What kind of part-time job have you had as a Ugrad pre-med?

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Neuronette

Neuronette

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I'm taking two chem classes this summer but when my schedule opens up later this summer I plan on working part-time. It won't be in a medical office or anything. I might be a waitress or receptionist or store clerk etc
What kind of jobs have you held and it it worth working PT during the school year?
I'll be taking 6 classes this fall so so def don't want it to affect my schoolwork..
Do med school admin officers ever ask about PT jobs or anything like that?
 
I've been working as a TA for a science course sequence for the past year now, and I think it's the perfect job. Good hourly pay, only 10 or so hours/week, good review of material for the MCAT, and an amazing and fulfilling teaching experience. I have my job not because I need the money (though it's always nice) but because I love it.

For the record, I doubt an admissions commitee would ever look down on someone for waiting tables or cashiering to bring in the dough. Money is money, and job opportunities are highly variable between peoples' situations.
 
Right now, I'm a canvasser* for a state environmental non-profit advocacy organization. I enjoy it -- you get to work for a good cause, meet lots of amazing people and the pay actually isn't that bad.

*Those people who go door-to-door collecting petition signatures and donations. Be nice to them; walking around for 5+ hours isn't easy. Even if you don't want to/can't donate, if you support the cause, even something like offering a glass of water can make that canvasser's day.
 
I would go for a job that would kill 2 birds with one stone (cna, emt-b etc) but i doubt they will look down for someone who needs to work to make ends meet.
 
I work a 32 hrs shift on the weekend as a nurse.
 
I work as a sound board engineer/ part-time DJ at a local radio station (~20 hours). Pay is good, you meet a lot of people, experience a lot of cool things, and I figured it would be fun to talk about in interview.
 
Safety Case Associate (SCA) for my university hospital. Basically, I get paid to sit with patients who are somehow a danger to themselves or others, or who are at risk of injury (self-sustained or otherwise). It can be very intense sometimes, but I like it. I mostly just sit with people who tried to commit suicide, and it's sometimes interesting to hear their take on life.
 
I was an organic chemistry tutor. Agreed with gettheleadout in that it was an awesome job not because of the pay but because of the experience.
 
Scribe + tutor for bio and chem 1 and 2.

Liked both jobs, and I've really wanted to work as a TA, since I found I enjoy teaching quite a bit.
 
waiter, retail, medical assistant, tutor, cashier, research assistant.
 
Research Assistant, Internet Marketing (Self-Employed; Virtual Currencies), Cashier, Starbucks Barista, Drink Maker/Cashier at an Organic Juice Bar, and Dental Assistant. Currently taking an EMT-B course and looking to work as an EMT starting fall semester, pretty stoked 🙂
 
Research assistant, tour guide, and pre-health leader. I should start work as a lifeguard / swim teacher within the next year, too. I hope to TA as well. Busy but very fun 🙂
 
I worked at Chuck E Cheese's as Chuck E Cheese (and other character cast). Then i worked in the honors office at my university during the day, did rotations with which ever sport during the afternoon/early morning, and worked at a grocery store during the drunk shift (9-3) during the evening/morning. In the summer I either worked at the grocery store, did research, worked as first aid at cheer/dance/sports camps or was resident/day camp counselor.
 
Research in the lab, TA for into classes, plus any handy work I could scrap together for a couple of extra bucks
 
Worked at taco bell last year, the pay is great for a fast food joint, but anyone that tells me they eat there is going to get a two hour explanation as to why they should never go there again.
 
I have worked part time as a nurse for the last six years.
 
Personal assistant for college students with disabilities.
 
I personally enjoyed working the front desk of my residence hall (i.e. dorm). Pay wasn't bad and you got to do your homework for a good portion of the time...which is priceless.
 
Am I the only person who has worked at McDonalds? 😳
 
During the school year, from Freshman to Junior year I worked for the athletic department and cleaned up after football, baseball, volleyball and soccer games. I was definitely a janitor, but I loved the pay ($23 an hour for football games!). During the summers, I would work for the county and AmeriCorp back in my hometown. I only took the job because it was full time work. I lost work study my senior year and could not work for the athletic department anymore. I didn't have a paying job at first, but I now work in a lab. It originally was only volunteer but after 9 months of volunteering they agreed to pay me for my work. In the fall and next spring I will be a TA for the anatomy department. I haven't decided if I will keep the research job in the fall. I will probably quit so I can focus on school. I need a 3.7 or higher to graduate Magna Cum Laude, and that is one of my goals. Other than the part time job with the lab, I don't have anything else planned/lined up. After the MCAT (in two weeks) I will be free to enjoy my time... which means more shadowing and clinical experience!
 
Medical Assistant! I worked 50 hours/week in the summer and 8 hours/week during the school year and absolutely loved it. I would have paid them to let me work there honestly.
I have lots of premed friends who work as lab techs or research assistants and a few Kaplan MCAT teachers too.
 
I also did TA work. Chemistry lab for the freshmen. Got free tuition and stipend. Very nice.. 🙂
 
I work as a Software engineer/ full-time at a Multinational company Infosis (~12hours). Pay is good, you meet a lot of people, experience a lot of cool things, and I figured it would be fun to talk about in interview.
 
Hotel housekeeping: $5.50/hr :barf:

Farm labor: $8.00/hr 😡

Fast food: $7.00/hr 😳

Newspaper carrier: $12.00/hr 😴

Construction labor: $8.00/hr 🙁

(Current) Music lessons: $120.00/hr (allows me to only work 3.5 hrs/wk!) :highfive:
 
Last edited:
Fed said:
Hotel housekeeping: $5.50/hr :barf:

Farm labor: $8.00/hr 😡

Fast food: $7.00/hr 😳

Newspaper carrier: $12.00/hr 😴

Construction labor: $8.00/hr 🙁

(Current) Music lessons: $120.00/hr (allows me to only work 3.5 hrs/wk!) :highfive:
Click to expand...

Dude that's awesome. I wish I was a pro musician
 
Waiting tables you can average between $15-30/hr (more if you're in a large city) depending on volume and price point. pretty much no other PT job is gonna come close. That, and the hours are generally super flexible.
 
intern, lifeguard, tech support specialist, intern
 
I worked as a music studio/production lab manager, tutor, free lance musician/producer, TA, lab instructor, ED scribe, ED tech, medical assistant, EMT, behavioral health tech, and lifeguard while an UG. (That doesn't include my internships or volunteering.) I usually held 2-4 part time jobs at any given time... it was a blast!
 
Retail during the school year and factory work in the summers. It sucks but it's a job, I guess.
 
lobo12 said:
Dude that's awesome. I wish I was a pro musician
Click to expand...

Group music lessons. More affordable for the students and more money for you.

That said, I've "paid my dues" so to speak. I've cleaned hotel bathrooms, changed bloody bedsheets, painted parking lots lines, delivered newspapers, made sandwiches, washed dishes, shoveled gravel and dirt, dug ditches, buried opossums... I'm very fortunate to have my current job.
 
Slack3r said:
Waiting tables you can average between $15-30/hr (more if you're in a large city) depending on volume and price point. pretty much no other PT job is gonna come close. That, and the hours are generally super flexible.
Click to expand...

Many of my friends work at Applebee's, Olive Garden, etc. and can easily pull in $100 for a six-hour Friday night shift. I've heard waiters at nicer restaurants in big cities can pull in $600/night which is just crazy.
 
Bike shop mechanic/campus dining server/bartender (on and off)/bus driver
 
Pharmacy Technician-$12 an hour. Exam was easy as hell.

I still love working there. I feel like it will actually give me a very good background on drugs and interactions , since my boss is cool as hell and is like a teacher there(he taught pharm school before).
 
Lifeguard. Hoping to start instructing classes soon too to get more hours.
 
I used to be a male stripper but that got boring so now I'm just working as an EMT and I also work retail
 
I'm a supervisor at Campus Safety ($11.25/hr) and I work in an Immunology lab at St. Jude ($8.00/hr). I've had two jobs throughout my tenure here and have still managed to find time to study...cuts down hard on the social life, but that's how it goes 🙂
 
drbaby said:
Medical Assistant! I worked 50 hours/week in the summer and 8 hours/week during the school year and absolutely loved it. I would have paid them to let me work there honestly.
I have lots of premed friends who work as lab techs or research assistants and a few Kaplan MCAT teachers too.
Click to expand...

What were your certifications going in? Did you do a full MA program?
 
Dog walker. Hostess. Bartender.
 
Physics tutoring
The lab I'm currently in (first semester, got paid 10/hour)
 
typicalindian said:
I used to be a male stripper but that got boring so now I'm just working as an EMT and I also work retail
Click to expand...
got boring=no one paid to see😀 ( I kid, I kid)
I work as a research assistant (5hr week), resident assistant(20hr week) and patient care tech( 12hr week/prn)
 
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