Starting college is a lot to deal with. Especially with the added stress of having to pay for your education. That’s why a lot of students, including myself, have to acquire part time jobs to help with the costs. Time was a huge concern of mine when going into my first year. Would I have enough time to study, go to classes, and work enough hours to make it worth it? Fortunately, I was able to find a great job on campus that fit my class schedule. I am an office assistant in the Office of Admissions. I work under counselors who oversee the Explore USC programs.
As part of my job, I respond to teachers, counselors, and students from elementary and middle schools across the country. I answer questions about USC, respond to emails, and send bookmarks to students. However, the most vital part of my job comes in the Spring semester. USC hosts various Explore programs for admitted students starting in February. There are around a dozen sessions that take place throughout the semester. In preparation, I put together name tags, folders, and attendance sheets for all of the guests coming to campus. This job offers me a way to be connected with incoming students and insight to the inner workings of the events USC hosts. It is definitely a lot more work and preparation than I initially thought. However, I loved having my job and the ability to support myself through college.
I highly recommend searching for a job. There are dozens of libraries, admissions offices, and various stores on campus that look to hire students while keeping in mind the weird schedules we have. It is also a good way to take you away from school for a while and give you a brain break. Take advantage of all the opportunities USC has to offer, and not just the academic opportunities. Especially if you are offered work study because many work study hours go unclaimed. Some research positions on campus also pay workers but I preferred being involved in something that gave me a break from engineering. Shocking, I know.
