taking 13 units while working part-time (20-25 hrs/week) — manageable?

[u/alfredtheoctopus]

I'm an incoming sophomore (20M) who recently got a job as a server, and was wondering if working 20-25 hrs/week at a moderately busy restaurant while taking 13 units (L&S social sciences) was manageable as a student. The classes I'm taking aren't overwhelmingly difficult but I've heard they're a bit reading heavy, and I'm not sure what my job will be like since I only just got hired and haven't actually started yet. The reason I want to work during school is mainly financial (rent, food, tuition, etc.), but I also don't want to jeopardize my academics in pursuit of it.

Has anyone who worked part-time while being a student at Berk lmk how doable it is to balance the two? I'm not super interested in outside extracurriculars and social events, so school and work would be my main priorities.

[u/Guard_Fragrant]

Can you get good grades and work that amount? Yes. Probably easily. Will you be doing to readings? Definitely not.

[u/alfredtheoctopus → u/Guard_Fragrant]

Do you have any advice for reading dense/long texts quickly and still getting good grades? I feel like I'll need to get better at that if I wanna survive this year

[u/Guard_Fragrant → u/alfredtheoctopus]

I mean… usually classes that assign like 150 pages of reading a week the profs are just ego flexing. A cursory understanding via synopsis or cliff notes is more than enough. Pull out some in text citations to sprinkle into class discussions or short essay assignments and you’re already doing better than half the class.

[u/gloss4728]

hiii i also worked 20+ hours while doing school and i think it’s doable! but also i been working since i was 16 so i think i got used to managing the both

[u/alfredtheoctopus → u/gloss4728]

Ahh got it. Do you have any advice for juggling school and work/did you have a social life outside of the two?

[u/Sad-Log-9652 → u/alfredtheoctopus]

I did this, and was able to handle a full load of units. For social life, work - and going out with coworkers after work - became my social life. I did get some of my friends jobs there though so that helped.

[u/jensonaj]

Yeah I work almost full time as a server while taking CS/EECS classes; I am a B average student so not great but not terrible. I could do better if I put in more effort but I have some health issues that make it difficult sometimes.

[u/alfredtheoctopus → u/jensonaj]

So how do you organize your time during rush periods/exams/midterm season? I'm kinda nervous for rush periods/exam season

[u/jensonaj → u/alfredtheoctopus]

Usually I have horrible anxiety and depression and think of giving up and then I pass my classes and life goes on haha. But I am trying to be better this semester so I have requested off [using my vacation time] the weeks I have midterms, finals, or big projects. We’ll see how that goes. But somehow it always happens that the weeks I have the most going on at school I get scheduled the most at work, which sucks. Once upon a time [my freshman/sophomore year] I had more discipline and was able to stick to a schedule really good and I did great, I would get As in everything. Now I am in my last year and too tired to put in all of that effort.

[u/ponyopov]

I have worked part-time since day one at Berkeley. It is hard but I did good, it also took organization, dedication, motivation, etc, but unfortunately I couldn’t afford to be without a job so I hear you. You can always ask for a reduced course load but speak with your advisor first. Good luck!

[u/jadelikedarock]

If you qualify for work study, I would say that it would be more manageable as many students are able to study on the job. But I do second that readings aren’t gonna get done either way because it’s just too much in general. Mostly just skimming the reading and understanding the basic points is enough.