The reality of having a job as well as being a full-time student is that no one particularly wants to do it, but you choose to (or are forced to by your parents) because of money. I hate to say that money is the driving force, but when it comes to getting a job, it most definitely is. Being a working student myself, I've found that while all of this is true, there are definitely some unexpected pros that come along with the obvious cons.
PRO
You're makin' money!!!!
This is THE reason students get a job, and it's as simple as that. We're all spending thousands of dollars to get a higher education, so it's a financially smart move to work while you're in college to rack up some cash in order to pay for it later. Also, it's nice as a student to be making some money so that any time you need to get groceries you don't feel like you're literally paying for them with your college debt.
CON
Money goes to pay
Sometimes, when it's my weekend to work, and I also have my regularly scheduled Monday-Wednesday shifts (I'm putting in 4-hour shifts, 5 days in a row...), I wonder to myself; why am I paying thousands and taking out loans if all I'm doing in the meantime is working to pay it back? Of course, I'm not only working, I'm also attending classes and living on a beautiful campus, but I still can't help feeling this way at times.
PRO
Productive Non-study time
On more than one occasion, I've found that being at work was a good way for me to step away from all the assignments that had been buzzing around my head, yet still be doing something productive. On days I don't work, study breaks mean a nap, Netflix, going for a walk or hanging out with friends. These are all great things that we all need amidst the stress of school, but having something that earns you some money and allows you to meet new people is definitely a good thing.
CON
Study time needs to be used very wisely
While having a job to go to is something that's productive and a great distraction from school, it also takes a lot of your time, so any time you have free has to be scheduled in order to get your school work done. Though this could be turned into a pro because it forces you to learn some much needed time management skills.
PRO
A different social aspect
Though having a job means being more conscious of your time, having a job on campus has definitely made me meet and interact with a lot of people I normally wouldn't have. It's fun to be able to start recognizing the regulars and be able to have conversations with them.
CON
This social aspect eliminates a lot of other ones...
Of course, since having a job means that you're spending a lot of your time working, this makes it difficult to find room in your busy schedule for being with friends, joining any clubs, going to the gym, or anything else you would like to be doing. There's really no getting around this one.
Whether you're currently working and contemplating quitting, or you're one of the thousands of other broke students contemplating getting a job, I would without a doubt tell you to stay in that job or to get one. Time management is a part of life that sucks and takes a lot of practice. It feels great when you stick to a plan and accomplish what you need to, but hurts like hell when you put something off and have to cram a week's worth of assignments in one day, though this isn't a reason not to get a job.
There's an equal ratio of pros to cons in the above list, but I feel that the pros far outweigh the cons. Having an income, meeting new people every time I work, and having a productive break from studying are the things that make me like having a job. Plus, I know that later in life when the debt isn't near as painful as it could've been, I'll be so glad for those hours put in at the deli.
