College is a busy enough time in the life of a student without undertaking a part time job, but he might not have a choice. Students and parents regularly complain about increases in the cost of a post-secondary education. After a four-year degree program, it might seem that now will be the time to earn money and pay off of a student loan, but is it? Perhaps those four years were just the beginning, and it will be a few more years before college studies give way to a lucrative career. Should your student work in college?
Paying for College Studies
Many students will have to cover part of the costs of schooling themselves, whether they think this is a good idea or not. Their loans are not sufficient, or they did not qualify for loans. Other available funding was so limited they had to look for money elsewhere.
Methods of paying for college besides working and studying at the same time include using an education savings fund, obtaining a private loan, or earning scholarships. Many teenagers take a year off when they graduate from high school to earn money working full-time. Almost all students are expected to find work during the holidays.
Usually a combination of all these things will be needed, plus some donations from family and friends. If mom and dad can afford to send a child to college, that saves a lot of worry, except they might have different plans for their teenagers.
Balancing College Studies with Work
Some people would say that working and studying is the old-fashioned way. Their fathers did the very same thing, and it did them no harm. This all depends on what their fathers studied, how many hours per day, and for how many months or years. Many professions which did not require that one hold a degree decades ago are now populated by individuals with Bachelors Degrees in science, art, or specific disciplines. Even teachers could be hired without degrees in education, and engineers apprenticed at industrial companies instead of going to university.
In some professions, it is possible to study for a certain number of hours and also get paid employment as part of that education. This is especially true in the trades like electrical and plumbing work.
Ultimately, though, if you work and go to school as well, something has to give. It might be nutrition, health, social life, housework, or hygiene. Alternatively, your grades will suffer or you will be only an average employee unless you choose the right job and only work a few hours weekly.
Helping College Students Manage Work and Studies Successfully
Parents often say they will provide room, meals, and cleaning for their children if they go to college after high school. Rent will not be expected so long as they keep their grades up. They might or might not be expected to wait tables or sell shoes at the mall.
What about students who want to study away from home or who have no home to turn to? In this case, studying online might be a better option than attending college full-time. This frees a student up to obtain work during conventional hours, giving her more choice of work including satisfying jobs which pay relatively well.
In the event that a teenager chooses to study away from home and family, the best way to manage studies plus work is to be a good manager of time and to have a plan. Select cheap but safe accommodation near college. Also look for work close to both of these locations. This will limit travel time and allow for a cheap lunch from the communal kitchen daily instead of starving or buying expensive, unhealthy fast-food.
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Author Bio
Joshua Turner is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to business. In this article, he explains the work involved with both college and a part time job and aims to encourage further study through Marylhurst University Online Programs.