part time work in 1st year?

hey,

just wondrin how many 1st years have got a part time job? I have to get one when i start in september but i'm worried that I'm not gonna have to time to fit in everything - uni lectures etc, study, socialising, part time work and driving lessons and relaxin!!

any tips or feedback so I don't have to panic about not having time to do all that?!??

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1

Fusion

rockin_rio

first of all what course are you studying?

Reply 2

kellywood_5

I think it depends on the university. For example, Oxbridge don't advise you to work at all, some universities set a maximum of 15 hours a week and some have no guidelines at all. It will vary between individuals as it depends on how much work you do, how long it takes you and how much you value your social life. If you don't do that much work, you get through it really quickly and you're not a total party animal, a part-time job would be no problem at all. If, on the other hand, you do loads of work, take your time over it and like to go out a lot, you might struggle to fit it all in. You're likely to be somewhere in between those two extremes, so have a think about it. A lot of people do manage part-time work as well as their studies and socialising, so maybe you could get one to start off with and if it was too much, you could reduce the number of hours or just quit altogether.

Reply 3

Zurich

It depends a lot on what course you're doing and where. I'd have had time to work an almost full-time job alongside my degree because I was in less than 8 hours a week for most of it, and monkeys could be trained to past most modules.

But I'm sure there are places where it's actually hard work!

Reply 4

tdg1986

I've been doing 15-20 hours this term. Has been useful to have some money going into my account as well as going out!

Reply 5

rockin_rio

esx77

first of all what course are you studying?

I'm studying a combined degree - German, Geography and International Development at Liverpool Uni.

Reply 6

Pencil

I wouldn't recommend it. Everyone I know who got a part-time job gave up on education within a year.

Reply 7

Chicken

I know a few people who had part-time jobs, all of who have coped fine. Two of my housemates work 2 or 3 nights a week at Wetherspoons, one does French and Spanish, the other doing Biology (so has quite alot of hours in the week) and both manage fine. One of my friends on my course (chemistry) has a job in the union bar, and they ask you to work a minimum of 8 hours a week, which is 2 shifts basically, and she coped fine with that. I wouldn't agree that everyone who gets a job drops out, I don't know one person that has.

Reply 8

lou p lou

several of my flatmates had jobs this year, 2 in tescos, 1 in new look, 1 in a call centre and 2 in hotels. the hotel ones especially only did it at weekends, so it just took up as much time as going home would so it didn' really make a difference... they've all passed their exams fine and still had social lives

lou xxx

Reply 9

frost105

I worked throughout uni and had no problems. Like everyhting in life you just need to strike a balance and need to organise your time well.

Reply 10

fivebyfive

Can't see why it should be a prob, as long as you don't go over the top.
First year is meant to be breezey compared to A level (prey that this is true) for most courses. Most people worked during A level, so i can't see why this would be any different.
I plan on getting a job during the 1st year, only 7 hours a week or so but every little helps.

Reply 11

Angel_Cake

fivebyfive

Can't see why it should be a prob, as long as you don't go over the top.
First year is meant to be breezey compared to A level (pray that this is true) for most courses. Most people worked during A level, so i can't see why this would be any different.
I plan on getting a job during the 1st year, only 7 hours a week or so but every little helps.

Firstly, don't believe that first year will be easier than A-levels! I haven't met anyone here who actually thinks that. Even if you do an arts subject and have very few hours contact time a week, I doubt you'll find uni "breezier" than A-levels.

Really, it's better to get a job in first year than any other time because it counts less than the other years. I should have done but I was having too much fun to spend my time working shifts at a supermarket or something! Could you not just work in the holidays? That's what I do, and it makes uni a bit more relaxing as at times it can be pretty stressful.

Reply 12

mousey

I'm going to be working in term time whilst doing an English degree. Hopefully this will allow me to actually save some money for holidays/car etc. If i do what i do now - 10 hours a week for Sainsbury's i'll get an extra 235 quid a month. I want that money. 10 hours a week is nothing really so i don't think i'll have a problem. I wouldn't want bar work even though it looks fun, i want to be able to go out at night. xx

Reply 13

LongGone

I worked in the hall shop this year, although I only worked between 3 hours and 5 hours a week, so it didn't take up much of my time, but I didn't really earn much either!

I'm thinking I'm going to have to work between 10 and 15 next year, although I wouldn't want to do anymore!

Reply 14

Davie_Moyes

I've thought about this one and I am currently contracted for 14 hours a week.

When I go to Uni I want to have a good social life. As my contract is for Saturday and Sunday, I don't think I can combine getting drunk with work (I tried it after a slighty tipsy night out last Saturday and it wasn't good).

I think I'll look for another job that isnt as commited as my current one so I still have some money coming in without having to give up all my free time.

Reply 15

fivebyfive

Angel_Cake

Well i can't imagine that the 1st year is a exam factory like A levels were and from what my friends have told me this is the case.
You are studying a subject that you like (in theory) and as you said most people only have to pass the 1st year.
If a job is too stressful and inteferes with my studies then i will just quit. I am going to work during the holidays aswell. :smile:

. At the end of the day, i think it boils down to the individual, uni and course.

Reply 16

Flicker

Pencil

I wouldn't recommend it. Everyone I know who got a part-time job gave up on education within a year.

not the case at all with people i know. i will have to get a job, as did most of my friends, and work throughout uni, as did my brother and sister and boyfriend and many friends, who have graduated fine.

Reply 17

Angel_Cake

fivebyfive

"Only passing" is nothing like "only passing" at A-level, where a trained monkey could get an E. I did quite well at A-level and I was still struggling to pass some of my modules this year - there's one I'm pretty sure I can't have got 40% on. On my course (French and German), I went from studying one book for my literature module at school to studying 18 here at uni (all in German). That makes a bit of a difference!

And the advantage of an exam factory is that at least you know what the examiners want and you'll have a pretty good idea what sort of grade to expect in your final exams! That doesn't happen here.

I'm not trying to discourage you, don't get me wrong, uni is great! Just please don't go along expecting it to be "breezy" as you said earlier. It's not!

Reply 18

Gaz031

I can't understand why some people want their degree to be 'easy'. Surely if you're not doing something that's going to be challenging then there's no point going?

Reply 19

Jump

Gaz031

I can't understand why some people want their degree to be 'easy'. Surely if you're not doing something that's going to be challenging then there's no point going?

Challenging but achievable - there can be quite a thin line I guess.
But on the whole I agree, thing is loads of people go because they feel they should, don't know what to do next or just to get pissed.