Is it better to work in college and pay off student loans as you go, or just wait until you are done with college?

Working fulltime while you are in college isn't advisable. At you are going to take 6-9hr a semester and it would take you a very long time. Taking a break while you are working on your degree also isn't advisable. You have to keep yourself in that environment to do well. Lastly, try to look for scholarships. That would easy your burden.

Paying off as you go would be preferable, but don't overwork yourself to the point that your grades suffer. Grades and on campus involvement are important to recruiters. Consider working part time while you area in school so you can take out less student loans. If you are taking summers off from class you can work full time then. Paid internships are a great way to get experience and earn some money for school. Save as much as you can and use it for your education. Also remember to apply for any and all scholarships that you are qualified for.

Anything you can do to lower your debt load in college would be helpful, but make sure you are not working too hard and still allowed enough time to focus on your studies. That said, depending on what type of career you are looking to enter -- a lot of fields offer paid internships that give you the advantage of understanding the company, the jobs they offer, as well as their corporate culture before you commit to working for them full time. In the interim, if you performed well as an intern, you will be more likely to get offered a full time position at the company at the end of your internship as they will have a much better understanding of your abilities and work ethic than they would ever get from a series of interviews with a random candidate.