Working While Going to College: Pros and Cons Essay
Introduction, reasons for working during college, positive effects of working during college, negative effects of working during college.
At the present day, the majority of students chose work while going to college, they take a part-time job and attend classes, or they chose a full-time occupation during the summer. Some students have a financial necessity to find work before graduation, while others are ready to sacrifice their free time, entertainment, and communication with group mates to provide themselves with a comfortable living and become adaptable, responsible, and mature. Like any activity, working while going to college has positive and negative effects on young people. The purpose of this essay is to examine the reasons that encourage students to work while studying and the impact of working during college.
Working during college has its reasons and may be highly beneficial. Although a significant number of students are frequently apprehensive about applying for a part-time or even full-time job during college, this possibility may be taken into consideration. However, a student should thoroughly evaluate his or her strengths, flexibility, and potential necessity of working. One of the most substantial reasons to work while going to college is the ability to earn money. A working student may independently pay for his or her classes, reduce the amount of money that was borrowed for education, or have the ability to afford a comfortable living. In particular cases, when companies offer students the benefits of a full-time job for the execution of part-time work, young people may start their retirement savings while they are still studying. Another reason for working while going to college is the improvement of personal and professional skills. Even if a taken part-time job is not connected with obtainable education and future profession, it will inevitably require time management and decision-making skills, or the ability to build understanding with a large number of diverse people. In general, working during college is a positive personal life experience, students may try various kinds of activities, test their abilities, or get acquainted and apparently form a friendship with a great number of people.
Working while going to college has a substantial number of positive effects. First of all, getting a job during college provides students with an income and helps them to make student loan payments. Student loan debt is a significant issue for many students, the necessity to pay it after graduation slows down life progress and postpones the essential ambitions such as homeownership and starting a family. Working during college gives young people the possibility to graduate without substantial financial obligations. Another positive impact of the combination of work with studying is the receiving of valuable job experience. Students who are working during college accumulate knowledge, improve self-discipline, and develop their professional and communicative skills. Finding a job that corresponds with a chosen profession may positively affect a resume and provide career development immediately after finishing the study. Even if job experience received during part-time work is not closely related to the field of study, working students learn work ethic, and get additional information that may be highly useful in the future. Such students obviously get more chances to fit a particular position after graduation compared with young people without any experience at all.
Despite the positive impact of working while going to college on students’ future career, self-development, and financial obligations, a job taken in college may influence students adversely. As young people who work frequently choose their jobs instead of study time and prefer practical skills to theoretical knowledge, it significantly affects their grades in a negative way. Students with work frequently have a serious risk of getting expelled, as the necessity to work effectively for extended hours eliminates the possibility of studying to the full extent. The constant receiving of low grades results in deferring or quitting courses. If a job takes much time and effort, it makes students distracted and influences their social life, insulating them from entertainment, communication, and activities with group mates. Negative effects of working while studying on grades, a lack of sleep and social life, and tension at work due to managing deadlines significantly increase the working students’ level of stress. One more potential though not inevitable negative effect of working while going to college is an elevated risk of students’ obesity. Working young people frequently do not have time for balanced and healthy meals, and the consumption of fast food and other high-sugar meals may lead to severe health problems, like obesity, diabetes, and other diseases.
Students have various reasons to work while going to college, the most substantial reason is the ability to pay classes, reduce the student loan debt before graduation, and start retirement savings in the case of full-time job benefits for part-time work from particular companies. Working while going to college improves students’ personal and professional skills and provides a positive life experience. Working in college has both positive and negative effects on students. It helps with student loan payments and significantly influences the successful start of a career due to received experience, skills, and knowledge. However, a lack of sleep and social life, tension at work due to managing deadlines, and extended working hours have a negative impact on students’ grades and increase the risk of getting expelled. As working students frequently eat fast food due to a lack of time for healthy meals, it may result in severe diseases.
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IvyPanda . "Working While Going to College: Pros and Cons." January 16, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/working-while-going-to-college-pros-and-cons/.
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Should students work part-time while studying?
Should you have a part-time job when you're studying at university? What are the benefits? What about the disadvantages? We answer these questions and offer top tips and advice.
Being a university student is expensive, and being an international student is even more costly. With the rising cost of living worldwide, finding part-time work while studying at university may seem like the only option. You may need to work to cover daily expenses, pay tuition and other academic fees, or have some extra spending money.
Whatever your reasons, deciding to work part-time while pursuing your degree can benefit you in many ways, not just by providing extra money. However, there are also some disadvantages you should be aware of before sending off your CV.
Advantages of working part-time while at university
Here are the reasons why having a part-time job at university will benefit you both in the short and long term:
You will have an income
The extra money you will have is probably the most obvious advantage of working part-time while studying. As the cost of living crisis makes it extra challenging for students to manage their finances, having a part-time job can provide you with a financial safety net.
Part-time work can help you gain the financial flexibility to travel, treat yourself or save for future goals. While maintaining good grades is crucial, you wouldn't want to pass up the opportunity to explore the new country you've moved to. The income from your part-time job will fund your adventures in your host country.
You can enhance your CV
Working part-time while at university allows you to gain valuable work experience that can help you stand out to future employers. You will develop appealing transferable skills such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving abilities, making you an attractive candidate.
Having a part-time job relevant to your field of study is also an excellent way to combine your academic knowledge with practical experience, which can make you an even more desirable candidate.
You will make new friends
Are you starting university in a new location? Taking on a part-time job offers a fantastic opportunity to meet new people. It allows you to form new friendships, learn about diverse cultures and create a network that reaches beyond the campus.
An opportunity to network
On top of expanding your social circle, working part-time can potentially link you with professionals who can provide helpful advice and support. By building a professional network, you can expose yourself to internships, mentorships and future job opportunities.
You will become more confident
Working part-time while studying requires effective time management and organisational skills. To juggle work and study, you must know how to prioritise your responsibilities and allocate your time. You will undoubtedly gain a strong sense of achievement when you successfully balance your work and academic lives.
Your part-time job will also naturally come with its challenges, and being able to navigate them will also make you feel accomplished.
Disadvantages of part-time jobs for students
Before deciding that part-time work is definitely for you, you need to take into account its potential drawbacks. Here are the main areas for you to think about:
Your stress level may increase
Committing to part-time work can make your life more stressful. It can be overwhelming to juggle work shifts, coursework and exams.
However, you can reduce your stress levels by practising effective time management. For example, creating a detailed schedule or prioritisation list can help you effectively manage the challenges of working while studying.
You may have less time for your social life
Many part-time jobs require unsociable working hours, which can affect your university life. You won't have as much time to participate in the various extracurricular activities on campus or create meaningful connections.
As you master the balance of work, studies, sleep, errands and friendships, you must be ready to sacrifice or learn to compromise. At the same time, you must also learn how to set boundaries and know when to say no.
What are the best part-time jobs for university students?
Ideally, you should find a job that works around your lectures and study time. Since most of your classes and exams are during the day, you should look for work that can be scheduled around your primary focus, which is your coursework and future career.
Here are a few part-time job types that best fit into your life as a university student:
Jobs in industries such as retail or hospitality allow you to work flexible hours, making it possible to fit work around your class schedule. While this type of work is flexible, it may also involve irregular, unpredictable hours.
On-campus work
Don't forget to explore job opportunities provided by your university, such as becoming a student ambassador. Working on campus allows you to form stronger connections with your institution and peers, enabling you to fully engage in university life.
Freelance work
If you want to work independently and maximise your earnings, freelance work might be your ideal option. However, it requires a high level of self-discipline and the ability to secure your own clients.
Alternative work
Digitalisation has created many alternative sources of income that students can take advantage of. For instance, you can sell items on e-commerce platforms like eBay and Vinted or participate in affiliate and social media marketing.
Visa requirements for international students
Before seeking part-time work, it is crucial to consider the student visa requirements. Different destinations have varying rules for international students regarding the number of hours they can work. It is essential to adhere to the conditions of your student visa diligently.
Here’s a quick overview:
Top tips for working part-time while studying
Juggling work and study is undeniably challenging, but it is more than achievable if you have the right strategies and mindset. Read on for our top tips on how to make the most of this experience.
Get a planner
Get a physical or digital planner to help you organise your weekly schedule, including lectures, study sessions, work commitments and social activities.
Visualising your week will help you spot open time slots for effective study sessions and relaxation. Once you have created your schedule, try sticking to it as closely as possible to stay organised.
Prioritise your academic life
Despite the many benefits of working part-time, your studies should always be your priority. Your part-time job shouldn't impact your grades. When organising your weekly schedule, we recommend allocating specific periods for concentrated studying to ensure steady academic progress.
Communicate with your employer
Let your manager at work know your university schedule and help them understand your availability. Communicate with your manager if you struggle to manage your work and academic responsibilities. Find out if they can introduce flexibility into your work schedule to support you.
Look after your health
It's easy to get caught up and forget to look after yourself when you have a busy schedule. However, it is important to be physically and mentally healthy to keep up with a hectic lifestyle. Make sure to maintain a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and exercise regularly to stay healthy.
Check out the video below for more good tips and advice on how to balance your studies with working part-time.
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