Working Life
For many undergraduates, work is as much a part of the campus experience as cramming and pizza
Even an on-campus job may afford the opportunity to build up a resume while banking cash. "We are running a business," says Janice Sutera, director of the career center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. "With everything we need to make this place work, there is a potential for student workers." Jobs swiping meal cards and monitoring the library are still available, but those that require more training such as website design or maintenance often offer higher wages.
Responsibilities. Take Howton, who doesn't simply answer phones or file papers at the University of Texas-Austin's career center. Over the past three years, he has designed and run advertising and marketing campaigns to draw more students to the center. After three years on the job, he now pulls in $10.50 an hour.
Still, most college students shouldn't expect--or even seek--riches while in school. Career counselors caution that most adults working full time, let alone students, would be hard-pressed to pay off upwards of $30,000 in annual costs. And while students who work 10 hours or less per week boast slightly higher grade-point averages than their peers do, studies show that those who work 25 hours or more a week often suffer academically, earning lower grades or dropping some classes altogether. Educational experts recommend that students who are finding it extremely difficult to make ends meet and working long hours should confer with a financial aid adviser to explore other funding options. After all, the primary job for those in college is to be a student.
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