Be careful - as an American, you need a visa with working privileges, and a student visa often does NOT allow you to work other than during school holidays and breaks or for education-related "stages" (internships) where the pay is minimal (if, indeed, you are paid at all).

School is considered a full-time commitment here and, to be honest, foreign students are a nice source of fat tuition fees for the schools.

What sort of visa do you have? That will determine what your options are to a large extent.
Cheers,
Bev