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Laney
Student
Victoria, Texas
1
Question
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Should I Get a Job as Soon as I Get to College?
I am a current high school senior and will be attending Texas A&M University in the fall to study animal science. I have held a job as a vet tech for the past two years and was hoping to find another job as a vet tech once I get to College Station, however people keep recommending that I hold off until at least after the first semester.
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2 answers
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
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San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Laney,
Unless you absolutely HAVE to work, I'd hold off. College is a different animal (no pun intended!) If you are accustomed to getting good grades without really having to study, you may meet your first challenge - a course which requires a lot of your time. Although college style scheduling gives you a lot of "free" time, you will have LOTS of reading to do, and that free time isn't always so free. You will need to develop your rhythm - when to study, when to play, when to eat, how to use available resources (writing lab, office hours, etc) to your advantage. You will need to be prepared prior to class, and review notes as soon after class as possible, to make sure you really understood things.
Once you find your groove, it's okay to work. It does look good on a resume, of course. But, you will need time for laundry, shopping, going out with friends, etc, so don't overload your schedule. Speaking of which, try to figure out when your brain is most alert, and, when it is not, and schedule classes accordingly. You especially don't want a difficult class if your brain is not fully engaged.
Thank you for interest in animal science. We have a severe shortage in this field which a Prof at A&M told me is expected to take 5 years to correct.
Kim
Unless you absolutely HAVE to work, I'd hold off. College is a different animal (no pun intended!) If you are accustomed to getting good grades without really having to study, you may meet your first challenge - a course which requires a lot of your time. Although college style scheduling gives you a lot of "free" time, you will have LOTS of reading to do, and that free time isn't always so free. You will need to develop your rhythm - when to study, when to play, when to eat, how to use available resources (writing lab, office hours, etc) to your advantage. You will need to be prepared prior to class, and review notes as soon after class as possible, to make sure you really understood things.
Once you find your groove, it's okay to work. It does look good on a resume, of course. But, you will need time for laundry, shopping, going out with friends, etc, so don't overload your schedule. Speaking of which, try to figure out when your brain is most alert, and, when it is not, and schedule classes accordingly. You especially don't want a difficult class if your brain is not fully engaged.
Thank you for interest in animal science. We have a severe shortage in this field which a Prof at A&M told me is expected to take 5 years to correct.
Kim
PS You may want to look into the Stevenson Companion Animal Life Care Center. When I was last there, it had 4 live-in student employees. But, it has since expanded. I would imagine it's fierce competition. My dog is enrolled to go there when I pass, and retired Reville Mascots have been known to live there.
Kim Igleheart
Nirah Shomer, DVM PhD DACLAM
Senior leader in laboratory animal science, animal welfare, and regulatory compliance
71
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Updated
Nirah’s Answer
Going to school is going to be your full-time job. It would not be wise to do anything that could jeopardize that. In your first semester, you are just settling in, finding out how much harder classes are than your high school classes, and learning how to manage your time. If you do not need to work to pay your tuition, you should indeed take a while to just get into the groove. Also, you may find that you develop new interests, and need the time to pursue those, either as a job or as a fun activity.
What if you do need the money? Before you assume that a vet tech job is your best option, you may want to consider the student job offerings available at your college. They have an employment job site just for students, (see link below) and those jobs may pay more, are more likely to be on campus, and are more likely to be forgiving of your class schedule. Salaries for uncertified Vet assistants in College Station look pretty low- around $10/hour. (I assume you are not licensed or certified since you are a high school student, and being a vet tech requires at least an Associate's degree. )
Congratulations on getting into this school, and pursuing a career in animal science. I am sure you will do great! I recommend you give yourself time to explore different career options, and don't automatically lock yourself into a vet assistance position.
https://employees.tamu.edu/jobsforaggies/students.html
What if you do need the money? Before you assume that a vet tech job is your best option, you may want to consider the student job offerings available at your college. They have an employment job site just for students, (see link below) and those jobs may pay more, are more likely to be on campus, and are more likely to be forgiving of your class schedule. Salaries for uncertified Vet assistants in College Station look pretty low- around $10/hour. (I assume you are not licensed or certified since you are a high school student, and being a vet tech requires at least an Associate's degree. )
Congratulations on getting into this school, and pursuing a career in animal science. I am sure you will do great! I recommend you give yourself time to explore different career options, and don't automatically lock yourself into a vet assistance position.
Nirah recommends the following next steps: