Since you do have the choice in how to handle it (unlike families who can just barely afford to pay for kids’ college, so the students need to work to earn money to pay), here are some factors to consider:
A. First semester is the highest risk one where students stumble academically while adjusting from high school to college. You may want to consider not encouraging work first semester but encouraging work later semesters for this reason.
B. You might want to indirectly encourage work by paying only for the minimal baseline costs, so that any extra spending money would have to be earned from work (or additional scholarships that he may earn).
C. If he has a scholarship that requires meeting a certain GPA to renew, be especially careful about encouraging work in the first semester. That also applies if his GPA in later semesters is just barely over the renewal threshold, and he is in a high-workload major (with lots of lab, art studio/performance, computer programming, or project courses). You might consider the scholarship to be “work earnings” since he did earn it through his academic work.
Very productive. Saved my D. lots of time preparing for one of the sections on MCAT - Chem. She was working as Supplental Instructor for Chem. prof. for 3 years. having pocket money for the next 4 years (in Med. School) did not hurt either.
I dont make mine work during the school year, but they have to work in the summer to save money for school year spending. The only exception, is if the a summer internship is unpaid, then they would have to work during the school year. So far it has worked out.
Yes, academic-type work (tutoring, reader for minor assignments in classes, etc.) can help the student reinforce what s/he has already learned in class.
We did not “make” our kids work in college, but both did after freshman year. One tutored 10-15 hours a week at the college writing center and the other worked in their field, following a 6 month internship at the same organization. Very worthwhile experiences for each of them.
Oldest had unpaid internships during the school year. she worked in the summers.
Younger child will be doing a full time language immersion this summer , so no job but he works on campus during the school year.
Husband and I are debating the point of it all. We can afford to pay for all of his needs. I did the work study thing in college and hated every minute of it. Thoughts?
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I did work study in college and LOVED every minute of it. Work-study is awesome because rarely do you have to work nights or weekends! A student dream!
My kids wouldn’t have qualified for work study, but I did expect them to work for spending money. Both of my kids were given a “free semester” their fall frosh year, so they were each given a credit card to cover those expenses.
Older son “did a number” with my credit card and restaurants (while also having the pricey unlimited meal plan). Therefore, the quicker I could get him working after that Fall Frosh semester, the better. (He’s so much better when spending his OWN money…lol)
They both enjoyed their jobs. They both worked as paid university tutors for math, bio, chem, and Spanish. The jobs were M-F, so weekends off.
I did let S2 work very minimally (Friday afternoon only) the semester he took Orgo II because he was also taking some nasty eng’g class (thermal or fluids or one of those horrid classes).
I always paid for my kids’ cars, gas, insurance, cell phones, toiletries, clothes, and study abroad costs, but their jobs were to pay for daily “fun” or pocket money.
Any work is productive. It teaches responsibilities above and beyond academic type of responsibilities. D. was ready to take any “dirty” job, but none was availble for her in a summer, was complete waste of her time applying to many many jobs, not a peep from any…she “settled” on campus job during school year.
Working/volunteering/interning during college is an excellent way to hone time management skills. I recommend it for most students. I can say that it worked well for my kids.
I told my Ds I do not want them working their first two years of college. They want to for control of more funds but I worked my entire college career and my grades suffered, could not join a lot of clubs, etc. The good thing is I got multiple offers upon graduation because at that time knowing computers and all the latest software was not common. Junior and Senior Interns, research, etc. puts them on a better track of finding a job once they graduate so would encourage jobs that will somehow help their major. Summer of course is different.
To answer the question of the OP, I think it depends on the student and how you define work. For our children we have told them that school is their “job”. Upon graduation they will be expected to support themselves.
We have explained the importance of building a resume. In striving for great grades and ECs, they can grow as individuals and build skills. We understand that some paying jobs can get the same results, however in our experience a lot of the part-time jobs on campus are menial. And yes, we understand that we are fortunate that we can afford to do this.
I strongly feel setting expectations is important. When we ask our children to do something (mow the lawn, shovel snow, run an errand, etc), they are expected to do it without complaining. When they are away at school they are expected to figure out their own work/life balance…with a strong emphasis on work. They’re also lucky they have older cousins they can learn from when it comes to grad school and seeking employment.
Lastly, we can afford to lavish “things” on our children, but we don’t. Consequently, our children don’t act like entitled brats. We are very happy with the way they are growing up…responsible, respectful and self-motivated hard workers.
P.S. They do work jobs over the summer. Up until this year when my college sophomore sought and got an internship, they were always approached for jobs. We’re lucky we live in a suburb where “good kids” are recognized and are in demand for things like teaching park district classes.
My menial job shelving library books along with some other experiences meant that I could sell myself as a librarian for a professor’s private collection when I was unable to get a job in architecture due to an ill-timed recession. I’ve learned something from every job I ever had. That particular job which paid my bills for a year - was actually one of the most enjoyable jobs I’ve ever had.
My younger son’s college job was a continuation of a summer job on campus working in events and conference planning. He’s now doing an internship in his field, but they cared a lot more about his job experience than his IR degree.
My kids don’t have a job during the school year. Finances aren’t an issue, they don’t qualify for work study jobs, and both kids are busy.
My son carries a pretty full load, between 19-21 credits per semester (which includes extra labs relating to his major); he’s also very involved in his club sport and volunteers teaching a swim class several times a week. He has had a paid internship in his major every summer since starting college. His twin does volunteering relating to her major during the school year and accepts commissioned work during summer. She has an internship this fall and will receive credit.
6-8 hours a week for first semester freshmen and up to 12for more experienced students gives them a lot of skills. Just looking for the job teaches them something, doing it day after day is a lesson in itself too. I had a friend who thought every uppermiddle/ middle class kid should have a menial on campus job for one semester, as an empathy experience and also as a concrete example of what their next 50years will be if they don’t do well in college. I must say that the technique, applied to a few “comfortable” kids, some with ao-so work habits and some with a certain sense of entitlement to boot, Surprisingly worked wonders.
Just because parents can pay for all the needs does not mean that a small job isn’t helplful. It usually helps students efficiently use their time, and why shouldn’t kids (even of the well-heeled) pay for their “wants”. Skin in the game.
My kids both worked. We asked them not to work their first term as freshmen. Both found jobs that were excellent, and fit in their schedules nicely…so they worked.
There was nothing counterproductive at all about them working. Each had good job experience to put on their resumes (both worked the same job for 3 1/2 years), and had excellent job references as well.
Oh…and they had spending money too…which they earned and could spend as they pleased.
I think my kids were at a decided advantage when seeking post-college employment because of the significant work experience they had in college. I know many college grads who got jobs not based on what they majored in – but as an outgrowth of what jobs they had in college. So I really think that 4-years spent not working in school is a squandered opportunity – at least for kids who expect to enter the employment market post college. As soon as they have that newly minted degree in hand, they will find that employers are interested in candidates with work experience related to the job.
It doesn’t have to be work-study or drudge work – or something the kid hates. A kid who doesn’t need to work can be choosy about what campus (or off-campus) jobs to apply for. My kids generally had jobs in college that they enjoyed, at least as much as anyone can “enjoy” their job.
I did work study in college and enjoyed it.
DH worked one year during college and all the summers in between.
S1 didn’t work his freshman year but did work (off campus) his last three years.
S2 didn’t work during college. College wasn’t easy for him. Didn’t want him to have extra stress of a job. He did work the last three years in high school.
How does your kid feel? Do they have paying work experience and are they used to having income seperate from you?
My D loves her campus jobs. One is as a museum docent and she can do as few or as many shifts as are available. She chooses to only do 2 shifts (4 hours a week total.) It’s quiet, pays well and she gets all sorts of fun perks like free museum passes and trips to neighboring cities for special exhibits. The other is as an editor for the school paper. That’s her area of interest so she’s happy to have the opportunity. She applied for another writing job as well for next year. She’s had an income seperate of us since she was 10 and really likes having her own money. Added bonus, she’s middle class in a school with lots of really wealthy kids not afraid to flaunt it. Having a job connected her with kids who were more representative of the real world.
I’d see how the kid feels. If they aren’t work study, they might not have the option. However some campuses have lots of open work and there can be some interesting stuff like working the theatre scene shop (great to do something with your hands that ends in a finished product that people outside you professor actually sees.)
I worked in college Soph, Junior and Seniors years – a “menial” job in food service (I didn’t qualify for work study so that was an on campus job that was less desirable) and sometimes worked catering parties at the alumni center. I worked with my roommate/best friend and really enjoyed the job even though it wasn’t glamorous. I recall working about 10 hours a week - just enough to have some income during the year as I had to pay for books and spending money. I also worked during the summers.
My D is a college freshman and has 2 jobs (although both for not that many hours) – as an assistant in her major’s department office and as a tour guide. She has worked between 3 and 12 hours per week. She is also heavily involved in dance and theatre rehearsals and has found time to fit everything in. She likes the structure and the extra money. She also found it really helpful to get to know the professors and to have those on campus work supervisors available as references for other opportunities.
I feel strongly that if a student can handle it, that work of any type during college is a great idea.