So for this fall semester, I’m taking 17 credits with the following classes:
General Biology I (3 credits)- MWF 11-11:50 A.M., Recitation F 12-12:50 P.M.
General Biology I Lab (1 credit)- W 3-5:50 P.M.
Introductory Physics I (4 credits)- MWF 9-9:50 A.M., Recitation W 8-8:50 A.M.
Introductory Physics I Lab (0 credits)- Th 3-4:50 P.M.
Accounting Theory (3 credits)- T, Th 9:30-10:50 A.M.
Belief and Thought (3 credits)- MWF 1-1:50 P.M.
The Master Builders (3 credits)- T, Th 8-9:20 A.M.
The professors for the sections of Bio and Physics I’m in are the easiest and I don’t expect any problems there. However, I know that I’m going to spend a lot of time with accounting. I’m really interested in becoming a writing center tutor since I like teaching people and writing is one of my strong suits. If I can’t get a job at the writing center, I might just have to help out in the IT department or do telecounseling for the admissions office
Should I just not get a job on campus out of the fact that I’m investing a lot of time into my classes, or should I just go for the job and plan accordingly?
Really depends on the job. At many schools the hours for on campus jobs are very flexible as they understand that you have class as well. In the end, it is all about what you can handle, and whether or not you need more time for studying, social life, etc. It also matters how badly you need the job/money.
My daughter has worked at a job on campus in a lab since her first week of freshman year, and she is now starting her junior year. Many of her classmates also work part-time jobs on campus, and carry full-time class loads. She thinks it actually helps her manage her time better than if she had lots of free time, that she feels would go to waste rather than be used productively. It will be easiest if the job has hours that can be worked in the evenings and weekends, and not just between 8-5 M-F. If you want to give it a try, just keep your hours below 15 a week and you should be fine.
Most campus jobs don’t allow more than 20 hours per week and some permit even less. If you just worked the free time on TR between classes, that would give you 8 hours, and if the job is easy, you might even get study time.
I think that’s manageable. Most on-campus jobs are flexible and understanding with the workload and expectations for hours. And if they aren’t, find another job that is. But you could definitely do it with that schedule.