How important is it to get work experience while you're in college?

Work experience is very important in college because it allows you to meet people which creates relationships which improves people skills. When you graduate from college, the majority of the business you try to apply to, will only look at your work experience. Usually your academics will only be checked if you are planning on entering graduate school after undergrad. But overall, you create relationships with people and become a part of the university. It will show the business you apply to that you care more than just yourself and care for your college. Hope this helps.

Ha. You're 19. You are very young. Actually, work experience, especially in your career area, is more important than grades. Although, you still need to maintain decent grades.. Since you sound like a freshman, you probably have not declared a major / know what you want to do. That's fine. Figure out what you want to do, and then try and find a job that correlates. That is what is going to help you stand out.

Well, I think a background and a college degree is better than just a college degree. Its better to have more than less in this situation. The field I plan to go into, doesn't need me to have a work background so I don't have to worry about that lol. I'm going in the military soon anyway so THAT will be my background lol.

the problem with your little theory, as I see it, is that you'll end up graduating and be a step behind your classmates.

i worked all 4 years of college, to cover my expenses and so I wasn't broke all the time. at the same time I also worked a few internships, and gained some valuable experience. so while I was ready for the workplace when I graduated, many of my lazier classmates didn't work and weren't ready. and when recruiters came around campus they didn't end up getting offers.