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Is it wise to get a job on campus?

I need a way to make money but do not know if I should find a job on campus or look at places around the campus.
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Kikanza’s Answer

Getting a job on campus is a great idea. It eliminates commuting time, it widens your network on campus, and it provides an opportunity for you to meet more adults who can provide resources and recommendations for you in the future. It also may give you the opportunity to work around people who are working in fields that you are interested in.
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Karen’s Answer

On campus jobs (usually work/study positions) are convenient because you don't have to leave campus. Depending on your school this could mean that you don't have to have a car to get to an off campus job and your commute to the job is more convenient.

However, depending on your school, many times freshman and sophomore students are paid a certain hourly wage for work/study positions and juniors/seniors are paid a little bit more. In my experience, this hourly wage is fairly low. Work/study positions can offer benefits like your wage going directly towards your tuition bill or student account. Find out what benefits there are and if they are worth a somewhat low hourly wage. Work/study positions are oftentimes low-skill level such as working at the library and answering questions/checking out books. There can be a lot of downtime where you can study (that's the study part of work/study) so I would suggest trying to get a work/study position that is relatively low impact like at the library versus a busy departmental office.

You can ask a professor or a department secretary about the ins-and-outs of work/study positions. If they don't know, they can point you to a person who may have the answer (like the Bursar's office).

If you have easy access to the area around campus, it is worth your time to explore those options and compare the hourly wage you may find in the community to that of the work/study position.

Karen recommends the following next steps:

Learn the benefits to work/study positions on campus including the hourly wage
Consider what the hourly wage would be in the community and your cost for commuting to a job in the community
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Matt’s Answer

I can't improve on the answer above at all but will just agree and emphasize -- be very prudent here about where you decide to work. Make it a place ideally on campus or very close to where you live so you don't burn time commuting. Remember, class time is just a small fraction of your time spent during a typical week. You'll have a lot of homework/studying outside of class, especially when term projects or papers are due. Don't forget about final exam week. You'll also want to spend time with friends and have fun socially. And what about any extracurricular activities?

So, overall, be smart here -- convenience is likely more important than salary when it comes to selecting a job and balancing all of the above. Time management is key to success at the undergrad level so don't hamstring your efforts there with a job that pays well but is located all the way across town.

Good luck!
Matt
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Kikanza’s Answer

If you are studying, then it would be very convenient to have a job on campus. You could look for a service position that is flexible and wouldn't tax your brain so you would have the energy to study. You could get a position in the department where you are studying to build relationships with students and professors who will become your colleagues and mentors. You could apply for a position as an assistant to a particular professor, aiding in her research and learning more about the field you are studying.

Jobs are for money, experience, and relationships. Get clear about what you want from the job and what you are willing to give to the job. That will help you to decide where to work.
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