Hello! I'm a junior in high school, and I've been working a part-time job for a while now. I'm wondering if colleges care about this kind of experience? Will it help my application stand out? Thank you for any input!
Hi there! First of all, kudos to you for holding down a part-time job while still in high school. It's not easy to balance work and school, so I think it's great that you're managing both. In terms of college applications, yes, colleges do care about your part-time job experience. It shows that you have good time management skills, a strong work ethic, and a sense of responsibility. These are all qualities that colleges look for in their applicants.
My own child worked part-time during high school, and it definitely helped with their college applications. When you fill out your application, make sure to include your part-time job in the 'Activities' or 'Work Experience' section, and highlight any skills or achievements you've gained from it. If you have a chance to write an essay or personal statement, you could also mention your job and how it has shaped you as a person. In short, your part-time job can definitely help your application stand out and show colleges that you're a dedicated, hardworking individual. Best of luck with your college applications!
7 months ago
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, yes, colleges do care about your part-time job experience. It shows that you have good time management skills, a strong work ethic, and a sense of responsibility. These are all qualities that colleges look for in their applicants.
It's great to hear that you're taking on the responsibility of a part-time job while still in high school. To answer your question, yes, colleges do care about part-time jobs and it's definitely a good idea to include it in your application.
"Working a part-time job while in college can help students pay for personal expenses, supplement financial aid and gain valuable work experience. However, there are drawbacks students should be prepared for, including time restraints and impact on tuition assistance," U.S. News & World Report writes.
While working a high school job may not always help a high school student's college application, it generally can't hurt, some experts agree. “I think busy people are more productive,” Norwood says.
Colleges rank on a scale of 1-4 how much they care about work experience. 4 means very important and 1 is not considered. You will see a wide spray among the college preferences for work experience.
How many hours should a college student work? Most students limit their work to 10-20 hours per week. Some schools stipulate 20 hours a week as the maximum during the semester. For graduate students this often rises to around 28 hours.
Research has shown that students who work part-time may experience stress and exhaustion, which can hinder their motivation and ability to study effectively . Additionally, part-time employment may lead to a lack of time available for practice or other academic commitments, particularly for student-musicians .
Going to college while working full time is a big commitment – but often a necessary one. College is an investment, and maintaining an income as a student is a wise choice.
Students who work a moderate amount of hours – up to 15, maybe 20 hours a week – those students actually on average do better in school than students who don't work at all," says Shannon Vasconcelos, senior director of college finance at Bright Horizons College Coach.
Students who work while enrolled in college are about 20% less likely to complete their degrees than similar peers who don't work, a large and meaningful decrease in predicted graduation rates. Among those who do graduate, working students take an average 0.6 of a semester longer to finish.
About verifying those hours, most colleges actually don't have a formal process for checking volunteer hours for every applicant. However, they may decide to spot-check certain applications by contacting the organizations you listed or checking their records.
You generally won't need to provide evidence for your activities in your application. Still, it's a good idea to keep records of your involvement (such as certificates, awards, or reference letters from advisors, coaches, or teachers) just in case you're ever asked to provide supporting documentation.
Whether it is part-time during the school year, or during the summer, working shows humility, commitment and the ability to manage time effectively. Plus, students can earn some extra cash! The added bonus of working during the high school years is it can support an academic interest when applying to college.
You'll gain valuable insight and skills that will stay with you long after graduating high school. Plus, summer jobs look good for college. Your employment experience could go on your resume or on an extracurricular list when applying to colleges.
Colleges look for a student's academic record, standardized test scores, an essay, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and work experience.
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