Part Time Work

[Hiigara]

Im a senior in high school (17 years old) and I desperatly need money for college since my family is having big financial problems right now. I was just wondering.. does anybody know if I could make some decent money by doing some website designing work for clients? The biggest problem is that im very busy (the reason why i cant get a job in town) so I kinda have to spread my work out and work on it at random hours.. whenever i have time. I am good with HTML and photoshop, and i know some CSS and javascript, and am learning PHP and Flash, but I have no idea where to start with finding clients.. or how i would handle marketing.. or even if i would make enough money to be worth the time.

I am wanting to study graphics design and unfortunatly most of the colleges I have found that seem to have good degrees in that area are very expensive private colleges that I could only dream to be able to afford. This is a somewhat recent example of kind of where im at with graphics in photoshop - http://www.ksgamingunion.150m.com/ although that layout there is only a sample so there is a lot on it and it takes a while to load. I am working on my own website currently though to better show my work.. but i dont know how to get my name out there so that I can find work.

Anybody know if i could make some decent money? do people pay much for websites?.. especially considering im only 17 and have never done any marketing work myself.

[disaac]

There are sites like http://guru.com which used to be creativemoonlighter.com
You are supposed to be able to post your profile and bid on jobs for free but a lot of the clients want people with paid memberships. Take a look at it, at least that wont cost you anything. There are plenty of sites like this out there. Good luck.

[arona]

im not so sure, but cant you qualify for Financial Aid? this is the way im going to make it. good luck

[Hiigara]

yes i am appying for financial aid and scholarships.. ive even qualified to be eligable to get a $60,000 one at a university near here but unfortunatly it doesn't have much of what im interested in studying (not that i would actually get the scholarship anyway). The schools out there that seem to have good graphics degree programs like Full Sail and Dubuque University cost somethin like $20,000 a year. The max student loan i can take would cover one year, and if im lucky financial aid might cover another one or 2, but then ive also got to worry about housing expenses and all that.. and right now my family doesnt even have close to $20,000 to spend on college.. im really f'ed up right now :(. There are a couple universities near me that have graphics design and are much cheaper but even them im having trouble comming up with the money for, and they also dont have pros straight from the industry teaching you how to use the cutting edge software.

anyway.. ill check out guru.com and thanks for the replies

[greentek]

hi Hiigara..
your sample layout is really very nice and has good design.. very good work..
check this website http://www.templateheaven.com/
there offer some work or cooperation for designers http://www.templateheaven.com/index.php?action=designer
you do not have to tell to anyone that you are 17.. no one truely needs to know it.. the only thing is really necessary are some samples of your ability to do a job..
spend all your free time making them until you have enough to show to the possible employer.. do only as best as you are able.. do not try to do a lot of them.. make few but really the best..
let me advise you.. do not spend money for expensive private colleges..
get any college you can allow yourself.. get books.. there are tons of them.. but choose books very carefully.. first check the authors.. what they do or who they reffer.. if you like it buy this book.. there is nothing you cant learn through the books.. even quantum mechanic and fields theory.. all the more graphic design.. you have a good taste.. just keep working and develop talent.. and you'll get everything.. trust me..
good luck to you..

[Hiigara]

thanks.. unfortunatly i have very little free time at the moment but ill take your advice and do what i can.. ive never heard of that website before.. thanks for the info. :)

Hiigara