Quitting to study for the MCAT

[socal6]

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Hey guys,

So I've been posting about quitting my job on here for a while. Please refer to my previous threads if you need some background.

Anyway, I set a firm deadline for myself (this past Friday) to decide on what to do. My job stresses me out to no end and it has completely distracted me from studying for the mcat. Since I plan on taking it April 31, I would like to give myself 3 months to study. My biggest problem the first two times I took it was that I could not adhere to a strict study schedule. I would like to change that this time around but would need 100% of my focus on just studying.

My friend was able to talk to her supervisor, who is looking to hire a clinal research assistant for their ophthalmology lab to start in June/July, and help me get my foot through the door. The supervisor has told her to give me an in-depth description of the job and to tell me to send my resume afterward if I am still interested. My friend and I plan on meeting tomorrow so I hope that goes well.

If I end up getting an offer to start for June, I will most likely quit my current position. I guess I'm just on here to get some opinions on my situation. On the one hand, I hate my boss but am starting to enjoy the research I do. I just can't for the life of me work and focus on studying at the same time. On the other hand, I've heard my friend say some really incredible things about the ophthalmology lab such as how great her mentors are (I'm really lacking this at my current position bc everyone is busy doing their own thing) and how frequently she gets to interact with doctors and patients (what I really wanted when I started my job hunt).

So I guess, what would you do?

As a side note, my current boss is an ass. I would talk to him about returning in three months but I'd still have the same problems I have now and he'd probably hate the idea since I'm his new hire.

Thoughts?

-Your very confused and stressed out premed

 

[Isha2018]

If you can survive without the income, why not quit and study full time? 🙂

 

[socal6]

If you can survive without the income, why not quit and study full time? 🙂

I've already started paying my student loans. Since my parents aren't helping, I really have to work right after I finish studying.

 

[Lya]

I had similar problems as yours. If I understand correctly, you do not have the offer yet from the ophtho lab, but you prefer that lab compared to the current one.

First of all, I would first kindly and curiously ask your current mentor about taking MCAT and see if you are allowed to take 3 months off. If so, and this is an ideal case, then you should take 3 months off, come back, and join the optho lab if offered. Otherwise, continue the current lab.

Secondly, if the current mentor hates that idea as you mentioned already and seems really hesitant, this is where there is no correct answer. If you are certain you will most likely get the optho lab offer, then you can quit, even postpone your MCAT date a little bit more to study, and join the new lab in June. If you are applying this upcoming cycle, it might be worthwhile to quit, ace the MCAT and apply early confidently, hoping to get into the new lab. Higher MCAT score always overweighs extra 3 months of research. If you are taking some time and don't have to apply this upcoming cycle, you should probably keep the current research going and see in the future where you can fit the MCAT in a different date, instead of April.

 

[socal6]

I had similar problems as yours. If I understand correctly, you do not have the offer yet from the ophtho lab, but you prefer that lab compared to the current one.

First of all, I would first kindly and curiously ask your current mentor about taking MCAT and see if you are allowed to take 3 months off. If so, and this is an ideal case, then you should take 3 months off, come back, and join the optho lab if offered. Otherwise, continue the current lab.

Secondly, if the current mentor hates that idea as you mentioned already and seems really hesitant, this is where there is no correct answer. If you are certain you will most likely get the optho lab offer, then you can quit, even postpone your MCAT date a little bit more to study, and join the new lab in June. If you are applying this upcoming cycle, it might be worthwhile to quit, ace the MCAT and apply early confidently, hoping to get into the new lab. Higher MCAT score always overweighs extra 3 months of research. If you are taking some time and don't have to apply this upcoming cycle, you should probably keep the current research going and see in the future where you can fit the MCAT in a different date, instead of April.

Great advice, thank you! It's not that I hate hate my lab, just my boss. Things aren't very black and white for me right now since I can find pros and cons with both positions. And I am planning to apply this cycle. I don't know what my chances are for the new job but I'll play it by ear tomorrow when I see my friend.

What did you end up doing?

 

[Lya]

Great advice, thank you! It's not that I hate hate my lab, just my boss. Things aren't very black and white for me right now since I can find pros and cons with both positions. And I am planning to apply this cycle. I don't know what my chances are for the new job but I'll play it by ear tomorrow when I see my friend.

What did you end up doing?

My supervisor was fortunately very supportive and understanding. Hopefully your current one will be the same as well.

 

[ThisCouldBeYou]

Rule # 1: Do not ever quit a job unless you have the next one.
Rule # 2: always live within your means.

Certainly, you should be able to work and study for the MCAT. Make work tolerable until you find something else.

 

[Cmdr_Shepard]

Can you move back in with your parents?

Free rent!

 

[socal6]

Rule # 1: Do not ever quit a job unless you have the next one.
Rule # 2: always live within your means.

Certainly, you should be able to work and study for the MCAT. Make work tolerable until you find something else.

Don't plan on quitting til I get an offer, but thanks!

 

[socal6]

Can you move back in with your parents?

Free rent!

I would but they are super distracting! I get free rent living with my boyfriend anyway haha.

 

[Cmdr_Shepard]

I quit my job to study. It's worth it if you don't get too hurt financially. And even then, it's for your future so if it has to be done, you gotta do it.

 

[knv2u]

If you can survive without the income, why not quit and study full time? 🙂

Yep. This is what I did (and am still doing).

 

[Planes2Doc]

School is NUMBER ONE. Period. End of story.

A job is always a nice EC, but if you don't have the stats required to be competitive, than doing something that's a dime a dozen among pre-meds is not going to help you. The money you'd make now is also pocket change compared to what you'd make in the future as a physician. Nothing is worth sacrificing your MCAT, which is the most important thing for getting your butt into medical school.

 

[ThisCouldBeYou]

@socal6, are you also a college student, taking classes, or have you already graduated? That makes a huge difference.

I assume, since you're already having to pay back your loans, you have graduated. If so, then you should try to work AND study for the MCAT.

 

[TheBossDoctor]

Anyway, I set a firm deadline for myself (this past Friday) to decide on what to do. My job stresses me out to no end and it has completely distracted me from studying for the mcat. Since I plan on taking it April 31, I would like to give myself 3 months to study. My biggest problem the first two times I took it was that I could not adhere to a strict study schedule. I would like to change that this time around but would need 100% of my focus on just studying.

I didn't know April had 31 days.