Should a student work a job in college?

The Sun Herald reports.

Kids and Money: Holding down a job in college requires juggling skills

Not long ago, the standard advice to college students was that hitting the books and holding down a job didn’t mix during the school year.

Now, whether out of necessity to help cover college costs or by desire, working students are the norm.

In its annual snapshot of “How America Pays for College,” education lender Sallie Mae found that 74 percent of students work at some point during the school year. Moreover, most of those students were likely to work year-round, mainly in food service and retail jobs.

Sallie Mae also noted that college kids from middle-class backgrounds were more likely to work year-round than low-income students.

But multitasking demands can be stressful, and can even lengthen the time it takes to earn a degree. Are the trade-offs worth it?

For perspective on the pros and cons of working while taking classes, I asked my youngest son about his college job experiences. I also sought advice from several Kansas City Star summer newsroom interns on the lessons they learned.