Trying to balance school, a social life and work can be difficult. Being a freshman can make it overwhelming.
Nancy Bernard, director of Auburn's Career Center, said the number of hours a student works should depend on the individual's courseload and curriculum.
Hannah Nette, freshman in business, worked at Chick-fil-A during high school and continued working at the company when she started school in August.
"Most people that go to college never really have a job," Nette said. "But I guess it wasn't that much of a difference for me, because I had a job going all the way through high school."
Nette works 24 hours per week, and while she said juggling college and work can be stressful at times, learning to balance the two has benefitted her.
"When I leave work I don't want to go from doing work to doing homework," Nette said. "I kind of want to have my me time ... Each week is different. Sometimes I don't have anything to do in the week, and sometimes everything is due in one week. It can be a lot sometimes."
Nette said her parents stress independence, and not working isn't an option because she is financially responsible for her education expenses.
"My parents pay my rent, but I work for my own spending money, and they don't pay for my tuition," Nette said. "It makes me value my education a lot more now that I am paying for it."
Bernard said parents of freshman often ask her whether their child should work, but she said it all depends on the individual.
"I direct it back to the student and their situation," Bernard said. "I think as a freshman ... they need to come in here and do whatever they need to do to make good grades and do well that first semester. So if working is going to be a distraction then they don't need to do that, but (for) a lot of students it's necessary--they have to work."
Bernard said while some think it's best to focus only on school, she believes work can provide students structure so long as they balance the two.
"More than 20 hours a week would be hard, and I know some students do that because financially they have to, but they really have to be very structured and really mindful of their schedule," Bernard said.
Taylor Goode, freshman in business, works 12 hours per week at Earth Fare. She said having a job was easier to balance in high school, but likes working in college because it keeps her busy and provides experience for her resume.
"I would not recommend it during your first semester, but this is my second semester, and I have a better feel for it," she said.
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