How to Balance a Campus Job with Homework
Time Management and Schedule Tips for Working College Students
Dec 9, 2008
Are you struggling to balance college courses with a part time or full time work schedule? This can be one of the most difficult challenges for a college student, especially since the rising cost of education makes it necessary for many students to work long hours. As many students know, it can feel overwhelming to try to maintain good grades while working.
Here are some tips to help working students balance their load.
Time Management
Students who have no priorities except for school have the luxury of being able to goof off a little. You don't – which is a shame, but that's how it goes. The good news is this: students who work their way through college have no choice but to learn how to manage their time, which is an essential skill that you'll need throughout your life.
To manage your time, it's a good idea to keep a detailed calendar of what you need to do and when. Be sure to allot enough time to complete all your tasks. Here are some more time management tips for college students.
Choose a Realistic Course Schedule
Working students often are caught in a double bind. On the one hand, you don't want to take too many classes at once because you also have to work and you don't want your grades to suffer. However, if you take too few classes, it will take you longer to graduate, which can be expensive. The trick is to figure out how heavy a load you can handle without sacrificing the quality of your work – and without making yourself crazy.
When choosing classes, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Try not to take more than one class per semester that you know will be particularly difficult for you.
- Try not to take more than one weed out class per semester.
- Consider taking time-consuming courses during the summer. Summer courses often are a little less work than the same courses during the semester.
- Space out your difficult courses so that you don't get stuck with a full load of them your senior year.
- Keep drop date deadlines in mind so you can drop a class if it gets to be too much.
Look for Jobs that Accommodate School
Some employers are more than happy to work around student schedules, including time off for final exams – and some employers are not. Before taking a job, be sure to have an explicit conversation with your potential employer about flexibility during busy times. If the employer cannot be at least somewhat flexible, this might not be a do-able job.
When searching for a job that accommodates school, consider these tips.
- Look for on-campus jobs. On-campus employers expect that students will need flexible schedules.
- Look for a job that allows you at least a little opportunity to work on your homework during down times.
- Look for jobs with a set schedule that won't require you to be on call at any time.
- Consider working longer hours during breaks so you won't have to work as much during the semester.
Communicate with Your Professors
If you are struggling to balance a heavy work schedule with school, let your professors know this. No, they're not going to let you slide through. However, professors respect students who don't have their educations handed to them, and they just might cut you some slack. Let your professors know if you have specific needs resulting from your job; for example, if you're often going to be a few minutes late because you're commuting from your job right to class, discuss this with the professor.
Balancing work and school can be a frustrating challenge, but students have been doing it for years, and you can do it too. Manage your time well, maintain a realistic schedule, and look for jobs that are willing to accommodate your school schedule, and you'll find that good grades are more than possible for a working student.
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