How Much Should I Work in College?

Cherryapple
Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:45:26 +0000

From an outline my English teacher (graduate of UC Berkeley; she took a seminar on how to succeed in college and wrote a small outline) gave me during my Senior year:



3. Plan: Each week buy a latte, sit down, and plan your week. First, list classes (you weren’t even thinking about skipping were you.) Second, list study time usually 2-3 hours for every 1 hour of class. Yes,it seems like a lot; some weeks it make be more and some weeks it may be less,but plan for it.

Example: You take 12 units, you will need 24-36 hours of study every week. That’s 36-48 hours each week already taken! That’s a full-time job!! (Personally, I found it useful to think of school as an 8-4 job with a short lunch and 2 breaks.) This leaves you with the afternoons and evenings free for fun!! (or a job.) I know working is a necessity, but if you can, avoid working more than 12 hours/week.
Remember: 48 hours of class/study time + 12hours of work / week = 60 hour weeks. Occasionally, 60-70 hour weeks are okay,but you will eventually stress-out, become ill, and lose your joi de vivre if all your weeks are over-booked.