I just got terminated. Don't know what to do.

[arc5005]

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[Meeehai]

I just lost my comfy part-time job that was paying extremely well, which was giving me ample time to study, enjoy life, and also support myself in a new city. Now, that I just got terminated (company couldn't afford us and fired 3 of us -- all on contracts), I'm not sure what I should do, because I'm worried if I get a full-time job here to support myself in this new city, I'm not going to have adequate time to study for my class and the MCAT. I'm debating moving back home, so I can study full-time, and I could also tutor organic chemistry (old professor would let me). Or should, I just stick it out here?

I'm just really bummed. I was just getting settled here and financially somewhat stable (still living paycheck to paycheck).

Seems like a very important decision to make. Not something I would ask a bunch of anonymous strangers that don't know anything about your life.

 

[Ho0v-man]

First off: Breathe! There's absolutely nothing you can do about this today. It's after 5pm on a Friday. You can't get a job today.

I looked at a post you made earlier about your current study plans. If I'm not mistaken, you're taking one class while studying for the mcat that you plan to take in 6 months. Even with shadowing, there's no reason you can't work full time. Many of us work full time while doing all of this.

One way to look at it is that now you've got an answer to those challenges faced in undergrad questions. Consider this an opportunity to prove that when the unexpected happens (which is often in medicine) that you're adaptable and have what it takes to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. You can do it!


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[JW2020]

I worked full time while studying for the MCAT. I set up a 4 month study routine based on advice I got from this very forum, stuck to it, and it worked out. You can do it too.

 

[arc5005]

I thought most people took 2 months off prior to the MCAT to study full-time.

I worked full time while studying for the MCAT. I set up a 4 month study routine based on advice I got from this very forum, stuck to it, and it worked out. You can do it too.

Can I ask what your score was?

 

[spenguin]

I thought most people took 2 months off prior to the MCAT to study full-time.



Can I ask what your score was?

I got over 30 on the old MCAT. Studied for 2.5 months while working full time. Its all about how efficient you can be

Edit: some people need tht time off while other do fine while doing other things. U gotta know yourself

 

[OrdinaryDO]

I also worked full time and went to school with a heavy load and scored a 502 (~27), but I only studied for a solid month and my only downfall was the time. The company I used to help study for the mcat with was way off when it came to paragraph sizes, so that was my bug issue, other than that it wasn't bad, you can do it.

 

[mathnerd88]

Agree with @spenguin here. I scored a 31 while working full time, and it was only because of my relatively low verbal score (8.) It is VERY easy to improve on BS and PS, but verbal is one of the more difficult sections to improve if you don't really like reading about random things not pertaining to science.

For me, the problem was lack of time in the verbal section.

I've been in a similar situation as yours. Make sure you file for unemployment insurance, get your health insurance in order, and look for jobs. Also, you can take some time to start prepping for MCAT.

You will be able to get through this. This will be a good life experience/lesson, and this definitely made me more mature going forward.

 

[ortnakas]

Agree with the above posts. Taking two months off to study is something 21 year old traditional applicants can often pull off, but it's rare for nontrads-- quite a few of us studied for the MCAT and took it while working full-time. It can be done.

 

[JW2020]

I thought most people took 2 months off prior to the MCAT to study full-time.

Taking time off wasn't an option for me, so I built studying into my nights and weekends. That's also why I worked out a 4 month plan rather than 2 months of full time studying. It probably worked out to around 30-40 hours of studying a week.
29 (11 PS 10 VS 8 BS)

 

[Ho0v-man]

I had 3 jobs for my first attempt and averaged 80+ hrs per week. Ended up w a 23. Decided to step it down to two jobs and down to around 50-55 hrs per week for the retake and got a 504. It's important to know your limits, but also remember that your going into a field that's going to push you way past them so maybe it's not such a bad idea to give those limits a nudge now. Best of luck!


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[arc5005]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all the feedback. Sorry for coming off extremely neurotic! I was just a bit bummed, because I've had a cascade of problems since moving to this city (which is very far from home). Unfortunately, I do not qualify for unemployment, because it was contract work. I'm going to try to find a new job, and probably stay here in this city. I was fortunate to find a good volunteer job at the hospital and have some leads for shadowing opportunities now.

I'll obviously need to figure something out. I'm currently devoting most of my free-time to my UNECOM Biochemistry class/MCAT content review and the gym (it's my my way to relieve stress). I think I still want to take off at least a month, maybe 2 to study full-time for the MCAT. I'm generally a good test taker, but I don't know how the MCAT is going to be, because it's so different than class exams. I generally always get A's on exams and classes when I am trying. I don't know how the MCAT is going to be compared to what I'm used to. I want to spend a lot of time doing content review, and then at least a full month of practice exams and questions (full-time 8 hours + a day).

 

[IntheClouds4ever]

I work full-time on a nightshift at a hospital lab. Studied for 3 months and did just fine. Set up a schedule and stick to it is my best advice. Stay on the grind and tough it out. Its definitely not impossible