The Pros and Cons of Working While Attending College

College is typically the gateway to a successful career where an individual can eventually earn much more money than if they had not obtained a college degree. This causes more and more high school graduates to apply to college every year, hoping to find out what it is they would like to do as a career and get the right education to perform that job. Unfortunately, the trade-off is the high costs of college tuition. Many students go into significant student loan debt during the course of their college education and find it difficult to make loan payments following their graduation.

In order to make money to pay off other living expenses, build up a savings account or pay off loan interest, many students decide to get a job while earning their college degree. For the most part, students work part-time while attending school, but there are some who attempt to work nearly full-time hours even with their busy school schedule. In either case, it's important for all students to consider the benefits and drawbacks to taking a job while earning a degree. It's an important decision that has the ability to make life easier and harder for a student at the same time. Here's a quick look at some of the main factors to consider when you are thinking about getting a job while working towards a degree:

Time: The biggest drawback of taking on a job during college is the fact that it takes up a student's time. This can affect the ability of the student to attend class, study regularly and complete all the necessary assignments. Even if the student can keep up with their schoolwork while having a job, it may cut into their social time or their time to sleep or just relax. In this case, a job can start to takes its toll over time as the student becomes burned out due to their hectic schedule. Students should make sure they still have enough time to maintain a balanced lifestyle if they decide to get a job.

Money: Most students get a job for the extra money. This can be a huge help for students who don't want to rack up credit card debt or student loan interest. For some students, getting a job may be an absolute necessity because of the money. In any case, students should try to find a job which offers them the wages they need to meet their own personal financial needs.

Experience: Students should take into account the possible benefits of having a job during school. Some students have realized the benefit of taking a paid internship or finding an entry-level job in their field of study. This allows them to earn not only money from their job, but also valuable experience which can help them in their future careers. Students interested in finding a job in their field should check with their academic advisors to find out if an internship can be counted for class credits; this is a great way for some students to solve the issue of a job taking too much time away from their studies.