To Work or Not To Work?

[OldManDoc]

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Hi All:

I have long been purusing this site but not sure I have ever posted a question. However, I am having a major dilemna and need some advice.

Here is a synopsis of my life story: Biochem Major in '93, 2.5 years academic research. Always thought about med school. Went back to school and received an MBA and took some master's science coursework. Did not complete a science master's due to family hardship (dad died). Started working in business to make money in case the family needed it. I thought the money could make me content but it didn't so I decided to test myself. I took additional undergrad science classes at night while working and was a 4.0 student. Had the opportunity to shadow a physician for a week 24/7 and that sold me on the profession. Have been volunteering at a hospital for the past year+. Will have 2 or more publications before I apply to school.

Recently quit my job to study for the MCAT. Intended on taking it this summer. However, being out of school so long, I underestimated the time it would take for me to study. I was re-learning, not reviewing.

So I decided to apply for a part-time academic research position. Unfortunately I did not get the job. The PI wanted someone that would stay longer than two years and I could not promise that. So now I am jobless with two years before I can enter med school. Based on my first research job interview in many years, I am convinced that I might have a hard time getting a research job so I started looking back to the business world.

I received a lucrative business job offer. In addition, I have the opportunity to do clinical research in the ER at night, essentially recruiting patients for a study. It is part time but I have a very supportive fiance. I have a few options. Take the job that pays well (med school is expensive as you know), try to do both jobs (will have no time for anything else), take the clinical research job and get another medically related job such as EMT, etc. for the next couple of years. Any thoughts? Keep in mind I still need to take the MCAT. Money is not a primary concern but the more I can make now the better later on.

Thanks.

 

[postbacker]

Hi All:

I have long been purusing this site but not sure I have ever posted a question. However, I am having a major dilemna and need some advice.

Here is a synopsis of my life story: Biochem Major in '93, 2.5 years academic research. Always thought about med school. Went back to school and received an MBA and took some master's science coursework. Did not complete a science master's due to family hardship (dad died). Started working in business to make money in case the family needed it. I thought the money could make me content but it didn't so I decided to test myself. I took additional undergrad science classes at night while working and was a 4.0 student. Had the opportunity to shadow a physician for a week 24/7 and that sold me on the profession. Have been volunteering at a hospital for the past year+. Will have 2 or more publications before I apply to school.

Recently quit my job to study for the MCAT. Intended on taking it this summer. However, being out of school so long, I underestimated the time it would take for me to study. I was re-learning, not reviewing.

So I decided to apply for a part-time academic research position. Unfortunately I did not get the job. The PI wanted someone that would stay longer than two years and I could not promise that. So now I am jobless with two years before I can enter med school. Based on my first research job interview in many years, I am convinced that I might have a hard time getting a research job so I started looking back to the business world.

I received a lucrative business job offer. In addition, I have the opportunity to do clinical research in the ER at night, essentially recruiting patients for a study. It is part time but I have a very supportive fiance. I have a few options. Take the job that pays well (med school is expensive as you know), try to do both jobs (will have no time for anything else), take the clinical research job and get another medically related job such as EMT, etc. for the next couple of years. Any thoughts? Keep in mind I still need to take the MCAT. Money is not a primary concern but the more I can make now the better later on.

Thanks.

You need to make sure that your BS coursework, particularly the pre reqs, is "recent enough" for med apps - doesn't apply to my situation so I don't know the details, but I think I have read something about this somewhere, maybe a "10 year" rule...

 

[OldManDoc]

Thanks for the advice. I actually had heard this and called a few schools. From what I have found, most that I called do not have a time limit. There are a few that do but given the amount of money I have spent on education, I would hate to have to re-take the pre-reqs, especially since I did well in them. Would seem kind of pointless. Plus I have much more recent coursework.

 

[njbmd]

Thanks for the advice. I actually had heard this and called a few schools. From what I have found, most that I called do not have a time limit. There are a few that do but given the amount of money I have spent on education, I would hate to have to re-take the pre-reqs, especially since I did well in them. Would seem kind of pointless. Plus I have much more recent coursework.

You need to make sure that your BS coursework, particularly the pre reqs, is "recent enough" for med apps - doesn't apply to my situation so I don't know the details, but I think I have read something about this somewhere, maybe a "10 year" rule...

Most schools don't have an expiration date for coursework but as you did, you need to check before you spend the money to apply to a school where your pre-reqs may be or are out of date.

As for working, if money is not a chief concern, then don't work. Use the time to concentrate fully on your MCAT prep. The MCAT is a test of application of knowledge hence, you must have the knowledge base and be thoroughly familiar with the manner in which this very important exam tests your knowledge base. I cannot emphasize more strongly to be totally prepared for this vital medical school application step before you take that exam.

The best way to be familiar with the MCAT testing methods is to go to the MCAT registration site and purchase a couple of retired MCAT tests. Use one to thoroughly analyze the manner in which the questions are asked and use the other to take under MCAT testing conditions. Since the test is now computerized, take a practice computerized test too.

Good luck and happy studying.

 

[LittleMama]

I am in the same boat. I am self-employed and make a very good salary. I'm also married with a young child, and I'm the breadwinner. We can't afford for me to quit my job while I'm going through the pre-req process.

So, if I were in your situation, I would take the job. I know some people will say differently, or they have quit their jobs and gone full-force into the pre-req/post-bacc process, but that is just too huge of a gamble for me personally. So, I'm working full-time in my business job while I take my pre-req courses and while I'm volunteering. My family is not on board with me quitting while I'm doing my pre-reqs because we are trying to stay out of debt. Once, I get into a med school though, that's a different story. Bring on the debt!

I know you said finances aren't that big of a deal for you, so your situation is a little different than mine. If you can afford to go the two years without the need to work, then I would go for the EMT and research jobs. That probably looks a lot better than keeping a different full-time job and volunteering.

I guess I'll find out in two-three years whether my gamble really hurt me or not. Good luck!

 

[efex101]

It is not so much about expired pre-reqs but more so of "do you have the academic prowess NOW" that it takes to make it through medical school. I see many applicants make the same mistake over and over (not saying this is your case)...where they have NO recent science classes to back up their "assumption" that they can hack it in medical school. Remember, there are way more applicants (double) than spots...so make yourself competitive from the getgo.

 

[bigserve99]

Hi OldManDoc,


I am a non-trad like yourself, albeit perhaps a little younger; however, let me give you some advice that I have learned. To get into med school, you have to have a good MCAT. Like Death, and TAXES.......so is the MCAT a certainty. Attempting to do well on this exam is not like any other exam I have ever taken in my life. It has taken over my life. I work full time btw......so I can appreciate your situation.

Let me elaborate: I work full time to pay off student loans and other loans. I'm working as a pharmaceutical scientist. But studying for the MCAT while working has been just about the hardest thing I've ever done. The MCAT takes up like 95% of my brain and it's pretty much all I do when I'm not working....or on SDN. I wake up to it. I go to sleep to it. I eat lunch to it. Heck, I even work out to it. I think about it during meetings. I think about it while doing experiments (well, at least ones that are conducive to it)...you get the idea. I havent' seen my friends, my family, or my roomates in a long time....and even when I do see them...my brain is too tired to form a cogent thought to speak.

My point!......work is like just a distraction any more, when in reality I take a lot of pride in my research. before you started the But you will not be the same person you were MCAT ordeal. Just understand that it is doable. However, it is def. not pretty. You WILL NOT see time for anything else in your life. People at work that didn't irritate you before, will seem most certainly seem annoying at best. Things that mattered before, will no longer matter. Just remember it will end......at least that what's I tell myself (but damn, Jan. seems like a long ways away).

Good Luck,
Bigserve99

 

[OldManDoc]

As I suspected, there seems to be a 50/50 split on what to do here. Of course there are pros and cons to each and I want to thank each of you for pointing them out.

I guess it is up to me to decide now. This has been one of the toughest decisions I have had to make to date. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again.

 

[efex101]

Here is what I would do to make *sure* you are doin the right thing...IF you are not applying this cycle...e-mail ALL the schools you will be applying to and ask them. This will give you a good idea of what their expectations will be and you can then plan your life. Good luck.