Time off before starting school???

[Baxter81]

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I will be attending USC this fall (mid Aug.), and I currently work full time at the momment (40+hrs/week). I will be moving back to my parents house at the end of this month, so I dont really need the money anymore. So here is the problem...Should I quit my job and just relax for the next 4 months, or do you guys think this is too much time to do nothing and be idle?? I've been seriously struggling with what to do. Im afraid if i take that much time off, I will become lazy..hmm...I dunno, Anyone else faced with the same situation?

 

[UTCPharm]

I will be attending USC this fall (mid Aug.), and I currently work full time at the momment (40+hrs/week). I will be moving back to my parents house at the end of this month, so I dont really need the money anymore. So here is the problem...Should I quit my job and just relax for the next 4 months, or do you guys think this is too much time to do nothing and be idle?? I've been seriously struggling with what to do. Im afraid if i take that much time off, I will become lazy..hmm...I dunno, Anyone else faced with the same situation?

I'm not really in the same situation, but I know what I would do if I were you--I would work. For me at least, I think it would be really hard to jump from complete nothingness to the hardest educational experience of my life. Plus, when I work full time in the summers, it makes it easier to go back to school because I'm kinda tired of working anyways, and at least that's a change of pace. Anyhow, good luck.

 

[cosmicstarr]

4 months seems like a lot of time off.

How about taking a month off before starting? For me at least, that's plenty of time to take a trip or just relax.

 

[vsfan]

I will be attending USC this fall (mid Aug.), and I currently work full time at the momment (40+hrs/week). I will be moving back to my parents house at the end of this month, so I dont really need the money anymore. So here is the problem...Should I quit my job and just relax for the next 4 months, or do you guys think this is too much time to do nothing and be idle?? ?

Hey Baxter81, I will also be attending USC this Aug. I'm not in school either since I graduated in June 05. I work 40 hrs per week and will quit my job in Aug. However, I will be taking a long trip to Europe in the summer, so I guess you don't really need to quit your job if you can get some time off. I'm also going to live back at my parents house in Arcadia since tuition is already a killer.

 

[bananaface]

Having 4 months off is alot like a college summer vacation. It's going to be cheaper to do now than once you graduate.

 

[Baxter81]

I'm not really in the same situation, but I know what I would do if I were you--I would work. For me at least, I think it would be really hard to jump from complete nothingness to the hardest educational experience of my life. Plus, when I work full time in the summers, it makes it easier to go back to school because I'm kinda tired of working anyways, and at least that's a change of pace. Anyhow, good luck.

You have a good point! It does make going back to school alot easier when you have been working, but I am just so burnt out at work..hmmm

 

[Baxter81]

Hey Baxter81, I will also be attending USC this Aug. I'm not in school either since I graduated in June 05. I work 40 hrs per week and will quit my job in Aug. However, I will be taking a long trip to Europe in the summer, so I guess you don't really need to quit your job if you can get some time off. I'm also going to live back at my parents house in Arcadia since tuition is already a killer.

Haha..I'm moving back to my parents house in Arcadia/Pasadena too!! Maybe we can carpool a couple days out of the week to save $$$. I want to do a Europe trip too..But none of my homies have money or graduated college yet!! Oh well!! Hmmm...Maybe ill work part time or something.

 

[LittleMissB]

I will be attending USC this fall (mid Aug.), and I currently work full time at the momment (40+hrs/week). I will be moving back to my parents house at the end of this month, so I dont really need the money anymore. So here is the problem...Should I quit my job and just relax for the next 4 months, or do you guys think this is too much time to do nothing and be idle?? I've been seriously struggling with what to do. Im afraid if i take that much time off, I will become lazy..hmm...I dunno, Anyone else faced with the same situation?

I think you should take the time off... like me! (<--except I think I'm just doing 2 months off before school starts.) My rationale is that I just want to enjoy the support from my parents for what will probably be the last time ever. We'll see though since they're always insisting about helping me out. Anyway, we'll be busy at USC studying hard while working as interns... then we're off to our careers. My point is, you work so much now, and you'll be working a lot later so you should definitely partake in the opportunity to relax / vacation / refresh yourself before this next 4-year marathon ahead of us. I don't think taking the time off would necessarily result in becoming lazy. By the end of that 4 month break, you'll probably be aching to start school and will be ready to exert full force by the time August comes.

 

[tsubasa]

I cannot really afford to take time off... 🙁 I have not accepted any pharmacy program yet...until then, just try to deal with life and a job stress. Omedeto~(good job in Japanese) for all got accepted!

 

[Baxter81]

I think you should take the time off... like me! (<--except I think I'm just doing 2 months off before school starts.) My rationale is that I just want to enjoy the support from my parents for what will probably be the last time ever. We'll see though since they're always insisting about helping me out. Anyway, we'll be busy at USC studying hard while working as interns... then we're off to our careers. My point is, you work so much now, and you'll be working a lot later so you should definitely partake in the opportunity to relax / vacation / refresh yourself before this next 4-year marathon ahead of us. I don't think taking the time off would necessarily result in becoming lazy. By the end of that 4 month break, you'll probably be aching to start school and will be ready to exert full force by the time August comes.

Haha..That was the response I was hoping for!! I agree, I think the extended break will make me want to start school and study like no other. At the moment I am itching to start school again. I have been out of school since graduation (May 2005), so I can't wait to start my classes this fall!! Call me a loser, but I am actually excited.

 

[Mentis]

If you do decide to take time off, make sure you don't just let your brain melt away. I remember those high school summer vacations. I went back to school feeling like I didn't even remember how to write.

If I decide to take time off before pharm myself, I'll probably study some relevant material slowly over the break, just to stay sharp.

 

[patmcd]

Personally I'd take less time off, maybe a month or two right before school. Or perhaps just cut back on your hours if thats an option. I'd go nuts just sitting around for four months.

 

[ICA]

If I decide to take time off before pharm myself, I'll probably study some relevant material slowly over the break, just to stay sharp.

How 'bout getting started on the top 200 drug list? 😉

 

[eddavatar]

I will be attending USC this fall (mid Aug.), and I currently work full time at the momment (40+hrs/week). I will be moving back to my parents house at the end of this month, so I dont really need the money anymore. So here is the problem...Should I quit my job and just relax for the next 4 months, or do you guys think this is too much time to do nothing and be idle?? I've been seriously struggling with what to do. Im afraid if i take that much time off, I will become lazy..hmm...I dunno, Anyone else faced with the same situation?

I feel ya man. I suggest you that you should go travel now, since after that we'll be studying hardcore or maybe even work.

I personally am gonna work till July and then go to Hong Kong to hang out with my old friends and family.

 

[Mentis]

How 'bout getting started on the top 200 drug list? 😉

Would that be helpful? I know we're going to have to memorize lots of drug information later, I suppose starting now couldn't hurt. But I'm assuming P1 won't use that info, so I'm afraid I'll lose it.

Where can you get that list anyway?

 

[LittleMissB]

so I can't wait to start my classes this fall!! Call me a loser, but I am actually excited.

Well then I must be a loser as well because I am sooooooo excited about this fall! To you and anyone else who is excited... maybe sometime we should get together to start studying those on the Top 200 drugs list this summer (... and then get totally drunk right after) 😛 . Haha my cousin actually brought the list with her when we went on a vacation for few weeks over 3 summers ago. She didn't even open it the entire time hahaha.

 

[chichan]

I am facing the same dilemma! I plan to quit in June and enjoy the rest of summer with my friends and probably do some traveling (if money permits!)
I think you should definately take some time off before school starts, but some reasonable time that will allow you to enjoy life and give you a fresh start for pharmacy school.
Or if you don't want to get too bored doing nothing, how about working a job just for fun, like volunteering? I had a great time volunteering for elementary school kids during summer. It's good because there's no commitment like work and it's really fun.
Good luck to you! 😀

 

[vsfan]

Haha..I'm moving back to my parents house in Arcadia/Pasadena too!! Maybe we can carpool a couple days out of the week to save $$$.

Yeah, sounds good. Anyway we can save some $$$ will be a good idea. It's going to suck being $150k in debt after graduation.

 

[tennismn]

I say take a month off...keep productive until the last possible minute. I'm in a similar situation, and I plan on working through June. More money's always a good thing.

As for the $150,000 in debt, I'm sure that's another thread topic. I seem to remember reading from a couple of other posters that they weren't too worried about the debt level, and they'd have it paid off in a few years. I knew one retail pharmacist bragged that he paid off all of his debt in 3 years. I assume he lived pretty frugally during that time, but it seemed doable.

 

[Robinbird]

I'm plan on working through June 2. That is on a Friday which is the last day of our work week. The last day of finals is May 5, and I'll probably take a week off of work to take a vacation to the beach. Then I'll work about 25hrs/week (I normally work 15-20) until June. Through June I might do some more travelling or I'll just enjoy the summer and workout and lay in the sun. Then in early July I'll probably move and get used to my new town. Time off doesn't really bother me. I'm actually looking forward to it. Once school starts I'm sure I'll be swamped, and after I graduate pharmacy school I'll have a career so I'm really excited about having time off this summer. I'm not worried about being bored because I plan to go hiking, play outside, read, have a 21st birthday party, and make clothes (crafting is a big hobby of mine). I'm so tired of my job that I would rather be bored than work. I always feel like summers are too short anyway. I'm sure I would regret not having the summer off more than I would regret not spending more time working, but then again I mostly just ring up groceries for minimum wage.

 

[rxlynn]

Once school starts I'm sure I'll be swamped, and after I graduate pharmacy school I'll have a career so I'm really excited about having time off this summer. I'm not worried about being bored because I plan to go hiking, play outside, read, have a 21st birthday party, and make clothes (crafting is a big hobby of mine). I'm so tired of my job that I would rather be bored than work. I always feel like summers are too short anyway. I'm sure I would regret not having the summer off more than I would regret not spending more time working, but then again I mostly just ring up groceries for minimum wage.

Take it from someone who's been through the grad school/career thing once already - be like Robin and take the time off this summer!!!! When you graduate and get a job, it will be pretty much impossible to get that much time off in a block ever again without taking a formal leave of absence from work (or for the ladies on the board, maybe maternity leave, although that's not what I'd call a vacation). Once you get a little older, things like houses, jobs, spouses, children, etc. start getting in the way of the freedom to take time off! Do it while you can 🙂

 

[Ms. Hand]

Would that be helpful? I know we're going to have to memorize lots of drug information later, I suppose starting now couldn't hurt. But I'm assuming P1 won't use that info, so I'm afraid I'll lose it.

Where can you get that list anyway?

You probably will use that info as a P1. I'm a P1 and I had an exam over the top 50 drugs earlier this week, and I'll have an exam over the top 100 later this semester.

You can find the list of the top 200 drugs here: http://www.rxlist.com/top200.htm

 

[BelowTheMean]

Good luck on you people studying hard. HOwever, don't get me wrong but about a year into it, you people (including me right now) would get SOOOOO fraeken tired of this stuff, you just can't wait to go out and make 100k a year. Seriously, I am not joking. Just check out some of the posts on the PHARMACY forums. They are p2 or p3's just waiting to get the hell out of school. I felt like that upon starting school too, ready to put full blast force into studying and what not. It just doesnt last long and after a year, you would say "crap, I'd bout had it with this stuff, Just put me on rotations please!". Well, good thing im at a 3 year school so i just can't wait to get out. Really guys, it gets very tiring and time consuming and also, 70% of what you learn you are going to forget. HOwever, still study hard and dont give up. Im just giving you guys a heads up on what to expect. I dont go to USC so i wouldnt know how much studying you do, but at my school USN where we are just expected to know the basics, studying is getting to me big time and I want out just like the other pharm students in the pharmacy forums. Anyways, i suggest you quit in July, and take July off. That's it. IM out.

Here is what I mean...you people will definitely feel it at some point during your pharmacy student years...sorry.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=3426801#post3426801

 

[BiOGoly]

My advice? By all means work, work, work. Why? Because, when you are 40 years old, mid-career and balding, trying to pay off a mortgage and save what's left for your children's education and (Still!) trying to pay off that last bit of principal on your student loans, you will be able to think back to those golden memories of the last hurrah before you started your professional life: working your ass off for scant more than minimum wage. You'll crack a sly smile and maybe even shed a tear...yes those were the good ol' days.

 

[BelowTheMean]

My advice? By all means work, work, work. Why? Because, when you are 40 years old, mid-career and balding, trying to pay off a mortgage and save what's left for your children's education and (Still!) trying to pay off that last bit of principal on your student loans, you will be able to think back to those golden memories of the last hurrah before you started your professional life: working your ass off for scant more than minimum wage. You'll crack a sly smile and maybe even shed a tear...yes those were the good ol' days.

You're in a 3 year program too. 3 year programs rock!, especially when you have summer too!

 

[meow004]

Your situation is oh so very similiar to mine! I'm also doing the whole 40/wk routine @ work and it's getting a bit boring.. Which is good I think, cuz it makes me want to go back to school! I'm actually counting down the days until I turn in my two wks notice, which is probably around the end of June, and take a month+ break before school starts 😀

Four months break though... is a lot of time!

 

[akamplace]

I think i am only going to take about 2 weeks off before school bec i need to stack the $$ so i wont be completely broke during the first semester. I also need to make sure all my bills are paid up for the next two semesters!

 

[Glowwyrm]

If it were me and I didn't need the money, I would take the time off. This may be the last time in your life before retirement that you have this opportunity. Carpe vacation time!

 

[mf doom]

I will be attending WesternU. in mid August and I plan to quit my job on June 1 or 2 too. It freakin sux poop that we all gotta stick to our jobs now hahahha. Plus I really need some extra money so I can surprise my girlfriend with a trip to Hawaii this July. = )

 

[Requiem]

If you're with your parents your expenses will be nill.

Take the time off bro! If you can occupy yourself with sports, travelling, enjoying summer etc you'll definitely be completely fresh and it'll be a summer you truly enjoyed.

If you don't need the money, I see no reason to work unless you want to. If taking the summer off and doing your own thing is what you want to do, do it man. You'll have plenty of work coming up anyway.

 

[suntzu]

When I found out I was accepted to my #1 [local] school I gave my notice that afternoon. No brainer.

 

[techcert]

i suggest you work full time for the first 3 months and take a vacation for the last month before school starts. That way you make enough money and enjoy your last month before school starts, to revitalize yourself.

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

This term I only have 2 courses, I am use to heavy loads and I have to admit I am feeling very lazy and bored. I am trying to work out and keep myself busy but I would make sure you have something to keep you busy if you aren't going to work this summer. Anyway you can cut back to 20 hours?