Need advice, working while in pharm school!

[pharma5400]

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Hey to everyone. I thinking about applying to UMKC pharm school in missouri can anyone tell me if you can work 20-25 hours a week while going to pharm school? I am a 28 year old student (no financial help from parents obviously) looking to attend there but i am wondering how anyone (especially those of us who cant rely on the parents) can afford to go to pharm school without going 150K in debt if you cant work. Ive heard that some students do work but some cant because of the workload, can anyone shed some light on this for me. thanks a bunch!!

 

[RxWildcat]

Whats so bad about 150k in debt? 20-25 hours weekly might be a little much, but a lot of people in our school work about 10ish hours weekly while in school. I usually average working one night a week during the school year. I may work less this year due to a 23 hour load 🙁

 

[Pharmavixen]

I worked a couple of days a wk when I was in school (evening shifts for a total of 12 hours a week). But I had no life.

Twenty to twenty-five hours a wk sounds a bit much.

 

[pharma5400]

Thanks for replies! In response to RxWildcat i felt that 150k in debt would be a little hard to pay back on a 110k a year salary but i suppose it depends on what you live on while your paying it back. I would like to keep my debt under 100k if possible is why i asked about working.

I dont see how alot of students who dont live on campus can afford pharm school. You also have to loan out enough money to cover rent or a mortgage it you cant work enough to pay the bills, i guess taking out a **** load of loans is the only option if you want to go to pharm school.

 

[thefrontrow]

Hey to everyone. I thinking about applying to UMKC pharm school in missouri can anyone tell me if you can work 20-25 hours a week while going to pharm school? I am a 28 year old student (no financial help from parents obviously) looking to attend there but i am wondering how anyone (especially those of us who cant rely on the parents) can afford to go to pharm school without going 150K in debt if you cant work. Ive heard that some students do work but some cant because of the workload, can anyone shed some light on this for me. thanks a bunch!!

What's wrong with debt? Its your right as an American to be in debt. US as a whole probably has a zero net worth or is in debt. Bless the Chinese for keeping US afloat 🙄 .Plus you can always make the money later on. Its important to focus on your studies more rite now and only work with something that doesn't affect your studies.

 

[PrepharmKID]

From speaking to the admissions people at midwestern in glendale, I know they said they "frown upon" people working their first year, but sometimes its necessary. I think they said only like a handful of their first year students were working, and even then, it was less than 10 hours a week.

 

[Old Timer]

If you can't work one night per week and every other weekend, with arrangements to switch times for test preparation, how in God's name will you be able to be a pharmacist?

 

[njac]

First and Second years I worked at least 20 hours per week and sometimes overtime. I will tell you that I'm not a 4.0 student (nor was I putting the effort in to be one - It might have been possible but I didn't try). Third year I dropped down to only 20 hours per week. Now, on 4th year rotations I work 8 hours every Saturday evening. I intended to work more, but I'm tired! It would be doable but I have 2 dogs and a boyfriend I like to see once in awhile - I definitely surprised myself by not working more during them.

 

[ItsOverZyvox]

From speaking to the admissions people at midwestern in glendale, I know they said they "frown upon" people working their first year, but sometimes its necessary. I think they said only like a handful of their first year students were working, and even then, it was less than 10 hours a week.

That would be a good reason to not attend Midwestern in Glendale if those *****s think working during P1 is frowned upon. Freaking idiots.

 

[ItsOverZyvox]

Thanks for replies! In response to RxWildcat i felt that 150k in debt would be a little hard to pay back on a 110k a year salary but i suppose it depends on what you live on while your paying it back. I would like to keep my debt under 100k if possible is why i asked about working.

I dont see how alot of students who dont live on campus can afford pharm school. You also have to loan out enough money to cover rent or a mortgage it you cant work enough to pay the bills, i guess taking out a **** load of loans is the only option if you want to go to pharm school.

By the time you graduate, you'll be making a lot more than 110K. And pick up a part time job, most pharmacist today should be able to make close to $150,000 per year.

 

[PrepharmKID]

That would be a good reason to not attend Midwestern in Glendale if those *****s think working during P1 is frowned upon. Freaking idiots.

Well I think their thinking is that they want you to focus just on school.

 

[esrodems]

I 'm currently in my 1st quarter of an accelerated program and I work every other w/e and 1 weeknight every week. I'm definitely managing but it's a struggle and I dont have much of a social life. To be honest the amount of money that I do make isnt worth the work. I am working for the experience and to get the hours I need for GA licensure. To the point working during pharmacy school can be done but it's tough and you should do it for the experience and not for the money b/c you dont make enough money to make it worth your while.
PS I am also and adult student with no help from my parents and am looking at about $150k in debt. Sure it's going to take some time to pay it off but at least we will make a decent enough salary where it will be possible to do it!!

 

[LilBambuDancer]

I worked 24 hours a week, 12 hrs on Saturday and 12 hrs on Sunday, during my P1 year. I have a mortgage and a family to support so I have no choice but to work during school. Fortunately, my job pays well enough to cover my mortgage and I do have a lot of down time at work during which I could study. It was difficult and I had no life but I survived my P1 year with reasonable grade. I am dropping my work hours to 20 a week during my second year though.
A friend of mine worked 30 hours a week during her P1 year as well. Although she was on the verge of failing but she quit her job right before final and was able to pull through.
So I think it's totally possible to work 20-25 hours a week during school as long as you are willing to sacrifice your social life in the process.

 

[ItsOverZyvox]

Well I think their thinking is that they want you to focus just on school.

oh...is that what it is?

They must really think highly of their elementary P1 teaching material..

 

[PrepharmKID]

oh...is That What It Is?

They Must Really Think Highly Of Their Elementary P1 Teaching Material..

Lol

 

[njac]

I'm on rotations now. I am so very glad that I worked during school. I don't know how much of it comes from studying, or paying attention to specific details at work, but I'm finding that I'm not learning tons on rotations. Most of this stuff I learned at work, not school.

Just saying.

(plus I'm a total nerd so I've been paying attention to some of this stuff for years)