How many hours a week do you put into work/studying/research/etc

[skiing]

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I just thought it would be eye-opening to take a poll so we can all do a bit of sober self-reflection

How much time should premeds expect to put in to their work, counting studying, classes, ecs, research, apps, etc, per week? what is healthy, and are you happy with your success?

In advance, i realize this thread will have its share of the blissfully underworked as well as melodramatic workaholics -all threads have their sdn extremes- but I still thought it would be interesting to see the results.

 

[TheShaker]

Strange, this question just made me realize that I've been spending a bucketload of time on academic stuff lately. Usually I would say it takes up about 40-50 hours a week but lately I've been spending 80-90 hours a week (don't do this though, it's unhealthy). This is due to me trying to cram for the MCAT, preparing my application, pushing my research project to finish, trying to get as many clinical hours as possible, and taking a heavy course load at the same time. Oh well, my fault for making a last minute decision to apply 2 months ago.

 

[gettheleadout]

My sympathies for the poor souls that will choose 90+ hours/week...

Counting in-class time, study time, work, volunteering, and research, I'm around 50 or so right now. I expect this to increase next year.

I think the amount of time each person needs or is willing to put into any given activity (whether it's studying, volunteering, or whatever) is highly variable and individual. Some people will need very little time spent studying to master material, whereas others will need much more. Some of the latter will not be willing to put in the time required to achieve the same level of mastery, but that doesn't necessary mean they won't be successful or speak negatively toward their work ethic.

Edit: Rethinking this my number may be off, my study time has a range...oh well. I'm comfortable with the time I put in regardless.

 

[seafood92]

breakdown:
class - 18 hours/week
research - animal work, could be 8 could be 18. We'll say 10 is average.
work outside of class - 4 hours/week
studying - usually about 5 hours/week, however, when a test is around like right now I would say that jumps to about 10-14 hours/week. I'll go with 8.

about 40 sounds right. the rest I use for life, food, sleep, and SDN.

 

[SissyAlice]

I just thought it would be eye-opening to take a poll so we can all do a bit of sober self-reflection

How much time should premeds expect to put in to their work, counting studying, classes, ecs, research, apps, etc, per week? what is healthy, and are you happy with your success?

In advance, i realize this thread will have its share of half-serious "I work way less than you and am smarter" answers, along with its share of melodramatic workaholics, as all threads have their sdn extremes, but I still thought it would be interesting to see the results.

Classes: Registered for 16 hours, I probably attend 9 regularly
ECs: 6 hours
Research: ~8 hours depending on the week
Studying: Non-exam 4, Exam 30(8 hr fri 8 hr sat 8 hr sun + waking up early exam morning)

Currently I have 3 A's and 2 B-'s in my courses, which is worse than all my previous semesters(not counting HS college courses). I am trying to get those B-'s up to B+'s and I just made 100% on an exam I had on Monday.

I've just been lazy and I think I'm having premature senioritis I'm not happy with where I'm at, but I've done a lot more for myself this semester(hanging out, traveling, etc..). If I can kick my butt into high gear I might escape semi-unscathed.

 

[EnergyDrink]

Graduate Student: >>40
--Seminars, Meetings, Research, Classes, Thesis, Clubs
Weekend Tutoring: 5-10
Firefighter/EMT/Rescue - 20-35
Fire Dept. Admin (Chair, Board, etc) - 15
Forum Admin (Top Forum) - 10

Total: About 90 on the low side.
Which means I'm doing something at least 12 hours/day, which actually makes me question where the other 12 hours go.

I love everything that I do though, and I enjoy the people I work with at all of those places, so it really doesn't seem all that bad. I only get to go out once every week or two.

 

[jf1987]

Graduate Student: >>40
--Seminars, Meetings, Research, Classes, Thesis, Clubs
Weekend Tutoring: 5-10
Firefighter/EMT/Rescue - 20-35
Fire Dept. Admin (Chair, Board, etc) - 15
Forum Admin (Top Forum) - 10

Total: About 90 on the low side.
Which means I'm doing something at least 12 hours/day, which actually makes me question where the other 12 hours go.

I love everything that I do though, and I enjoy the people I work with at all of those places, so it really doesn't seem all that bad. I only get to go out once every week or two.

I guess that explains your name and avatar.

 

[Stumpyman]

Currently--

15 hours of classes (attend all)
Volunteer non-clinical- 4 hours a week
Tutor Bio/Chem- 4 hours a week
Scribe (work)- 15-18 hours a week
No research, so that's about it (not including studying time).

 

[Lil Mick]

My typical semester in college was work, ROTC, full-time school, research, other ECs, and shuttling teenagers to practices/meets. Easily 90 hours a week when all was finished. Med school was quite a bit better, as I didn't have work, ROTC, or other ECs to fit around classes (maybe 40-50 hours a week)...

 

[Dei gratia]

Interesting thread, I've never really 'added up' all the hours.

1. Lectures = 16 hr/week, Laboratories = 12 hr/week, Tutorials = 2 hr/week
2. Studying = 0-30 hr/week
3. Work = 20 hr/week
4. Athletics = 20 hr/week
5. Volunteering = 10 hr/week
6. Research = 0-10 hr/week

Total: 80-120 hr/week

I suppose this is the joy of routine, because I hardly notice how 'busy' I apparently am.

 

[gettheleadout]

Interesting thread, I've never really 'added up' all the hours.

1. Lectures = 16 hr/week, Laboratories = 12 hr/week, Tutorials = 2 hr/week
2. Studying = 0-30 hr/week
3. Work = 20 hr/week
4. Athletics = 20 hr/week
5. Volunteering = 10 hr/week
6. Research = 10 hr/week

Total: 90-120 hr/week

I suppose this is the joy of routine, because I hardly notice how 'busy' I apparently am.

I really hope the 30 hours/week of studying is for test weeks and not typical...

 

[hopeful22213]

In class: 15 hr/wk
Work: ~15-20 hr/ wk
Volunteer- ~7/wk
Study- ~10
mcat prep- ~12
commute (if that counts?) 20+

So w/o commuting, probably around 60 hr/wk. W/ the commute, easily 80+.

I feel like my schedule is a drain, so I have tons of respect for those people pulling the 100+ hour weeks.

 

[music2doc]

This depends largely upon the stage of the pre-med process you're in. It might be better to ask this as "while studying for the MCAT..." or "While taking pre-reqs..." or "During your application/interview year..." or "After being accepted..." as the mix will change dramatically depending upon where you are in process. My all-time high was 100+ hrs/wk and my all-time low would have to be close to 0 hrs/wk. Currently, I am at about 20 hrs/wk, as I do a few hours volunteering and a few hrs working. I am taking an upper division bio class, but that requires almost no studying (it's bio...).

 

[EnergyDrink]

In class: 15 hr/wk
Work: ~15-20 hr/ wk
Volunteer- ~7/wk
Study- ~10
mcat prep- ~12
commute (if that counts?) 20+

So w/o commuting, probably around 60 hr/wk. W/ the commute, easily 80+.

I feel like my schedule is a drain, so I have tons of respect for those people pulling the 100+ hour weeks.

I commute too, about 2.5 hours in total/day. I wonder how much more work I would get done without it.

20 hours though? That's rough.

 

[Dei gratia]

I really hope the 30 hours/week of studying is for test weeks and not typical...

Not necessarily, I rarely procrastinate so when it comes to mid-terms and finals, I don't study anymore than I normally would. The hours I study are more dependent on my current course-work (I'm past the stage of prerequisites and introductory courses).

One of my courses is about integrating molecular function within all the major organ systems, so there is a lot of time dedicated to reading and evaluating peer reviewed journal articles. Some weeks are rooted in simple physiology, while others require more active research. It just depends, but 30 hr/week is a 'fair' maximum amount of time that I'd study for...

 

[Road2Success]

Wow you guys have intense schedules
I guess this is why i'm not pulling a 4.0 gpa. My schedule is as follows:

In class time: 12 hours/wk
Studying: 0 - 10 hours
Homework: 0 - 10 hours
Work: 8 - 16 hours

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Personally, I think the people that say 90+ are either full of crap or incredibly inefficient with their time. Not doing it now, but last year I worked nights driving a truck tues, wed, thurs, fri for 50 hours (630p-7a), weekends at the hospital (1230p-11p sat and sun) for 20 hours, 21 credits in the fall (including physics 1 retake and cell bio) and 20 credits in the spring (physics 2 and biochem) , all while maintaining shadowing and volunteering (albeit not consistent), and I wouldn't say 90+ hours. Oh, and I have 3 kids.

You guys need to do something different with your time.

EDIT: thinking about it, yeah I guess that it was more than 90 hours including everything. I suppose some could be telling the truth. My bad. Carry on.

 

[CherrySmog]

Class: 14 hrs/week
Studying: 10 hrs/week
Volunteering/Clubs: 10 hrs/week
=34 hrs/week

on a test week, its usually closer to 40

 

[Tots]

Where is the less than 30??? 😕

 

[littlefaster]

where is the less than 30??? 😕

+1

 

[unhappytnt]

10 hours studying, doing assignments
10 hours lectures+lab
5 hours research lab
4 hours volunteering
1-2 hours fraternity fundraisers, service events etc.

That's 30. Maybe during midterms week or when my PI wants me to run a long experiment, it might go up to 40. But I don't know how some people can claim 90+ hours (unless of course they have a full time job) 😕

 

[phnerd1105]

Where is the less than 30??? 😕

Where is over 9000?

 

[Omppu27]

Class: 15hr/week
Volunteer:4hr/week
Research: 6hr/week
Work (EMT): 20hr/week
Studying: I really don't know... it varies. maybe like 10ish?

total = 50-60hr/week

Also working out/exercise takes up about 1-2 hr a day

 

[KnuxNole]

Where is the less than 30??? 😕

I did less than 30 in undergrad. But I did zero research or working. And going to class/studying was variable. Same for volunteer work, plenty of semesters where that was zero and a few where I do once every other weekend or something.

It could be 10-20 hrs

 

[Dei gratia]

Interesting thread, I've never really 'added up' all the hours.

1. Lectures = 16 hr/week, Laboratories = 12 hr/week, Tutorials = 2 hr/week
2. Studying = 0-30 hr/week
3. Work = 20 hr/week
4. Athletics = 20 hr/week
5. Volunteering = 10 hr/week
6. Research = 0-10 hr/week

Total: 80-120 hr/week

I suppose this is the joy of routine, because I hardly notice how 'busy' I apparently am.

I thought I'd add to my post by 'explaining' what I do, since I don't want 90+ hr/week to come across as mythical.

1. In-class time alone for me is 30 hr/week (lectures, laboratories, and tutorials). I don't know how other universties work, but I don't get credit-hours for labs, they are mandatory whenever I take the lecture. They can't be completed in seperate semesters.
2. Studying I explained in a previous post, but I do graduate-level and undergraduate-level course work. With my graduate courses being much more demanding, that's where the variability really comes from. 30 hr/week is also only 4 hr/day, so it doesn't seem like I put in an outrageous amount of hours for five classes.
3. I do work part-time on weekdays, about 4 hr/day as well.
4. Athletics take up about 3 hr/week-day and 5 hr/weekend, playing varsity basketball for my university.
5. Volunteering and Research I only do on weekends and I like to get in a fair amount of hours.

So on a 'standard' weekday, I work-out 500-600, study 600-800, in class 800-1400, work 1400-1800, practice 1800-2000, and study 2000-2200.
On a 'standard' weekend, I volunteer 600-1100, games 1100-1400, research 1400-1700, free-time (could be studying) 1700-2300.
*Weekends are usually a chaotic mess if I have a tournament to go to

Not that it's really relevant but I'm twenty years old, finishing a BHSc in Biomedical Science..

 

[EnergyDrink]

I'd imagine the people submitting 90+ are mostly non-trads, and people trying to upset the poles. When I was an undergraduate I probably spent about 40-50 hours.

 

[ljpm8224]

So on a 'standard' weekday, I work-out 500-600, study 600-800, in class 800-1400, work 1400-1800, practice 1800-2000, and study 2000-2200.
On a 'standard' weekend, I volunteer 600-1100, games 1100-1400, research 1400-1700, free-time (could be studying) 1700-2300

do you teleport? 😕 where's your commute times in there? Also, no time to eat?

signed,
someone who loses ~ 2.5 hours a day going between various activities.

edit: Also, we'll add if it's a powder weekend deduct 48 hours for ski trip although I'm pretty good on getting in at least 5 hours of reading on those ! 🙂

I'm:
15 hours of class/lab/lecture
24 hours of work on the rig (either 1 24hr shift or 2 12s)
20 hours studying
10 hours volunteer
15 hours working out/training/weightlifting

the rest: hanging out, play with dog, time with loved ones, commute, eat and sleep!

edit: we'll also add, if it's a powder weekend, automatically deduct 48 hours for a ski trip 🙂 but I'm decent about getting in at least *some* studying on those

 

[Dei gratia]

do you teleport? 😕 where's your commute times in there? Also, no time to eat?

🙂 This is fair!

I didn't go into intense detail regaurding each activity. However, I do live/work/volunteer/research/study all on campus, so commute time is at maximum five minutes. I wake up around 530 or the night before to prepare six mini-meals that I carry with me to eat throughout the day... So no designated time is set aside for them. Most of my activities end ten minutes before the next, so it's fair to subtract around five hours from the 'standard' 107 hr/week I posted. Obviously, not every week is identical and I only do this for eight months out of the year, but on average, it's fairly accurate I think.

 

[crazyasian]

Good to know that I'm in the upper part of the poll... I'm not sure how students don't get at least 50 hours though...

 

[TodoLoPuedo]

I commute too, about 2.5 hours in total/day. I wonder how much more work I would get done without it.

20 hours though? That's rough.

The silver lining is when you can commute by train/bus/etc... you're forced to stay in one spot (so you won't get distracted and go do something else), but you don't have the responsibility of paying attention to driving. Solid 2 hours of getting work done x getting to where you need to go = productivity^4. Or something... 😉