By Addison Selby
As freshmen navigate their first year of college, a dilemma arises: choosing to focus all of their attention on school, or finding a job to make money. The University of Maryland challenges its students with rigorous coursework, making the decision even harder.

The cost of college has increased significantly over the last two decades, according to data from U.S. News, and academic success remains integral to universities. Because of this, some students struggle choosing between financial gains and educational opportunities.

Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce found that students who work while in college tend to find more success than those not working – especially when it comes to learning skills like time management, communications and conflict resolution. 

Mikayla Chioye, a freshman agricultural and veterinary medicine major, began a part-time job  as a server at The Board and Brew this fall. Chioye recognizes how stressful it can be to work as a freshman at times. 

“I feel like most freshmen are already overwhelmed trying to get acclimated to college and to divide their time with social life and school work, but now when I work I have to add that on top of everything else,” Chioye said. “It makes everything a lot harder to balance.”

Chioye also offered advice on how to manage the stress of balancing work and school, stating that making a specific weekly study schedule ahead of time is important.

Olivia Thomas, a freshman in the letters and sciences program on the cell biology and genetics track, manages a challenging course load. She gave various reasons for not working, including academic success.

“Balancing school work with other aspects of life is already hard as it is, so not having to work a job gives me both more time to focus on classes and also extra free time for other hobbies and interests,” said Thomas. “With a more open schedule, I can prioritize assignments and studying over everything, which I wouldn’t be able to do if I had a job.” 

The Hechinger Report, a 2018 study conducted by Georgetown University, supports the idea that working takes attention away from school. They found that working students were more likely to produce lower grades and therefore, less likely to graduate.

Elena Downey, a freshman biology major, values her flexible schedule without a job – but also acknowledges the disadvantages that come with it.

“I notice when I’m going to buy stuff, I definitely think about [money] more, because I don’t have a steady income,” Downey said. “I don’t really have spending money anymore, it’s just my savings.” 

Despite not having the cushion of spending money, Downey does not believe it has severely impacted her college experience.

“[I] have the dining plan and everything, so I don’t really have to worry about food for survival, and [I’m] not going out shopping everyday,” Downey said.

The question of whether to work as a freshman in college can be difficult, but there is no right or wrong answer. Ultimately, it becomes a matter of self-assessment.
“You have to know yourself. If you’re someone who needs to buy things all the time, then you should probably have a job,” Downey said. “But if you know how to manage your money, and you have self control, then you’ll be fine with the savings account you went into college with.”

Featured Image: Mikayla Chioye studies in McKeldin Library after a long day of work on Nov. 11. Photo by Addison Selby.