Holding Down a Job while in Med School?

[Reverend Mayhem]

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Ever since I started med school,it seems like everyone I know has been hounding me about not having a job. They feel it is laziness to only be in school and not to be working too. They all seem to think i should have some kind of part time position, maybe work about 15 or 20 hours a week, like cashiering or something. Honestly i feel like it is a bad idea to divert so much attention from school, especially when I have enough money to cover my bills and what not, but i seem to be in the minority on that one.

Am I the only one that gets bugged about not having a job while in med school? Should i just stay the course and ignore them or am i being a bit too lazy about all of this, and should I be filling out job applications right now?

 

[URHere]

Most students do not hold down an outside job during medical school.

From what I've seen, those students who do work generally do it for reasons other than money. For example, a couple of my classmates were founders of companies or had been long-time members of paramedic teams in the area. They continued to work because the situations were already in place, and because they were passionate about them.

Finding a job at 7-11 just to get your family off of your back isn't in the same category, and it probably isn't a good idea.

 

[MichaelC]

Tell the people you know to spend the hours you do working and studying to learn how to become a competent doctor. Give them your books and tell them to help you with your work while you go fill out a part-time application for Walmart. After that, ask them what kind of jobs they'll be holding down in comparison to you in so many years.

 

[WellWornLad]

Med school is not college. In 3rd and 4th year you'll be working 60-80 hours a week on average during rotations. 1st and 2nd year depends on how smart you are, but why would you want to jeopardize the tens of thousands of dollars worth of tuition and your future options for a minimum wage job you don't need? It makes no sense.

 

[hefe]

Who is "everyone" and "they" you're referring?
Your post is rather vague to gain any sort of meaningful perspective.

 

[DrYoda]

The very few people I told I worked during M1 pestered me that I should stop and concentrate on med school.

From the basic details given it sounds like whoever is bothering you doesn't have a clue how professional school works, and you would be best to ignore them. I'm all for working if you want to and can handle the additional demands on your time. However, picking up a menial job is probably not worth your time considering how much you're shelling out for med school and how little spare time you have.

 

[mvenus929]

If you managed to pick up a job that might help you in the long run, like tutoring, maybe. Otherwise, tell whoever it is saying that you're being lazy to back off because you're trying hard to make sure you'll be a competent doctor.

 

[musafirah]

it's only doable if you have like.. an online business like selling stuff on amazon and shipping items once a week. or if you get a work-study job at your school, which allows you to study while getting paid (sitting at the library desk in case anyone has a question, security guard stuff or whatnot).


and yeah, i also get pestered by some family members and when i catch myself even CONSIDERING the idea, i shudder at the very thought of how my time will be divided and how much i'll hate my life.. so don't overextend yourself and just ignore it. if you're some genius that doesnt need to study, then sure go for some extra cash.. just need a job that's super flexible.

 

[TarHeelEMT]

I continued working EMS and rescue for my long-time rescue squad, but I otherwise wouldn't have worked.

 

[hrandani]

Sure, some people can do it. But it's a horrible idea. The rewards are minuscule and what you are risking is vast.

If like you say, money is not a consideration, the list of things that you should divide your attention from your studies is very short and it does not include a McJob or working as a clerk at the family business.

 

[jm192]

Ever since I started med school,it seems like everyone I know has been hounding me about not having a job. They feel it is laziness to only be in school and not to be working too. They all seem to think i should have some kind of part time position, maybe work about 15 or 20 hours a week, like cashiering or something. Honestly i feel like it is a bad idea to divert so much attention from school, especially when I have enough money to cover my bills and what not, but i seem to be in the minority on that one.

Am I the only one that gets bugged about not having a job while in med school? Should i just stay the course and ignore them or am i being a bit too lazy about all of this, and should I be filling out job applications right now?

Who is they? If it's close family, explain that your financial situation is fine at the moment, and that some schools don't even allow you to take on a job for fear it'll affect your performance in school.

If it's friends, or friends of the family, you should hound them about minding their own bleeping business.

 

[Daedra22]

I've had family members and people from undergrad make faces when I tell them I don't work. People who know what I do day to day know why I don't--so I ignore those who think I should "hold down a job." You know what is necessary for your own success. There aren't a lot of people who could handle a job + medical school, and I for one know that I am not one of them. As long as you're getting by financially and passing your classes, you're doing well.

 

[MossPoh]

I've had a ton of people (non-family) ask me if I worked. I had to deal with a collections agency over some BS and the guy asked what my job and income was where I replied with, "I'm in med school right now, so I only have loans." He snidely replies back with it not being an excuse for not having a job and asked again if I had one...

That was one of many experiences with it.

 

[DoctwoB]

Medschool is a full time job. Tell the family to STFU.

 

[DoctwoB]

Medschool is a full time job. Tell the family to STFU.

How about this. Tally how many hours a week you spend in school or studying or doing school related extracurriculars (shadowing, clinic work, research, etc). This will probably be greater than 50. Ask your relatives how many hours a week they work. This will probably be around 40. Tell family to back off.

 

[MossPoh]

Medschool is a full time job. Tell the family to STFU.

How about this. Tally how many hours a week you spend in school or studying or doing school related extracurriculars (shadowing, clinic work, research, etc). This will probably be greater than 50. Ask your relatives how many hours a week they work. This will probably be around 40. Tell family to back off.

Many people do not equate school with work though. 40 hours of school will always seem lighter to them than the same amount of work time. My non-medical friends really have a hard time grasping that I don't have time to blow on videogames with them, even though they know my general schedule. It is hard for them to understand why I can't go out and have beers on a Tuesday night because I don't want to run the risk of being tired and/or hungover the next day since I KNOW I won't get my work done.

You usually get replies of, "When I went to college I'd go out every night and still get A's in all my classes and I had 18 credit hours and a job!"

 

[gravitywave]

Many people do not equate school with work though. 40 hours of school will always seem lighter to them than the same amount of work time. My non-medical friends really have a hard time grasping that I don't have time to blow on videogames with them, even though they know my general schedule. It is hard for them to understand why I can't go out and have beers on a Tuesday night because I don't want to run the risk of being tired and/or hungover the next day since I KNOW I won't get my work done.

You usually get replies of, "When I went to college I'd go out every night and still get A's in all my classes and I had 18 credit hours and a job!"

this is hilarious, and oh so true. i tell people that med school is my job, and more than once i've said things like, "i'll be at work until 6" when i was talking about school.

i'd like to see what jobs they have that are this difficult, hour-for-hour.

and to the OP: no, we don't have jobs either. the ROI on working some stupid checkout job versus taking that same time to work or play isn't even close.

 

[rachmoninov3]

I'm in the same boat with tar...and people at work look at me like I'm crazy when I'm at work and they find out I'm six months out from my MD. Basically they can't believe I can work amd be in med school. Of course now it's 4th year so things are a lot easier.

Of course this whole argument begs the question...are these people who are telling you this expecting you to have done something with your bachelor's degree? So many medical student never had a "real job" prior to school, and even those of us with "real jobs" don't tend to use our undergrad degree and opt for things like paramedicine and the like. The entire undergrad prior to medical school is a load of crap.

Honestly, after 4 years of sporadic per-diem work along with school...I'll be happy to have a full time job again...especially with cush 16 hour work rules! (famous last words, I know)

 

[putyou2sleep]

The only people that I know of in my class working, are the two pharmacists that we have, and they pick up 1 shift every week or two. They do it because the pay for 30hr/month actually alleviates a lot of their need for living-loans (i.e. outside of the tuition). Otherwise it just doesn't make since.

 

[bjorne]

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[StephanieZ]

Right now I am only pre-med so I work part time, but I have already decided that if I do get into medical school, I won't even consider having a job. Here's why:

1) It's pointless. Working part time over four years, I could hope to make maybe 40 grand. If I need that money to survive, I will tack it on in student loans and pay it back later when I am making a lot more. Why exhaust and overwork yourself for four years now for the same amount of money that you will make in 3 months once you are a doctor?

2) Medical school is a full time job. Period. Whoever is pestering you to get a job, ask them how many hours a week they work. It's likely less time than you spend in school and studying, so if anyone is lazy, it is they, who work 40 hours a week, then get the rest of their time free, not you.

 

[okdocrx]

I'm in the same boat. People keep wondering why I won't have a job while I'm going to school including family. I'm afraid to fall behind. If I need the money I'm thinking its better just take a little more off loans than work and not study enough to become a qualified professional.

However if a job comes that makes sense, I really could use some day to day cash.

 

[medhearter]

how about a job tutoring other medical students? or other jobs within the college of medicine?

i haven't been through this yet, but I am planning on working during my second year. only because i can't function from studying 24/7, and using extra time to earn some money doing something in school doesn't sound like a bad idea.

 

[Mattchiavelli]

Here's my rundown.... med school is a full time job. If you just want to do that, fine, you shouldn't have to feel guilty about that. Some surgery clerkships you will barely have time to scratch your butt so really, tell those people to go jump. I had a "real world" office job during my year between undergrad and med school and med school is a lot more involved. If you're feeling snarky tell them you'll make enough $$ once you're an attending for it to even out.

DEFINITELY do not take some crap minimum wage job like being a cashier. Maybe something infrequent and with high income potential (like bartending on a friday at a place you worked in undergrad) or very flexible (tutoring premeds). I also have known a number of people to work as ER techs (getting EKGs, labs, triage patients) or ER externs (like ER clerkship but on weekends and you get paid). These are actually good ideas because you can put these on a CV. Personally, I took a job MS2 as an anatomy TA for an undergrad lab, and I scored well on my step1 anatomy probably because 2x a week for a year I was doing cadaver demonstrations to pre-nursing & pre-PT students.

Working just to get paid is stupid (unless you absolutely need it). Getting paid to get medical experience is clutch.

Know your limits and if med school is suffering, ditch the job-med school first.

 

[J ROD]

The only people that I know of in my class working, are the two pharmacists that we have, and they pick up 1 shift every week or two. They do it because the pay for 30hr/month actually alleviates a lot of their need for living-loans (i.e. outside of the tuition). Otherwise it just doesn't make since.

exactly........

only work if the dollas make sense!! 👍

 

[ArcGurren]

As people have said, med school requires your full time attention on most days, especially when you get to your clinical years. You will not have the time to hold a traditional part-time job like a weekend cashier or something because unlike college you need to spend many of your weekends studying.

That being said... there are 2 or 3 ways that you CAN hold a job in med school, and I do know people who have done it.

1. Work-study. My school has a few "jobs" which are essentially ones where you sit and refill paper in a computer lab or file papers every hour or so, and you can do your homework in the meantime. Not great pay but you're essentially being paid to sit there and study.

2. Student scribes. My school class has a scribe service for their preclinical classes, and you get paid per hour of lecture.

3. Night job. I don't know how people do this, but I have a few classmates who work at night as a bartender/waitress/whatever. Good for them and all but... yeah I need sleep.

4. Summer jobs. Just make some money in the summer. You might even get a research grant.

 

[obgyny]

My parents are also having a hard time understanding why I'm not going to work in med school. I work full-time at a research lab now, my father completely expected me to continue the job part-time when I start school (like 20 hours/week!). I tried to explain to them it's just not possible. I know there are some people who do work, but I'm not going to. I won't have the time, and any free time I do have, I'll need it to keep my sanity! They just can't fathom going years without any income.

I worked throughout undergrad, but I'm not going to do it for medical school. Med school is more than enough by itself, no need to add more!

I am going to try to get a research fellowship during the summer between M1 and M2 so I'll get paid for those 2 months, but that's it!

And anyone who calls you "lazy" for just doing medical school is crazy...

 

[ArcGurren]

My parents are also having a hard time understanding why I'm not going to work in med school. I work full-time at a research lab now, my father completely expected me to continue the job part-time when I start school (like 20 hours/week!). I tried to explain to them it's just not possible. I know there are some people who do work, but I'm not going to. I won't have the time, and any free time I do have, I'll need it to keep my sanity! They just can't fathom going years without any income.

I worked throughout undergrad, but I'm not going to do it for medical school. Med school is more than enough by itself, no need to add more!

I am going to try to get a research fellowship during the summer between M1 and M2 so I'll get paid for those 2 months, but that's it!

And anyone who calls you "lazy" for just doing medical school is crazy...

20 hours is a week is absolutely not doable unless it's some sort of work-study like a computer lab or tech job which requires little actual effort. Dedicated lab research? Not a chance.

I'm surprised so many people have parents who think this way. Don't they understand that when you get out of residency... no matter your specialty of choice, you'll have a higher starting salary than most jobs, period?

 

[obgyny]

20 hours is a week is absolutely not doable unless it's some sort of work-study like a computer lab or tech job which requires little actual effort. Dedicated lab research? Not a chance.

I'm surprised so many people have parents who think this way. Don't they understand that when you get out of residency... no matter your specialty of choice, you'll have a higher starting salary than most jobs, period?

I keep reminding them that all the debt is going under my name and I will deal with it. And that I will eventually be able to pay it off and make a decent income. They still bring it up... 🙄

My parents are pretty oblivious when it comes to med school in general, no matter how hard I try to explain it to them. They still believe that all you need to get into med school is good grades... and couldn't understand why on earth I would volunteer at hospitals or do research for free.

 

[obgyny]

Here's my rundown.... med school is a full time job. If you just want to do that, fine, you shouldn't have to feel guilty about that. Some surgery clerkships you will barely have time to scratch your butt so really, tell those people to go jump. I had a "real world" office job during my year between undergrad and med school and med school is a lot more involved. If you're feeling snarky tell them you'll make enough $$ once you're an attending for it to even out.

DEFINITELY do not take some crap minimum wage job like being a cashier. Maybe something infrequent and with high income potential (like bartending on a friday at a place you worked in undergrad) or very flexible (tutoring premeds). I also have known a number of people to work as ER techs (getting EKGs, labs, triage patients) or ER externs (like ER clerkship but on weekends and you get paid). These are actually good ideas because you can put these on a CV. Personally, I took a job MS2 as an anatomy TA for an undergrad lab, and I scored well on my step1 anatomy probably because 2x a week for a year I was doing cadaver demonstrations to pre-nursing & pre-PT students.

Working just to get paid is stupid (unless you absolutely need it). Getting paid to get medical experience is clutch.

Know your limits and if med school is suffering, ditch the job-med school first.

Just curious, how many hours per week did you work as a TA? I really don't think I'll work at all, but I've always wanted to TA. I used to tutor both groups and individually, I love teaching!

 

[ArcGurren]

I keep reminding them that all the debt is going under my name and I will deal with it. And that I will eventually be able to pay it off and make a decent income. They still bring it up... 🙄

My parents are pretty oblivious when it comes to med school in general, no matter how hard I try to explain it to them. They still believe that all you need to get into med school is good grades... and couldn't understand why on earth I would volunteer at hospitals or do research for free.

Back in the day, that is all you needed to get into most professional schools, be it medicine or law. There's always a weird generational disconnect.

 

[chidoman]

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