Does it look bad if you've never had a job?

[KnuxNole]

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That depends on what you mean by productive. I have a good GPA (3.9+) and I also don't care about applying to top tier schools. I'll probably even apply to some DO schools too.

I spend pretty much all of my non-studying time gaming (MMOs, Xbox One, PS4, etc). That's how I choose to spend my free time because it's what I want to do. If schools have a problem with that, seems lame to me. Plenty of other kids I know game like crazy on school days/weekends.

And are these same pre-med kids successful in getting into school? Gaming is fun, trust me, it is one of my favorite hobbies. However, it shouldn't be surprising that a school would find it odd that some college kid would only play video games as their vast majority use of free time. Having hobbies is great, and something they want to see. However, only doing ONE hobby, and one that is not that favorable to adcoms isn't necessarily too smart.

I mean, if you bring up playing MMOs or Xbox to an ADCOM as what you only do in your free time, they'd assume you are no different than their 12 year old nephew in their PJs playing CoD all day. It's not lame if they have a problem with that, especially if you look at it from a professional standpoint.

 

[rifle4802]

Why go to med school? Be a NP/PA and work part time.

Easy. The pay would be terrible part time, probably around 40-50k/year for NP/PA, whereas I can easily clear 6 figures as a doctor working part time (24-28 hours, 3 days/week). Most PA/NP don't clear 6 figures. To make around 80-90K, PA/NP need to work full time hours.

 

[KnuxNole]

Easy. The pay would be terrible part time, probably around 40-50k/year for NP/PA, whereas I can easily clear 6 figures as a doctor working part time (24-28 hours, 3 days/week). Most PA/NP don't clear 6 figures. To make around 80-90K, PA/NP need to work full time hours.

But why go to school for SO long to make a small amount of money(80-90K) as a part time doc working a pathetic 24-28 hours?

 

[rifle4802]

But why go to school for SO long to make a small amount of money(80-90K) as a part time doc working a pathetic 24-28 hours?

The same reason others want to do medicine (treating illness/health issues, fascination with human body/disease, etc). Only difference is I don't see it as necessary to work X number of hours.

 

[knv2u]

Don't the moderators log IP addresses? I think this would kill alts unless you had a pretty tech savvy user.

 

[Reckoner]

Don't the moderators log IP addresses? I think this would kill alts unless you had a pretty tech savvy user.

According to streampaw's blog, she's been using a proxy: http://streampaw.blogspot.com/2014/01/sdn-blocked-entire-ip-address-of-my-new.html

I've noticed a steady flow of streampaw accusations recently, most of them inaccurate. This OP is probably not streampaw. For those interested in learning to recognize a wild streampaw, feel free to peruse the threads linked in my signature.

 

[Lucca]

According to streampaw's blog, she's been using a proxy: http://streampaw.blogspot.com/2014/01/sdn-blocked-entire-ip-address-of-my-new.html

I've noticed a steady flow of streampaw accusations recently, most of them inaccurate. This OP is probably not streampaw. For those interested in learning to recognize a wild streampaw, feel free to peruse the threads linked in my signature.

Never under estimate streampaw. She is Legion.

 

[rifle4802]

You've been at this streampaw thing for quite some time and now it's just getting old. Whoever this person is, it's not me (I'm a male anyway). Just joined a few days ago.

 

[knv2u]

According to streampaw's blog, she's been using a proxy: http://streampaw.blogspot.com/2014/01/sdn-blocked-entire-ip-address-of-my-new.html

I've noticed a steady flow of streampaw accusations recently, most of them inaccurate. This OP is probably not streampaw. For those interested in learning to recognize a wild streampaw, feel free to peruse the threads linked in my signature.

Woah! That's intense. She even has screen shots of quotes from various posters including you on her site.

 

[KnuxNole]

The same reason others want to do medicine (treating illness/health issues, fascination with human body/disease, etc). Only difference is I don't see it as necessary to work X number of hours.

Right, but you ARE aware of the importance of availability for your patients in the community to see you for care. Two days a week to start off with? That's something probably an old timer does in the end of their career. You would be a young buck, and having five days for ONLY video game, golf and TV would make your peers think you are crazy. Probably think "Damn dude, does he really need 5 days off for his little games? Hope he's at least taking care of his kids or spending time with that wife too!".

 

[corndogger]

Lol ok dude.

not sure which part you have a hard time believing...that I know people who have never worked? or that they're lazy?

 

[corndogger]

oP is absolutely a troll, but let's not go stereotyping people that don't work as lazy and entitled. Cmon.

never said people who don't work, people who have never worked.

admittedly a big generalization. I was more saying I know people who fit the OP's bill; never worked, spend their parents money freely and play video games all day. also I'm 23 so these are people a year out of undergrad.

 

[rifle4802]

Right, but you ARE aware of the importance of availability for your patients in the community to see you for care. Two days a week to start off with? That's something probably an old timer does in the end of their career. You would be a young buck, and having five days for ONLY video game, golf and TV would make your peers think you are crazy. Probably think "Damn dude, does he really need 5 days off for his little games? Hope he's at least taking care of his kids or spending time with that wife too!".

Please... You really believe this nonsense? The old "once you've paid your dues" argument. What if I don't want to wait until I'm old, wrinkled and gray to be a bum and live a laid back life. I want that life when I'm still young and in my 30s and 40s. That's my right as a person, and too bad no one can stop me from doing otherwise.

 

[Lucca]

Please... You really believe this nonsense? The old "once you've paid your dues" argument. What if I don't want to wait until I'm old, wrinkled and gray to be a bum and live a laid back life. I want that life when I'm still young and in my 30s and 40s. That's my right as a person, and too bad no one can stop me from doing otherwise.

Except for the adcoms that will reject you on the spot for:

1. Not being comitted to the full time practice of medicine as a lifelong pursuit.

2. Not having enough meaningful ECs

3. Generally being a tool.

 

[touchpause13]

Yeah, so what? Like I said, not my fault I wasn't born poor. I don't see the point in getting some menial minimum wage job if I don't need it. Would rather spend that time doing other things. Envy much?

0/10

 

[rain4venus]

Easy. The pay would be terrible part time, probably around 40-50k/year for NP/PA, whereas I can easily clear 6 figures as a doctor working part time (24-28 hours, 3 days/week). Most PA/NP don't clear 6 figures. To make around 80-90K, PA/NP need to work full time hours.

But why does it matter how much money you pull in if you can just be supported by your family?

 

[WillburCobb]

Please... You really believe this nonsense? The old "once you've paid your dues" argument. What if I don't want to wait until I'm old, wrinkled and gray to be a bum and live a laid back life. I want that life when I'm still young and in my 30s and 40s. That's my right as a person, and too bad no one can stop me from doing otherwise.

Well, yeah, you know, that's just, like... uh, just your opinion, man. OP, you don't need to be a doctor if you wanna bowl, drink white Russians, listen to CCR, and smoke all day.

 

[cyberchicken001]

I never had to work in college and never thought it was a big deal, but looking at these AMCAS applications it has a section on work/previous jobs held. I also have pre-med committee interviews next year and a list of jobs is one of the sections to fill out on the application.

A lot of kids (pre-med) at my college have to work full time or part time jobs to pay for school. Is this a big deal/red flag if you never had a job?

OP, just from taking a quick glance at your posting history, you seem like a really great guy. So, to answer you original question, I think adcoms would definitely look past your seemingly noncommittal attitude towards the practice of medicine, constant emphasis on physician salary and general lack of interest in helping people other than yourself. I thing they're going to see your swell personality and just fall head over heels with you despite all that. Good luck!

 

[Mad Jack]

Why would you do something for free when you can get paid for your time? Makes no sense at all.

At the end of the day, it doesn't "look bad." Just as, for example, it doesn't "look bad" if you weren't ever in XYZ organization, or didn't shadow X hours at a big academic medical center, or any of the other typical "staples" to any application. The important point is that you have some experiences that you can point to that demonstrate some particular things about yourself - things that make it clear that you have at least the basics to what is required to be a physician. Unpaid work is not somehow more holy than paid work. That's an absurd assertion. And, in fact, if you really value yourself and your time, it makes sense that you get paid to do something in your extra time. For some people, working is required, and they have very little no free time to do "clinical or nonclinical volunteering."

I guess I just don't understand why you think the advice you gave is true. It doesn't really make any sense.

I was one of those people who was too busy working a hospital job in order to not starve, and I can say that having minimal volunteer experience was the very reason that two schools said they passed my app over. I wanted to be like, "so, being paid just completely negates the fact that I'm doing difficult clinical work that benefits society? And some kid with 200 hours of volunteering that he only had time to do because his parents had money and he didn't have to work in school got looked at over me, despite his having worse grades?" Volunteerism is overvalued IMO, especially when some people only do it to fill a box.

 

[Mad Jack]

That depends on what you mean by productive. I have a good GPA (3.9+) and I also don't care about applying to top tier schools. I'll probably even apply to some DO schools too.

I spend pretty much all of my non-studying time gaming (MMOs, Xbox One, PS4, etc). That's how I choose to spend my free time because it's what I want to do. If schools have a problem with that, seems lame to me. Plenty of other kids I know game like crazy on school days/weekends.

If you have no work experience, no volunteer experience, no research experience, no leadership experience, and no teaching experience, you will not get into medical school. They care more about what kind of person you are than how smart you are once admission time rolls around, because they've got enough applicants to fill every single seat with a kid that's got that 3.9 gpa you are so proud of, and a 30+ MCAT score to boot. All things equal, they'll pick a guy with great ECs, a 3.7 gpa, and a 32 over a guy with a 3.9 gpa, a 38, and zero ECs. DO schools tend to care about ECs more than gpa or MCAT, so you'd be doubly screwed there.

 

[mcloaf]

Please... You really believe this nonsense? The old "once you've paid your dues" argument. What if I don't want to wait until I'm old, wrinkled and gray to be a bum and live a laid back life. I want that life when I'm still young and in my 30s and 40s. That's my right as a person, and too bad no one can stop me from doing otherwise.

Nobody is disagreeing with your right to live your life however you want. The point is that as it stands now you're not going to get into medical school, which I believe was your original question.

 

[cyberchicken001]

Nobody is disagreeing with your right to live your life however you want. The point is that as it stands now you're not going to get into medical school, which I believe was your original question.

+1

Wow rifle4802, you've really managed to get everyone on this thread to dislike you. Either you're being yourself for real or you're just trolling to get reaponses, I'm not sure which one is more sad.

 

[rifle4802]

But why does it matter how much money you pull in if you can just be supported by your family?

It doesn't really, hence the reason I asked about how practical it was to work part time as a doctor while raking in ~90-110k/year (substantially less than the majority of doctors).

 

[rifle4802]

If you have no work experience, no volunteer experience, no research experience, no leadership experience, and no teaching experience, you will not get into medical school. They care more about what kind of person you are than how smart you are one admission time rolls around, because they've got enough applicants to fill every single seat with a kid that's got that 3.9 gpa you are so proud of, and a 30+ MCAT score to boot. All things equal, they'll pick a guy with great ECs, a 3.7 gpa, and a 32 over a guy with a 3.9 gpa, a 38, and zero ECs. DO schools tend to care about ECs more than gpa or MCAT, so you'd be doubly screwed there.

How much volunteering do I need? Probably 100 hours or so should suffice. That + my shadowing is adequate clinical experience imo.

Then if I get a 30+ on the mcat my stats will be good enough for low/mid tier MD schools. If I don't, my stats should easily be good enough for DO schools. Sounds doable.

 

[Mad Jack]

How much volunteering do I need? Probably 100 hours or so should suffice. That + my shadowing is adequate clinical experience imo.

Then if I get a 30+ on the mcat my stats will be good enough for low/mid tier MD schools. If I don't, my stats should easily be good enough for DO schools. Sounds doable.

Given your lack of other ECs, you're probably going to need way more than 100 hours of volunteering. I had about 100 hours of volunteering, in addition to 10,000 hours of clinical practice in allied health, but basically no other ECs, and I got hassled about it, despite the fact that I earned those 10k hours while still in school. I doubt 100 hours of volunteering and a touch of shadowing will look like much more than a superficial attempt to fill boxes, because adcoms aren't ******ed and can tell when somebody is just trying to fill a box.

 

[rain4venus]

It doesn't really, hence the reason I asked about how practical it was to work part time as a doctor while raking in ~90-110k/year (substantially less than the majority of doctors).

so then...why not np/pa instead of md/do?

ETA: I mean, your family would only have to give you an extra $40k a year or so to make up the difference...a pittance, really

 

[Mad Jack]

so then...why not np/pa instead of md/do?

Because he'd have to work full time to earn those kind of salaries as a NP/PA, which would really cut into his time racking up killstreaks in Modern Warfare.

 

[Laureatebarrel]

Your post is rife with illogic. My parents aren't poor and thus I've never needed to work to support myself. I'm skeptical that having wealthy parents will weaken my application because it's not only not a bad thing, but also something I had no control over.

I have good grades so far 3.9+ and also am not even aiming for top tier schools.

When you work here the aim is not to make money to be rich, but to learn to be professional and cooperate with others. It teaches you to balance and shows that you can handle multiple things. Yes, poor college students often work for money but a wiser choice is to have a job that is going to benefit your future career and also something you can talk about in your statements.

 

[masaraksh]

Well if your top priority is ~100k/yr, lifestyle, & flexible schedule there are simply better options than going through the medical training system (MD + debt + residency). You also have access to money.

So my advice would be to look into starting a small business or something. It can be a good life with hiring other people to handle the day to day for you.

 

[touchpause13]

This kinda feels like the male version of a streampaw thread

 

[Mad Jack]

This kinda feels like the male version of a streampaw thread

I was never convinced Streampaw was female. Maybe we're just meeting the real Streampaw for the first time...

 

[rain4venus]

Because he'd have to work full time to earn those kind of salaries as a NP/PA, which would really cut into his time racking up killstreaks in Modern Warfare.

But he doesn't need to earn any salary. Why not go the PA route, work part time, and live off his family's wealth. This is already what he said his plan is, which is why he can afford to work 2 days a week as a primary care doc. So why med school anyway? Why not be a PA or NP?

 

[rain4venus]

I was never convinced Streampaw was female. Maybe we're just meeting the real Streampaw for the first time...

There's only maybe a 5% chance streampaw was a female. Girls just aren't nearly as likely to be trolls.
Honestly, this guy is suspiciously different from streampaw in every way (except wanting to work part time). Streampaw always complained about how poor her family was. Her GPA wasn't very good. She wanted to have 4 kids during residency, this guy has mocked even the idea of having a family. Streampaw wanted to do derm and get a full ride to Harvard. Rifle4802 doesn't care about a competitive specialty, the cost of tuition, or top-tier schools...

 

[WillburCobb]

Maybe in addition to being extremely delusional streampaw has dissociative identity disorder as well.

 

[Lucca]

Why don't you just become a pro gamer.

 

[kreme]

I think you're going about this completely in the wrong way. You should really be focusing on your parents' extra curriculars for your medical school application.
Things your parents will need to help you get into medical school
1. Be fraternity bros with the dean, or at least someone on the admissions committee.
2. Not try to hide their wealth, flaunt that stuff off and make a real donation to the medical school. I'm talking about renaming a building after them. Man, you get your name on the building, nobody will look twice at how much work you've done in your life.
3. Set you up with opportunities to meet their friends who own the medical school
4. ????
5. profit

 

[Microglia]

I think you're going about this completely in the wrong way. You should really be focusing on your parents' extra curriculars for your medical school application.
Things your parents will need to help you get into medical school
1. Be fraternity bros with the dean, or at least someone on the admissions committee.
2. Not try to hide their wealth, flaunt that stuff off and make a real donation to the medical school. I'm talking about renaming a building after them. Man, you get your name on the building, nobody will look twice at how much work you've done in your life.
3. Set you up with opportunities to meet their friends who own the medical school
4. ????
5. profit

This. Srs.

 

[knv2u]

Girls just aren't nearly as likely to be trolls.

Hey, that's super-sexist!

 

[487806]

I was one of those people who was too busy working a hospital job in order to not starve, and I can say that having minimal volunteer experience was the very reason that two schools said they passed my app over. I wanted to be like, "so, being paid just completely negates the fact that I'm doing difficult clinical work that benefits society? And some kid with 200 hours of volunteering that he only had time to do because his parents had money and he didn't have to work in school got looked at over me, despite his having worse grades?" Volunteerism is overvalued IMO, especially when some people only do it to fill a box.

100% agreed with this, especially with the bolded.

 

[ortnakas]

Can you not work and get into medical school? Yes, IF you have other interests that show you're compassionate, leadership material, intelligent, etc.

Gaming is a totally acceptable hobby, but it won't impress any admissions committee. You can maybe get away with not volunteering if you have to work full-time throughout school, and you can maybe get away with not working if you can show you've volunteered, researched, etc, but a total lack of extracurriculars just won't cut it.

 

[KnuxNole]

Please... You really believe this nonsense? The old "once you've paid your dues" argument. What if I don't want to wait until I'm old, wrinkled and gray to be a bum and live a laid back life. I want that life when I'm still young and in my 30s and 40s. That's my right as a person, and too bad no one can stop me from doing otherwise.

But it's just so silly. I mean, you DON'T need 5 days to live a pathetic live outside of work.

It's like "being a bum, playing games and rotting away" for 5 days as a young buck and only working 2 days a week a weak, pathetic, physician.

AND you only make a pitiful 80K working part time. Maybe 100K xD.

 

[KnuxNole]

But he doesn't need to earn any salary. Why not go the PA route, work part time, and live off his family's wealth. This is already what he said his plan is, which is why he can afford to work 2 days a week as a primary care doc. So why med school anyway? Why not be a PA or NP?

Cause he wants to make decisions for only 2 days a week.

A Full time NP/PA is WAY more respectable, useful, more powerful of a medical practioner, than some pathetic loser kid who starts a career working 2 days a week, and has a reasoning for wanting to live like a teenager(please, 5 days of living like a loser!).

 

[knv2u]

Cause he wants to make decisions for only 2 days a week.

A Full time NP/PA is WAY more respectable, useful, more powerful of a medical practioner, than some pathetic loser kid who starts a career working 2 days a week, and has a reasoning for wanting to live like a teenager(please, 5 days of living like a loser!).

What I never understood is how the OP thinks he is going to make it through residency and medical school if he wants to play around for most of the week.

 

[KnuxNole]

What I never understood is how the OP thinks he is going to make it through residency and medical school if he wants to play around for most of the week.

He'll get the bare minimum passing score to squeeze in hitting the bong and sniping noobs on CoD. And, he'll barely be available on rotations. In residency, he'll leave early and leave lots of work for the on call resident to clean up. As well as abusing sick days to the max.

 

[knv2u]

He'll get the bare minimum passing score to squeeze in hitting the bong and sniping noobs on CoD. And, he'll barely be available on rotations. In residency, he'll leave early and leave lots of work for the on call resident to clean up. As well as abusing sick days to the max.

Aren't those people usually fired/dismissed from residency programs?

 

[rifle4802]

What I never understood is how the OP thinks he is going to make it through residency and medical school if he wants to play around for most of the week.

I never said I would. What you and others don't seem to understand is that I'm fully aware of the insane workload in medical school + residency. In my first 2 years of medical school, I expect to study anywhere from 8-10 hours/day (double digit hours on exam weeks) for the most part. During 3rd year, I'll be in some 100 hour/week rotations (surgery) and many in the 70-80+ hour range. Residency is pretty much 80 hours/week all 3-4 years.

But after that? I can do whatever the s*** I want. If I want to find a full time job and work 50+ hours/week and get 2 days off/week, I can do that. If I want to moonlight on the side, I can easily find 2 doctor jobs and rake in some serious cash, obviously at the expense of free time.

And if I want to bum around for 4-5 days/week and play games because that's what I like to do, there will be more than enough hospitals/clinics lining up to offer me a part time 2-3 day/week gig. People work part time for many reasons. Some have other career interests, some want to raise families, etc. I have my own reasons. I'm going to have such an easy/laid back lifestyle and it's going to be awesome.

 

[Chipster.]

Aren't those people usually fired/dismissed from residency programs?

Shhhhhhhhhhh

It's more fun if he doesn't know.

 

[KnuxNole]

I never said I would. What you and others don't seem to understand is that I'm fully aware of the insane workload in medical school + residency. In my first 2 years of medical school, I expect to study anywhere from 8-10 hours/day (double digit hours on exam weeks) for the most part. During 3rd year, I'll be in some 100 hour/week rotations (surgery) and many in the 70-80+ hour range. Residency is pretty much 80 hours/week all 3-4 years.

But after that? I can do whatever the shit I want. If I want to find a full time job and work 50+ hours/week and get 2 days off/week, I can do that. If I want to moonlight on the side, I can easily find 2 doctor jobs and rake in some serious cash, obviously at the expense of free time.

And if I want to bum around for 4-5 days/week and play games because that's what I like to do, there will be more than enough hospitals/clinics lining up to offer me a part time 2-3 day/week gig. People work part time for many reasons. Some have other career interests, some want to raise families, etc. I'm going to have such an easy/laid back lifestyle and it's going to be awesome.

How do you know? Where is your evidence? Cause it's LAUGHABLE. Clinics will spit in your face expecting 2 days a week. Why pay for some pathetic doctor to work full time where a NP/PA is cheaper to pay part time. Hospital want you to take call several times a month, be available for hundreds of phone calls, and to maintain a set number of encounters. Not some weak, pathetic POS who wants to work 2 days a week. And what does this weak pathetic POS do in the 5 days off? Everything that can be done after work. I had a hard day of work, but watching basketball now and gaming probably later tonight after getting some reading done to enrich my mind. Balance is awesome 😀

Your life sounds pathetic. Dude, such a waste of oxygen 😛

 

[Reckoner]

I was never convinced Streampaw was female. Maybe we're just meeting the real Streampaw for the first time...

There's only maybe a 5% chance streampaw was a female. Girls just aren't nearly as likely to be trolls.
Honestly, this guy is suspiciously different from streampaw in every way (except wanting to work part time). Streampaw always complained about how poor her family was. Her GPA wasn't very good. She wanted to have 4 kids during residency, this guy has mocked even the idea of having a family. Streampaw wanted to do derm and get a full ride to Harvard. Rifle4802 doesn't care about a competitive specialty, the cost of tuition, or top-tier schools...

Streampaw's story has been consistent across several websites since at least 2011. The more I discover, the more I suspect she's not a troll. At least not intentionally.

 

[KnuxNole]

Also, your reasoning for working part time is PATHETIC AS ****.

Do you have a family to take care of? Do you have a wife and kids? Another job?

Nope. Basically everything my 12 year old cousin would do.