Feasible to work in PBL Lecom program?

[DrRehab]

Currently I am physical therapist interested in possibly going to DO school as a non-traditional (i'm 26, applying when I am around 28-29). Curious if there is enough time to work while at a PBL institution like Lecom's Brandenton site? As a therapist, I can make around $60-$70 per hour doing home health, which would make it much easier to handle student loans.

Thanks for the help!

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[chizledfrmstone]

When I interviewed there a bunch of students told me they pretty much read 8-10 hours a day.

The general consensus is to not work during medical school.

 

[DrRehab]

Thanks for the help! Hoping to see if there are any current Lecom students here who feel differently?

 

[Trogghunter]

C'mon. No one actually reads 8hrs/d effectively, but is it really worth your effort though? For a few thousand dollars? Enjoy your family/self/free time/social health. That's most important. Balance.

 

[DrRehab]

Well, not for a few thousand dollars, but much more than that. As I said, as a home health therapist I can make approximately $60-70 per visit. I have heard that Lecom only meets a few days per week. If I could fit in seeing just 10 pts per week, thats $600-700/wk, approximately $2400-2800/mo. That's enough to cover all my bills.

 

[DrRehab]

P.S. : enjoying family/self/free-time/social health is over-rated, IMHO. When I got my DPT, my days were filled with studying, stress, etc. As a full-time therapist, my days are filled with...well... full-time work instead. Two-sides to the same coin in my experience.

 

[TXKnight]

If you browse these forums you will realize that the overwhelming majority did not work and would not recommend working either. Just because it's a PBL curriculum does not mean you study less.

 

[Donkk]

Why not take a few exams to see where you stand academically before putting yourself into a potentially overwhelming/irreversible situation?

 

[paintballguy]

Studying time really depends on what your goals are and how much time you need to meet them. I'd wait and see how you handle the workload before you put yourself in that stressful position. Though it does sound tempting to have all that$$$. BTW 8-10hrs a day seems pretty realistic to me, in my experience...

 

[DrRehab]

I appreciate all the help. I didn't mean to suggest that you study less, but rather, since less time is spent in class that there is more opportunity outside of class to work. I would agree that working is a terrible idea for the majority of traditional med school students, because they are generally new college grads who will only find a job that pays $8-$10 an hour at a workplace that requires many hours of commitment. As i mentioned, i am in a unique position as a PT, since I can do contract work, seeing just a patient or two per day, making $60-70 per visit.

I am not even in a place to take a few exams first, as I have not even applied yet! I am just testing the waters from PBL students. Thank you!

 

[Wolverines83]

Nontrad here who did LECOM PBL. If you want to do well (not necessarily A student but solid B+) and you aren't a super genius you'll need to put in about 6 hours studying per day (more when exams are coming up). If you bust your ass during the week you should be able to work a few hours on the weekend. And realistically you can probably see someone every now and then at night during the week. I don't know what your hourly goal was but I'm thinking 4-6 hours during the week would be tops (just a shot in the dark). Weekends really depends on where you are studying. If you're caught up, go for it. I'd just caution you to not over-commit yourself to PT. Make sure schools is the priority or you'll fail. Sorry to be blunt but you asked for advice!

Example of my basic schedule for two years: MWF 8-10 AM: PBL; 1030-1130: gym; 12-6pm study; wife came home around 6, I closed the books.
Tuesday 8-10 OMM; 2 hours somewhere in the afternoon: OMM lab; study for 4-6 hours total outside of class
Thursdays were weird, kind of a day of random classes on various things (IV, H&P, etc). Study all day

So you have time. If nothing else, you could convert my gym time to PT time plus you have the weekends.

Basically I think it's doable if you start off with only school through anatomy and your first PBL test (like until september or october) and see where you stand and if you can spare some time. Some people just don't need as much time as others. If you're one of them, good for you. Some people raised newborns, some of them did really well, some did fine and some failed.

sorry for the scatterbrained response; i'm in a hurry

 

[darktooth]

my school does PBL and it sounds like you'll have all the time in the world....but no.

 

[HarryPlopper]

I appreciate all the help. I didn't mean to suggest that you study less, but rather, since less time is spent in class that there is more opportunity outside of class to work. I would agree that working is a terrible idea for the majority of traditional med school students, because they are generally new college grads who will only find a job that pays $8-$10 an hour at a workplace that requires many hours of commitment. As i mentioned, i am in a unique position as a PT, since I can do contract work, seeing just a patient or two per day, making $60-70 per visit.

I am not even in a place to take a few exams first, as I have not even applied yet! I am just testing the waters from PBL students. Thank you!

As a general rule - don't. You're going to accrue debt unless mommy and daddy pays for it all. Med school is stressful not only because of the work but also because your social life (I'm referring to family, not even friends) will suffer to some extent; you must prioritize. Don't worry so much about loans, accruing debt is fine as long as you are fiscally responsible when you leave residency.

 

[hallowmann]

Listen to Wolverines. When people say 6-8 hrs a day of studying in LECOM PBL, they mean it. Sure you may have more time at night or on weekends, but you are making up any time not spent in class actively studying. Its not a shortened curriculum, its just less time physically in class.

You might be able to work 2 hrs a day, and maybe 8 in the weekend, but that is really pushing it. On top of that, that time drops to 0 hrs 2 wks before a PBL exam.

If I were you, I'd really just study regularly for at least the first semester and a half, then if by the middle of second semester you are doing OK (>3.0), then mayybe consider working one day (weekend) a week.

 

[emtthink]

I don't go to LECOM but I have successfully worked part time during the 1st 2 years and I have managed to stay in the top half of my class. I don't do it for the money, I do it because I like my job. I also have a job where I can study at work if I'm not busy, and there have been times where I got a solid 6 hours of studying in while at work.

 

[cabinbuilder]

When I was at lecom there were a few students who did work 1-2 Saturdays a month. You could probably do that. I had small children and didn't study friday night or all all saturday to be with my kids. You could easily work a friday night, Saturday if you wanted (granted you have gotten through anatomy first). But...... LECOM does have some hands on classes on certain Saturdays throughout the year for they physical exam portion of the curriculum.

 

[Scumble]

C'mon. No one actually reads 8hrs/d effectively, but is it really worth your effort though? For a few thousand dollars? Enjoy your family/self/free time/social health. That's most important. Balance.

I attend a LECOM pbl campus and I have to disagree with this. The interesting thing about PBL is that you quickly develop the endurance and concentration needed to read for 6-8 hrs a day. Reading medical textbooks really is an art you have to develop, and it will take up almost all your free time.

That said, I do know some people in my class who work a few hours on the weekends. I wouldn't plan on it unless you're doing really well in school.

 

[bbcnp]

I did PBL at LECOM. Probably sat down to study for 5 hours everyday but honestly put in like 2-3 real hours of studying a day with more hours the week before tests. I am easily distracted so if you could sit down and focus, you could easily work like 10 hrs a week. And as a PT, anatomy should be pretty easy for you so you should be able to work more during that time. I got mostly B's and some C's for grades but I didn't really care. Went out 3 nights a week and had a blast in med school. So it's all about what grades you want and your priorities. And I buckled down before boards and did well on them and that's more important than grades anyway.