As Northwestern's tuition shoots skyward and Evanston doesn't get any cheaper, many students have work-study jobs to keep themselves afloat. But not everyone is cut out to swipe WildCARDs at SPAC - so we surveyed the weirdest of campus employment opportunities. Here are our favorite ways creative co-eds are making it rain.
PENS FOR PENNIES
If you're mooching a pen from that kid in discussion, and it's not a standard Bic or mechanical pencil but a sleek utensil with snazzy illustrations, you probably just met McCormick junior Andrew Wu. He makes $1,000 per month selling the Asian stationary pens - which he says are only available in stores in Chinatown - on the Internet. Wu has sold more than 15,000 imported pens through his eBay store since early 2007.
Wu is just the middleman; a Taiwan-based supplier ships directly to customers. "I speak English, I know who to target, and I'm already established online," Wu says, explaining why he is an asset to Taiwanese pen companies not well-versed in American markets. "I have some friends that think it's kind of weird," Wu says. "But then they realize that there are a lot of people buying them."
TITS FOR TIPS
McFadden's, your Wednesday night flip-cup headquarters, is used to NU partiers storming - and even dancing on top of - their two bars. Now they want you working behind the counter.
The home of the White Trash Bash is on the prowl for Evanston students to serve as guest bartenders. "You don't have to know anything at all," says Kristi Paris, McFadden's director of marketing and events. "You come in and train for barely an hour. It could not possibly be easier." McFadden's guest bartending gig began two years ago, and nightly tips range from $100 to $500, Paris says.
Students have used their guest shifts for fundraising purposes, and others as a way to show off. "Some people think it would be fun to have a bunch of their friends over and say, 'Hey, look at me bartend,'" Paris says. Aside from making money, it's definitely a good way to get attention, and you don't even have to dance on a pole (body shots optional).
2008 Woodie Awards
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