Job type and hours

[Petrichor1]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Do u guys think that during mcat study and application year a person should do part time work vs. Full time? I'm curious to know how you chose your hr commitments and whether one benefitted you over the other.

 

[Petrichor1]

bump

 

[Mansamusa]

If you can afford to do part-time, do part-time. Give yourself all the advantages you can.

The couple of weeks I studied for the MCAT was the only time in my college career where I wasn't working

 

[Petrichor1]

Do you think a part time position should extend for the whole year though?

 

[Mansamusa]

Well for me, I wouldn't want to lose out on that money. If you job doesn't mind you could just ask to work ~3wks part-time and then go back to full-time when the test is done. Or you can do full-time and just spread your studying time out

 

[Petrichor1]

Well for me, I wouldn't want to lose out on that money. If you job doesn't mind you could just ask to work ~3wks part-time and then go back to full-time when the test is done. Or you can do full-time and just spread your studying time out

I don't think I have the flip back option. I guess I'm making the right decisions so far then.

 

[mimelim]

Do u guys think that during mcat study and application year a person should do part time work vs. Full time? I'm curious to know how you chose your hr commitments and whether one benefitted you over the other.

There are plenty of people who either work full time or are in school full time while studying for their MCAT. In is certainly possible to do for your average student that ends up matriculating. However, that is completely irrelevant. Just because someone else can, doesn't mean that you can or should. Doing well on the MCAT is incredibly important for getting into medical school and having a choice of school to attend. You need to do what you need to in order to maximize your chances of doing well.

That having been said, if you can't handle a minimal course load or a part-time job while studying for the MCAT, there is something wrong. This is not meant to be disparaging. This is meant as a heads up. You need to get more efficient. You need to get more organized. You need to learn how to learn. And, most importantly, learn it now before medical school/residency.

 

[BeachBaby]

I worked part-time for about 5 months while studying for the MCAT. Part time work and MCAT studying was all I could handle. Then after taking the MCAT I spent about one month seriously finishing my application.

I admire people who can do school full time or work full time and study but I know I could NOT have done that.

You only want to take the MCAT once.

Do not overcommit.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

I worked full-time while studying for the MCAT because I needed to financially. I really wish I hadn't! As others have said, it's certainly possible to work full-time and still have time to study. But for me, it was really, really hard. I had way too many things going on, didn't prioritize studying enough, and ended up with a score that wasn't representative of what I'm capable of. I highly recommend working part-time, if you can afford it.

 

[mistafab]

Just work full time.

Jobs are never that hard. It is not like you are a doctor or something.

Take the extra bucks, have some fun, and you can still do wel on the MCAT.

 

[Petrichor1]

There are plenty of people who either work full time or are in school full time while studying for their MCAT. In is certainly possible to do for your average student that ends up matriculating. However, that is completely irrelevant. Just because someone else can, doesn't mean that you can or should. Doing well on the MCAT is incredibly important for getting into medical school and having a choice of school to attend. You need to do what you need to in order to maximize your chances of doing well.

That having been said, if you can't handle a minimal course load or a part-time job while studying for the MCAT, there is something wrong. This is not meant to be disparaging. This is meant as a heads up. You need to get more efficient. You need to get more organized. You need to learn how to learn. And, most importantly, learn it now before medical school/residency.

lol yea, I had some health problems last year after I pushed myself doing a lot while almost juggling a near full time job in school: I certainly don't want to add to medical bills lest those problems resurface or get worse. Though I am down to working a full time job now and seeing how my MCAT fares because this time I won't work odd hours (crossing fingers that nightmare doesn't happen...only when I'm in route for physician world).

Just work full time.

Jobs are never that hard. It is not like you are a doctor or something.

Take the extra bucks, have some fun, and you can still do wel on the MCAT.

yea, I don't want to give up any good opportunities that come my way and I certainly don't want to give employers excuse to red flag me because of my uncertainty. Part-time doesn't really pay well compared to the package you receive as full time and with little gaurantee on med school admission, I am getting anxious to pick something that makes me feel I belong in that job area rather than scramble for what I don't want to do during gap year. IRTA pay is terrible without insurance and with just 1 year commitment...I'm worried I'll be stuck cleaning mouse cages haha.

 

[Petrichor1]

I worked full-time while studying for the MCAT because I needed to financially. I really wish I hadn't! As others have said, it's certainly possible to work full-time and still have time to study. But for me, it was really, really hard. I had way too many things going on, didn't prioritize studying enough, and ended up with a score that wasn't representative of what I'm capable of. I highly recommend working part-time, if you can afford it.

so did you end up taking mcat again?

 

[MD89]

Just work full time.

Jobs are never that hard. It is not like you are a doctor or something.

Take the extra bucks, have some fun, and you can still do wel on the MCAT.

This is so blatantly incorrect that I had to comment. There are plenty of jobs, besides being a doctor, that are incredibly stressful and difficult. Trust me, I actually worked one for a bunch of years.

That being said, I worked full-time and was extremely happy with my score. I'll admit though that the studying was super stressful and I had no life while working/studying. But that was only for like 2.5 months so it passed pretty quickly.

 

[mistafab]

"Blatantly wrong..." "That being said, I was extremely happy with my score"

Wow, you added nothing to the thread except salt. You disagreed with me, then admitted that it worked out for you.

Stop playing. OP wanted advice, my advice was to get a full time job. Since OP is premed, I made a joke about how a job won't be as hard as "being a doctor." You must have the sense of humor of an armpit.

This is so blatantly incorrect that I had to comment. There are plenty of jobs, besides being a doctor, that are incredibly stressful and difficult. Trust me, I actually worked one for a bunch of years.

That being said, I worked full-time and was extremely happy with my score. I'll admit though that the studying was super stressful and I had no life while working/studying. But that was only for like 2.5 months so it passed pretty quickly.

 

[MD89]

"Blatantly wrong..." "That being said, I was extremely happy with my score"

Wow, you added nothing to the thread except salt. You disagreed with me, then admitted that it worked out for you.

Stop playing. OP wanted advice, my advice was to get a full time job. Since OP is premed, I made a joke about how a job won't be as hard as "being a doctor." You must have the sense of humor of an armpit.

I apologize. I took your words at face value, that you truly thought other jobs couldn't be insanely stressful. Disagreeing with you about that and then stating how it all worked out for me is not contradictory. It was HARD studying for the MCAT while working at such a job. So yes, it worked out for me but having had that experience, I can honestly tell the OP that if he/she wants to do the same, to expect to do pretty much nothing besides working, studying, and sleeping for a while.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

so did you end up taking mcat again?

I considered it but ultimately decided to apply with the score I had. It ended up working out for me but I have no doubt that my score limited me. I'm a nontrad with pretty exceptional EC's and a good GPA. Not saying I'm some special snowflake, but I do wonder if a traditional applicant would have fared as well as I have. I'm super thankful to have gotten 3 II and 1 acceptance so far... but I'm also pretty confident that if I had a higher MCAT score, I could have had even more success this cycle.

 

[Yellow_Elephant]

I took my MCAT the first time during the summer between my junior and senior year of college when I had nothing going on, I studied full time and ended up not doing well for some reason. I took the MCAT the second time when I was out of school working full-time and studying after work and did much better. So who knows haha. Do what's best for you!

 

[Petrichor1]

does it look bad if I end up with a department store job during gap year in case I don't find anything? It's quite the opposite from what I expect but could be a true possibility.

 

[Yellow_Elephant]

does it look bad if I end up with a department store job during gap year in case I don't find anything? It's quite the opposite from what I expect but could be a true possibility.

I don't think it's a bad thing, just not the best thing you could be doing with your gap year. You can easily find a research assistant job! There's many out there in every department of almost every academic hospital and pharma companies. Do a search for jobs in your area using the key words "Research assistant," "clinical research coordinator," "study coordinator," "clinical research assistant." I bet you will find many! The pay is not amazing but doable for living on your own for a gap year.

Good luck!