Did you/do you work while in college?

[Matt]

Spun off of Conne's thread, curious how many of you guys worked while you were studying.

Personally I always did, did everything from umpiring indoor cricket to making pizzas to tending bar, but spent most of my college years selling suits in both of Australia's largest department stores.

Im glad I did, taught me a lot about the real world that all those books that I was supposed to be reading couldnt have.

What about you guys - current students, do you have a job? People past the college years - did you work?

edit - summer jobs and internships dont count. I mean while classes were on you were juggling time between making money and attending classes

 

[Bandwagonesque]

I worked as a tutor, and research assistant for some of my professors during the semester, and minimum wage jobs in the summer that typically involved loading bags of manure and stinky fertilizer for customers in their cars and trucks. Ah, good times. I wasn't stupid enough to take on 20 hr/wk jobs though - or smart enough I guess.

 

[Quirk]

Scraping oatmeal, dried egg yolks and God-knows-what-else off dishes at 6 am before feeding them into the Food Service dishwasher. In addition to stints serving hash and mopping floors at various times. All for minimum wage, of course.

Balanced out with an admittedly somewhat cushy job as a Resident Assistant (dorm counselor), "advising and counseling" female underclassmen in a co-ed dorm. Good times, good times... Who needs fraternities?

 

[briancl]

I got a job (answered ad in newspaper) my 2nd week freshman year. A month later I was working 36-40/hrs a week and continued that pace until I quit 2 weeks after graduation. I worked through every summer, holiday, etc, as well.

I learned more working than in the classroom, and my job was career related (it gave me a solid foundation to the more specialized work I do now).

 

[Alter]

I didn't start University until I was 21 and it took me 7 years to get my degree as I kept taking breaks to earn some money, or do other interesting things with my life. During that time I travelled, worked various jobs at restaurants, played in a band, worked at a call centre. And I didn't get a cent from my parents. I did get student loans courtesy of the Government of Canada, which I paid off a few years ago by giving up the slacker artsy life and getting a real job.

Damn, I miss that slacker artsy life.

 

[Kent Wang]

I taught an SAT class at Kaplan and worked in software development at IBM, IC2 Institute, sometimes simultaneously.

 

[Mr. Checks]

I worked three jobs in law school; dealer relations for Audi/VW, research assistant to prof, and USNR

Undergrad: didn't work first two years: GPA 2.7
Worked last two years: GPA 3.6

 

[nerdykarim]

Originally Posted by Mr. Checks

I worked three jobs in law school; dealer relations for Audi/VW, research assistant to prof, and USNR

Undergrad: didn't work first two years: GPA 2.7
Worked last two years: GPA 3.6

I've been working between 2-3 jobs at a time, for between 20-25 hours a week. I have also noticed my grades get better as I take on more and more responsibilities.

 

[drizzt3117]

During my undergrad I worked 2 jobs (work study $8 hall receptionist bullshit and tended bar) while studying and playing sports, and I worked full time during my FT MBA (which is tricky and requires a bit of flexibility from one's employer, but is possible)

 

[lacoste_alot]

i'm currently a full time student in irvine (3rd year) and i work as a restaurant manager from thursday-sunday... i work about 30+ hours a week.

 

[Tck13]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

umpiring
Ugh. YOU SUCK REF! C'MON, YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT?!?! WAKE UP!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT THERE!!! Sold hair products to salons for the first 2-3 years in College. When I went back to school I refereed Ice Hockey games and did odd jobs (painting / construction mostly). Got sick of chasing money and an inconsistent schedule so I got another steady part time job at the company I'm currently with. Unfortunately, since graduating college it's been difficult to find a job in my field because I've been with this company (different field) for the last 4 years. Unfortunately, because of work I missed graduating *** Laude by about a 1/10 of a point. At times it was just too much. If I didn't have to work as much, I would have done better in school. Although, I can say I'm proud to have gotten a degree and paid for it myself.

 

[Bradford]

No - I was a spoiled rich kid

 

[yerfdog]

I didn't work much, because I was lucky enough to have parents who supported what my scholarship didn't cover. I did have a few part time jobs that weren't that many hours a week, and at that level of time commitment they definitely did not affect my grades.

 

[tiger02]

Worked at various times for three outdoors shops selling gear; supervising the college climbing wall; coordinator for co-rec sports; paid psych experiments. Then there was the Army thing, which averaged out to about 12 hours a week.

Tom

 

[Arethusa]

Looking for a new job at the moment, but yes, in general, in school and working and barely surviving. So it goes.