Working while in college is popularly linked to sleepless nights and late-shift jobs. But it doesn’t have to be so. You can opt for a more comfortable lifestyle, repay existing student loans, and build a solid financial background through legit ventures.
The importance of earning in college is sometimes underrated. According to research by Statista, outstanding student loans in the United States alone stand at a whopping $1.76 trillion in 2021, a staggering difference from the $480.9 billion in 2006. Many students struggle with these loans long after graduation, but this should not be you.
Making money while in college might seem challenging, but it’s possible. For instance, it could be as simple as earning while playing online table games and slots if you are well-versed with casino games. Many people even engage in private tutoring and publishing on Amazon, among other things. This article will reveal some of the best ways to easily make money while in college.
5 Ways To Make Legit Money In College
You need two things to make money in college – a skill (or an interest in learning) and the patience to find the opportunity, key into it, and maintain the gigs. Here are some of the ways to maximize your college experience by making money without affecting your study time:
1. Get Paid to Tutor and Write Essays for Other Students
Take advantage of your advanced knowledge to earn cash in your department. You can tutor other students in complicated subjects and get paid for it. You can also write essays for your peers. You can even charge students extra money if you’ll be dealing with challenging topics. You will be surprised to find many willing to pay for your services.
Another way to earn money is to take on research projects for a price. With this, you can even find clients outside your class and campus community. After taking on enough projects to create an impressive resume, you can also apply to companies that need market researchers or work with financial firms to write diligence reports and other research needs they may require.
2. Become a Research or Teaching Assistant
Becoming research or teaching assistant is a perfect opportunity if you’re looking for legit ways to make money in college. It’s easy to make some earnings here, as long as you have a decent CGPA. It’s also a great opportunity to work closely with professors and gain valuable experience. Working as a research assistant means you’ll be on the college’s payroll — a chance to get a decent salary.
If you are considering this job, your duties may include:
- Everything from grading papers and exams.
- Helping students with projects and assignments.
- Participating in class discussions or lectures.
- Providing tutoring services (either in person or online).
- Working on research projects (such as writing critical literature reviews).
- Managing social media pages.
- Answering emails.
Your work hours can range from 5 to 40 hours per week, depending on your workload. It’s a good way to improve your experience and resume.
3. Get a Part-Time Job
You can get a part-time job on or off-campus. If you are lucky, you might get a gig in your field of study, get paid while gaining industry experience, and make contacts that could help ease your transition into the workforce after graduation.
All you need is the right skills to do the job and the determination to deliver results. For example, if a job requires typing or data entry, make sure that’s something you’re good at before applying. It will help improve your resume and make it relevant when applying for full-time positions in that area later.
You should also read the details of a job post before applying. You can Google what a role is about before sending your application. It helps you know if you have all it takes to function on the job. In addition to these, don’t think a job is too small for you. It’s okay to be proud but making money as a college student means you might not get the desired positions you are looking for initially. Take advantage of available opportunities, keep yourself engaged, and love every moment.
4. Become a Freelancer
Freelancing might be the best option you can take. You’ll get paid for your skills and time, and you can work from home or anywhere convenient. All you need is a computer, a smartphone, fast internet access, and a skill.
You can find jobs on sites like Upwork and Fiverr. You can find people who need help writing blog posts, designing logos or graphics, editing videos, running online ads, managing social media communities, writing articles, or books, proofreading documents, creating video animations, etc. Give it a shot if you have the required skills to do the job in these areas. Being a freelancer is one of the best ways to make good money as a college student.
5. Become a Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are people who work from home to provide administrative assistance for other businesses. Clients can hire you for specific tasks or projects like an independent contractor. If you think this could be you, there is a chance to work regularly, providing ongoing administrative support to clients and getting paid.
Your tasks may range from scheduling appointments and booking travel reservations to preparing presentations and even running errands for employers. It can give you corporate experience if you plan to enter the business industry after college.
Conclusion
Working while in college is fun as you’d get to know what it’s like after graduation. You can find something that piques your interest to get started and make money in the process. While combining work and study could be quite challenging, the money you earn from these engagements will serve as an incentive to keep going.
Making money while in college is possible with the right plan in place. The options listed above could be a great place to start. And the good news is that these experiences will also come in handy after graduation, as they will prepare you for the challenging realities waiting for you in the corporate world.