MCAT + Job

[starlight15]

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I know a lot of you are still in undergrad while studying for MCAT but just wondering about the ex-students out there. I just finished college this past spring and spent summer studying for MCAT. I'm just curious what other people have done for jobs, etc while studying for MCAT.

I'm applying next spring so I'll have 2 years before entering med school. Hoping that I did well on my MCAT so that I won't have to study while working full time. Just not sure what kind of jobs interest me/are out there yet and curious to see what sdn people are doing, thanks!

 

[uc123]

work in 2 labs. 1 i just remotely analyze data for like 6-8 hours a week so it's not tough to manage. The other is in an actual lab but my boss is super flexible on when/how long I need to be there as long as stuff gets done on time.

I think it would be ideal to not work while studying for mcat but that's not possible for everybody

 

[maybemed2013]

I work as a tutor.... pay is great and I tutor mainly for chem and physics, so working actually prepares my for the mcat.

 

[starlight15]

I work as a tutor.... pay is great and I tutor mainly for chem and physics, so working actually prepares my for the mcat.

Are you a private tutor or do you work for a test prep company? I've been thinking about doing that.

And to clarify, I just finished taking MCAT last week so I'm hoping for no more studying haha, but we'll see in a month.

I feel like with only 2 years to work and with flexibility needed next year for tutoring, etc a lab job would be best... even though didn't enjoy working in my labs in college.

 

[maybemed2013]

I first started working through an internet company --wyzant; to get some experience. Now I am working for 2 private companies and wyzant. I got lucky because one of the companies I tutor for works with the state to provided SES tutoring ( If a child is scoring low on the state test and lives in a 'poor' area they can recieve 20 hrs of FREE tutoring).

And I think tutoring money beats lab money. I get 20 /hr but if I tutor a group ( which I most likely will do when I have to tutor the children for SES) I get 50/hr.

 

[uc123]

Are you a private tutor or do you work for a test prep company? I've been thinking about doing that.

And to clarify, I just finished taking MCAT last week so I'm hoping for no more studying haha, but we'll see in a month.

I feel like with only 2 years to work and with flexibility needed next year for tutoring, etc a lab job would be best... even though didn't enjoy working in my labs in college.

The key is to find a lab doing something you are actually interested in, a PI who is actually nice (many can be dicks), and somewhere where you will get your own project (not just making reagents, cleaning, etc)

 

[MDOnlyWillDo]

The key is to find a lab doing something you are actually interested in, a PI who is actually nice (many can be dicks), and somewhere where you will get your own project (not just making reagents, cleaning, etc)

Having worked with *many* PIs in my 13 year research career, I've found that very few are actually dicks- they behave that way to insolent pricks who feel they are above starting on the groundwork of making reagents, cleaning, etc.

 

[uc123]

lol.. i mean dicks in terms of their personalities, not that they are dicks because they make you make reagents, etc.

 

[ISUBird100]

I'm working as an EMT-B right now. I do three 13 hour shifts per week, and study on my off days. Hoping to take this test in January!

 

[burnitup1]

I graduated in 2011 and am working at the same place I worked at during summer/winter breaks during college - an information services/marketing company in the graphic design field. I am applying almost everywhere around Chicago to get a job in a research lab or hospital because it would be so much more beneficial to my application. I don't think med schools will appreciate the fact that I have worked in a non-med field for 4 years, but honestly I just do it because of the good pay to help my family out (and Photoshopping is my secret talent ha ha).
I'm currently working part time (28 hrs/wk) and using SN2ed 4 month study schedule. I will take the MCAT in late January and apply for the 2014 cycle.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

I work as a lab tech in two labs, 9-5, five days a week. I studied for the MCAT mostly at home after work and on weekends, but because there was a lot of downtime in the lab I also often managed to get a considerable amount of studying done there too. I ended up with a 39S so it's entirely possible to do very well on the MCAT while working full time. It may not be as ideal as having an entire summer devoted to the MCAT, but it's still better than trying to study for the MCAT while taking classes.

 

[maybemed2013]

Actually I like having a job while studying for the MCAT.. I am the type of person that just cant't stop studying so having a job forces me to stop.