School vs Work

[rrt]

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Been on the path to getting my pre-reqs and additional classes needed to apply to medical school for a short while. Will be utilizing Texas Fresh Start program, so I have to retake all the classes that will be wiped out by the program (good and bad). I am 26 years old, a RRT and RPSGT. I was offered a lead scoring position at the children's sleep lab I currently work at. Just last week, I applied to a college and was prepared to take on 12 hrs plus working nights (3 nights a week). The night shift fit my schedule pretty well, but like any swing shift schedule I know it would prove somewhat difficult at times. The thing about working nights is that I know I can get at the very least 3-4 hours of minimally fragmented study time on good nights and possibly 2-3 hrs on more busy nights. The job they offered me is a 7-4:30 day job M-F. I know I won't be able to study as much but may get a 3-5% increase in base pay. My hours are guaranteed compared to patients not showing up at night, which can mess up a full time paycheck with 1 day = 12 hrs. I would have to limit myself to night time school during the week, and possibly an afternoon weekend class.

The caveat to my story is by taking the day time job, I lose valued study time and MCAT prep time after next year. We have a baby on the way, so on my days off, I planned on keeping my night time schedule so my fiance could get much needed sleep once the baby is here. Work allows me study time, and I could study between nap times. I am already giving up Saturdays as it is which was when my band played, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.

What advise or past experiences can you guys offer?

Just for information's sake, my schedule would look like this working nights:

Work 7p-7a Friday, Saturday, Sunday
School 2p - 9p on Monday
Tuesday off, 2p - 8p Wednesdays,
Thursdays off, back to work Friday.

Working days would be more like this:

Work 7:30 am - 4pm Monday through Friday
School from 5:30pm - 9pm Monday - Friday
Weekends off except for a possible Saturday course if possible.

What to do... What to do....

-RRT

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Have you ever worked nights and if yes, have you been with your girl during that? Nights isn't for everyone. I have been working nights for years and would take it in a heartbear, however some people can't do it, and my wife doesn't NEED me beside her when she sleeps. Youu may be able to handle nighhts, but she might not be able to. And having a young one coming it would be harder as they get older. I have 3 kids and they don't know me as a day worker so they are used to it. I had a schedule that was brutal and slept on 4 hours of sleep every night, 7 days a week. The rest of the world doesn't work nights and it takes its toll. I am not saying you will be like that, but be aware that I have learned to swap my schedule entirely in one day, and youu may have some instances like that.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Also please disrehard spelliing and minor grammar as I am on my phone.

 

[NightGod]

Will be utilizing Texas Fresh Start program, so I have to retake all the classes that will be wiped out by the program (good and bad). I am 26 years old

I assume you plan to invoke Fresh Start in a few years? You do know there is a ten year minimum time gap required for it, right?

 

[rrt]

I suppose I should have elaborated. I have 6 years working nights. I'm well accustomed to switching between days and nights in the blink of an eye. My fiance and I have been together for 1 year and the whole time Oct had the same schedule.

I am more about having quality time vs quantity. I believe working days and going to school during the evening will leave me with less quality time than working 3 nights (we could spend those days together during the afternoons before work like we do now) and going to school Monday and Wednesday. If I go to work at 7am and get out of school at 9ish that night, I will probably want to sleep and nothing else.

On the fresh start program, I started school in 2003 and messed up. I've already started retaking classes to replace all the courses from 2003 to 2004. I'm aware that I lose even my passing grades so I'm prepared. I need to take full time semesters to make use of my time though. I won't activate the fresh start program until early 2015 the spring of the year I will apply to med schools.

 

[curt656]

That night gig sounds ideal only in regards to your ability to get paid to study. As far as family life, it is going to put a hamper on things. Keep in mind that it is going to be very difficult to have a day schedule Monday through Thursday and a night schedule Friday through Sunday. In all likelihood you will have a constant night time schedule. During the week you will be waking up in time to go to school and staying up all night. You will have a tremendous amount of time to study without distraction which is a HUGE plus. Also, your wife will reap benefits in the amount of sleep she will be getting at night because you will be home, awake, and able to take care of and feed the baby when it wakes up.

That being said, it is going to be difficult for your wife. If you are sleeping all day, waking up to go to school for 7 hours, and then coming home right before she goes to sleep that is going to make for a very lonely wife. She absolutely has to be 100% on board with this. Another factor to consider is that you will have almost zero quality time with your child other than the midnight feedings which is something that I personally could not handle. Good luck with your decision!

 

[rrt]

I'm hoping that having Tuesday, Thursday completely off will be a good thing. I won't really be awake the same i would be when at work. I find it easier to shift wake up times and sleep times 3 hrs back during non working days. Makes for easier transition. My fiance normally falls asleep around 1am. So i will have time with her after school. The worst days will be the weekends. I normally wake up at 3pm on worj nights. She normally doesn't work weekends. She will have 6 months maternity leave then only will have to work 1 weekend a month when she returns to worK (pharmacy tech) . She will normally work the days I go to school until a few hrs before I get out of school.

I'm also thinking of not working full time my senior year and getting as much financial aid as I can. Maybe the diminished income will help with aid for med school with the child?

 

[curt656]

I'm also thinking of not working full time my senior year and getting as much financial aid as I can. Maybe the diminished income will help with aid for med school with the child?

One thing to think about with financial aid is that your eligibility is based off of the previous years earnings. So, if you made alot of money the year before, it is unlikely you will be eligible. It is like this with most aid programs.

When I was laid off for the first time, I could not get medicaid for my son until I had not had income for a year (thankfully the pediatric cardiologist saw him for free). It was ridiculous, but that's the way it went.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

well if you know you can work nights, i would take the nights in a heartbeat and not look back. you have 2 full days off without school and some built in study time. and your kids aren't gonna be freaking about it, so do the nights. WAY better.

 

[rrt]

I think discussing this with you guys has helped me decide what I will do. Turning down that position is going to be hard, because getting into days in sleep medicine is hard in itself. But I will stay at nights and continue pushing on to medical school. Thanks for your help buds!