With the price of tuition, gas, food and entertainment constantly on the rise, many students are taking increasingly drastic measures to afford a college education.
Attendance at UB can break the bank all too quickly: the cost of tuition, textbooks, and all those parking tickets combined with everyday necessities like car insurance and Bud Light are just some of the expenses that can take a bite out of a student's wallet.
For many, simultaneously working as a full time employee and maintaining a 15-credit course load is sometimes the only way a student can get by.
Whether working full or even part time, every minute spent behind a cash register or waiting on tables is minutes away from studying, partying, or just getting some much-needed rest.
"I generally get about 2 to 4 hours of sleep a night," said Don Clutterbuck, a junior philosophy major who works 2 jobs: one as a bartender, and another at a process serving company.
Clutterbuck doesn't regret his decision to hold down both jobs, despite his constant craving for a full night's sleep.
"I have money and stability in my life," Clutterbuck said. "I'm not bored. Ever."
Even students who only work part time know that it takes time management skills and a strong work ethic to get through each semester balancing successful academics and diligence as an employee.
Dayton Lewis-Taylor, a senior computer electrical engineering major, knows too well the demands placed on college students as the world of academics and the work world pull them in opposite directions.
Lewis-Taylor, a Fed-Ex employee who works from 3 a.m. until 8 a.m. twice weekly and then attends a day's worth of classes, recommends spreading out classes to have time for homework and rest.
"Right now, I'm taking sixteen credits, but they're all spread out so that I have time for rest and time for school," Lewis-Taylor said.
Students know the demands an employer can place on a student, and combined with grueling class schedules, so many decide to opt out of working during the semester. Freshmen especially seem to shy away from the workforce as they try to adjust to the atmosphere and workload of college life.
"I just came to Buffalo. I'm still trying to get settled in, with my studies and stuff," said Raj Krishnan, a freshman undecided major.
Christina Mapes, a sophomore Asian studies major, doesn't currently hold a job, and isn't looking to burden herself with one.
"Not having a job gives you more time to do projects and homework, and more time to do stuff on the weekends," Mapes said.
While the leisure of not working during the semester is one some can afford, other cash-strapped students find themselves having to sacrifice and give into finding a job. For those who don't know where to start looking for a paycheck, Career Services, located at 259 Capen Hall, can assist students in finding employment and making the right decisions when it comes to working during the semester.
"We've helped find students anything and everything, whether it's on campus or off, such as (positions in) Campus Dining and shops, retail stores, and the mall," said Bob Orrange, associate director of Career Services. "We've even helped students get jobs at Fed-Ex and UPS, especially around the holidays when they need extra help."
Career Services is available to advise students who find it necessary to work full or part-time during the semester, and find a placement right for them.
"This might sound crazy, but I miss working. I miss going somewhere regularly," said Renata Teplitskaya, a freshman undecided major who is currently unemployed but actively looking for a job. "I want to get off campus and meet kids that aren't UB students. I'm getting a little stir crazy."
Kevin Wetzel, a graduate student and social sciences major, said that the life of a student-employee can be a rewarding one. According to Wetzel, a Petsmart employee, the easiest way to avoid getting burned out is limiting weekday work hours to less than 20. Despite sleep deprivation and being crunched for time, he said that working is worth the while for most.
"It's nice to not rely on mom and dad," Wetzel said. "The negative side of having a job is having to get up early before class."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
