As much as we all wish college paid for itself, it doesn't. Many students choose to work part time to pay the bills. Ask yourself these questions to decide whether or not you should tackle a job during college.
Not necessarily. How do we say this nicely? Some folks need . . . um. . . “structure.” They perform best—in classes and in life—when they are forced to plan ahead, get organized, and stick to a schedule.
Most students work around 10 to 15 hours. Working more than that can cut into your time for studying, recreation, studying, friends, studying, hobbies, studying, and general collegiate hanging out. And did we mention that it’s important to reserve time for studying?
Does your schedule of classes, activities, and friends have you racing faster than Dale Earnhardt, Jr.? If so, you’ll need a job with a flexible schedule. Be warned: many off-campus employers will need you to work on game-day Saturdays, when they are the busiest.
Some jobs, typically customer service jobs like front desk workers, may let you study after you’ve finished your assignments or while you wait for the next customer. “Studying” jobs are harder to find, but they’re a great way to get paid for learning.
Some jobs require federal work study eligibility, which means the feds pay part of your salary. Whether you qualify or not depends on the results of your federal financial aid application. Don’t qualify? No problemo. Hundreds of K-State jobs don’t require it.
Maybe. Many K-State students work in restaurants, coffee shops, discount stores, lumber yards, grocery stores, professional offices, and more. Possible negatives: a commute from campus, and work schedules that don’t match K-State breaks.
