For many students in America, the price of attending a four year university has more than doubled over the last decade. In response to rising tuition and living costs, students are working more than ever with 85% of enrolled students currently spending on average of 4.2 hours a day working paid jobs.
As a former student at the University of California Berkeley this was the daily reality I faced, along with many of my friends. I spent most of my college career juggling a full load of classes alongside 25 - 30 hours of paid work split between internships and part time jobs.
For many students supporting themselves, this can be an immense challenge. From a former student who went through the same hurdles here's my advice on how to survive college while working to support yourself financially.
Get paid to grow your career
A part time job can both pay the bills and help you shape your career. During my college career I spent every 3-6 months taking on new part-time jobs or internships including roles in sales, marketing, social media management, and product management.
Make sure to take paid internships or part-time jobs that align with your career objectives. And if you're not sure what your objectives are, these roles are a great way to you gauge your interest in different career paths.
While you're working in these positions make sure to stay curious and to always strive to improve your skills. Your university's career website is a great place to find interesting companies to work for. You can also reach out to local small businesses or start-ups which might have part-time roles available for students.
Make your schedule more efficient
In order to balance a full load of classes with work I had to learn how to make my schedule much more efficient. Blocking out your classes is the best way to make sure you take full advantage of the school week.
For all years at college I organized my classes back-to-back on either Tuesdays and Thursdays or Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays. This left me two or three days free which I used to work at a local start-up or on campus job. I kept my nights to myself so I could study for my classes, take part in school clubs, and spend time pursuing my hobbies.
To manage my day-to-day I started planning my weeks out in advance using Google Calendar with specific colors corresponding to classes, work, clubs, and hobbies. I can't emphasize enough how much this can help you stay sane.
Stay on top of your finances
Being proactive about your finances is key if you're paying your way through college. To start, create a basic budget spreadsheet which tracks your finances on a weekly basis. Make sure to minimize eating out and rent which often will be the biggest hits to your finances.
Before you start earning a steady income, make sure to head to your nearest bank and open a college checking and savings account. These types of accounts often have no minimum balances and fees for students. Set up automatic transfers to your savings account so you can start saving immediately.
If you have any unsubsidized loans and have enough extra income leftover, start paying off your existing balances. Often you'll get a slightly better rate by setting up recurring payments. Also make sure to check in with your college advisers every 2-3 months to ensure you're maximizing any grants or financial aid you're provided.
Leverage all of your college's resources
Make sure to take advantage of all of your school's resources to ensure you're staying afloat. Every semester meet with your major advisor to make sure you're taking the right classes. They can provide valuable insights on how you can best organize your schedule to keep your workload manageable.
If your finances are still stretched thin, schools often have food assistance programs which help provide groceries for students in need. Also make sure to explore availability with housing co-ops at your school which often have very affordable rent and include food allowances.
Don't sit on your laurels. You can often find new jobs through your school's job portal as these often are targeted to college students. Make sure to drop by career fairs and and networking events which match your interests and always stay on the lookout for new career opportunities.
Got more tips?
Working while in college isn't easy and can be really stressful at times hopefully these tips can help you achieve your goals. Are there any resources or tips you have for students working during college? Feel free to share them in the comments below.
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Nathaniel Ventura is an alum of the University of California Berkeley andwrites for millennials looking to enter the tech industry and marketing. Nathaniel has worked at variety of companies including CBS Interactive and Unity (the engine that powers the worldwide hit Pokemon Go). Nathan is currently a Program Manager at Google working with early stage game developers and companies launching on Google Play.
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