Work-life balance for college students

I've always been someone who likes to keep busy and I'm contemplating about work while in college. Do most college students have part-time jobs or is it really uncommon?

It's quite common for college students to have part-time jobs while they're enrolled. In fact, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, as of 2020, about 40% of full-time college students were employed during their studies. Balancing work and school can be challenging, but with good time management and boundaries, it's very doable.

Having a part-time job brings several benefits. It can help offset the cost of college, offer real-world experience, and help fine-tune time management skills. It can also be a source of networking and potentially set you up for a full-time job post graduation.

However, if you decide to work, it's crucial it doesn’t usurp your academic responsibilities. Most experts advise students to work no more than 10-15 hours a week since keeping up with a full-time course load can be demanding. You might want to consider finding a job on campus where your supervisors would likely be more flexible and understanding of your academic commitments.

Overall, having a part-time job in college is not uncommon, but it's important to balance it carefully with your academic workload. Your primary objective in college is to get an education, so ensure your job doesn’t adversely impact your academic performance.