<p>Totally depends on the student. Daughter worked as a freshman an easy work-study job (and played a college sport) and did fine grade-wise. Son chose not to work at all because he knew he couldn’t handle a job and his classes.</p>
<p>We told our kids it was okay if they preferred to delay the start of earning their “$1550” until second term freshman year, or in one case: wait until summer to start earning. It’s a big adjustment, first term freshman year. We let them wait to start. They came through. </p>
<p>Downsides: finding on-campus work starting midyear is hard (not impossible, but hard) as most campus jobs are taken Sept-May. Also, when they worked fulltime every summer, they had no vacation before school began again in autumn. They learned to stop the summer jobs with a week of down-time before fall term began.</p>
<p>Our D got a job on campus the first week of her freshman year (not work study). I had encouraged her NOT to worry about a job; she’d received a full tuition scholarship, I thought she should ease into the college environment, etc…However, it was a wonderful decision for her, and she’s kept the job (with incremental raises and increases in responsibilty) all four years. She works in the concert office of the music department. It’s a perfect job for her, because after she decided not to be a music performance major, it was an ideal way for her to stay involved in music. And it’s a job that’s given her real world experience at the same time. She typically works 6-8 hours in the office each week, plus another 4-8 on weekends when she works events.</p>
<p>My freshmen d works on campus for the music department. The chair is very flexible with hours around finals time. No work scheduled on break. Really, for a freshman, it’s hard to beat working on campus. Recently, we got her some wheels, so she is working off campus, too, mostly weekends. That job is not flexible. She needs to be there regardless of her own exam schedule, workload, etc. Breaks would mean nothing to her off-campus employer. Fortunately, however, she’s local. Home on break is 10 minutes away from her dorm room.</p>
<p>I know kids who work 20 hours a week and more. It’s more difficult with some majors than others, but even in the low homework majors, I wouldn’t recommend it for freshmen. We talk a lot about being able to manage work and homework, but I’m going to propose that freshmen, especially in the first semester, also need some emotional down time. Lot of changes going on. Maybe it’s best not to fill every spare second with something to do.</p>
<p>Both my kids had jobs as freshmen. No more than 10 hrs/week, but it paid for books and spending $$. It also helps them deal with the considerable amount of unstructured time on campus – having some regular, ongoing tasks besides classes offers some organization and a productive way to build some resume skills. It has also instilled some fiscal reality. 
That cool $50 game download = six+ hours of work. This tends to sharpen one’s cost-benefit analysis! </p>
<p>One of my kids did some website work for a prof, then was a junior TA for calculus (neither job was work-study, but were on-campus jobs). The other has worked in the dining hall and is now in admissions (both of those are work-study). The S with serious programming skills makes enough $$ from summer internships that he has not worked during the school year the past two years. OTOH, that has given him time to work on other projects which helped him do well in his job search.</p>
<p>They also knew well before heading to college that they would be expected to cover books and personal expenses as part of their skin in the game.</p>
<p>I worked 20 hrs/week in college. Not a good idea, though I had no choice. At my college at that point in time, this was not done. Made for difficulties socially and academically, as profs were not sensitive to student work schedules and students wanted to have group projects take place during the late afternoon (I worked the dinner shift, 4-8) so they could go party in the evenings.</p>
<p>With both my kids, I suggested they take the minimum number of classes to be considered full time that first semester so that they would have time to meet people, find clubs and get acclimated, as well as giving some room to deal with the ramped-up academic expectations. Both found this worked out well for them.</p>
<p>DS 1 qualified for work study and did not pursue it first semester. He is an engineering major and is living in dorms at college 500 miles from home. This semester he is working 3 afternoons each week for 3 hour shifts. He likes it alot… is earning $10 per hour, gaining work experience, and finds it helps to be more accountable for his time allotted to eat, study, and relax. His employer is flexible about his student needs and he believes the job will be his as long as he wants it for the next few years.</p>
<p>I think that having a part time job on campus is a GOOD think for new freshmen. I think one of the biggest adjustments for many college kids is too much time on their hands. Most of these kids were in school for 8 hours each day in high school then played sports or were in other activities for another 2 hours/day, add in homework and their day was scheduled for 12 hours/day. All of the sudden they are in class for 2 hours/day and then what? I don’t think that working 10 hours/week for any major would be any kind of a strain, especially if you add time on Saturday and Sunday. If you are studying for 12+ hours every Sat and Sun you should probably reevaluate your options.</p>
<p>How is the Executive Function of the student? (That part of the brain function that accurately assesses time needs). Many freshmen have a steep learning curve in managing their time lines – things like incorporating laundry or spending too much time online can impact how well studies go – and whether or not there is time to work too. </p>
<p>Sometimes work can help in figuring out time management – sometimes not. Your question is a bit like asking “how much exercise should I get?” when only you know your starting condition and abilities.</p>
<p>My D has had a work study job since freshman year. She did not have a job fall semester freshman year because she wanted to see how her schedule worked out. She’s an engineering major also. She’s really enjoys her work study job. Last semester (her senior year) she was not able to fit in any hours so she’s working more this semester since she has more time.</p>
<p>D makes $10 an hour and the job is flexible if she has job interviews or review sessions. I think she likes the work study option better because the job she has is very flexible. </p>
<p>I know she was in a group project with a girl on the basketball team. Demanding major, sports team and she was able to fit in a small work study job to make spending money. I think if that girl was able to work, my D should be able to fit it in if the time is there.</p>
<p>I am a firm believer in students having a part time job. I interview too many kids that graduate from college with very few life skills. I always hire the kid with a good GPA and some consistent work experience (even if it is busing tables/babysitting) than the kid with a 4.0 and little to no work experience. I think having a job forces the student to budget their time…because you spend less time in class in college than in HS it is easy for freshman to mismanage their time because they have a ton of free time. I think having a job helps students structure their days and be more efficient when they are studying. It is easy to procrastinate when you have a lot of free time. Plus, employers and potential internships want to see that a kid can hold down a job. Our society has put so much emphasis on academics that the day to day life skills that kids need to develop are sometimes never learned.</p>
<p>No. You have rest of life to work. I think first year it is more important to get involved with clubs to meet people. They can always get a job as a sophomore.</p>
<p>You meet people working too–probably more often than in many clubs which in reality only meet a couple times a month. Working is a good way to start developing some time mgt skills.</p>
<p>^^^Mom of boston
I agree with you!</p>
<p>For me, it isn’t about the money, it is more about learning about life outside the academic bubble that they know.</p>
<p>My answer is no, not freshman year .</p>
<p>Trust me, 8-12 hours of work a week does NOTHING to your personal life. I really didn’t know any freshmen who didn’t have a job. You should at the very least be making your own personal spending money and it’s a good way for freshmen to transition into independence. It’s 1 day of a long shift, 2 days of a short shift, or 3 days of VERY short shifts. That’s NOTHING.</p>
<p>I worked over 20 hours a week as a freshmen and still managed to have a great social life. I wouldn’t recommend that though. </p>
<p>Jobs are proven to help freshmen with time management. Plus, they’re a great way to build some work experience for when you want to apply to better jobs later in college or internships. On campus jobs are a way to meet people. My roommate works at an art studio on campus and almost all of her close friends are from that job.</p>