Finding Work During the Semester
Academic coursework takes up a lot of time for students, from attending lectures and doing readings to finishing problem sets and taking exams. However, in the time not taken up by classes, many students choose to find part-time work. Working during the semester can bolster professional skills, expand social networks, and serve as a pathway to financial independence, so it is definitely an option that you should consider as you all think about what you want to do in college. I’ll give a short list of part-time work experiences I’ve had at Tufts below.
1. Doing an internship in the fall or spring
While most people think of internships as something to do in the summer, there are plenty of part-time opportunities available during the school year to advance your career. I worked for a digital education startup in the spring of my freshman year. I got to work in Cambridge, improve my communication skills, and make some extra money before I even finished my first year of college
2. Working on campus
On-campus jobs have flexible hours that you can easily fit into your academic schedule and have guaranteed pay. Jobs vary from working in the Campus Center or dining halls to working with individual academic departments and doing research for professors. I am currently a student fundraiser at the Tufts Telefund, and the position has allowed me to develop professional skills relevant to my career interests while also introducing to a whole new group of friends.
As you plan out your coursework for college, make sure to consider part-time work in your schedule. It’s the perfect supplement to academic study that can bolster your professional and social life while giving you extra funds to fuel late night cravings or a new savings account!