Story and gallery by SEOK LEE
People work in companies and students go to college to study to get better jobs after they graduate. To study in a university, students pay lots of tuition fees to university administration. The reason why people go to college is that some jobs require a university diploma.
In other words, people want to have better jobs by investing money in college tuition like a stock market. Parents bankroll money for their child’s future and child spends time for their future. Even some students supply money by themselves without parents’ financial support.
Students have a part- or full-time job to earn money for tuition fees. Also, some students work to gain industry experience and to be a more competitive applicant in the job market. Moreover, some people work part-time to earn pocket money for themselves. These show that college students work a part- or full-time job for various reasons.
As a result of a survey with 10 college students at Marriott Library, eight out of 10 students currently have a part- or full-time job, and two students have worked a part-time job in the past, but they mention that they are now concentrating more on their studies.
More college students who are currently working answer that they work 11 to 20 hours a week. Nine out of 10 respondents to the questionnaire say that working less would lead to higher academic achievement.
They say that if they worked fewer hours, they would have more time to spend studying. Also, they respond to the questionnaire that working while attending college had somewhat negatively affected their GPA.
One respondent said that working less would not lead to higher academic achievement. He said in the questionnaire that it is only an excuse for not having time to study because of a part- or full-time job.
He points out one survey question and says if people want to get higher GPA or college success, it is essential to study a lot. The survey question that he answered was: how many hours a week do you study for classes?
According to survey results, most respondents respond that they study 11 to 20 hours per week. He said that he studies more than 30 hours per week. He said working a part -or full-time job to earn money for tuition is not a good idea.
Instead, studying hard and trying to get a scholarship is more beneficial for the future. He says that he applies for scholarships and he also accepts subsidizing financial aid in the university.
Good scholarships are needed to study hard. ASUU offers a tutoring system to all university students. It is located in the Student Services Building, third floor. ASUU provides tutoring service in its office and library. Kassidy L. Giggey, a learning specialist in ASUU’s Learning Success Center, says, “Large numbers of students use tutoring and one or two students per week come to ASUU and ask for tutoring.”
In order to get good grades while working, she suggests making a schedule and posting it where a student can see at easily. She recommends doing this for a month as a habit. When a student plans to make a schedule, she says, “It is recommended to study six or seven hours per class.”
She emphasizes, “It is regrettable that many students are not yet familiar with this program, and our office is ready to help students at any time.”
The Learning Success Center, which is located in the Student Services Building, third floor, also provides online resources to support study tips such as better note taking, study guides, time management, study skills and more. These online resources help students to study easier and better.
The Academic Advising Center, located in the Student Services Building, fourth floor, and major advisors also help students succeed in college. One academic advisor named Steve Hadley says, “Lots of students work part-time but they take over 15 credits. This is one of the reasons students get tired before graduation.”
He says, “If students have a part-time job, I advise them not to take more than 15 credit hours and if students have a full-time job, I advise them not to take more than six to seven credit hours. For a better school life, balance in work and study is needed.”
He also says, “In fact, many students want to get good grades and ask me for advice that they do not have enough time to study because of work. It is always welcome to help students so please make an appointment on the website anytime.”
The Student Success Advocate Office is in Sill Center near the Union. This program was made five years ago and it also supports students’ college success. Because it is not the old program, it has not been known to many students yet.
April Ollivier, who works in the Student Success Advocate Office, says, “Learning Success Center and Student Success Advocate Office is quite different. The ASUU tutoring system in the Learning Success Center is providing more academic skills to students but the Student Success Advocate Office gives advice to students with ordinary issues too.”
She also mentions, “Student Success Advocate Office provides texting system so they text students whether they are fine in college or not.”
According to survey results, a part- or full-time job affects GPA somewhat negatively but there are some tips to succeed in college life. Both studying hard gives success in university and engaging in clubs and activities help students succeed in college too.
University provides lots of programs for students to succeed in college life such as Learning Success Center’s ASUU tutoring system or Student Advocate Office provides. Hopefully, all students have a good university life before doing social activities after graduate.
U NewsWriting 