Walk down Route 1 in College Park, and you’ll see countless bars, restaurants and coffee shops. Just minutes from campus, students at the University of Maryland work at these establishments both behind the scenes and behind the counter.

This university’s on-campus workplaces range from Stamp Student Union to dorms, but some students opt to get their paycheck off-campus.

Kayla Nophsker has worked as a server at The Greene Turtle since its opening last fall. Nophsker said she normally works two to three shifts a week, totaling about 16 to 20 hours.

Balancing a part-time job, academics and social activities can be tricky, but for the junior criminology and criminal justice major, it’s anything but.

“It’s pretty easy for me because I’m a really organized person and I’m good at time management,” Nophsker said. “But definitely for some other people, it’s hard when there’s an exam the next day and you’re scheduled to work the day before that.”

Campbell Stein, a senior criminology and criminal justice major, started working at RJ Bentley’s this semester as a server. A hotspot for upperclassmen, RJ Bentley’s is a staple weekend hangout.

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Like Nophsker, Stein doesn’t have much trouble managing having an off-campus job and her academics.

“Now that I’m a senior, I know how to manage my time better,” Stein said. “I think they’re really good at scheduling you based off your school schedule, and we have a good balance with academics and social life, which is nice.”

The majority of Stein’s coworkers are also students at this university, which she said is one of her favorite parts of the job. Stein enjoys being able to see people she knows at the restaurant while working, especially on Friday nights.

While the nearby off-campus bars are major destinations for student employment, the job field in College Park isn’t limited to serving or bartending.

Shop Made in Maryland, located in the College Park City Hall building, is a cafe and store that sells items made by local artisans. Phoebe Kaplan, a junior family health science major, is a barista there and works at most 10-15 hours per week.

“The management at Shop Made does such a great job with understanding that we’re all students, and they’re really flexible,” Kaplan said. “I put in my classes and my manager will never schedule me during class time and when I have my extracurriculars with my sorority and things like that.”

Kaplan also has little issue managing her time while having a part time job. While working at Shop Made in Maryland, she said she has always had a good balance between work, school and getting to see her friends.

Despite the friendly environment at The Greene Turtle, Nophsker said the hours can sometimes be a little tough.

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Especially on the weekends, she said she often works until 2 or 3 a.m., which is difficult when she still has homework to do after a shift. Nophsker said she has had to miss social events, such as birthday parties and hanging out with friends due to work.

Off-campus jobs provide a sense of community away from this university, but still allow for meaningful relationships with fellow students. Establishments such as The Greene Turtle, RJ Bentley’s and Shop Made in Maryland offer students the opportunity to engage with each other outside of classes and campus activities.

“My favorite part probably is all of the people I’ve met and all the connections that I’ve made,” Nophsker said. “I’m always making friends there.”