Increasing Trend: Students who work

I have noticed a trend in my students, something I did not encounter at UTA or during my own college experience: Students who work 30-40 hours a week, usually in jobs that pay no more than eight dollars an hour. I think I find this amazing, first of all, because it is an experience I do not share...in college, I did work summer jobs and had a work-study job, but my living expenses were part of my tuition. Now, my tuition at Scripps, where I went, was over 27K a year. My parents did not contribute anything at the time to my college expenses, and so I received a lot of scholarships and a number of school loans to cover my tuition and living expenses. Cell-phones weren't common, and the main expense I had to pay for was my car, which I paid no more than $150 dollars a month for, insurance and payments. So, I could easily work 20 hours a week at five dollars an hour, and have extra spending money. Also, I never missed class because of my work schedule...I missed classes because I was sick, lazy, or didn't do the homework, and suffered the consequences for it. But, I am discovering the common trend of students working real jobs (albeit, many have low-paying, unskilled jobs) while they go to college, supposedly to pay for living expenses (although many students do live at home), cell-phones (I don't even have a cellphone!), cars (cheap used cars seem to be anthema to many college students--and don't even mention public transportation!), money to eat out, etc. The idea of students waiting to have a job _after_ college seems to be unknown, for the most part, for many community college students. What is even more amazing is that Collin County is a community college in a very upper-middle class area, where you would think the students would be able to depend on their parents to help them out through college! However, this seems not to be the case. What I wish students who choose to work would realize is that:

1) It is really discouraging to professors to hear from their students that work schedules dictates school schedules, and so many students cut class for work purposes and often see their work as more important than school. Professors will not make allowances because you work so many hours, and are too tired to study, or don't have enough time!

2) Financial aid, including federal work study jobs that pay as much as "real jobs," is available to pay for or offset the expenses of going to school.

3) Sacrifice is possible...you don't have to have the life-style you grew accustomed to while in high school...there are reasons that ramen noodles are so inexpensive!

4) If you work hard in college, actually get a degree, and perhaps postpone material things while in college, your earning potential will be much more in the long-run.

5) Insurance might be available through your parent's plans if you are a full-time student AND there are school insurances available that are low-cost.

6) If you work many hours a week, you miss out on the cultural and social activities that are available while you are in college.

7) It is hard to study and get good grades when you work a full-time job; if you study hard and get good grades, this increases your possibility of getting a scholarship when you transfer, and saves money in the long run!

I wonder if students know all the above when they decide to work so many hours? Do parents encourage their children to work while in college? Does anybody discuss with you your options before you enroll in college?

Obviously, there are students who have to work--those who are raising families, or going back to school later in life; however, I see too many students funding expenses, such as cars and cell-phones, that could be post-poned and aren't as neccessary as students think.

What do you think?

Melissa