does anyone work during med school?

[asunshine]

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Please share your stories--I'd like to work very part time.

 

[MDstudent79]

I wouldn't recommend it unless it's AT the medical school (physically) or closeby and is somehow related to medicine or science.

I say that because I tried working 5-10 hours a week when I started med school in my old business job. It paid very well (much more than any student research stuff) and allowed me to come in and work whenever I wanted--even the middle of the night.

But after only a couple weeks, I realized it just wasn't worth it. It's amazing how much time 5-10 hours a week really is!! I always had to reserve an entire day on the weekend for work or a couple nights. It meant I wasn't getting as much studying in as I wanted to OR I had absolutely no free time to myself. After not doing so hot on the first exam due to lack of time to study, I quit the job.

Now that said, my school has an intensive, front-loaded anatomy course in which you do all of gross in a few weeks...so that probably had something to do with it. But even now, it wouldn't be fun.

And the amount of debt I'd be saving just wasn't worth risking the lowered grades and less social time.

But there might be other opinions....

 

[SemperJeff]

Please share your stories--I'd like to work very part time.

Med school in itself is a fulltime job (with overtime too). It isn't impossible, but I surely respect those who do and pull it off. Good luck to ya.

 

[sistermike]

I am not a med student, however, I do know of a few nurses that went back to med school who still work per-diem. They usually work 2 or 3 12-hour shifts a month.

 

[LaDoctorFutura]

i do work-study (4-5hr/week) for pretty good pay. i wouldn't recommend anymore hours than that, and find a job that is good for the study part. see what the finaid office offers.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

I worked 20 hours a week for the second half of my first semester. This spring, I'm moving up to 30 hours a week. It will be easier from now on since we have no Gross lab.

I work as a med tech in my teaching hospital's microbiology lab. Don't tell my dean, though, he told me that it's not acceptable to be working.

In the interest of full disclosure, my pay rate is $29/hour (per diem). I am not benefits-eligible right now, but I'll likely be going full-time during the summer.

After the end of 2007, however, I'm finally officially retiring (as an MS 2.5) and buying a shiny new Prius!

 

[Bitsy3221]

duplicate post

 

[Bitsy3221]

I worked 12-24 hrs/wk as a PA during M2-4 years of med school and managed to make it work. It took up all of my free time though. Despite what other posting or students may tell you, there is a fair amount of time to go out, drink, party, whatever and working that many hours ate up all that "off" time for me.

My med school HIGHLY discouraged working and essentially forbid students from working. (I had to get special permission from the Dean and was made to sign an agreement that if I had one bad performance on a single exam I would stop working immediately) Another student they year ahead of me who was a PT was moonlighting and was essentially made to quit his job when they found out about it, but that was because he told a preceptor he couldn't come to a session b/c he had to work--dumb response!

 

[emidesu]

I have worked three 7-hour shifts since august filling in at my old job. This is an ideal situation because I can put school first and pick up a few bucks when I have a chance. If you have an old employer that you can maintain a relationship with, you can have the best of both worlds.

 

[Tired]

I worked every weekend my first two years of med school. Did two 12-hour shifts so I could keep my health insurance and have a little cash. It made Mondays really ugly (night shift, so basically worked all night and went to school all day after), but it was well worth it.

 

[Law2Doc]

Please share your stories--I'd like to work very part time.

The smart move is to not take on obligations until you have made it through an exam or two. Then, if you are doing well (not a given) and you find you have the time, go for it. More people than not find they do not have the time to work on top of med school. It is the exception, not the rule, who work.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

I have worked three 7-hour shifts since august filling in at my old job. This is an ideal situation because I can put school first and pick up a few bucks when I have a chance. If you have an old employer that you can maintain a relationship with, you can have the best of both worlds.

This was key for me. I don't think that I would have gone out and found a NEW job anywhere complete with the training that goes along with it. I don't really need the money per se, but my job gets me a lot of research opportunities because it's in the lab of an academic medical center.

The smart move is to not take on obligations until you have made it through an exam or two. Then, if you are doing well (not a given) and you find you have the time, go for it. More people than not find they do not have the time to work on top of med school. It is the exception, not the rule, who work.

The force is strong with this one.

I started off the year by going on vacation from my job and then later deciding to return in a different position. It worked out for me because they wanted me back, and it's also not the greatest job in the world. Tough for them to find anybody else willing to take the hours.

 

[NERDY]

When I took Kaplan for the MCAT, most of my teachers were medical students. However, the class was mostly during summer vacation. I don't know the details about schedules/pay/etc., but it may be worth considering. I agree with the other posters wait to see how much time you need to do well in school. IMO, it's not worth doing poorly just to make a few bucks. good luck.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Maybe if you want to not do as well in medical school as your classmates you could work.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Maybe if you want to not do as well in medical school as your classmates you could work.

This is not true in my class. We have people who work in all four quartiles of the class by grades.

 

[mules05]

In my (miserable) experience, the only way to hold down a job during med school is if your employer understands what med school entails and that there will be weeks (or months) that you're not available to work as much, if at all. If they don't realize or won't accept this, trying to balance school and work becomes next to impossible. ("yeah, I'm going to need you to work thursday night and friday morning"..."but I have an exam friday morning, so I told you I can't work at all this week"...well, just thursday from 4pm to midnight then")

 

[QofQuimica]

When I took Kaplan for the MCAT, most of my teachers were medical students. However, the class was mostly during summer vacation.

That's what I do.

 

[deleted77919]

I know a few people who teach Kaplan or TPR. This seems to work out ok for them, but it is very part time and flexible.

 

[Law2Doc]

However, the class was mostly during summer vacation.

Summer vacation does not really count as working during med school. Definitely do something for pay (MCAT courses, or especially research, etc) over the first year summer if you need the bucks. I'd say most med students do this.

 

[soeagerun2or]

At big research schools cushy lab jobs are easy to come by. Spend 20 minutes loading a gel, read for 2 hours, setup the transfer for 20 minutes, read for another 2 hours etc.

I've heard of kids working at fitness centers too. They basically just read and scan membership cards.

Personal tutoring is another good one. You can make $50/hr teaching stuff you're going over in class or already covered (good board review for yourself).

 

[asunshine]

thanks for the replies--i'd work in a healthcare job and my manager is flexible with hours. i might take vacation until the first exam or so.

 

[NonTradMed]

With a title asking if anyone works in med school, I think we may get skewed view of how many med students work. Working medical students is an exception rather than the norm. Most students at my school do not have time to work and/or do not find the effort expended to be worth the money (i.e you make $100 but you sacrifice sleep/free time/time with loved ones for it and that $100 doesn't go far when your debt is approaching six figures). Think hard before working. Try out your first semester and see how much freetime you have. Then find a job that is flexible and allows you time off when you need it. Most importantly, keep your eye on the ball. Your goal is to finish med school, if you can make money while doing it, that's great, if not, no big deal. There's plenty of time to make money once you get out in the 'real' world.

 

[albaniandoc]

thanks for the replies--i'd work in a healthcare job and my manager is flexible with hours. i might take vacation until the first exam or so.

Hi asunshine.
I am not planning on working much, but I think I will be taking call at the open heart surgery on the weekends. Our surgeons do not do surgery on the weekends unless it is a crash and burn so it is pretty safe. This way I would still make $500 a month just carrying the pager on the weekends. I might work on Thanksgiving or other holidays but not regular shifts.
Good luck

 

[Law2Doc]

Hi asunshine.
I am not planning on working much, but I think I will be taking call at the open heart surgery on the weekends. Our surgeons do not do surgery on the weekends unless it is a crash and burn so it is pretty safe. This way I would still make $500 a month just carrying the pager on the weekends. I might work on Thanksgiving or other holidays but not regular shifts.
Good luck

Just bear in mind that some weekends before tests might be a really bad time to be on call for long procedures. So if it's not the kind of thing you can opt out of, this might not be the greatest move.

 

[albaniandoc]

Just bear in mind that some weekends before tests might be a really bad time to be on call for long procedures. So if it's not the kind of thing you can opt out of, this might not be the greatest move.

I guess it could be. I work in a small community hospital and in the past three years I have worked maybe twice or three times on the weekend. It's a crapshoot I guess.
Thanks

 

[Sondra]

There is a paramedic in my class that has 4 kids. He goes to work every Saturday for a 24 hour shift and spends Sunday's with his children.

 

[asunshine]

my hospital has a call option, too, only it's $2/hr. you do get time and a half plus bonus if you get called in for a (usually <2hr) procedure. not quite as lucrative, but helpful 🙂.

btw, you are really cleaning house with those acceptances, onmyway!

 

[albaniandoc]

my hospital has a call option, too, only it's $2/hr. you do get time and a half plus bonus if you get called in for a (usually <2hr) procedure. not quite as lucrative, but helpful 🙂.

btw, you are really cleaning house with those acceptances, onmyway!

Haha thank's. You have been quite successful yourself.
I wouldn't call it cleaning house but yes, I have been extremely blessed. Every morning it feels like I am in cloud nine and like it is not true. I feel that when I will show up for class in August they will not find my name in the class roster. I say this with humble attitude and appreciation. I can't wait until August to start. Thank you for your kind words from the very beginning.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

...essentially forbid students from working. (I had to get special permission from the Dean and was made to sign an agreement that if I had one bad performance on a single exam I would stop working immediately) Another student they year ahead of me who was a PT was moonlighting and was essentially made to quit his job when they found out about it, but that was because he told a preceptor he couldn't come to a session b/c he had to work--dumb response!

I must say that I've encountered this attitude as well, and after thinking about it for some time, I don't understand their position except for their need to attempt to control your life. There are weeks when I spend more time on SDN than I do at work, and the average student with kids spends a lot more time on parenting duties than me. I don't work when class is in session out of principle alone, yet it is somehow acceptable for students to "homeschool" while they're doing laundry and changing diapers. I'm not even mentioning school parties when students get completely wasted or people who take similarly time-consuming leadership positions.

My job is important to me because it keeps me in contact with docs, gives me research experience, and I actually do learn some medicine too. Furthermore, my eligibility for Staffords will run out during my clinical years, and the school can't guarantee me enough aid to get by later on. So I really don't understand how it's any of their business what I do when I'm not in school. If I get a low grade, I know for damn sure that it wasn't because of my work schedule. My grades have gone up since I've gone to working more hours.

 

[hyperbaric]

I work prn at the hospital as a tech, but I never commit to any shifts without checking my exam schedule first. Some months, I work a shift a week. Other months, I don't have time to work at all.

 

[Tired]

I must say that I've encountered this attitude as well, and after thinking about it for some time, I don't understand their position except for their need to attempt to control your life.

Ditto that. My school tried to give me the "not allowed" thing. I just worked and let them find out on their own. By the time they tried to have a "serious talk" with me, I had been doing it for so many months they just sounded silly telling me I was putting my academic career at risk.

I find it unlikely they could actually do anything to you unless you start failing classes. No leverage.

 

[med_heidelberg]

I do a little translating (German - English) of academic papers on the side. Its mostly done via email, I can do it whenever I want, I get it done super quickly and get paid pretty well for the effort it takes.

 

[asunshine]

My job is important to me because it keeps me in contact with docs, gives me research experience, and I actually do learn some medicine too. Furthermore, my eligibility for Staffords will run out during my clinical years, and the school can't guarantee me enough aid to get by later on.

Ditto. But, uh, how will your Staffords run out? Will you be making too much money?

I feel that when I will show up for class in August they will not find my name in the class roster.

I know how you feel! The problem with finding out ED is that I have to wait SO LONG to start! I haven't gotten anything from my school for a while and I'm paranoid that they might have forgotten me on their list!

 

[trustwomen]

Please share your stories--I'd like to work very part time.

I work 28 hours a week at a homeless shelter, and I do OK in school (a bit better than the class average). However, 20 of those hours are "sleeping shifts" wherein I'm on-call, and pretty much never get woken up. In practice, though, every other weekend they own my ass - I have 15 hours OFF between midnight Friday and 8 am Monday. Add a couple more sleeping shifts during the week and that's my sweet, 4-years-seniority schedule.

It mainly cuts into my social life, not my schoolwork. And lately it's started to make me a bit tired, because I worked during the holidays and had to pull extra shifts in early January. I plan to quit in June, to fully enjoy my 2 months off. I consider my job disposable right now though; one bad test and I'm outta there. It doesn't pay enough to be worth it. Now, 29$/hour, that would be nice...(mine is 16 awake, 8 asleep)

Note: My school is pass/fail so my low 80s are fine, no need to shoot for the stars. And also note that I don't know anyone else in my class who has a job.

I agree with the poster who said try out school first, make sure you do well. And honestly, if your number grades will be on your transcript, it's probably not worth it. I know I'd be doing somewhat better on exams if I didn't work.

 

[MEG@COOL]

Please share your stories--I'd like to work very part time.

I know a med student that lifeguards at the YMCA.

 

[MadameLULU]

I've worked since the age of 15, so it's kinda hard for me to stop working. My friends joke that I'm a compulsive employee 😛 . Anyhow, I worked about 10-15 a week this past semester and it was fine. I'd take time off before exams so I could concentrate more, but otherwise I worked on the weekends.

 

[Med_equality]

Nope, don't work. I know a bunch of people who do and they seem to do well in all of their classes. Personally, i probably should work because I would probably study while I was there. I choose not to work and to goof off as much as possible. For some reason, I can't get the slacker out of me. I love my basketball and especially my Lakers at that!!!!!!! March madness is coming up as well!

 

[kdkdshah]

i think working is an "OK" idea as long as you are able to manage your time well. If you think you can get away with a part time job or a weekend job and you really need the money, go for it. I have friends who work at country clubs. I also have friends who work from their home with their own personal business. I also have a couple of friends in my class who work for Princeton Review teaching MCAT. It's possible - just make you prioritize your goals.

 

[DrZeke]

Please share your stories--I'd like to work very part time.

I want to be connected to a lab and maybe do some research during the year, and I think I won't be able to work.

 

[tulane06]

If worse comes to worse, you can sell your plasma, or even sperm or eggs.

 

[p9142]

Ditto. But, uh, how will your Staffords run out? Will you be making too much money?

Once you hit $189k they won't give you any more dinero. He must have taken out money in undergrad/grad

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Ditto. But, uh, how will your Staffords run out? Will you be making too much money?

No, but I borrowed a lot for my undergrad and grad degrees (mostly grad). The lifeteime maximum for Staffords is something like $189,125. By M4, I will have run out. I'm thinking that Grad Plus seems like a suitable option, but I'd feel better having the cash just in case I can't get the loans (or somebody in Washington discontinues the programs).

Once you hit $189k they won't give you any more dinero. He must have taken out money in undergrad/grad

You called it. 👍 Your post came up before I finished typing (TV was distracting me).

 

[Noeljan]

Ok so I really don't want to work while in med school, I just want to focus on school. BUT i do want to do research to help down the line with residency. Does anyone get paid for this?? I would love to do both at once.

 

[Anka]

I worked about 20 hours per week as a preclinical student, and probably about 10 hours per week during clerkships in a lab. Got paid + publications and did well in my classes. The tradeoff? When everyone else was asleep or playing video games or hanging out with their SOs... I was in lab or studying. It was worth it for me, but definitly not for everyone.

Best,
Anka

 

[Noeljan]

thanks anka🙂

 

[RRS]

When I took Kaplan for the MCAT, most of my teachers were medical students. However, the class was mostly during summer vacation. I don't know the details about schedules/pay/etc., but it may be worth considering. I agree with the other posters wait to see how much time you need to do well in school. IMO, it's not worth doing poorly just to make a few bucks. good luck.

I was one of those teachers. I taught year 'round. The money was good and it was fun teaching (mainly physics) to the students (seen a few of them come through the ranks since then).

like most people have mentioned, there was still a lot of time to screw around when you're a student the first two years. Harder in year 3. VERY easy in year four - but it is month to month. I don't think you could count on the money, per se, but it might help you borrow less. But keep in mind, a couple of thousand extra can be paid off with a relatively short amount of owrk when you're an attending. I wish I had played harder, travelled more, etc, as a student when I had the time (and less responsibility)

 

[degoo_]

Hi asunshine.
I am not planning on working much, but I think I will be taking call at the open heart surgery on the weekends. Our surgeons do not do surgery on the weekends unless it is a crash and burn so it is pretty safe. This way I would still make $500 a month just carrying the pager on the weekends. I might work on Thanksgiving or other holidays but not regular shifts.
Good luck

Since most schools pretty much frown on student employment, how does one get hospital/research affiliated jobs? Are there still programs through the university that can set you up with the job, or are you going and searching on your own?

I'm worried that as an M1 (hopefully) I'd spend the year chasing profs/researchers and only begin working that summer. Any methods on how to get medically related employment faster?

I want to be connected to a lab and maybe do some research during the year, and I think I won't be able to work.

This is exactly what I want too. Much easier said than done, in my experience.

 

[UCLAstudent]

I tutor MSIs. It's perfect --- I get paid to review/teach stuff that will be on Step I. I'm hired by my school, so I don't make as much as a private tutor, but it's still good money. I work 7 hours/week.

 

[dca_55]

I do Kaplan MCAT, and have been making it work. My grades are fine, but there are certainly times I wish I wasn't working...like the weeks before an exam! Surprisingly, I worked 32 hrs in the two week period (usually only work 6-8 hrs/wk) before an exam earlier in the fall and it has been my best performance on an exam in first year so far...go figure!

 

[tiredmom]

I'm a nurse - so I worked a 12 hour shift a weekend during MS2 year. I couldn't have done it first year timewise. MS3 year was crazy, and I went ahead and put my license on inactive status this summer. I'm finally enjoying 4th year's time off the way you should - with family prior to intern year madness. I'm not one of the going out drinking folks, so it just took time away from my family... but allowed the extra money for therapy for my son and Pre-K at a catholic school for my daughter, so it was worth it.