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Balancing High School and Part-Time Work
Are you excited that you're old enough to secure a part-time job and earn your own money? As you begin exploring
the possibility of entering the work world, think about whether getting a job is the right decision for you. To start, ask
yourself the following questions:
- Am I an organized person?
- What kind of study habits do I have?
- Do I make good use of my available time?
- Will I be able to manage my schedule effectively if I take on a part-time job?
Working takes a lot of time and energy, so you need to make sure that you can handle both employment and your
current commitments.
Important Considerations
If you are considering working part-time, schedule a meeting with your school counselor to discuss this move.
Talk to your counselor about why you want to work and what type of position you're seeking. Simply explaining your goals to
someone else can help you make decisions and figure out your priorities. When students who are thinking about working come
to Stephanie Binder, college counselor at The Beacon School in New York, she says that she checks "to see how stable their
grades are and helps assess if they have the time-management and organizational skills to ensure that a job will not negatively
impact their ability to complete their schoolwork."
Binder also talks to her students about the pros and cons of having a job. "Under pros, I list learning about
responsibility, time management, fiscal matters, putting customers first (if it is a service job), and interpersonal communication
skills," she explains. "Under cons, I include lack of sleep, insufficient time to focus on course work, decreasing personal
or social time, and conflicts with extracurricular activities."
You have to weigh a number of factors when deciding whether or not to get a job. The important thing is to
arm yourself with as much information as possible, so you can figure out what choice makes the most sense for you.
School Comes First
Schoolwork, including homework and studying for tests, should always be your top priority. "The activities
and courses students choose vary considerably, so it's important for young people to keep their individual situations clearly
in mind," says Brad MacGowan, director of the Career Center at Newton North High School in Massachusetts. He continues, "For
example, student actors should allow for the fact that they won't have as much time during performance seasons. Student athletes
need to remember the times of the year that they'll be tied up with games and practices. Other students who are in classes
that make considerable demands outside of the classroom must keep that reality in mind." These are all issues you have to
think about when you are considering adding a part-time job to the equation.
Students should always let their employers know what their time limits are. MacGowan
cautions students who do decide to work: "If you are rushing through your assignments…or not studying enough for tests
because of work, it's time to cut back or quit and find a less time-consuming job." He adds, "Students should always let their
employers know what their time limits are." If you are being pressured to work more hours than you can handle, you need to
find a new place to work. You also need to make sure that a job won't prevent you from getting enough rest. MacGowan points
out that students who show up for school tired are not alert and therefore are not learning all they can.
However, MacGowan thinks that working can be a valuable part of a student's life, if taken on responsibly.
"You can derive a great deal from working, considerably more than just money," he says. "In most cases, you can acquire a
nice dose of discipline and a whole new set of skills and experiences." In addition, your supervisor may be willing to write
a strong college recommendation for you.
Additional Tips
Although working and going to school is challenging, it can be a rewarding experience if you use some foresight.
If you do decide to take on a part-time job, check out the tips below on how to handle the situation and make the most of
your time:
- To avoid time conflicts, try to plan your class and work schedules as far ahead of time as possible.
- Use your time efficiently. You can use 10 minutes waiting in a line to go over a few pages of assigned
reading. If your job has a lot of downtime and your boss has no objection, perhaps you can use slow periods to do schoolwork.
- Be flexible and willing to make sacrifices. You may have to cut down on some things you'd like to do because
of your school and work commitments.
- Start slowly. Don't commit to working a lot of hours immediately.
- If you commute to your job on public transportation, bring your schoolwork with you so you can work along
the way.
- Get in touch with your school counselor if you feel you would benefit from discussing your situation with
someone who can help.
- If you have too much on your plate, admit it. Then cut back as needed.
- Schedule relaxation time. Everyone needs some downtime to stay happy and fulfilled.
Source: Collegeboard.com
Time Management Tips For High School Students
It's 10 P.M.—Do You Know Where Your Homework Is?
Does it seem like there's never enough time in the day to get everything done? Feel like you're always running
late? Here are some tips for taking control of your time and organizing your life.
1. Make a "To Do" List Every Day.
Put things that are most important at the top and do them first. If it's easier, use a planner to track all
of your tasks. And don't forget to reward yourself for your accomplishments.
2. Use Spare Minutes Wisely.
Get some reading done on the bus ride home from school, for example, and you'll kill two birds with one stone.
3. It's Okay to Say "No."
If your boss asks you to work on a Thursday night and you have a final exam the next morning, realize that
it's okay to say no. Keep your short- and long-term priorities in mind.
4. Find the Right Time.
You'll work more efficiently if you figure out when you do your best work. For example, if your brain handles
math better in the afternoon, don't wait to do it until late at night.
5. Review Your Notes Every Day.
You'll reinforce what you've learned, so you need less time to study. You'll also be ready if your teacher
calls on you or gives a pop quiz.
6. Get a Good Night's Sleep.
Running on empty makes the day seem longer and your tasks seem more difficult.
7. Communicate Your Schedule to Others.
If phone calls are proving to be a distraction, tell your friends that you take social calls from 7-8 p.m.
It may sound silly, but it helps.
8. Become a Taskmaster.
Figure out how much free time you have each week. Give yourself a time budget and plan your activities accordingly.
9. Don't Waste Time Agonizing.
Have you ever wasted an entire evening by worrying about something that you're supposed to be doing? Was it
worth it? Instead of agonizing and procrastinating, just do it.
10. Keep Things in Perspective.
Setting goals that are unrealistic sets you up for failure. While it's good to set high goals for yourself,
be sure not to overdo it. Set goals that are difficult yet reachable.
Consider these tips, but personalize your habits so that they suit you. If you set priorities that fit your
lifestyle, you'll have a better chance of achieving your goals.
Source: Collegeboard.com
Many students attending two-year colleges start out knowing that they will eventually transfer to
a four-year school to get their bachelor's degree. There are several reasons you may want to consider this route, too.
Things to think about
Upon graduating from high school, you may
not have defined career goals. Not wanting to put your education on hold, you may prefer to avoid paying huge tuition bills
while trying to "find yourself." As the cost of a university education escalates each year, the option of spending your freshman
and sophomore years at a two-year college can be a great way to get started.
You may also consider attending a two-year college if you are unable to meet the initial entrance standards
required by the four-year school of your choice. Some of these standards, such as a specified grade point average (GPA), standardized
test scores, or knowledge of specific academic subjects, can be remedied at a two-year college. Students who have opted to
do this praise the community college system for giving them the chance to be academically "born again."
The two- to four-year transfer
If your plan is to attend a two-year college
with the ultimate goal of transferring to a four-year school, you will be pleased to know that the importance of the community
college path to a bachelor's degree is recognized by all segments of higher education. As a result, many two-year schools
have revised their course outlines and established new courses in order to comply with the offerings of the universities.
Institutional improvements to simplify transferring credits have also occurred at both the two- and four-year
levels. The generous transfer policies of the Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida state university systems, for example, reflect
this attitude. These systems accept all credits from students who have graduated from accredited community colleges.
When to think about transferring
If you are thinking about moving from
a two-year college to a four-year university, the sooner you make up your mind, the better positioned you'll be to transfer
successfully. The ideal time to make this decision is before you register at your two-year school. A counselor can
help you select your classes with the goal of fulfilling the requirements needed for your major course of study.
Naturally, it is not always possible to plan your transferring strategy that far in advance, but keep in mind
that the key to a successful transfer is preparation, and preparation takes time.
What you need to do
The first thing you need to do is gather your high
school and college transcripts. Compare their contents with the admission criteria of your chosen school. If you meet the
requirements, file an application as far in advance of the deadline as possible. This will most likely include requesting
that your former schools send official transcripts to the admission office of the school you plan to attend.
Review your transfer program with the head of your new department as soon as you have decided to transfer
to determine the recommended general education pattern and necessary preparation for your major. At your present school, take
the courses you will need to meet transfer requirements for the new one.
How to qualify
Admission requirements for most four-year institutions
vary. Usually, you will need to show satisfactory test scores, an academic record up to a certain standard, and completion
of specific subject matter.
Transfer students can be eligible to enter a four-year school in a number of ways: by having been eligible
for admission directly upon graduation from high school, by making up shortcomings in grades (or in subject matter not covered
in high school) at a community college, or by satisfactory completion of necessary courses or credit hours at another postsecondary
institution.
Ordinarily, students coming from a community college or from another four-year institution must meet or exceed
the receiving institution's standards for freshmen and show appropriate college-level course work taken since high school.
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