<p>how important do you think it is to have had some job experience, especially when you have a lot of ECs and such ?</p>
<p>thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Here's what I believe.</p>
<p>An admission rep (not from Princeton, from a big state school here) told me that work experience is not necessary.</p>
<p>It's useful for kids who don't have a lot of ECs or volunteer time though because it serves as a "reason" for why they lack in those two areas. In other words, if you're not very involved in ECs, they want to see that you have a logical excuse for it.</p>
<p>I explained to her that this summer, I didn't have time to get a job AND volunteer, so I chose volunteering. And she said that was perfectly fine.</p>
<p>So to sum it up: work experience is great, it shows plenty of initiative and responsibility. BUT if your ECs and community service are sufficient, it is not required.</p>
<p>I don;t think Princeton cares HOW you use your time, just that you use it productively. So I think EC = work. Unless you are doing it because your alcoholic father left you and your eighteen siblings alone with a dying incapacitated mother to care for and you are working at a textile factory 20 hours a day at minimum wage plus studying for the sat during your free time... or for some other such reason. Than you really have a story to tell and the adcoms will look very favorably on your work.</p>