Working during college can be a great experience, as well as another learning step on the journey to adulthood. While it does come with its benefits, there are some things you'll lose out on. Here are the pros and cons of working in college.
Pro: Having money
The most obvious pro is, of course, having money. Getting your first paycheck that you know you worked hard for can be an amazing moment. This allows you to be able to get things every college student needs such as groceries, school materials, and gas for your car. It can also teach you valuable lessons you'll need later on in life like money management and responsibility.
Con: No free time
As a college student, our free time is already limited as is. With what feels like a never-ending course load, and an enormous amount of stress put on us in the process, free time is something everyone needs to be able to take advantage of. If you do decide to work while in college, know that you'll see a dramatic decrease in the amount of you-time.
Pro: Gaining experience
While the jobs we have in college usually don't pertain to our major or reflect what we'll be doing in life, that doesn't mean you won't learn lessons you can use later on. Whether that lesson is making sure you're always on time, or that you remember to perform a specific task every day, these can be implemented into wherever your career takes you. That experience can also be valuable when being considered by a future employer.
Con: Less time to study/sleep
Another obvious con to working in college is having less time for school work. This leads to the biggest trade-off college students know, sleep for studying. Every day we as students have to decide on when we're finally going to put the school work away and head to bed. Some make the decision that they've done enough and their sleep time is necessary, while others decide to forgo sleeping and pull an all-nighter. With a job, you'll have less time to do either.
Pro: Learning time management
If you have or have had a job, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Being able to know how much time you have to eat, do homework, and be able to get some sleep is essential when having a job. You'll learn to make the most of your time and to always be prepared. This is helpful for the people who like to wait until the last minute to finish school work.
Con: Emotional stress
The life of a college student is already stressful as is. One day you have an exam, the next you have a paper due, and the following you have a group presentation, this can be tough for anyone. Working while you're in college will only add to the emotional toll you're already taking. It's important to think about whether or not you're capable of handling that before getting a job in college.
