<p>I want to get a job as soon as I get to campus, but my parents just want me to "focus on my schoolwork". Is it uncommon for freshmen to work 1st semester? If I were to get a job at the school store or somewhere, how many hours would you suggest working per week? And would you suggest working weekends or weekdays inbetween classes?</p>
<p>Not if you want to keep your spleen.</p>
<p>It's hardly uncommon for students to work first semester. I would suggest getting a library job so you can "work" and do homework at the same time.</p>
<p>yeah if you work at school you should be able to find a place that will hire you for as little as 10 hours a week.</p>
<p>I'm definitely planning to work during my first semester for at least 10 hours. You have a lot of free time in college and if you are organized, it is not hard to get 10 hours (5 hours a day) out of the week to work and you still have time for school work and parties.</p>
<p>I worked 12 hours/week during my first year of college. Next year, as a Sophomore, I'm planning to work ~26 hours/week.</p>