<p>Not necessarily how important to the admissions process, but to the development of that pre-human in your household? Think just a summer job is ok, or should the kiddos be working year round, gaining experience from juggling school, work, and extracurriculars.</p>
<p>
[quote]
but to the development of that pre-human in your household?
[/quote]
I think a job is as important as the next person, but that may be rushing it a bit. :)</p>
<p>I think a job is very important not only for any boost they get at admissions time but also the responsibility they gain.
My kids fought me tooth and nail about working. I am finding this is a common reaction. I dont know when things changed, but I remember wanting to work to get money. Maybe we give them too much money so they dont feel the economic pinch? Anyway, I forced the issue and they began working the summer after turning 16 and continued to work through the school year.
Sometimes working is a pain to them when they have to miss some parties and such but they actually do like their jobs. They have learned to balance all their EC's, family, school etc. I think that in itself is a valuable lesson for later in life. They see now that sometimes working isnt convenient but they love the money! I see the benifits too. They often spend their own money now! My oldest is set to go off to college in the fall and is loving the fact that she will be able to do social things without worrying about money because of how hard she worked these last few years.
A friend of my DD comes from a wealthy family. She is now a college sophmore and has NEVER held any kind of paying job. Not in HS and not during college or in the summers while she is home. I can only think that when she goes to get a job after college that employers are going to ask what she did all those summers...</p>
<p>My two older kids had jobs as soon as they could legally work. My younger child won't have time for a traditional with her academic/sports schedule, because of the level of competition. She has been able to fit in some tutoring and babysitting, but she won't end up with the same economic resources that her older sibs had. </p>
<p>I think it is healthy for kids to learn and to understand that money doesn't grow on trees, and that they have to earn money to survive. They have been much more grateful for those things that they have, especially after they realize how much time it takes to earn the money, and how little time it takes to spend it.</p>
<p>I gave no thought to what looks good/doesn't look good on a college app. If they want to drive, they'd best be finding a job. I don't put gas in the car. I don't hand out cash for any non-school related activites once they're old enough to work. I had no trouble getting the oldest one to go get herself employed. She started the summer after her freshman year. She likes the money and has proved herself a good employee. But, my goodness, the schedule is a killer. I was wondering if it'd be wise to insist on an hours cut for next year (senior). She's enrolled in 29 credit hours of college courses. </p>
<p>D2 is a rising freshman. At 14, she is old enough to work in certain industires, but she has another year and half before she has to start thinking about gas money.</p>
<p>I think it's good, but not necessary if the student is deeply involved in some other positive activity that makes working difficult. If I had a child on a traveling sports team or something like that, I'd view that activity plus school as a full plate.</p>
<p>Both my kids starting working when they were about 8 and 10 (growing and selling strawberries at a roadside stand). They planted the plants, weeded, picked the berries, ordered berry baskets, made a sign,set up the stand and manned it everyday for the three weeks strawberries were in, dealt with customers. At the end of each season, they figured up their costs, paid back their business loan (to their dad) and then split the profits. By the time they were in high school they were acutely aware of the value of a dollar. Even now, at 18 and 21 they will joke with each other by referring to the cost of things in the number of baskets of berries. Just the other night S1 told S2 he better work his a** off in college cause a single year is 26,000 baskets of berries. Brought it home to S2. (This is the child who refused to buy Hotwheels with his own money because there was no way one was worth a basket of berries!)</p>
<p>All of mine either worked, or participated in a school activity that didn't allow for a part time job. They gained so much from both that I can't imagine how they would have turned out without those experiences. They worked during summers once they turned 16. They held part time jobs during seasons of school where they did not participate in a sport or another activity that required at least a daily commitment. </p>
<p>My kids never fought me over working because without it, they would have had no spending money, no car, and only clothes they received as gifts. It's amazing what motivation poverty provides :)</p>
<p>My son's sports participation counted as "job" for most of high school, but I am thrilled to say he was just hired by AmericanEagle. The 40% off employee discount is a huge perk for his fashion-habit.</p>
<p>I was hoping he'd have a job doing something miserable to enforce his desire for a college degree, but working retail with the general public will probably adequate incentive - it was for ME!</p>
<p>DD (just finished her first year of college) had too many commitments with school workload, varsity sports two seasons, and her two-hour round-trip commute to hold down a job. DS (16) seems to be mostly holding down the couch and I am thinking a job should be in his immediate future. It sounds somewhat unfair, but DD worked much harder at school than DS and her work paid off with scholarship money.</p>
<p>My son's intitials are AE, perhaps he should apply at American Eagle. I will recommend that when he gets home today.</p>
<p>My daughter after high school graduation worked two jobs at the same time, one at Impulse dept @ Macys.
Since she was trying to save money for her gap year- working in a dept that sold $200 jeans and required clerks to wear the product wasn't a strategy that worked well- so she dropped her Macy's job after a few months when her other job gave her increased hours.</p>