Making the Dough & Making the Grades

So your parents cut you off...now what? The only option now is one that many college students struggle with, finding a job. At this point you may be thinking to yourself, "How am I going to get a job and work during the week while still taking those 15 hours of course work?". The answer is unfortunately not going to be that easy to swallow.

Working a job and going to college full time is, in itself, like having two jobs. You must work so many hours a week to pay your bills and buy food, but you must also have time to study and attend your classes. So how do you do it? 

Speaking from experience, I have had a part-time job since I was sixteen, holding down a job and attending college full time is not an easy task. However, maybe I can give you a few tips that will help make it a little less stressful. 

1. Don't schedule your work during class time. Let your scheduler/manager know before you start your job that you have classes at a certain time on certain days so you will be free to attend them. If your job can not work with your class schedule it may not be the job for you. 

2. When you are at work, work. Unless your boss just doesn't care if you study and do homework on the job, just focus on work. Then, when you leave your job, leave your job. When you get home it is time to get focused and do your school work. This will help you keep the two tasks separate. *This tip will also help you ensure good time management skills.*

3. Limit the amount of time you work during the week. Unless you have no choice financially, do not overload your work hours during week. See if your manager will let you work more on the weekend than you do during the week. This will keep you from being so drained during the week, and will give you time to do homework on the week nights. If you need the extra hours, try picking up most of your shifts on the weekends. 

4. Give yourself time during exam time. Keep in mind when your midterms and finals are. Ask for a couple days off during these times to make sure you have time to study. *This will also give you time to catch up on resting your body and mind, to prepare your body for your exams.* You need to be well versed in the material as well as being well rested so that you do the best you can on the tests. 

While working a job in college may not be ideal or "fun", it is possible. Follow these few key tips and maybe your twenty hour work week won't be so stressful.