Part-time job as an undergrad?

[nctw]

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How many of you had part-time jobs as undergrads? I was looking to work for my school as an IT help assistant (phone calls and emails) to earn some cash. The times are flexible, and it should be roughly ten hours a week. Is this manageable on top of ECs, studying, and doing well in classes?

 

[driven2011]

If you are a disciplined student you will be perfectly fine. Plenty of people work full time jobs and still do what they must. Good Luck!

 

[gettheleadout]

How many of you had part-time jobs as undergrads? I was looking to work for my school as an IT help assistant (phone calls and emails) to earn some cash. The times are flexible, and it should be roughly ten hours a week. Is this manageable on top of ECs, studying, and doing well in classes?

I wouldn't be surprised if you had some free time to study while you work with a job like that, so it could be worse. Depends on how much time you plan to dedicate to everything else though, and a lot on how much work you personally have to put in to succeed academically. No one can tell you if it will work for you.

 

[nctw]

I wouldn't be surprised if you had some free time to study while you work with a job like that, so it could be worse. Depends on how much time you plan to dedicate to everything else though, and a lot on how much work you personally have to put in to succeed academically. No one can tell you if it will work for you.

I assumed I would have some free time. Mondays, my first class is at 7pm, and I have a forum (no credit) for the honors/scholars program at 2 pm. I don't have any classes on Friday, but was going to volunteer at a hospital in the afternoons. I figured I could still manage to fit it all in.

In high school, I pulled a 4.6/3.7 GPA with a 25 hour/week job, but I never had to study to get good grades. College will be a different story, however

 

[pfaction]

I have since first year of undergrad, about to enter 5th year pharm. Worked anywhere from 24 hrs/wk (21, I guess, with breaks) to now 5 hrs/wk (budget, but fine by me since i'm going on rotations soon).

Working + GPA = hell yeah.

 

[gettheleadout]

I assumed I would have some free time. Mondays, my first class is at 7pm, and I have a forum (no credit) for the honors/scholars program at 2 pm. I don't have any classes on Friday, but was going to volunteer at a hospital in the afternoons. I figured I could still manage to fit it all in.

In high school, I pulled a 4.6/3.7 GPA with a 25 hour/week job, but I never had to study to get good grades. College will be a different story, however

I didn't realize you were an incoming freshman, so I was assuming you could base it off of how much time you had free last semester. In that case I'd recommend waiting a semester before starting work and/or piling on everything else, simply because your college experience will be of an unknown difficulty compared to your high school experience. I didn't get fully involved in everything I am now until second semester, and I thought it made the transition easier. In any case, just be careful if you go all out from the start, because you don't want to engage in major commitments that you'd feel bad about dropping should you realize you need more time for studying or whatever. You may end up having plenty of time to do everything you want, or barely enough to time to juggle a couple things, but either way, I'd rather have the freedom to adjust.

 

[medbound13]

In high school, I pulled a 4.6/3.7 GPA with a 25 hour/week job, but I never had to study to get good grades. College will be a different story, however

Yea, college will be different in that aspect. But, I work a part-time job, go to school full-time, and am able to do my EC's (hospital volunteering, research, some other part time things) without much of a struggle. Sure it'll be annoying at first but it's all about time management when it really comes down to it.

 

[jm192]

How many of you had part-time jobs as undergrads? I was looking to work for my school as an IT help assistant (phone calls and emails) to earn some cash. The times are flexible, and it should be roughly ten hours a week. Is this manageable on top of ECs, studying, and doing well in classes?

I did McDonalds on weekends---16-20 hours a week. But it was ALWAYS on the weekends, so it didn't interfere with my week, which was awesome. I knew I had Monday-Friday for class/studying. And I worked 1st shift--7-3---which allowed me to go out----you just come in groggy or not feeling your best sometimes.

 

[Wolfman89]

Yes.

 

[MaenadsDance]

I second all the people saying wait a semester (provided you can afford it - I get that money can be tight!). I coasted through high school and had to learn how to study once I hit college. Cushy on-campus IT jobs are the best, though. The people I really envy at my school are the students who get jobs in the music library - just sit around for hours listening to classical music and doing their homework, the lucky buggers.

 

[StephBee]

I waited a semester just to see what college was really going to be like. After realizing that I was beyond bored with all of my intro classes, I started working. Every semester I added more hours till I was working between 30-35 my junior and senior year. I graduated a semester early with a 3.9 GPA so it's totally doable but you have to figure out how to do and if you're the type of person who can pull it off.

The only thing I would caution is that the more I worked while still taking 18 credit ours, the less I slept and the fewer clubs I got do to. It was hard to find time for ECs because most required a solid block of like 4-5 hours (shadowing, volunteering at hospitals etc) that I didn't have in my schedule anymore so I spent more time doing ECs my freshman and sophomore year than my junior and senior when I started doing research, working 35 hours, taking 16-18 credits and somehow still maintaining good grades. Not everyone can juggle it so be careful and if you see *anything* is starting to slip, the job has got to be the first thing to go.

Good luck! And don't forget, you still have got ot budget some fun time every week or you'll go crazy 😛

 

[StudyShy]

I have worked all through college. I currently go to school while working full time. It is possible as long as you stay focused. Good luck!

 

[drdan83]

I used to work 25 hours a week as an undergrad because I needed the money and they paid for some of my school.

I don't recommend it at all but you gotta do what you gotta do.

I would only take on that many hours if you have the discipline to do it. It is manageable but you have to be very disciplined with your time.

 

[Juicec]

I worked 50+ hours a week during my first 2 years of college and maintained a 3.95+ GPA. Absolutely no reason a dedicated student can't do it. Not to mention it looks fantastic our your resume.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

I wouldn't recommend 18 credits on top of working part-time+ ECs+ Research+ Volunteering/shadowing in one semester. Seems a bit too much at least im my eyes.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I had a part-time job pretty much all through undergrad. The only time I didn't was the first semester of my post-bacc, and I had so much free time that I got a job TAing, and started doing private tutoring for high school students. You will find that you have a LOT more free time in college than you ever did in high school. Plenty of time for a part-time job and studying.

 

[bucks2010]

10 hrs/wk + school is cake. do it.

 

[music2doc]

I think you'll be fine. Start light your first semester, but part-time work it very doable as a full time student. With your track-record, even with volunteering, research, and enjoying life, you ought to be able to pull of a 25-30+ hr/wk job alongside a full time academic schedule. That said, start light and build. Don't simply start w/ 30+ hrs/wk and 18 units as there is a learning curve to college.

 

[NickNaylor]

I had a 10 hr/week job my last three years in addition to full loads and ECs. It's really not a biggie. Depending upon the job, you might even be able to do work or study at the same time.

 

[Mdr1985]

How many credits are you taking, and what classes are they? What was your GPA in highschool (assuming you're coming in as a Freshman right out of highschool and aren't non-trad coming back to school)? Juggle lots of EC's in highschool/work? College will definitely be different, so I can understand some people saying wait and see how you do first semester. . . but. . . I think 10 hours would be completely doable, completely.
This upcoming fall I'm looking at 17 credit hours of bio2, physics1, ochem1, and pre-calc (with labs for the sciences). . . working full time for the fire department (granted, I get lots of study time there when we aren't running calls), and working about 36 hors/mo on the weekends as a nurse. . . I probably won't have time to eat many of those days, but everyone's situation is different and you gotta do what you gotta do (feel free to chime in, anyone, if you feel I'm committing suicide-or-if you've seen similarly difficult things done successfully, love to hear some opinions. . . ). But yeah. . . you'll be totally fine with 10 hours, and to be quite honest, if you aren't fine with 10 hours I think it says something negative about your organizational skills already, I'd die to have the free time of 'just a full time student'-just my opinion though, don't anyone shoot me 🙂

 

[Sesom]

I did McDonalds on weekends---16-20 hours a week. But it was ALWAYS on the weekends, so it didn't interfere with my week, which was awesome. I knew I had Monday-Friday for class/studying. And I worked 1st shift--7-3---which allowed me to go out----you just come in groggy or not feeling your best sometimes.

McDonalds to Medical Student, they should make a movie about you 😀I work 20 hours a week at a call center making calls for deaf people on the weekends. 10 hrs Sunday and 10 hours Saturday. I've found it to work out well if I keep my M-F hours free for school. Since it's a phone job I have been able to Knit hats for newborn babies which give me 1 1/2 hour per hat, I'm a dude who never thought he would learn to knit.

 

[chidoman]

.

 

[nctw]

Like I previously said, I had a 4.6/3.7 GPA in high school. I'm currently enrolled in:
Intro to Chem (I haven't had Chem since first semester of sophomore year and high school and want to have a strong foundation)
Bio 101+lab
Psych 101
Topics for my major (required)
Bowling (PE requirement)
Calc 1

 

[NickNaylor]

Like I previously said, I had a 4.6/3.7 GPA in high school.

Cool story bro. Welcome to college. It's not high school.

 

[UnclePhil]

lol @ bragging about high school grades.

 

[nctw]

lol @ bragging about high school grades.

Not bragging. One of the other posters asked. I realize it's completely insignificant and nobody cares, but I just wanted to give a little background info on what kinda of student I have been and hope to continue to be.

 

[jmath27]

How many of you had part-time jobs as undergrads? I was looking to work for my school as an IT help assistant (phone calls and emails) to earn some cash. The times are flexible, and it should be roughly ten hours a week. Is this manageable on top of ECs, studying, and doing well in classes?

I'm currently doing IT at my school as well, averaging about 20-25 hours a week. And yes, granted I'm not sure how flexible your bosses are but my boss seemed to be really flexible with my test schedule. Basically letting me come in whenever I had tests.

But overall you should be fine. You just have to make sure you prioritize and schedule everything out. Abuse the 24hour libraries as much as you can.

 

[rockyrado]

I didn't realize you were an incoming freshman, so I was assuming you could base it off of how much time you had free last semester. In that case I'd recommend waiting a semester before starting work and/or piling on everything else, simply because your college experience will be of an unknown difficulty compared to your high school experience. I didn't get fully involved in everything I am now until second semester, and I thought it made the transition easier. In any case, just be careful if you go all out from the start, because you don't want to engage in major commitments that you'd feel bad about dropping should you realize you need more time for studying or whatever. You may end up having plenty of time to do everything you want, or barely enough to time to juggle a couple things, but either way, I'd rather have the freedom to adjust.

This is the truth. I am a full time student that additionally works 4 part time jobs (~50 hrs/wk) during the school year. That said, your first semester in college will be an adjustment no matter what the school. Hold off on starting up until at least second semester when you are more accustomed to the lifestyle. I started working first semester and it didn't work out well for either my GPA or my social life.

 

[circulus vitios]

I work at a grocery store. 25 hours a week first year then I cut back to 16 hours a week for second and third years, and probably fourth as well. Crappy job but whatever, it gives me money for books and stuff.

 

[Infarction]

Yeah, I would agree with most everyone else in that you should probably use your first semester to acclimate yourself to college. Remember that the atmosphere in college is completely different, both academically and socially, so you might need some time to adjust before loading up on activities. The most important thing to do, though, is focus on your GPA and maybe start looking at pre-med organizations.

Also, as far as jobs are concerned, (i know you didn't really ask about this but I'm going to say it anyway) I would highly recommend looking at tutoring/SI leader opportunities (if your college has them). Granted, you probably won't be able to apply for these positions until your second year of college, but they are definitely worth it.

And yes, doing research, having a job, taking 18 hours, and having a social life is manageable... once you learn how to allocate your time appropriately

 

[NightGod]

Like I previously said, I had a 4.6/3.7 GPA in high school. I'm currently enrolled in:
Intro to Chem (I haven't had Chem since first semester of sophomore year and high school and want to have a strong foundation)
Bio 101+lab
Psych 101
Topics for my major (required)
Bowling (PE requirement)
Calc 1

Unless you did horribly the first go around, I would just jump into regular Chemistry because this will be a wasted semester for you like this. I was 20 years out from my last Chem class and took Chem I and got an A without any serious trouble. Judging by your grades, I doubt you'd have any serious issue doing the same.

 

[nctw]

Unless you did horribly the first go around, I would just jump into regular Chemistry because this will be a wasted semester for you like this. I was 20 years out from my last Chem class and took Chem I and got an A without any serious trouble. Judging by your grades, I doubt you'd have any serious issue doing the same.

I didn't really try in high school, and I only remember the basic concepts. I scored a 16 on the placement test (not out of 100) and to take Chem 101 you were supposed to score a 17. I figured it'll either be a good review and really easy or a chance for me to learn stuff I missed in high school. I have enough AP credits transferring for my general ed requirements that I'm not getting behind.

 

[AsianPersuasion]

Unfortunately I can't wait to see how well I can balance my first semester, bills won't pay it self 🙁 . Right now I'm doing 60hrs M-F CNA so when school starts it's probably gonna be strictly weekends :/