Should I get a job?

My DS got a job the summer before senior year at Chick Fil A. He has been there a year and half. Due to his natural leadership he rose quickly and got two promotions and became Assistant Director of Night Operations. It was probably too late to show up on his college applications, but if he had started the summer before Junior year, I think the management experience he was getting would have looked great on an application and certainly something he could talk about at interviews. So, YES! A job on your resume can look very good.

But remember, you are "racked and stacked" first based on grades, and SAT's. Then, they look at sports and leadership, community service, work experience, and overcoming hardship. So whatever you do, don't let work cause your grades to slip. And make sure you crush the SATS's (my DS was defeated by the SAT'S.)
 
USNA_STEM_Prof said:
No offense to your father but he's simply wrong. And no offense to you, but as a 16 year old there aren't many "respectable" jobs available anyway, whatever that means in this context. You're looking to apply to an elite institution that certainly is Ivy League / white collar in prestige but has the wherewithal to know we all start somewhere. USNA teaches respect, honor, integrity, and diligence -- all traits that can exhibited in any job, menial or not. And besides, if USNA looked down on blue collar / menial work, the officers produced there would look down on the hard work performed by junior enlisted in many situations -- but they don't.

Whether you can juggle the job and your other endeavors to remain as competitive as possible is a separate conversation, though having the job in and of itself is a boon to your resume.

Anecdote: my first job was at a kennel. I literally cleaned dog poop every day. Now I'm a post-Command Commander and will likely be one of your professors in a couple of years. Again, we all start somewhere and I started about as low as you can. Good luck!
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Speaking of poop, my DS, spent the past 5 years on a horse farm and a kennel cleaning up poop! He said the exact same thing, no more poop ever! The money was really good and the hours were flexible perfect for a busy high school athlete. It builds character.
 
LKNBrawley said:
Speaking of poop, my DS, spent the past 5 years on a horse farm and a kennel cleaning up poop! He said the exact same thing, no more poop ever! The money was really good and the hours were flexible perfect for a busy high school athlete. It builds character.
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Sounds like a Shipy job.
 
I didn't have any J.O.s standing next to me pulling out cut 55 gallon drums of sh-t out of wooden-built latrines in the desert to stir and burn it with JP4 while in Desert Shield ........... but they certainly appreciated the work we did.
 
I just turned 15 and for the past six months I've been working at a fast food restaurant and probably once i am 16 ill work in retail so i personally think u should get a job because it will help your finances a lot
 
LKNBrawley said:
Speaking of poop, my DS, spent the past 5 years on a horse farm and a kennel cleaning up poop! He said the exact same thing, no more poop ever! The money was really good and the hours were flexible perfect for a busy high school athlete. It builds character.
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At least the money was good! I got minimum wage back in 1998, haha.
 
Both my kids bailed on the Safeway job and got jobs at our local Mathnasium and have made it a great learning experience while in HS. Kumon is another option.
 
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