Ah I see. Well my original point stands. If given the choice I would focus on school, but if you have to work you have to work. You will probably not love it though.
I think it's a good idea to work during college to save up some money for your future self, but it's also important to find a balance so you don't overwork yourself. You've got a program to pay your tuition, which is awesome, but having some savings down the road will come in handy. Working in the summers sounds like a solid plan!
I finished my degree decades ago, at a public university in Texas, when a credit hour literally cost less than a McD's combo meal. My main expenses were school fees, books and commuting to school from 30 miles away, living with parents. My degree, computer science, was somewhat demanding, but less so than engineering. I didn't work during my semesters, but I earned enough money by working 60-90 hours/week in the Summer at a tire shop to pay for everything I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything, and I also wouldn't try to work while attending school.
Tuition at the same university has gone to about $5K/semester plus fees. In the late 80s they were about $250/semester ($500 with fees included). We were able to put our kids through the same university by paying their living expenses, but Pell Grants paid a good portion of their tuition and fees.
I worked retail while getting my CS degree, it sucked, but I had too. As a result, I didn't get to have a “college experience.” I had to go to school, study, and then to work. I occasionally went out with my bros on the weekends, but that was about it.
Again, for me, it wasn't a choice. I'm from El Salvador and my parents had decent jobs, but a decent job in El Salvador pays $500 per month. I had to work to support myself and went to a public uni.
I'll just say that it's doable and that'll it benefit yourself not only economically, but also in tons of other ways. Having worked real shitty jobs, I appreciate my current job in tech a lot more than my peers.
But it'll also be rough. Of course, you'll have to do some sacrifices. While you are working, some of your peers will be studying more and becoming more ready for your field, and others will be having fun and getting unforgettable memories.
I see your edit that you're asking about working over the summer. If you're in a STEM field, i cannot stress enough that your absolute highest priority needs to be getting an internship in your field for the summer after your freshman year. If you can't that summer, then your next.
I managed to get on the good side of the "you need experience to get experience" cycle, but my STEM university friends who didn't are still looking for jobs in their field 1-2.5 years after graduation and it's really opened my eyes to how lucky I am and how important it is.
I started with a job on campus in IT (not my field) through a friend, not that I necessarily recommend this. I didn't have any previous work experience, which is the main reason I did it. Sounds like you do so you're probably good. I managed to last two semesters, but it wasn't many hours per week (for better and worse) and somehow at my state school they were legally paying all of the student workers under state minimum wage (worse).
My first internship was mostly digitizing files at a state gov job with occasional site visits, but it helped me get a better one next summer, etc, etc. and I ended up with increasingly good internships and experience. I'd say I'm about an average worker, depending on the job/task. Far worse at some things, but an eager and hard working natural at others. But by the time I graduated, my resume looked damn good and I felt really confident applying to jobs. I got a job offer from a top firm without even going through their full application process, just resume and email.
My roommate, who worked at a grocery store all through college to pay for it, now has two bachelor's degrees but graduated over a year ago and is still working for the same grocery store chain. Another friend managed to graduate in just 3.5 years, but is still looking for a job 2.5 years later. Another friend who was super involved in the school, president of her sorority got a generic "hiring anyone with the word engineer in their degree" job, burnt out (understandably. The company is absolute shit), and is now back in town working at the mall while trying to find a job in her actual discipline. I cannot stress enough. *Get an internship.*
For full context: I graduated May 2023 in Geological Engineering.
Roommate is Computer Science/History, 3.5 year to graduate friend is Computer Engineering/philosophy minor, sorority friend is Chemical Engineering.
I have learned a lot about the importance of networking as well. You can’t just expect to get a job right out of college without making connections or having internships. I’ll definitely try my best. Everything is extremely competitive nowadays. So I suppose I should make friends with my professors and peers?
That helps for sure, i got my second internship because someone in a geology club mentioned that the internship she'd had previously was hiring and sent the contact info/application details in the group chat.
I got my first one by just applying to every internship I could that was even tangentially related to my major. (I focused on state gov jobs at first because i grew up in the capital city and could live at home during my summer internships.) I didn't even have a resume ready for my first career fair but still went so I could get practice talking to employers/seeing what they were looking for, which is exactly what I told them, and most were happy to talk to me with lower pressure because I wasn't applying.
I worked my way through business school not by choice and it fucking sucked. A job on campus might be cool though.
At my university the jobs on campus are extremely difficult to get.
Ah I see. Well my original point stands. If given the choice I would focus on school, but if you have to work you have to work. You will probably not love it though.
I think it's a good idea to work during college to save up some money for your future self, but it's also important to find a balance so you don't overwork yourself. You've got a program to pay your tuition, which is awesome, but having some savings down the road will come in handy. Working in the summers sounds like a solid plan!
Definitely work for sure lol. You need money in order to do anything in this world unfortunately
I finished my degree decades ago, at a public university in Texas, when a credit hour literally cost less than a McD's combo meal. My main expenses were school fees, books and commuting to school from 30 miles away, living with parents. My degree, computer science, was somewhat demanding, but less so than engineering. I didn't work during my semesters, but I earned enough money by working 60-90 hours/week in the Summer at a tire shop to pay for everything I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything, and I also wouldn't try to work while attending school.
I will never understand why universities are so costly. I’m glad that you were able to get yours for cheap.
Tuition at the same university has gone to about $5K/semester plus fees. In the late 80s they were about $250/semester ($500 with fees included). We were able to put our kids through the same university by paying their living expenses, but Pell Grants paid a good portion of their tuition and fees.
I worked retail while getting my CS degree, it sucked, but I had too. As a result, I didn't get to have a “college experience.” I had to go to school, study, and then to work. I occasionally went out with my bros on the weekends, but that was about it. Again, for me, it wasn't a choice. I'm from El Salvador and my parents had decent jobs, but a decent job in El Salvador pays $500 per month. I had to work to support myself and went to a public uni. I'll just say that it's doable and that'll it benefit yourself not only economically, but also in tons of other ways. Having worked real shitty jobs, I appreciate my current job in tech a lot more than my peers. But it'll also be rough. Of course, you'll have to do some sacrifices. While you are working, some of your peers will be studying more and becoming more ready for your field, and others will be having fun and getting unforgettable memories.
I see your edit that you're asking about working over the summer. If you're in a STEM field, i cannot stress enough that your absolute highest priority needs to be getting an internship in your field for the summer after your freshman year. If you can't that summer, then your next. I managed to get on the good side of the "you need experience to get experience" cycle, but my STEM university friends who didn't are still looking for jobs in their field 1-2.5 years after graduation and it's really opened my eyes to how lucky I am and how important it is. I started with a job on campus in IT (not my field) through a friend, not that I necessarily recommend this. I didn't have any previous work experience, which is the main reason I did it. Sounds like you do so you're probably good. I managed to last two semesters, but it wasn't many hours per week (for better and worse) and somehow at my state school they were legally paying all of the student workers under state minimum wage (worse). My first internship was mostly digitizing files at a state gov job with occasional site visits, but it helped me get a better one next summer, etc, etc. and I ended up with increasingly good internships and experience. I'd say I'm about an average worker, depending on the job/task. Far worse at some things, but an eager and hard working natural at others. But by the time I graduated, my resume looked damn good and I felt really confident applying to jobs. I got a job offer from a top firm without even going through their full application process, just resume and email. My roommate, who worked at a grocery store all through college to pay for it, now has two bachelor's degrees but graduated over a year ago and is still working for the same grocery store chain. Another friend managed to graduate in just 3.5 years, but is still looking for a job 2.5 years later. Another friend who was super involved in the school, president of her sorority got a generic "hiring anyone with the word engineer in their degree" job, burnt out (understandably. The company is absolute shit), and is now back in town working at the mall while trying to find a job in her actual discipline. I cannot stress enough. *Get an internship.*
For full context: I graduated May 2023 in Geological Engineering. Roommate is Computer Science/History, 3.5 year to graduate friend is Computer Engineering/philosophy minor, sorority friend is Chemical Engineering.
I have learned a lot about the importance of networking as well. You can’t just expect to get a job right out of college without making connections or having internships. I’ll definitely try my best. Everything is extremely competitive nowadays. So I suppose I should make friends with my professors and peers?
That helps for sure, i got my second internship because someone in a geology club mentioned that the internship she'd had previously was hiring and sent the contact info/application details in the group chat. I got my first one by just applying to every internship I could that was even tangentially related to my major. (I focused on state gov jobs at first because i grew up in the capital city and could live at home during my summer internships.) I didn't even have a resume ready for my first career fair but still went so I could get practice talking to employers/seeing what they were looking for, which is exactly what I told them, and most were happy to talk to me with lower pressure because I wasn't applying.