The Daily OrangeStudents turn to part-time jobs for tuition money
By Kelsey Bennett
Posted: 1/15/09, 3:34 AM EST Section: News
Amid a worsening economy and rising tuition costs, students are working longer hours to pay the bills.
Rising tuition has kept Kendra Tatusko, a junior biology major, working two jobs on top of being a full-time student.
"The cost of attending here has gone up in the three years that I've been here," said Tatusko. "So each year I have to find some way of affording the extra money that Syracuse puts on."
Tatusko holds one job as a resident advisor and another as a research lab assistant in order to put herself through school. In total, she said she works about 29 hours a week.
"As an RA, I get free room and board which helps a lot," she said. "My other job is mostly just so I can have extra money to buy shampoo."
But she said no part-time job will ever make a significant decrease in her tuition.
"If you're not getting significant help from scholarships, significant help from your parents, or significant help from loans, you're not going to find a job on campus that will pay $50,000 a year," she said.
Tatusko is one of many students who have found the need to hold one or more part-time jobs while attending SU.
Camille Donabella, manager of SU's student employment services and acting director of Upstate New York's Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, said she's noticed a recent increase in students looking for jobs.
"There are peaks and valleys, really, but there are definitely more students in my office these days," Donabella said. "I think working in college is one of the best decisions a person can make. It teaches students responsibility and how to manage their time, which will help them later in life."
Donabella said her department also focuses on making sure students don't become overwhelmed while balancing school and a job. The average student works about 10 hours a week, she said.
Vinny Palazzo, a sophomore information studies major who works at the main desk in Booth Hall, said working while in school has been a positive experience.
Rising tuition has kept Kendra Tatusko, a junior biology major, working two jobs on top of being a full-time student.
"The cost of attending here has gone up in the three years that I've been here," said Tatusko. "So each year I have to find some way of affording the extra money that Syracuse puts on."
Tatusko holds one job as a resident advisor and another as a research lab assistant in order to put herself through school. In total, she said she works about 29 hours a week.
"As an RA, I get free room and board which helps a lot," she said. "My other job is mostly just so I can have extra money to buy shampoo."
But she said no part-time job will ever make a significant decrease in her tuition.
"If you're not getting significant help from scholarships, significant help from your parents, or significant help from loans, you're not going to find a job on campus that will pay $50,000 a year," she said.
Tatusko is one of many students who have found the need to hold one or more part-time jobs while attending SU.
Camille Donabella, manager of SU's student employment services and acting director of Upstate New York's Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, said she's noticed a recent increase in students looking for jobs.
"There are peaks and valleys, really, but there are definitely more students in my office these days," Donabella said. "I think working in college is one of the best decisions a person can make. It teaches students responsibility and how to manage their time, which will help them later in life."
Donabella said her department also focuses on making sure students don't become overwhelmed while balancing school and a job. The average student works about 10 hours a week, she said.
Vinny Palazzo, a sophomore information studies major who works at the main desk in Booth Hall, said working while in school has been a positive experience.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Ryan
posted 1/15/09 @ 9:25 AM EST
Best thing you can do as an undergrad is learn CAD. Autocad is the easiest. There are so many companies out there looking for help with that, very flexible and will pay 10-15 an hour. (Continued…)
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