How to balance post-bac pre-reqs and work?

[laviedevote]

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I'm a 25 year old with a degree in Information Technology. I'm currently working, and I want to go back to school to begin the med school pre-reqs and fulfill my ambition of becoming a physician.

I'm in no hurry to do this as I'm still relatively young. Taking the pre-reqs part time, I could finish them in about 2/2.5 years, but my main worry is how to balance them with full time work. How do I convince my employer to give me a TR or MW off so that I can do them? How do I approach the employer? Any advice from those who've been there?

 

[heartsink]

I've been taking pre reqs and working part time for a year now. I've been in research and clinical / hospital work during that time so my managers are super flexible with keeping me on schedules that accomplish both.

I was upfront and honest about my long term life goals in medicine and they were glad I had ambition and were happy to help me make workable schedules. Ive recently decided I want to put more time into school than my job permits stress-wise, so I'm leaving soon. I'm financially supported so that does not affect my decision as it may affect yours.

I would be upfront with your boss about your plan, be candid and sincere. If money isn't why you're staying on, I might seriously consider whether you really need to do both. You only have one shot at a great gpa if you're applying md, so make it count!

 

[bbychrangel]

I don't have the luxury of flexibility when it comes to my job. I work full time and take two courses a quarter. I normally wake up at 4/5am and study until 7/7:30, then I get ready for work. I wake up at 4 normally when I have a midterm/final or I have a social event I really want to do. This works quite well for me and I've been doing great! I don't generally study when I get home from work, unless I have an exam.

I find that I function much better in the morning and retain way more information than when I study at night, which is why I made the switch. Hope it helps!