Yup, another vote for ‘stupid’. College don’t just want rich students (that is the sort of thing my parents, who are in their 80s, think, but things have changed a LOT at all universities in the past 30 years or so). So yes, get a summer job, it is great experience and will help you earn some money. If you are concerned about doing something else for your college preparation, consider volunteering someplace for several hours a week as well.</p>