Is it possible to work part-time during your first/second year?

[iVision]

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For all your current optometry students, do you think it is possible to work part time (about 10-12 hours a week) during your first and second years at optometry school. I want to work part-time so that I have a little side cash while I'm there but am a little worried on whether or not it will compromise my grades/performance in my courses. Any advice or feedback would be great!!

 

[JMU07]

For all your current optometry students, do you think it is possible to work part time (about 10-12 hours a week) during your first and second years at optometry school. I want to work part-time so that I have a little side cash while I'm there but am a little worried on whether or not it will compromise my grades/performance in my courses. Any advice or feedback would be great!!

10-12 hours is definitely doable but I would strongly recommend doing work-study. That way you aren't losing much study time.

 

[yOyOYoo]

I worked all 4 years I was in optometry school. There are plenty of easy jobs on campus. One job I had involved me sitting and monitoring the computer lab. I could surf the net and study, it was great.

you could get a job working in the library.

you can also consider getting TA or tutoring jobs, which will enhance your learning as well.

 

[eyegal2010]

If you stick to your guns about only working 10-12 hours a week it is definitely doable. I worked in a private practice my first year of school & found myself picking up more hours than I had intended. My second & third years I was a TA & tutor. This was much more rewarding and allowed me to build rapport with the instructors who taught the class. The pay was not as good but I feel it was the better experience in the long run. If your state has a food stamp program I believe you have to do work-study to qualify for it.

 

[DrRobs]

I duno...last semester that was doable...this semester I think I work about 5 hours a week max...but work/study is definately key...as long as you find a work/study that actually lets you study

 

[vsarge0708]

I currently work between 8-12 hrs a week at a local bs commercial optical as an OD-tech. While it's doable and nice to have a few extra bucks in my pocket, in retrospect I think I would have rather just taken out a few extra grand and enjoy my free time.

 

[KHE]

I currently work between 8-12 hrs a week at a local bs commercial optical as an OD-tech. While it's doable and nice to have a few extra bucks in my pocket, in retrospect I think I would have rather just taken out a few extra grand and enjoy my free time.

No...you're doing the right thing. Keep your debt low and use this experience in a "bs commercial optical" to observe what works and what doesn't work in that environment both from the optometrist standpoint and from the optical standpoint. File that away for future reference.