Do most pre-med students work a part time job?

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Jfz

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I don't know whether I should quit my part time job which I have had from high school. I usually work 1 night a week. I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but my course load is kind of overwhelming right now (physics, chemistry, biology, calculus, all with labs). Having labs 4/5 weekdays keeps me occupied most of the evening, with the rest spent on studying. My free days are usually friday and saturday, but I want to start volunteering at the hospital near me, I want to get involved with my schools student union, and I want to approach my profs about research opportunities after this semester. It all seems like a lot to do while at the same time keeping my grades up and working a job. I feel like around finals (holidays) it's going to get worse because the job is at a grocery store, and I'm going to have to work a lot getting turkeys priced, etc. But I'm worried whether the money I have right now is going to last to pay my phone and car bills. Does being a lab monkey for profs usually generate any sort of income?

What did you guys do?
 
Jfz said:
I don't know whether I should quit my part time job which I have had from high school. I usually work 1 night a week. I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but my course load is kind of overwhelming right now (physics, chemistry, biology, calculus, all with labs). Having labs 4/5 weekdays keeps me occupied most of the evening, with the rest spent on studying. My free days are usually friday and saturday, but I want to start volunteering at the hospital near me, I want to get involved with my schools student union, and I want to approach my profs about research opportunities after this semester. It all seems like a lot to do while at the same time keeping my grades up and working a job. I feel like around finals (holidays) it's going to get worse because the job is at a grocery store, and I'm going to have to work a lot getting turkeys priced, etc. But I'm worried whether the money I have right now is going to last to pay my phone and car bills. Does being a lab monkey for profs usually generate any sort of income?

What did you guys do?
Click to expand...

I worked 30+/- hours per week during my entire undergraduate career. I juggled that with all the pre-med stuff, which often meant no social life. Sometimes you just have to tough it out...that is, unless you can get money from your parents or something. I think that the time-management skills I learned from all that will help me in the long haul of med school.
 
I work a job ~15 hours a week. It does create good time management skills and great cash flow. I would recommend scoping out your school for jobs that can be done where you can also do homework. In my job, I work at my school library at the circulation desk, and about 90% of the time am just doing my HW. But there are plenty of jobs like this around my campus; working at a gym, boathouse etc. all requires minimal effort
 
I didn't have the "luxury" of choosing whether to work or not... it's totally possible, you just have to manage it right. If you don't have to, then hey... you're a lucky person >.>
 
Calc has lab?

Well if you are working oneday a week chances are it's just for you to have some cash for when you are able to make it out socially. But if you don't have time to be social then what's the point of the extra $$ especially if it comes with buttloads of stress.
 
I currently work a full time job as a tech in an ER night shift (7p-7a) 3 nights a week ( mostly weekends) and i am also a part time firefighter/emt for a fire department usually 4 shifts a month. It is starting to get a little crazy so i am planning on going part-time at the hospital. My schedule this week is pretty crazy:

M-class 9am-9pm with about 5 hours work of break time between classes.
T-class 8am-3pm , Fire department 5pm-6am( i got to sleep because we had no calls)
W-class 9am-4pm , ER 7pm-7am(but i have an hour commute back home and i leave an hour early for work so i get about an hour rest)
TH-Class 8am-12 , SLEEP
F-Class 9am-4pm, Fire Department 5pm-6am
Sa-Sleep/study after fire department , ER 7pm-7am
Su-Sleep after work, study at night

This week is pretty nice because i took a PTO for one day at the ER. But i also took another fire shift. Yeah itll be waaaay easier next month when i am part time in the Er and my monday night class is over.

Edit: and yes i do have a girlfriend too
 
I dont have a job. It really does help out a lot with time. I feel like you really have to control the amount of extra things you do in order to balance course work.

I'd suggest that you even just stop working for a little bit just until you can get a grasp on things a little more and get used to your new workload. Then resume work later. I had to cut down on a lot of extracurriculars to keep my grades up this year.

But if you think you can figure out how to manage your time fairly quickly without too much juggling around, then stick with your job!
 
i have worked three of my four years in college and i feel i managed my time much better and got more stuff done when I was working than when i wasn't.

There is just something about knowing you don't have time to study in the weekend/ evening that makes you use the little time you do have so much better.
 
Normally, I would say that you should keep the job, but with that course load I think you might need to minimize your hours a little bit. I don't know, it's really your choice. I work at the school library ~10 hours a week, and it hasn't impacted my life at all. (the joys of being on the Block Plan)
 
I work 16 hours a week, 8 on Saturday and Sunday each. I'm only taking 12 credits, but it still sucks having class/labs 5 days a week and working all weekend. This coming summer I'm going to find a full time job (or two) and work my ass off so I won't need to work at all during the school year. I still may work during the school year, but having the option to not do so would be great...
 
20 hrs/wk for me and I manage, though it does require a bit more planning and forces me to be a bit more conservative in the courses I decide to take. But I love my job, so it doesn't really feel like work.
 
physics, chemistry, biology, calculus, all with labs
Click to expand...

😱

Does being a lab monkey for profs usually generate any sort of income?
Click to expand...

Only if you are experienced. If you're a newbie expect it to be a volunteer thing.
 
DaTruMD said:
Newbies can still make money...
Click to expand...

well if you're talking about research in order to get your foot in the door you generally have to go unpaid first. it's a bit much to ask of a lab to train you and pay you at the same time.
 
I decided to quit. Why? I have enough money to pay my car/phone bills until summer and have quite a bit of money saved up. It's not really an issue at this point. Being in my labs until past 6 every night prevents me from taking the evening shifts 4/5 weekdays. Since I'm starting volunteering at a hospital soon and as soon as i find some research opportunities i want to be involved with that so i am keeping friday saturday and sunday open.

Also my course load is really demanding right now, and they were not willing to work around the time off i need for midterms/finals.

(yes im taking the ***** way out but i'm not a genius student i DO need all the hours i can get for school)
 
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