<p>I was wondering if the wife and I are on the right track. Our daughter will be entering as a freshman this Fall 2005. She would like a summer job working at a theater, video store, local bread store or whatever is close to the house. Kinda a no brainer, really…would be good experiance for her.</p>
<p>She also would like to work during college. We talked her into waiting to see how her first year studies go to make sure she will not be in over her head. She is a great student and will be involved in an extensive neuroscience program for seven or eight years.</p>
<p>Our thoughts as parents are to work this summer doing whatever she wishes. However, following this summer to consider any work or volunteer projects to be related to her neuroscience major. It seems that competition is fierce from applying to college to hoping for scholarships. Even the program she is interested in is competative.</p>
<p>Our daughter is a dedicated, hard working young woman and as parents we have given her the reins to her intellectual freedom. We are looking for third party thoughts to make sure we are not stepping too much onto our daughter. Bottom line, we feel that following this summer…any work or project volunteer related to her major is better than a few bucks she will make working in fast food.</p>
<p>Many colleges expect students to be earning at least $3,000 per summer that will go towards college expenses- in fact I think your EFC is calculated to include that amount.
Many students also work during the school year- to buy their books and pay for personal expenses.
If you don’t need financial aid at all- then she would have free rein(reign?) to spend her summer how she sees fit- if that is part of your agreement- personally I think there are valuable skills to be learned working- even in fast food.
I also don’t know what area you live in- but jobs are tough to find- good summer jobs are spoken for already- school gets out in about a month-!</p>
<p>one thought to consider is that she may need a break and change of pace during her summers. why not wait and see how it falls out. by next summer, she will probably have an idea as to whether she wants to intern/continue her studies in the summer or do something completely different (travel, volunteer, work at a camp) instead.</p>
<p>I agree with you both. We applied for financial aid but even with just one of us working we apparently still made too much for their formulas in calculating aid. </p>
<p>Hmmm, now you have me wondering…is it “rein” or “reign”. Being a farm boy having raised horses “free rein” is letting go of the reins and letting the horse have its head to navigate its own course. Guess we were looking at letting our daughter having the freedom to make her own decisions…</p>
<p>She is planning to spend time overseas studying for a semester or year. This is still new ground for us and trying to get a feel of what is the best approach. I am sure summer jobs for this year are hard to find at this point…at least we have a few connections that ensure she will have something. Just thinking ahead for next summer and the best way to spend her time.</p>
<p>Really appreciate your positive thoughts…they will go well with during coffee with the wife and I.</p>
<p>Casey - In our situation - both of our kiddos worked during college - we considered it a part of their contribution to their education - they were expected to save these funds for use during school - and it worked out very well for both of them. They also work/worked during the summers. We cover some of their expenses during school that are not school related so this gives them a sense of ‘buying’ into their own responsibilities.</p>
<p>My DS worked in non-major related jobs during undergrad - grad school he worked directly in his major - the experience was well worth it for him in the long run in many respects.</p>
<p>My DD is a sophmore in college - she works an on campus job - which is related to her major - actually it was a job offered to her after spending a ‘freshman week’ on a trip just before school started - only a few hours a week - we call it ‘‘pizza $$’’. During her freshman year she was somewhat at a loss about her major - originally she was a pre-physical therapy major - she decided to spend the summer working at the Outer Banks and discovered what she really loved and wanted to do for school and declared her major on her return to school - she is now an Outdoor Rec Mngt major - with some Rec Therapy in there too. Altho she has a fairly heavy school load - 17-18 credits per semester - her job and other responsibilities have allowed her to be better organized with her time management and the benefit of being involved in her major in a positive way - also the networking benefits. One benefit that will be great when she graduates is the fact that she will be able to put on her resume 4 years of experience/consistent employment. Another benefit of an on-campus job is the scheduling - they are wonderful about working around her schedule.</p>
<p>It may not be a bad idea - you know your DD best - many freshman do not work at first - some do - maybe she needs to figure this out on her own terms - unless your financial situation is that she would not have to at all - but maybe she could search out potential positions at the school itself - there may be something that would allow her to be involved in something of interest and give her a few $$'s in her pocket - and not be overwhelming. Just something to think about.</p>
<p>You DD will be able to do semester abroad or internships without a problem - it all does work out. All the experiences they have will have value some where along the line towards their personal goals. The opportunities out there are for them to find and to experience - wether it be working, an internship, a semester abroad, being involved in something for their major - you just can’t lose. Good Luck to you both.</p>
<p>Personally I think working 8-10 hours a week (a couple afternoon shifts) can be very good for students. It helps structure their time and also puts their skin into paying for school (and helps shrink the kid’s loans if they have any). That said, if my kid has a major EC (music, theater, sports) I would pass on the job unless absolutely needed … because the EC already chewed up their “free time”.</p>
<p>If you’re asking if this is too much “direction” or parental control, I’d have to say, yes. You say she’ll be spending the next 8 or 9 years in pursuit of the various degrees in her major. What about a balanced life?</p>
<p>For my kid, this would be a recipe for burnout. She needs outside interests as outlets for creativity, for social satisfaction and to explore interests that are outside her immediate career goals. Money aside, growth takes many forms. I would never want to require her to curtail any productive pursuits at this stage of her life. She’ll only be young once, and discovering who she is (apart from her career goals) may require exploring all of her interest and talents.</p>
<p>I think that the desire to pursue an internship must be student generated. If your post is merely speculating as to what she might do next summer, I think that it is great to look at the future possibilities. Most of the students that I know are finding their way with support and occasional council from their parents…but they are making the decisions. I am in total agreement with you regarding the merits of an internship over flipping burgers if your child sees it that way as well. One of my daughter’s best friends continues to scoop ice cream each summer and I can guarantee you that this kid will still get into a good grad program if she so chooses.</p>
<p>If your daughter decides to follow the path of looking for an internship or volunteer position next summer there will probably be an office or department at her school that can help her. Often upper classmen get priority for the lab positions of consequence. Occasionally there is grant money - even for undergrads. Also, relationships with professors can be helpful even if the student does not apply for a college related internship. My daughter has been able to arrange volunteer internships during the past two summers by keeping her ears and eyes open and getting suggestions or recommendations from past high school teachers, current college profs and friends in the field. </p>
<p>I am a big fan of earning at least some of your own spending money so last summer my daughter’s mentor allowed her to work at her internship during the afternoon and evening. She taught tennis in the morning. It is looking like this year’s internship will have a living stipend or some grant money. Finally!</p>
<p>I certainly would not have chosen the road that my daughter is on (I had typical service industry summer jobs) but she seems to find a way to pursue her academic interests and still have a chunk of the summer for fun. It can be done.</p>
<p>My niece, a NMF high school senior at the time, got a summer job with a friend of mine, a neurobiologist at a major university. How did I get her the job? I asked him if he needed any help. He hesitated about her age and then let her give it a go. I don’t remember the pay, but it was certainly equal to the video store, LOL.</p>
<p>The summer convinced her that research was FAR too quiet. She’s pursuing a Master’s in Public Health on top of her MD–after several years with Teach America.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the biologist was bereft. She was one of the most dynamic researchers he’d ever had.</p>
<p>Music to a parent’s ears! Isn’t it nice when they WANT to work? I agree with the plan as you’ve laid it out. The work experience from this summer should help her land a job or internship in her field for next summer. If she works at the local market this summer, it will say “I’m a worker, not just someone who wants positions that look good on my resume”…</p>
<p>I think your plan sounds like a good one. I don’t think a little direction is a bad thing–you seem to have thought this out and probably have a longer view than she does right now.</p>
<p>I will probably sound spoiled admitting this; my parents’ longer view (and direction) led to a different outcome for me. </p>
<p>I got home my first summer from college and started scoping out the want ads to look for a job. My parents told me to ease off. They believed I deserved a break and (wisely) noted this might be the last time in my life I would have free summers. </p>
<p>I didn’t totally slack off; I ended up taking some less-demanding, more-flexible jobs for fewer hours a week (babysitting, helping my dad at his job, etc). I also took some summer school at the local state college, to get some tougher core courses out of the way (at a more relaxed pace, and cheaper than my regular school). If I’d had a better idea what I was interested in, an internship would have been a fabulous way to spend the summer, too.</p>
<p>My parents weren’t (and aren’t) wealthy–they were willing to forgo the help with my college expenses because they saw this as important to my well-being.</p>
<p>This isn’t really what you were asking about, but my relevant thought is that I don’t think you’re interfering unfairly. Your direction on how to spend her summers sounds right to me.</p>
<p>We are living up here in the corner of the Pacific Northwest. We are not wealthy financial but are rewarded with a couple of great kids…definitely of mom’s genes. The bride decided to leave the outside workplace to become the CEO of our family at home nearly 20 years ago. </p>
<p>We have been sensitive of over controlling our kids. Tens years ago our daughter wanted piano lessons. Our request was that this was her decision and we would provide the lessons and she would provide the practice. She is still taking lessons to this day and never once have we asked her to practice (she plays everyday)…though I have ragged on her to get dinner while it was still hot. Both kids have always done their homework without asking, but the bedrooms being a bit sloppy are another issue. But, who cares…</p>
<p>Our daughter’s interest in neuroscience began in the 8th grade, we had zero influence on her chosen path. Her love animals led her to vet med…again, her decision. We have joked with her about providing us with free medical care as long as the medications are not big pills and…never mind. ;)</p>
<p>What we, as parents, are doing is looking ahead to the future and grad school and the best path we can recommend to our daughter. And as parents, we are coming to this forum for a little guidance ourselves from you all…parents and students alike, to share in your experiances and thoughts.</p>