I moved to LA from the Central Valley for school and I knew it would be expensive but I don't think I FULLY understood until I got here. Like, I knew rent was high. I didn't know my soul would also be crushed. 
I'm at LMU, which is already expensive even with scholarships, and my part-time job at a bookstore near campus pays $16.90/hour. I'm working about 20 hours a week and I'm STILL barely making rent on my tiny shared apartment in Culver City. I eat a lot of ramen. Like, a concerning amount of ramen.
For current California students, especially in LA or the Bay Area... how many hours do you work? How do you balance it with school? My film program is intense - we have shoots on weekends, editing that takes forever, group projects that require coordination. I can't just work more hours without my grades tanking.
But I also can't NOT work because, you know, shelter and food.
I'm thinking about trying to find a second gig, maybe something on weekends, but I'm scared I'll burn out completely. I already feel like I'm running on empty.
Also, does anyone know of jobs that pay better for students? Like serving jobs with tips? I hear servers can make good money but I have zero experience and also I'm kinda clumsy.
Tutoring? I'm good at writing but not sure if that pays.
And for film students specifically - are there industry jobs (PA work, etc.) that work with student schedules? I'd love to be getting experience while I earn money but those gigs seem to want people with open availability.
Basically I'm trying to figure out if everyone is struggling like me or if I'm missing something. Is 20 hours the norm? 30? How do you survive in this city without dropping out?? Send help and cheap meal ideas.
I'm at LMU, which is already expensive even with scholarships, and my part-time job at a bookstore near campus pays $16.90/hour. I'm working about 20 hours a week and I'm STILL barely making rent on my tiny shared apartment in Culver City. I eat a lot of ramen. Like, a concerning amount of ramen.
For current California students, especially in LA or the Bay Area... how many hours do you work? How do you balance it with school? My film program is intense - we have shoots on weekends, editing that takes forever, group projects that require coordination. I can't just work more hours without my grades tanking.
But I also can't NOT work because, you know, shelter and food.
I'm thinking about trying to find a second gig, maybe something on weekends, but I'm scared I'll burn out completely. I already feel like I'm running on empty.
Also, does anyone know of jobs that pay better for students? Like serving jobs with tips? I hear servers can make good money but I have zero experience and also I'm kinda clumsy.
Tutoring? I'm good at writing but not sure if that pays.And for film students specifically - are there industry jobs (PA work, etc.) that work with student schedules? I'd love to be getting experience while I earn money but those gigs seem to want people with open availability.
Basically I'm trying to figure out if everyone is struggling like me or if I'm missing something. Is 20 hours the norm? 30? How do you survive in this city without dropping out?? Send help and cheap meal ideas.