By Kyla Sawyer
Some students at College of Southern Nevada work and go to school at the same time. Research shows working part-time increases success in school.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics in a study titled “College Student Employment”, in 2020 it showed 74% of part-time students work compared to 40% of full-time students. This can positively or negatively affect students’ academic performances.
Academic advisor at CSN Andrew Gaden said he doesn’t find students who work don’t lack in academic performance; instead it is usually the opposite. “Students that need to work for many different reasons, including paying for school, tend to be very academically solid due to the fact they don’t want to be throwing away money.”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics noted in its April 2022 report that amongst associate degree recipients aged 20 to 29, nearly 77% of them were employed during school.
According to McPherson College in its article titled “Full-Time College Students Work Part-Time Reap Better Grades and Graduate with Less Debt,” stated students who work part-time have stronger grades than those who do not. “This evidence holds true for the 270 McPherson College students in our Student Debt Project who work an average of 15 hours per week and carry a 3.3 GPA compared to the 3.1 GPA of the rest of our student body.”
These studies show students who work part time have higher effectiveness in scheduling, work production and efficiency.
CSN student Michelle Maizel, who has 18 credits this semester — from the normal 12 credits she would normally take — while working at a restaurant part-time, was worried she’d become overwhelmed and fall short with her studies. To manage it all, she said she writes everything down in her planer. So far, things are going well. She thinks this busy schedule might affect her sleep schedule but the lack of procrastination simply from not having time to procrastinate is good for her.
Hollie Thornton, CSN student who works full time at a hospital, balances work and school but, “I will add that my personal time is what I sacrifice for work and school.” She added, if she wasn’t working to help pay for her schooling and could go to school full time, she would be happy to finish sooner.
“This isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon,” Gaden said. “If it takes the student one or two extra semesters to complete his or her degree and or to transfer, so be it.”
Coyote Student News at the College of Southern Nevada 