<p>I have -no- money. And, I'm not going to get a lot of financial aid. It's safe to say I'll be at least 50k in debt by the time I get my B.S./B.A.</p>
<p>If I take a CNA class this summer or next summer, I can get qualified to work at a hospital. Should I work all through college to reduce the debt, or would this be too stressful?</p>
<p>Well...here's my opinion...if you're thinking about working more than 10 hours a week, you are thinking about working too much. Going to college full time is a full time job too, in my opinion. NOW...having said that. Could you get a job as a CNA and go to school part time? Perhaps you could do this while attending a community college with a relationship with a four year school. You could complete your general education requirements and then transfer to a four year school to finish your degree. It's just a thought.</p>
<p>You WILL earn more hourly as a CNA than you would at most jobs, but finding a job that can wrap around your schooling would be difficult. You need time to study...and you need time to relax too.</p>
<p>I worked at least 30 hours a week while attending college full-time. My husband worked 40/week while attending college. I would recommend you do anything possible to avoid this! It is not the way to obtain a degree if there's any other way.</p>
<p>My S works 10 hours a week, and as others have noted, that's very do-able. Depending on one's personal situation, I think more than that could still be reasonably worked.</p>
<p>I think CNA would be a wise choice if you enjoy that type of work. As that field is seeking employees, an employer might also be helpful in adjusting to your scheduling needs.</p>
<p>Yes, you definitely can work throughout college to reduce your debt. I worked 12-30 hours a week during the school year while I was in college. The 30 hours a week was only during brief periods. Most of the time, I worked about 12-15 hours a week. I graduated with honors, friends and extracurriculars.</p>
<p>When I taught college, one of my star students worked 30 hours a week, did community service and extracurriculars related to her major. She graduated magna and had 9 excellent job offers. About 8 years after graduation, she also got a highly competitive fellowship to Harvard.</p>
<p>While in college, she had little time to socialize, but for her it was worth it. Her parents refused to give her $ for college (They were immigrants who felt that kids should finance their own higher education), so the student had loans, scholarships and worked. She also started her education by living at home and going to community college. After getting her AA, she transfered to an in-state college and got some merit aid designated for in-state transfer students from community college.</p>
<p>My S is working a total of 10 hours a week on campus in jobs that also allow him to study while working (Many of my college jobs were similar). He also has time for ECs and to study. He's not a partier (nor was the student whom I referred to earlier), and that helps a great deal. The time that many students waste partying and getting over their hangovers could be used for work if students need the money.</p>
<p>You also can work 60 hours a week during the summer by working a fulltime job and a part time job, something I did one summer while in college.</p>
<p>$50 k in loans is waaaaay to much. Do what you can to get those loans down to about $20 k. SOme colleges have merit aid tied to majors that you can get for your senior or junior year. Look into that early so you'll know what the qualifications are.</p>
<p>I worked my way through college. My parents thought that would build independence. I graduated without debt after attending our state's flagship university.</p>
<p>10 hours a week is eminently doable.</p>
<p>Tokenadult, I too worked my way through college. BUT that was when the dinos roamed. The instate U was $750 per year for tuition. I don't think room and board was much. In fact, my recollection was that the total cost of attendance per year was about $1200. It was not all that hard to earn money, and I did have a few loans...about $1000 for the whole four years. NOW...the instate U is about $15,000 per year total cost of attendance. In my opinion, most students would have a hard time earning that sum of money WHILE they are attending college at the same time.</p>
<p>That's why I'm "paying it forward" in a different way from my parents' way by committing myself to my children to pay the full EFC I am expected to pay by the colleges they enroll in. Naturally, we have incentive to encourage our children to get into colleges where the expected family contribution will not be too high. But for the OP, if working is what you have to do, it's smart to do as you are doing and think about a job that should provide steady work during your college studies.</p>
<p>My D works ~ 20 hrs a week while in college full-time, and keeping her grades up. She expects to work full time during the summer, and pulls in extra hours during spring/winter break. It can be done.</p>