Returning to the student lifestyle

[RocketSurgeon]

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Any engineering majors here who worked a full time job before going to medical school? (Not post bacc - a real job). I will be starting my first job soon and I got a great offer (6 figure salary).

I was wondering how difficult was it for you to go back to school - did you get used to the lifestyle. Also, how did you manage your money? Did you start investing it or just saved it all?

 

[darkjedi]

I was working in finance for a few years and transitioning back to school wasn't the worst. It takes a few weeks to ramp back up into a school mindset, which can be challenging. It would depend on how well you deal with structure in your life. School tends to be much more self driven.

While postbac is different than medschool, I felt like I had more free time and friends during school, than working. I definitely prefer school over my old job.

I wound up investing most of my savings and paying my postbac tuition. Not much leftover sadly 🙁

 

[sinombre]

Any engineering majors here who worked a full time job before going to medical school? (Not post bacc - a real job). I will be starting my first job soon and I got a great offer (6 figure salary).

I was wondering how difficult was it for you to go back to school - did you get used to the lifestyle. Also, how did you manage your money? Did you start investing it or just saved it all?

6 figure salary straight out of undergrad? Are you serious? My engineer friends all started around 55-65k... you must have really good connections.

 

[RocketSurgeon]

6 figure salary straight out of undergrad? Are you serious? My engineer friends all started around 55-65k... you must have really good connections.

Think the lowest 6 figure number..Haha yeah I was surprised too ! I took and ran with the offer before they realized I wasn't worth the money 🙂
(Its a big software company and from what ive heard they squeeze every penny out of you)

I was working in finance for a few years and transitioning back to school wasn't the worst. It takes a few weeks to ramp back up into a school mindset, which can be challenging. It would depend on how well you deal with structure in your life. School tends to be much more self driven.

While postbac is different than medschool, I felt like I had more free time and friends during school, than working. I definitely prefer school over my old job.

I wound up investing most of my savings and paying my postbac tuition. Not much leftover sadly 🙁

Yeah, im planning on sticking to my college spending habits but when you have no financial commitments its so tempting to spend that money !

Where did you invest the money? Would you advise me to stay with the job for 2-3 years and save up for med school?

Two more questions for you.
I saw you had a thread about leaving your job at a bank. My recruiter asked me what my plans were specifically and then proceeded to ask me if I was pre-med (lot of pre-med stuff on my resume). I will be working on medically related software.
But, he had that tone of voice (he was hoping I wasnt pre-med) and I kind of brushed off the question. My alternative job option was to take a 30k research position in Cambridge (which would leave me with zilch savings). I dont really know how long I want to work. Would you advise me to just give them a notice when I have an acceptance or should I tell them that I plan on attending med school?

Also, did you get asked about your job at interviews? Does it have a positive/negative/neutral impact?

 

[MedPR]

I have a job making 5 figures (😉) but I'm also still in school. I try to save what I can, but I also pretty much do what I want with th emoney. My logic is that whatever I'm saving now will be peanuts compared to what I'll be making/saving as a physician so I might as well enjoy myself now.

 

[RocketSurgeon]

I have a job making 5 figures (😉) but I'm also still in school. I try to save what I can, but I also pretty much do what I want with th emoney. My logic is that whatever I'm saving now will be peanuts compared to what I'll be making/saving as a physician so I might as well enjoy myself now.

Yeah but as a resident id rather have the 50k to myself and I dont want to pay off loans (wiser folks at SDN have warned me already haha!)

I made NO money as an undergrad apart from internships. I have do so much work for free for SO many people - the experience helped me.

 

[startswithb]

I have a job making 5 figures (😉) but I'm also still in school. I try to save what I can, but I also pretty much do what I want with th emoney. My logic is that whatever I'm saving now will be peanuts compared to what I'll be making/saving as a physician so I might as well enjoy myself now.

Beware that it can be very hard to tone down your spending habits even once that disposable income is gone. I have worked since I was 15 and was used to living a certain way, which I cannot support anymore on loans. Things like buying all generic now instead of name brand, spending little to no money on clothes, shoes, jewelry, and buying drugstore vs department store makeup. I never get Starbucks when I used to go 3 times a week before work. I probably won't take a single vacation in school, either. It is so strange to have zero income when for 10 years I had!