Credit hours/semester and working part time

[Jurate1]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello all, I will be starting my first semester in Aug 2006. I am told we will be averaging 20 semester hours per term. This seems very high. Is this the average for everyone? I must continue working at least part time. I would like to hear from anyone else who is working part time and how they are able to manage both work and school. Thanks in advance.

 

[DownonthePharm]

Yes, high credit hours are pretty normal for all pharmacy schools.

Why do you need to work part time? I wouldnt recommend working until you are least done with your first semester to see how you handle the workload.

If you must work I suggest working in a pharmacy. It will reinforce the stuff you learn in class and since you will be an intern the money is pretty good. If thats not good, try to work in the school library, or some other sort of receptist/clerk position where you can get lots of studying done.

 

[bananaface]

I have 19 credits this quarter and next and work 8-16 hours a week in a retail pharmacy. It's doable.

 

[pinkyrx]

We also have around that many hours per semester. I agree with the previous poster about trying to not work the first semester until you get used to the class load. If you absolutely have to work, try to do as few hours as possible or work someplace that you would allow you to study at work. For example, lots of students here work on campus doing things like running the front desk at the dorm or gym and they have plenty of time to study while at work.

 

[museabuse]

It depends on your commitments. If you have a family and kids then it may be hard to find time to work and if you do then you may not have time for some of your commitments or spend as much time with your family as you would like. However, for me, I don't have a family and I don't have much else going on. I work 16-24 hours a week and probably could work more. I do most of my hours friday and saturday. IF I wasn't working on those days, I wouldn't be studying anyways. Does anybody really study on friday or even saturday? I am actually a lazy person, so working is a way not to sit in front of the TV or computer or sleep all day long. Some people feel that when they graduate they will be working 40+ hours so there is no need to kill yourself now.

If you don't have to work I would still recommend working one 8 hours shift on friday a week. It is good experience. If you do have to work, then it is doable. You just have to study in quality not quantity.

 

[TechnicolorYawn]

It depends on how good you are at budgeting your time, and how well-prepared you are from your pre-pharm course work. I am a 2nd semester P1, and I have been working an average of 25 hrs/week while carrying 17 credits (which is a full course load at my school). I haven't had trouble with my grades, though I don't have a whole lot of free time during the semester!

I fit the majority of my work hours in during the week. Unfortunately I can't do homework at my job. I catch up on studying over the weekends. Luckily my job is flexible so if I have a super-busy week school-wise I can cut down on my hours, but I think my lightest work-week last semester was still about 16 hours.

As far as other people go - I have talked to P3's who have managed to work 20-25 hrs/week all 3 years, and I hope to be able to do that as well. I would guess the majority work around 8 hrs/week, but I know people who do not work at all and still struggle...so unfortunately, it is very individualized.

Best of luck!!