If only you could just pick cash off the trees then you wouldn’t have to worry about a steady income while going to college. But whether you’re an online or on-campus college student you still need to eat and pay rent (at the minimum). And let’s not forget that those college classes cost money, so tuition also eats up your bank account faster than a Kardashian shopping for a Caribbean cruise.
So unless you’re independently wealthy you’ll probably have to hold down one of many college jobs. Although it may seem like your time is already so stretched you couldn’t possibly fit one more thing into your 60-hour workweek, all is not lost. Some college jobs are tailor-made for students even though they’d drive just about anyone else crazy with boredom. That’s not to say college students are boring; they just like college jobs that don’t require a lot of thinking or interaction. Eliminating those two pesky elements gives working students much more time to study and get paid at the same time. So in the spirit of having your cake and eating it too, here are five college jobs you’d be lucky to have as an overwhelmed college student.
Residential Assistant
Sometimes called an RA for short, these are the “floor moms” (or managers) for dorms, housing co-ops, sorority or fraternity houses, or any other collegiate housing that encompasses rules that residents must follow. Typically these college jobs go to upperclassmen or grad students, but if you can land one at any point in your college career then you’re doing pretty well. Why? Because you end up with free housing or a small caretaker wage or both for doing very little in return. Yes, you will have to deal with complaints, bad plumbing, and the occasional shutting down of wild parties (and you have to lead monthly meetings with your charges), but that’s nothing compared to the down time you get in between.
House Sitter/Pet Sitter
If you know of anyone going on an extended visit, or who lives somewhere else part time, then offer to house sit for a nominal fee. Or if you can get out of paying your own rent during your house sitting tenure, then house-sit for free (especially if their place is a palatial paradise that you’d never be able to afford on your own).
And if they have pets to care for, even better. Offer to feed and walk Fido for a fee, and spend the night if necessary (if you’re not house sitting anyway). I know a college student who started out pet sitting, but then ended up creating her own dog walking business that netted her an extra $1,000 a month, most of which was in cash. Not bad for a starving student.
Desk Attendant
Mall kiosks, hotel front desks, office reception areas, even the information stand at a museum or amusement park, all offer great opportunities for you to just sit there and study until someone comes up to ask a question. If you’re lucky, you’ll be surrounded by savvy patrons who find it unnecessary to pester you for information they can easily find on their smartphones. As long as you’re paid by the hour and not by the question, then you’ll come out way ahead.
Library Assistant
Being a library assistant is a step up from desk assistant in that you’ll actually have to be familiar enough with the stacks to help someone find a book. Plus, a little knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System helps, but isn’t necessary, since now most card catalogs are online. However, you will have to check books in and out in addition to answering the occasional question, so your time won’t be nearly as interruption-free as if you were a desk attendant, however, being a library assistant generally pays more.
Box Office Attendant
Even though most movie theatres have gone online for ticket presales, theatres that present live stage productions still employ people to sit in box offices. The best part about this job is that you are usually in a little, quiet room all by yourself and nobody bothers you unless they specifically want to buy or pick up tickets. You may have to answer a phone or count out the cashbox at the end of the night, but for the most part you’re left alone to study for your big micro-finance midterm on Monday. Oh, and as an added perk, you get to see a lot of stage productions for free.
So until you graduate and start your career, or you figure out that harvesting money off of trees thing, look for college jobs that actually end up paying you to study. Employers that expect you to just show up and be available to answer public questions are the best. Just remember to show up with your laptop and books or else you’re going to be pretty bored.
Do you know of the perfect college jobs? Something that gives you a lot of time to study, but still pays pretty well? Share it with us as a comment. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
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If you have been putting off a college education because of money worries, the Obama administration has come to the rescue. The new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 sets aside $30 billion to make schools more affordable and $40 billion for state grants. The Obama administration estimates that this money will enable more students to go to school, thus bolstering the American economy.
Students are the first to benefit from this money. The higher education tax credit was bumped up to $2,500 dollars. An additional $17 billion was designated for Pell Grants. The Federal Perkins Loan Program increased to $6 billion in loans every year. Finally, a federal-state partnership supports a $500 million grant program to improve retention and graduation rates.
"This bill alone makes it a very good time to go back to school," says Tony Balmer, an education analyst. "This administration is trying to remove any financial barriers for people wishing to go to school. But this money won’t be out there forever. People need to act soon."
Fortunately, thanks to a growing number of online education options, degree-seekers can take advantage of President Barack Obama’s stimulus bill without leaving their jobs. Sites like ClassesandCareers.com have helped nearly 500,000 degree-seekers get their stimulus money and enroll in online universities.
"We help people learn how to take advantage of this bill," says Janet Hill, an education advisor at ClassesandCareers.com. "All they have to do is visit our site and fill out the form. We guide them through the rest."
"If you have the desire to get a degree, now is the time to act on that desire," says Hill. "The money is available." Visit ClassesandCareers.com and fill out the form. An education advisor will help you get your share of the stimulus money and find the best degree program for you.
Arne Duncan, Education Secretary announced the changes last Wednesday. They are trying new avenues, in order to boost college enrollment among low and middle income students. Duncan said "We need to educate our way to a better economy." The new form will make the process easier for students and families applying for federal financial aid.
Due to the economic downturn, many students and their families are seeking financial aid. After the recession the number of applications increased 12 percent to more than 16 million. In 2007, 58 percent of college undergraduates applied for aid, and 47 percent received it.
Due to the high demand and the fact President Obama wants more people applying; the administration is trying to shorten the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There will be two-thirds fewer screens to fill out. There will also be a Web application where families can access their tax data already sent to the IRS.
This tax information will help families answer the questions on the form. Paperwork shouldn't stand between students and a college degree. The administration has a goal set and that is to increase the Pell Grants for low-income students by 75 percent over the next ten years.
There is money out there for education and it just got easier. Because of the stimulus, over $17 billion has been designated for Pell Grants. The Federal Perkins Loan Program will also increase to $6 billion in loans every year over the next decade. There has never been a better time to get an education so sign up today and improve your life.
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