college/business can it be done

[mbean408]

hey everybody i'm matt, and im a senior in highschool. i know this has been discussed many times on here but everybody has a different situation so this is to all of yinz who have cut and went to a 4 year college without sacraficing one or the other. i am new to Lawnsite so ill tell yinz a little about myself. i will be going to The University of Pittsburgh for Mechanical Engineering and i have 7 accounts as of now. i would like to expand to about 13-18 accounts just to help pay my way through college (new truck, books, gas to drive 40 minutes to pitt and back everyday etc.). i am also going to schedule my classes early or real late so that i can come home and have about 3-4 hours of cutting time. i plan to keep a tight route as well. i understand college is a full time job within itself but a lot of my friends in a 4 year college have atleast 4 hours or so of free time each day and still manage to get good grades. i am not giving up cutting grass (fast, easy, enjoyable money which seems to make college bills a little less stressful and trust me ive been a stockboy, dishwasher etc. so im not trying to go back to that) I really value an education so im making sure college is my first priority. all in all, i just would like to know if any of you guys were able to do both (like i said i dont want more than 18 yards at most) and what yinz reccomend as a "battle plan" for the next 4 years so that dont end up as another overworking, in debt, horrible grades, college student.

any input good or bad is appreciated!

[STL Cuts]

Here's what I do. I think I have been very lucky with my current setup.

I have 2 local LCO friends of mine run my business while I'm 3 hours away at college. Each take care of half of my customer base, this way it is manageable with their schedule. I run the business fulltime in the summer months and they take over at the end when I head back to college and take care of the beginning of the season for me before I get back from college. In the Fall we have a lot of 3 day weekends so whenever I get back I do the work as well.

My Spring Break starts after classes Friday so I will be back getting everything ready to go for the season, checking in with clients, etc. It works out well for them b/c they are part time (one is a teacher) so they don't mind having some extra yards at the beginning and end of the season.

I am sure to call and check in periodically with all of my customers to ensure everybody is doing a good job. This shows them that you care about them and at the same time gives you an idea of the work.

IMO, go to college! It's a great experience and you won't regret it, you can work the rest of your life but you won't be able to get these 4 years back. I'm in my 2nd year here and am 100% confident I made the right decision.

If you have any questions, PM me.

[deere615]

I am a sophmore in college and I do it and it can be tough, But I just try and manage time wisely I do plowing all winter and at least 30 accounts plus landscaping in the summer So it can get real busy. Sometimes I skip class to just gotta do what you gotta do

[mbean408]

Originally Posted by deere615

I am a sophmore in college and I do it and it can be tough, But I just try and manage time wisely I do plowing all winter and at least 30 accounts plus landscaping in the summer So it can get real busy. Sometimes I skip class to just gotta do what you gotta do

30+ nice man, where do you live because in the pittsburgh area our septembers and octobers can be just as busy as spring season. my main concern with doing both is april, september and october, those are the months where college and work overlap. congrats being able to mow/plow/school! , i really dont wanna give up the biz after putting so much time money and effort into it.

[deere615]

Originally Posted by mbean408

30+ nice man, where do you live because in the pittsburgh area our septembers and octobers can be just as busy as spring season. my main concern with doing both is april, september and october, those are the months where college and work overlap. congrats being able to mow/plow/school! , i really dont wanna give up the biz after putting so much time money and effort into it.

Mckees rocks area.You? Yes my last week of august/september can be really busy! And yes April gets extremley busy with lawns starting to grow like crazy, new customers calling, mulch jobs, rain!, and final tests/project for school.

[mbean408]

Originally Posted by deere615

Mckees rocks area.You? Yes my last week of august/september can be really busy! And yes April gets extremley busy with lawns starting to grow like crazy, new customers calling, mulch jobs, rain!, and final tests/project for school.

yea, exactely, its wild, but im in forward township which is on the other side of the river from monongahela. good luck this year!, theres still 4 ft. snow piles in my area and im more than ready for it all to melt

[zak406]

I could tell you were from pittsburgh before you ever said anything about Univ Of Pitt lol yinz Welcome..

[mbean408]

Originally Posted by zak406

I could tell you were from pittsburgh before you ever said anything about Univ Of Pitt lol yinz Welcome..

aha yea we're a rare breed

[deere615]

Originally Posted by zak406

I could tell you were from pittsburgh before you ever said anything about Univ Of Pitt lol yinz Welcome..

I think this explains us a little better LMAO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mobi0B0L37w

[mbean408]

Originally Posted by deere615

I think this explains us a little better LMAO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mobi0B0L37w

ahahahah how DARE they make fun of primanti's its ironic because i was just bragging about my eastern eurpean descent today ahahaha hate to admit it but in 3 minutes they pretty much summed us up.