Balancing work study and school?
- Thread starter Dr Tony T. Chopper
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Honestly given the kind of work that medical school entails, you will need to give it your all, I think any kind of job while going to medical school is a bad idea, its no like undergrad where you spend a couple of hours a day and pass. You need spend several hours, at least 6 or more per day outside of lecture each day per week studying the material to master it for your exams and boards. That does not leave much time for a job or other pursuits.
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I have a few classmates who pull it off, but I'd recommend waiting a bit into first year before signing up to see if you can handle it. And there's no shame if you can't; for once I agree with @Seth Joo -- med school tends to be a full-time job. I give mad props to people who can multitask like that-- I need the hours I have free from studying to preserve my marriage and my sanity.
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I don't think anyone in my class works. I used to work full time in undergrad and couldn't even imagine working part-time in med school. Doesn't seem possible, at least with my schools schedule.
W
wxman393
I guess I'm one of the people who pull it off, but I only work prn/per diem on Friday or Saturday nights as a medic. Never on a weekend before an exam. It actually helps me keep my sanity as I took the non-traditional route before going to med school. Then again, n=1!
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Med school is a lot of work but the time commitment is grossly exaggerated, I suspect because the majority of med students have never held a real full-time job and it's more than anything they're used to in undergrad. It's a 45-50 hour per week commitment, on average, for someone of average learning capabilities (by med school standards) during M1 and M2.
Studying for 9 hours a day is certainly more mentally taxing than say, a job as an accountant, but the hours per week required to be successful is not any different than your typical full-time job. Most people wouldn't recommend working an additional job on top of a full-time job, but there are certainly people that do it. It just requires good time management skills.
Studying for 9 hours a day is certainly more mentally taxing than say, a job as an accountant, but the hours per week required to be successful is not any different than your typical full-time job. Most people wouldn't recommend working an additional job on top of a full-time job, but there are certainly people that do it. It just requires good time management skills.
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What year of medical school are you in?
I appreciate the heads up, fellows. I am from a trad background with minimal work experience coming into M1. I will need to situate my spoiled ass properly in this 45-50 hr work week so I don't make a fool out of myself. 🙂
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We do have other commitments in med school besides getting ready for the next exam. Most schools have PBL sessions and other activities that are mandatory... I never thought I would writing so many papers in med school. 🙁
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EMTs/midlevels tend to be the exceptions because of the opportunities and flexibility available to them. The vast majority of students don't/can't work during school year, aside from small campus gigs.
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wxman393
I'll agree with this. My civilian employment as a paramedic, both before and now during medical school, has always been extremely flexible. I can pick up a 12-hour shift on a Friday night, study, sleep and then get back at it Saturday morning. That is, of course, if we don't get slammed with calls but that's the risk I personally take.
I also agree with Azete. I thought being a non-trad would inherently increase the amount of studying I would have to do. But, I can still spend time with my wife and kids, work PRN as a medic, and fulfill my military obligations one weekend a month without compromising my grades. Aside from anatomy lecture/lab/coursework, I feel I spent more time with my PhD coursework and dissertation.
Disclaimer: I am not vying for an ultra competitive specialty nor is my family picky about residency location.
Then again, n=1.
