How are your kids working??

[BlsdMama]

Ana is thinking about working a few hours per week to pay for her summer books and to save for a semester abroad.

 

I think it's a great idea, I just don't know how she'll do it. Right now she is carrying 18 credits and studying HARD. Her grades are definitely showing her effort and I'm glad but a little concerned about her burning out. She's trying to get an exception to take 19 hours next semester and she's planning on going full time this summer.

 

It seems like most kids have a job and I just wonder how they maintain balance and sanity??!

 

Is it worth it? Her scholarships and grants cover tuition and books for the school year and we pay for her car, insurance, food, etc., but study abroad is going to be an incredible strain.

[Laura Corin]

Calvin's university strongly discourages paid work during the term: the terms are only eight weeks long and are very intensive.  There's plenty of time in the holidays to take on jobs.  Calvin is producing six pieces of work a week, in addition to reading, etc.  Working would be too much.

 

L

[creekland]

My guys have worked via work study through college.  Work study jobs are flexible in letting kids have time off when they need it before tests, etc.

 

Oldest worked in audio/visual and was employed by his college most summers as they were updating their campus.

 

Middle worked in labs (doing cleaning, but also getting to see the actual research being done), and worked for Hillel.  That led to working for the Chapel overall.

 

Now he's dropped both of those as he's an RA in a freshman dorm and a TA for Organic Chem.  Next semester he'll keep those and add being a TA for a Brain and Cognitive Science class.  He's also volunteering in a BCS research lab and that job will become a paid position next semester.  Honestly I'm not really sure HOW he does it all while maintaining stellar grades, esp since I haven't even added in his dance troupe practices or performances, ASL club activities, and Christian club activities.  I've often wondered if he sleeps...  In general, I'll admit to being jealous - but glad for him that it all works as he loves it.

 

Youngest works with composting at his college.  For a little bit he also volunteered in a lab, but when that project ended, so did the volunteer job.  IMO, he needs more to do.

 

Mine work better with their studies when they are also working or in activities.  I think it helps them plan their time better.  When they have oodles of free time it's easy to procrastinate too long.  The money is all theirs for spending money.

[Tenaj]

Both of my  college students are working on campus and it has been such a blessing.  My son works in the computer tech department and generally picks up between 12 and 15 hours a week during the semesters.  Usually he is able to pick up full-time work during breaks if he wants and works full-time during the summer.

 

My daughter only works 8 - 10 hours a week in the enrollment services department but she also has the opportunity for more hours during breaks and always works full-time during the summer.

 

Both jobs are flexible in that if a big project or big test is causing stress, they can take off - generally they just make up the time at a different time but I know that not all campus jobs are quite as flexible as the two departments they have landed in.

 

They have both been able to manage the workload easily and they both have mentioned that they might find an off-campus job in addition . . . I'm not very excited about that prospect but we'll see what happens.  My son is getting married in May and sees the need for more cash flow.

[Starr]

It really depends on the student. Dd is an RA, works two campus jobs and does well in school.  Ds works a few hours a weekend filming hockey games for the University TV station. That's enough for him. If she wants to work why doesn't she keep her school hours down to 16. If she's a freshman her workload may get easier as she learns to study more efficiently. I could not have worked in college. We were too busy with course work and lab.

[Gwen in VA]

Starr is so right -- it depends on the student.

 

It also depends on the job. For example -- my youngest is a freshman who has an internship that is EXACTLY in what she is planning on doing post-graduate school. As long as she maintains B's in her academic classes, the internship experience and the recommendation she will (hopefully) get from her mentor/supervisor are FAR more important to grad school and future employers than her grades. (This is not a coffee-serving kind of internship -- she is being given amazing opportunities.)

 

If your student has the right job, the experience gained through the job can be FAR more valuable than getting A's instead of B's..

[G5052]

Yes, it depends.  I put myself through double STEM degrees by working on campus, primarily as an RA and then head RA, but I also graded, tutored, and did a lot of other odd jobs.  The only night I took off for socializing was Saturday night, and I only had one club that I was involved in.  That was years ago too, when it was more likely that a student could do that.  The ideal for me would have been about 10-12 hours a week.

 

But it was tough.  Frankly my health was broken by the time I graduated.  It took me probably a year to recover.  I want my kids to work, but not like I did.

[creekland]

My son found a job in order to maintain his sanity. 

 

I can relate... this is exactly why I work!

 

In college I worked because I needed to earn my own spending money though.

 

Now if we needed money I would need a "real" job (teaching or otherwise), but working part time in school as much as a I want to subbing generally gives me a nice diversion and helps me stay balanced mentally.  I really appreciate that.  So does my family!

[RootAnn]

I found time to work by having no weekend night social life. I worked in the sports department of the local newspaper as one of their flunkies taking calls from the Friday & Saturday night sports games. I took box scores & occasionally wrote up a paragraph or two for exciting games. It was 4-6 hours of work each weekend night. I did end up picking up another night or two my final semester, but I wish I hadn't. Just the weekend nights were perfect as they didn't interfere with classes. I also worked a handful of hours scanning kids' food service cards before meals. It was more as a favor for them than for money and I only kept it up until they were able to find replacements.

 

I can't imagine trying to keep up a work schedule with 18-19 hours of demanding classes. My degree is in engineering and most of the kids either didn't have a job or worked in one of the labs a few hours a week for a professor.

[chiguirre]

My favorite on campus job was ID checker in a small dorm. I took the Friday and Saturday night midnight-4 am shift and used the time to study. I also worked the desk in a small library. It was busier, but still allowed for study time. Obviously, the University (my employer) knew that workers would study in their downtime. It was actually advertised as a feature of the job.

[Jenny in Florida]

My son has had the best luck just kind of stumbling into various very part-time work. For example, he was spending time in the theatre prop shop working on some stuff for one of his performance groups. The shop director noticed him and suggested he put in the paperwork to get paid for what he was already doing. This past weekend, he was recruited to help hang lights for a show and earned a few bucks doing that, too.

 

He has also begun to experiment with doing some busking at a park near campus. Thus far, he's taken in only a few dollars each hour, but it's more than he would earn practicing in the dance studio. 

 

This summer, he hopes to teach a couple of classes at his dance studio here in town. 

 

He's heard rumblings that the dance department on campus hires some students to assist with classes there, too, and he's hoping to pursue that next year.

[bettyandbob]

This really depends on the student, the school and the degree.

 

I worked a few hours a week assisting in general and organic chemistry labs. I knew people who worked 15 hours a week waiting tables, which was very lucrative where I went to school (Williamsburg, tourist trade).

 

I wouldn't push working for a student taking overloads. I had a roommate who always took an overload--sometimes 21 credits a semester. She double majored in computer science and music and also completed premed requirements because her parents were doctors. She didn't work, but she had time to participate in school musicals, the dance company and play D&D. She was Phi Beta Kappa and was the only D&D participant I knew who did not get an academic suspension. She was obscenely smart and had incredible focus when studying. For more typical students taking overloads, working would probably be too much.

 

If you dd wants to work, I'd suggest scaling back the academic credits per semester. Working for pay or volunteering can be a good addition, if she finds an opportunity related to career interest. It's important to take advantage of such opportunities.

[creekland]

I wouldn't push working for a student taking overloads. I had a roommate who always took an overload--sometimes 21 credits a semester. She double majored in computer science and music and also completed premed requirements because her parents were doctors. She didn't work, but she had time to participate in school musicals, the dance company and play D&D. She was Phi Beta Kappa and was the only D&D participant I knew who did not get an academic suspension. She was obscenely smart and had incredible focus when studying. For more typical students taking overloads, working would probably be too much.

 

If you dd wants to work, I'd suggest scaling back the academic credits per semester. Working for pay or volunteering can be a good addition, if she finds an opportunity related to career interest. It's important to take advantage of such opportunities.

 

I agree totally.  I'm convinced that middle son can handle all he is doing outside of class and still take on 18 - 20 credits in mostly tough classes because his ability to handle the academics is fantastic.  That's not the way normal students can do things and I'd never suggest it for my other two.  I actually have cautioned middle son to be careful about over-extending, but so far, he seems to be able to handle it (though he might get his first B this semester).

 

Each student has their fit.  It doesn't help to try to cram them all into the same mold.  

[Pawz4me]

We've encouraged DS to not worry about finding a job.  He wants to major in business, and to do that he has to apply to the university's business school this summer.  It's extremely competitive, and GPA counts for a lot.  So we want him to concentrate on his school work.  We're fairly certain he's going to have two paying internships this summer (he needs at least one to be a competitive business school applicant), so he can earn some money then.

[Lori D.]

Ana is thinking about working a few hours per week to pay for her summer books and to save for a semester abroad. I think it's a great idea, I just don't know how she'll do it. Right now she is carrying 18 credits and studying HARD. Her grades are definitely showing her effort and I'm glad but a little concerned about her burning out. She's trying to get an exception to take 19 hours next semester and she's planning on going full time this summer. It seems like most kids have a job and I just wonder how they maintain balance and sanity??! Is it worth it? Her scholarships and grants cover tuition and books for the school year and we pay for her car, insurance, food, etc., but study abroad is going to be an incredible strain.

 

I personally see scholarships as a form of pay for the work of academics, so I'd be carefully about adding to the workload and potentially losing that money. Since your DD has topped out in amount of credits for the semester, and plans to school full time this summer, I really don't see any time/ability for working a part time job. Even if she WAS "super woman" and could squeeze 10 hours of work a week into her schedule, part time jobs just do NOT pay much -- $7-10/hour depending on where you live.

 

I would suggest some alternatives:

 

What about looking for an internship in her field, and backing down on the credit load a little, or not schooling over the summer? The internship will give her incredible practical experience, will help provide real working info for future classes, give her contacts for networking, and may open doors to future special department scholarships. And some internships are paid! The benefits of an internship worth more in the long run than a few hundred dollars a month from a part time job.

 

For studying abroad: what about a tuition exchange program? The student attends a university in another state or another country for the local tuition rate. ISEP has 300 schools in 50 countries participating.

 

For help with finances to study abroad (I would guess a lot of these lists overlap):

IES list of of study abroad scholarships

Study Abroad list of study abroad scholarships

NAFSA list of study abroad scholarships

ISA list of study abroad scholarships

AIFS list of study abroad scholarships

International Scholarships for Europe's Nordic Countries

Benjamin Gilman International scholarship -- for college students receiving federal Pell grants

 

 

BEST of luck! Warmly, Lori D.

[Melissa B]

Evening babysitting for young children

 

She just brings her books and studies once they are in bed.

 

 

[J-rap]

One of my daughters cleans houses.  I think she does one house/week, and they pay her a lot.  She makes about $100/week.  But, she is also able to work in the summer (she doesn't take classes in the summer).  She also has had good luck doing little one-time gigs like proofreading for an online newsletter, preparing a photo exhibit for a funeral event, serving at private parties.  Sometimes just getting your foot in the door with a certain social circle is really helpful -- if they like you, they tell their friends.

 

Another daughter is taking 19 credits, and I think would be too overwhelmed to have a weekly job.  She does go to my parents' home (in the same city) and cleans for them about once/month on a Saturday.  They feed her a good dinner and pay her probably more than she earned for cleaning -- haha.  But, all of my kids make good money working two weeks at the end of the summer at our State Fair.  The daughter doing 19 credits was able to earn enough for spending money (granted, she doesn't spend a lot) for the entire academic year. 

 

 

 

[Annie G]

Dd works in the library on campus. The work isn't stressful and they allow her to study if it's slow. Two of her three shifts are  9 Pm to midnight, which for her is perfect because she's a night owl.   It's been a great job for her!

[ktgrok]

Honestly, I think most kids that work don't take that many classes. I didn't. 12-15 credits was a normal load, and what I took. I don't think I knew anyone taking 19! I worked 12 hours a week, first as a campus security patrol person (at FAU we walked around, in pairs, with big heavy flashlights and a walki talki....we provided a presence on campus at night, and were available to escort students from say, the library to their dorm, or whatever, so they didn't have to walk alone.) Then in a phone center doing government phone surveys. 

[City Mouse]

I say let her try. She can always quit the job if it gets to be too much. I was one of those students who did better on my classes when I had a job. I think it forced me to be more organized and scheduled, and I always took 18-20 hours a semester. I was only working 10 hrs per week (2hr day) at the on campus child care center. In the summers I worked full time at the day care and took 1 or 2 classes at a time. It was a great job for summer because I could work a split schedule around my summer classes.

 

My DD19 has worked full time the past 3 summers, but with no summer classes. This summer she is planning on taking one on-line class while working full time. Her first year at college, we encouraged her not to work. This year the money situation is different, and she got approved for non-need based work study. That limits her to a max of 10 hours per week.

[laughing lioness]

ds is taking 15 credits, while living at home and working 8- 20 hours a week. He does construction/ roofing for a family friend, the dad of one of his best friends, who treatshim great, pays him very well and instructs him on stuff he doesn't know. He has a couple of years of construction under his belt and a full summer of roofing, 2 of landscaping and is an exceptionally hard worker so the money he makes is well earned and it helps that he is making a living wage vs. minimum. 

Like City Mous he seems to do way better when working and a bit busier. He is getting great grades at a state school, plans to go to S.Amer for a 8 credit, 2 mth intensive this summer, along with a full load on-line at a private school. He should make enough roofing when he's home to cover it with some money left over for fall. 

 

[laughing lioness]

sorry for double post

 

[Wheres Toto]

DD works for Target.  When the semester first started she freaked out a little bit over how busy she was but it wasn't just work.  She joined a sorority in the Spring and was in charge of choreographing and teaching the dance for Homecoming, was the educational coordinator, she was on the dance team and had practices with them, working about 15 hours a week, and taking 16 credit hours.  She's a junior this year so her classes are getting harder and more intense.

 

We always tell her school is the most important so she should cut down her hours if she needs to (and watch it with the extracurricular activities).  They have been giving her a little bit of a hard time about it but she's one of their better employees so it's working okay.  Once homecoming was over things settled down a little bit more, and she'll be done with the semester before work gears up for Christmas.

 

She was similarly busy her last two years of high school so she's somewhat used to it.

[wonderchica]

I was psych major. I worked about 12 hours a week as an ABA therapy tutor with autistic children. The pay was excellent, so I didn't have to work nearly as much as I would have. Lots of my psych or education major friends either did ABA or worked as personal aides for children with disabilities in town. Hard work, but I was in the homes and got to experience some "family life" which was a nice break from the dorms!

[FaithManor]

DD was a glutton for punishment. She worked two twelves per week as an EMT while carrying 15-18 credit hours. I don't recommend that for most students.

 

Dh and I, back in the day, did a lot of paid tutoring on campus which was a really good job to have because it was so flexible and paid much better than minimum wage.

 

If ds had decided to attend Northern Michigan, he was already offered a job in the writing center as an assistant and that paid $10.00 an hour instead of minimum and was flexible. He would have jumped at that chance.

 

Around here, the hard thing about having part time fast food, Walmart seasonal, etc. is that the managers do not want college students. They refuse to schedule around their classes and exams. The college students simply can't get hired.

[Laura Corin]

I forgot to mention: Calvin actually does sing for his supper.  If you are a member of the college choir, you get a free formal dinner after Evensong on Sunday.

 

L

[BlsdMama]

As of right now she is expecting 4 As and a low B in the five classes she's taking.

 

She is going to take 16 hours next semester and try ten hours of work and see how it goes.

 

I'd rather have her take classes this summer than anything else because in state students can take twelve credit hours for free.

 

She's definitely not used to being overly busy but she's really adjusted to demands well this semester. She likes deadlines. As a freshman and a linguistics major there isn't much available as far as internships Next year when she has more choice in her schedule she'll be tutoring dyslexic kids in Barton. We attended four workshops last year and she's tutored two of our children. Our local homeschool group has an OG teacher that is willing to let her volunteer but she has to either have T and Th free or M and W free and a freshman doesn't have that kind of choice scheduling. ;). However, by second semester she'll officially be a junior so it will allow for more options.