Evening star., 1952-08-10
College, Plus Work or Marriage?
By Kite Turmoil

wonder whether to try to combine
this with work. marriage, or both.
Should I try to work my way
at college. or take a full-time job
now, to save up for college, later?"I
asks Roy. Should we marry, then
try to earn our college education
together?" Virginia wonders.
Here's some solid advice, from
leading college deans. that might
help you to reach wise decision.
Before you decide to work your
way to college. here are some prac-
tical tips from Dean Robert H.
Shaffer Of Indiana University,
president of the American Person.
mel and Guidance Association:
l. Try to build up enough re-
serve to get you through the first
semester, while you adjust and
build up your work chances. So
how can you figure what you'll
need? First allow enough reserve
for tuition and fees. Also at least
three-quarters Of room and board
costs. Chances are in your favor
that you can earn one-Quarter OF
your room and board, plus side
money for books, ETC., even during
the first semester.
2. Apply ahead, in person II pos
sible. to investigate what work you
can get. Most colleges have en-
ployment bureaus. There are hun
dreds of ways to earn. The trend
now Is to employ many more
students for staff jobs. in clerical
work for example. The earlier you
apply, the better your chances Tor
part-time work.
3. Try not to overload yourself
with more than 20 hours work
a week. The typical college course
REQUIRES two hours preparation
for each one hour in class. So
if YOU carry Is hours in class. you
should study 80 hours, adding up
to a 45-hour week.
Can you top that with work
for pay? Yes, within reason, Dean
Shaffer says. Most people who
work that much or more on a
full-time job find leisure for out
side activity.
So can you, if you budget time
and energy. Also, if you choose
friends and interests wisely instead
of just drifting along. If you are
the type who cannot resist play
ing cards all night, although you
know this will ruin your next day.
YOU are not mature enough to try
to work your way through college.
Try to aim for a 60-hour week as
'tops," for time demanded Tor
class, study and work.
4. If you want to go to college
but are held back by financial rea-
sons, discuss your problems frank
ly with college admission officers
who might advise on aids. II col
lege is not within your range,
check the fine programs offered
in night school. Look into the
increasingly popular junior col
lege programs you can attend
while living at home. With less
emotional strain and family Sacri-
flee, perhaps. while you build up
a reserve for future, higher educa-
ton.
Before you decide to marry.
then go on with college. here is
counsel for young couples from ex-
perts at Indiana. Columbia and
other universities:
Look at the financial picture.
Can you two manage your own
expenses? If not, will parents give
you whatever help you need? If
parents are able and willing to aid
some, fine. But it is felt that you
should find ways to carry at least
part of the financial load Of college
plus marriage! Do you both want
to work part-time? Or do you pre-
fer to take turns, on work and
school, while one supports the
other? Is marriage, before or dur
ing college, worth whatever extra
work and effort this will cost you?
Look at the life-in-college pic
ture. Do you want to narrow your
date-interest and social activities
as separate people that soon? Can
you meet the demands for Sacri-
fee of fun. leisure and standard of
living it might take to get two
through college? Will marriage, in
college. be help or a drawback
to your career? Will the added
responsibility make you a better,
6teadier student-or upset you?
Think it over. talk it over with
parents and adults. too, before you
try to turn a campus trailer into
q dream castle!