For Yohann Sidhwa, next week's spring break is going to be all about work.
The College sophomore will be spending his week off from school performing various logistical and other tasks for Securities Industry Institute, a Wharton-run program that begins on March 4.
Every spring break, Wharton runs the Securities Industry Institute, a series of classes, speakers and conferences designed for business professionals who work with securities and bonds.
70 to 80 students typically take part in the program, performing tasks like taking attendance and making sure professors have the teaching materials they need.
"It is the longest running executive-education program in the country," said Wharton Executive Education program coordinator Julian Dimery.
And older professionals aren't the only ones benefiting.
"We find that a lot of people, especially the international students, don't travel as much during spring break," Dimery said, adding that the majority of participating students are either international or partake in the program because they didn't make other plans in time."
Although these students only earn $8 an hour - barely higher than Pennsylvania's minimum wage - snagging this type of job has its perks.
Students working over spring break are "fairly atypical, as most employers won't hire someone for five days or a week," said Barbara Hewitt, senior associate director for Wharton Undergraduates at Career Services.
The program's student veterans have mainly positive things to say about the experience.
Sidhwa, who also worked for the program last year, said it "doesn't take up a lot of time and is a great way to make some money."
College junior Caitrin Rinehimer, who is also working for the program for the second consecutive spring break, added that "general student response tends to be 'Oh, that sucks,' but . I had a lot more downtime than [I] expected."
In the past, the benefits of earning money, in addition to sitting in on some lectures, entice students to return.
"I've always wanted to go to Mexico or Amsterdam [instead of working], but when it comes around to planning a trip like that, it's expensive," Sidhwa said.
But this year, the weight of such motives seems to be diminishing.
Dimery said that fewer students have signed up to work. He would not say exactly how many students have registered for this year's program since students are still signing up.
The program will run through March 9 and participants will take classes taught by Wharton and outside professors. They will graduate the program with certificates of completion that recognize that they have satisfied the program's requirements.
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