Work Experience & College Apps
Do Admissions Officers Value Work as Much as Extracurriculars?
Jun 9, 2008
If you're getting ready for the college application process, you've probably heard that it's important to have a record of extracurricular activities on your application. But what about part time jobs? But do colleges value work experience as well? And if you have to work long hours because of your family's financial situation, will colleges reject you because you don't have time for extracurriculars?
Here's what students should know: most college admissions offices see work as a positive thing. By working during high school, students learn responsibility, work ethic, and all kinds of lessons about the "real world." Colleges are fed up with incoming students who are lazy and have a strong sense of entitlement. Therefore, most admissions officers are pleased to see applications from students who know what it means to work.
The trick is this: make your work experience count for as much as you can on your application. Here's how.
Provide Context for Your Work Experience
Colleges like to see years of involvement in an extracurricular activity because this demonstrates responsibility and commitment. But you can demonstrate the same thing with work experience.
What you need to do is explain what you learned in your work experience -- responsibility, work ethic, leadership skills, perspective about diversity, and so forth -- that will help you become a successful student. Be sure to explain this in the section of the application that asks about work experience, and possibly in your essay as well.
When discussing the value of your work experience, be specific. Talking about the problem solving skills you learned at your job is generic and won't add much to your application. Instead, talk about your specific experiences. For example, you might talk about how as an assistant counselor at an inner city day camp, you learned how develop creative programming with very limited resources. Then talk about how you feel this problem solving experience will benefit you as an elementary education major.
Choose Jobs that "Match" Your Application
Work experience looks good on a college application -- but it looks great if you find jobs that help your application become more cohesive. Colleges love applications that tell a coherent story about the student, and does so by having "matching" parts of the story. For example, if you want to major in journalism, it helps to have matching extracurriculars, such as experience on the college newspaper and yearbook. But it also helps if your job experience matches as well, so a part time job at a local newspaper will enhance your application.
This doesn't mean a job at the bagel shop has no value -- especially if you're able to explain what you've learned at the bagel shop that will help you in college. However, any work experience you add that parallels your future goals is a big bonus.
Students Who Need to Work
Many students work for some extra spending money -- but for many others, it's not a choice. Moreover, for some students, work experience means little or no opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities.
If this is the case, will it hurt your application? Not if you explain your situation. Understand that your work situation is nothing to be ashamed of -- and that, in fact, most colleges will look quite favorably your efforts, so don't be afraid to show some pride. Colleges want to see students who are willing to work and who demonstrate responsibility, and if a student is working 30 hours a week to help pay the bills, this is solid evidence that this student has a genuine work ethic.
One person who can help put your work situation is perspective is your guidance counselor. In your guidance counselor's letter of recommendation, he or she can explain that you haven't been involved much in school because of your family's financial situation -- and he or she can discuss what a responsible person you are for contributing to your family's well being.
Balancing Work and Grades
One thing that's important to keep in mind for any student applying to college: grades matter more than anything. Yes, colleges want to see extracurriculars and work experience, but none of that will matter if you haven't gotten good grades in challenging classes. Thus, unless your financial situation makes this impossible, it's important to limit your work hours so that you have enough time to study.
Work experience is a good thing. Maximize its value on an application by explaining the value of your work, and if possible, by choosing jobs that parallel your future goals. Best of luck with your college applications!
