Whether they’re trying to avoid borrowing loans or supplementing their financial aid, college students need money to pay for school and fund their recreational activities. One option that beats reaching into their parents’ pockets or building a mountain of debt is finding student employment. Several studies suggest that part-time employed students overall have greater academic success than unemployed students, though it may sound unconventional.
Brett DeLonge, resident director for Spalding Hall, said he is on call at all times during the semester, making his work a 24-hour matter. Despite the demands of his job, his graduate studies in criminal justice management do not suffer because of work.
“I work better when I have a full schedule, and my grades tend to increase,” he said.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), nearly 80 percent of students are employed at some time during their college career. Of those, 50 percent identified themselves as “students who work,” meaning they work to help achieve their educational goals, as opposed to 29 percent who identified themselves as “employees who study,” a term used for workers with established employment who are either trying to enhance their careers or learn for personal fulfillment.
The NCES also found that students working 1-15 hours weekly have a significantly higher Grade Point Average (GPA) than both students working 16 hours or more and students who don’t work at all.
DeLonge was a resident advisor in Magers Hall for three years before becoming a resident director, and he said his experiences were constructive for his character.
“Working affects me positively. It makes me a better person because I manage time better and have a more fulfilling life with less time wasted,” he said.
A study published through the American Education Research Association found that students who work and live on campus were more likely to continue their academic career, while students who worked and lived off campus were less likely to remain in school. The study also noted 50 percent of undergraduates under the age of 24 worked during the school year.
Adrienne Harrington, assistant supervisor at the Marketplace, said she works 20 hours per week on average and that her schedule presses her to succeed because there’s no time for dilly-dallying.
“Having a job helps me organize my life better. My grades increase because then I’m busier, and since I have less time to do my homework I am forced to do it,” she said.
Harrington also said her financial situation is a big reason for her to be working right now; she said she needs the money.
Dan Glucksnis, a senior at NMU, currently works an average of 35 hours per week during the overnight shift at the Marquette Wal-Mart. While the NCES report said students who work more than 20 hours per week tend to struggle in their studies,
Glucksnis is an exception to the data set. He currently holds a 3.8 GPA and after four years will be graduating in May 2010, all while balancing a job with difficult hours.
Working long hours has made classes more difficult, Glucksnis said, but his job has taught him to sleep whenever he can and get homework done as soon as it is assigned rather than wait until the last minute.
“Working overnight has shown me that I cannot ignore assignments or procrastinate because I simply don’t have the time to put things off. I am much more likely to take assignments head-on so that when I come home exhausted from a long shift I can have a well-deserved sleep instead of an anxiety attack over unfinished schoolwork,” he said.
Glucksnis also said he believes if he works harder now, he will have an easier life in the future.
“If I’m able to successfully work long hours and attend college full-time, then … merely working in a job and being able to go home after will be a cakewalk,” Glucksnis said.
Even though the cost of attending college is increasing every year, the number of students attending continues to rise. The NCES projected a 24 percent increase in students under the age of 25 between 2001 and 2010, and with 80 percent of undergraduates already working, it seems likely the country will need more jobs to give students a better chance at success.
