How many of you held part-time jobs through college?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the experiences of college students balancing part-time or full-time jobs with their academic commitments. Participants share their work hours, academic loads, and the impact of their jobs on their studies and personal lives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express that holding a full-time job while studying is overwhelming and leads to burnout, citing long hours and heavy course loads.
  • Others share that they manage to work part-time while still having enough time for homework and studying, though it limits their free time.
  • A participant mentions the difficulty of balancing work and upper division classes, highlighting the added challenge of commuting between work and school.
  • Some express uncertainty about the feasibility of not working at all, suggesting that having a job provides structure and financial benefits.
  • One participant notes that they have been working since high school without significant issues until recently, indicating a shift in workload with more challenging courses.
  • Another participant shares their experience of enjoying a part-time job while managing their studies, suggesting a positive perspective on the balance.
  • Suggestions for potential job opportunities are offered, including on-campus positions or low-demand jobs that allow for studying while working.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express mixed feelings about working while studying, with some advocating for the benefits of employment and others highlighting the challenges and potential for burnout. No consensus is reached on the ideal balance between work and academic responsibilities.

Contextual Notes

Participants' experiences vary widely based on their individual circumstances, including the nature of their jobs, their academic majors, and personal financial situations. The discussion reflects a range of perspectives on managing time and responsibilities.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering part-time or full-time work during college, those seeking to understand the balance between work and academic life, and individuals interested in peer experiences related to managing studies and employment.

Chunkysalsa
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So I'm contemplating quitting my job to focus on my studies and I was wondering how many of you actually held jobs.

If so, then how many hours did you take at work? At school? and what major?
 
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I'm holding a full-time job through college... I do not recommend it. 31 hours a week at work, 15 credits at school, physics major. I'm in my junior year, and I've had this schedule since I was a freshman, but I'm completely burnt out right now. Over 2 years with no free time at all is rough.
 
Jack21222 said:
I'm holding a full-time job through college... I do not recommend it. 31 hours a week at work, 15 credits at school, physics major. I'm in my junior year, and I've had this schedule since I was a freshman, but I'm completely burnt out right now. Over 2 years with no free time at all is rough.

Fully agreed.

I work 40 hours a week with about the same course load and same major. It isn't fun at all. Next semester I am going to drop the hours a bit. I am only able to solve homework problems and pass tests. Nothing gets looked at in depth. No time. :(

Although I could not imagine having no job at all. Seems like you'd have way too much time.
 
I work 20 hours a week with 16 credit hours. I find that I have enough time to do homework/study for exams/study the material -- however that's all that I have time to do.
 
I can't even comprehend the idea of not working, but that's a personal issue.

I'm currently working full-time, but I plan to go part-time next fall. My classes are getting more difficult, and I want to be able to devote more time to studying. My advice would be to feel it out; many people can successfully manage a job, a social life, and school, but that doesn't mean it will work for you.
 
I third that opinion: it really is hard.

I worked ~32 hours a week as a research technician, and took anywhere from zero to three classes a quarter. Really, really tough, especially the upper division classes.

It didn't help that my work and school were about an hour apart. The job paid far above minimum wage, with full benefits. There was no school closer. So I didn't have much choice.

The upside: when I finally graduated, I was competing with other recent grads but I had 6 years of research lab experience.
 
Well I've been working about 20-30hrs since before senior year of high school with no problem. Only till recently I've been feeling the burn with physics and calc taking up a huge chunk of time.

Next semester I'm planning on doing Physics II, Calc 3, ODE, and Statics and I'm worried that I won't be able to handle all that without quitting. I'm not exactly a hardcore studier either. In fact till this year (sophomore year of college) I've never truly studied for anything.


I don't need to work either. I live at home and my only expenses (aside from extras) are gas and lunch. I don't pay for college either. My school is quite cheap and my family not so rich. Which means low tuition, big FA check. Add a decent scholarship to the mix and I make money going to school.
 
I held a part time job, 25 hours a week throughout undergraduate. It made time a little short, but I enjoyed it and it was nice to have some extra spending money.
 
You can probably get an on campus desk job if you had work-study. Otherwise, try small gas stations. You just sit at an empty counter and have all the time you need for homework, reading, or staring at the ceiling.
 

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