There are dozens of ways to pay for a college education: scholarships, student loans, federal grants, and work. Definitely the best way to pay for your studies is through the scholarships you got before you set foot on campus, but we are not all that lucky. But even if you’re so lucky … you might want to consider getting a job anyway, but more on that later.

Scholarships

One of the biggest surprises I came across while working on my undergraduate degree was that through good grades I could get a college scholarship. This is common in universities across the country, but is rarely advertised. Contact your financial aid office to see what is available at your school. Once I found out about scholarships (I didn’t get any in high school, when I was going to college) I worked hard to get good grades. After good grades in my freshman year, I was given a full tuition scholarship for my sophomore year. My grades went down, but they still awarded me at least half the tuition for my next three years of school.

Half-time job

With staggering tuition prices, most students are expected to work at least a few hours a week so they don’t have to rely solely on student loans or mom and dad’s bank account. Working part-time allows you to: Hone the time management skills necessary for academic success, reduce your need for student loans and resulting indebtedness, and gain career-related experience as you clarify goals, gain skills, and confidence in himself, and build a network of contacts. There has been some debate about how much students should work, but there seems to be a general consensus that campus jobs at 20 hours a week or less seem like a good idea. Studies show that students who work up to 30 hours a week do just as well or even better academically than those who don’t. Working only 12-15 hours a week (as most students do) shouldn’t affect your grades.

US News wrote an interesting article showing the other benefits of working at school. Chief among the listed benefits is the professional experience you could gain.

Working on campus

One of the best ways to pay for school is by working for the school. Studies show that students who work on campus are more likely to persist in their studies. Through your work, you will become better acquainted with teachers, staff, and other students. There are hundreds of jobs available to students at most colleges, and many of these jobs will open doors for you and your future career. Look for jobs in labs or other areas that give you experience in your chosen career. You should also try to find a job that gives you time with a potential mentor, preferably a professor in your area of ​​study. The more time you can spend with those who are working in your field, the better they can assist and guide you in making important decisions about your education and career. If you can’t get your “dream job” right away, don’t be discouraged. Get another job and start networking … things always seem to open up if you look hard enough.

Summer job

I don’t understand why so many students go home for the summer, but they do. You may want to consider staying … the impossible is that jobs will open on campus and you may be there to snatch them away. Summer school is also a great way to get ahead, and scholarships and other financial aid are often easier to come by for the summer term. Use the summer months to work hard and important stair climbing opportunities are likely to appear. Take advantage of all the resources that are available to you: teachers and other mentors, labs, clubs, etc. During the summer it is much easier to take advantage of people and places, since the traffic and demand for these things is significantly lower.

Internships

Another really smart thing to do during the summer is to take advantage of an internship. These will take you out into the community and provide you with invaluable work experience. Get an early start looking for these opportunities – talk to faculty advisers, counselors, and visit the web for potential opportunities.

Regardless of what you decide to do, try to pay for as much study as possible now. Student loans seem to suck the lifeblood of many, and extreme debt is an easy trap to fall into. With all the benefits of working, even if it’s just a few hours a week, it makes a lot more sense to get a job and make your way.