Getting a job.

[LiquidMidnight]

Wait a full year before getting a job during school. You won't know how school will affect you until you begin. If you can manage school THEN get a job. The sportbike can wait....

I agree with this.

I agree that the sportbike can wait. I also see exactly where you father is coming from. HOWEVER...college is so much more than just a piece of paper at the end of four years. During my sophmore year, I took a job with the university's computer department. I had an IT background plus the cash was alright. It was a pretty laid-back gig and I got to concentrate on my studies. The benefit: I worked a job for three years while I was in college. It's a pretty nice thing to have on my resume.

As a graduate student, one job I took in addition to my assistanceship was a mock interviewer for the university's career center. Basically, I would critique undergraduate's resumes and cover letters and give them an interview that would mirror what they'd encounter out in the real world. Let me tell you as someone pursuing a career in HR, those who came in with real world work experience, internship experience, or military experience looked much more attractive than those who were juniors/seniors and did nothing but take classes. It's even worse if they did nothing but school and only had an average GPA to show for it. In addition, the ones with the work experience usually carried themselves with a certain intangible maturity that many of the professional students lacked.

I'd personally put off the sport bike dream for a few years, find a day gig that lets you do a few hours a week and doesn't get in the way of your studies, get some spending cash, and augment your resume/CV.

 

[wazzel]

When I was in college I had to work. My parents picked up tuition and dorm living. I needed to make my own money for gas, cloths, going out, etc. A part time job was more than enough to cover that. Unless your parents are going to cover that too you will need atleast a small job.

I you ahve another mode of transportation skip the bike for now. It is an expense you do not need.

 

[Cabazon]

School is more important, but if you absolutely insist on getting a job, wait until at least a semester or two without one, to ensure you'd be able to handle it, and if you can, get a job somewhat related to the degree you're interested in. It'll help to have some experience in related things in addition to the degree. For example, when I intended to major in Pharmacy, I was looking for a job as a Pharmacy Tech. I never did really do either, but it was the idea.

 

[Chebass88]

It depends on your time management skills. I studied chemical engineering (demanding), however, I wasted a sufficiently large amount of time when I could have been working or gigging or meeting girls. Of course, with the money, it would have been spent on something else like booze or smokes. It is DEFINITELY possible to have a part-time job while in college. Just make sure you get your schoolwork done.