Working during Med School?

[CATrtb]

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Are there any other people out there that have in the past or are working currently during med school? What was you situation? Is this doable? I am considering keeping my weekend job because the COA-living expenses doesn't cut it for a family. Or can you in fact extend your COA?

 

[illegallysmooth]

Are there any other people out there that have in the past or are working currently during med school? What was you situation? Is this doable? I am considering keeping my weekend job because the COA-living expenses doesn't cut it for a family. Or can you in fact extend your COA?

To see if COA can be extended, you NEED to contact the fin aid adviser at your school.

I have not heard of anyone working during med school except for one person who worked as a PA while doing the Independent Study Program at LECOM. This afforded him a lot of free time, and he didn't have to study much because he was already a PA (for about 8 yrs) and much of the material was review.

Depending on the number of your dependents, supporting a family is possible but you will have to be VERY frugal.

 

[mx_599]

Are there any other people out there that have in the past or are working currently during med school? What was you situation? Is this doable? I am considering keeping my weekend job because the COA-living expenses doesn't cut it for a family. Or can you in fact extend your COA?

I'll give you my 2 cents even if you don't want it.

personally, I had hobbies and passions that never would have allowed for any work while in med school. They impacted my study time enough as it was.

if you are a hobby-less and passionless individual willing to take an academic hit, you could definitely work in med school.

if you have hobbies and passions that you are not willing to give up for 4+ yrs in school and residency because we only live this life once, I would not work.

👍

 

[DrMidlife]

I got in trouble last year for excoriating a DO school that took the time on interview day to detail work study opportunities for med students. I found it ludicrous that an $8/hr job could possibly be worth the time, or that it could possibly make a dent. This was a $40k tuition school.

Some med students bit back and said that their 4/8/15 hours a week at $8/hr was the easiest job they'd ever had, such as sitting at a library front desk studying between very rare questions from library patrons. Basically they were getting paid to study. Not paid much, but paid.

Some med students also said that they were able to leverage their previous career for teaching, coding, taking EMT/PA/nursing shifts on weekends etc.

In your shoes I'd ask your spouse if they'd rather have some hours outside the home to work for a bit of money, vs. being home with the kids 24x7. There's financial survival, and then there's marriage survival.

Best of luck to you.

 

[CATrtb]

Thanks for your replies. I have two children and a third on the way. I work in radiology and make >$25 per hr. I work in a rural hospital. Sometimes I am busy, and sometimes I do nothing for hours on end. I think I could swing some weekends while I am in school. In fact, due to financial constraints, I may have to do this.

I really, really would rather not work. My dream would be to just to be able to concentrate on my studies, but I may not be able to borrow enough to do this. I would still like to hear from some who are currently working or have worked in med school.

 

[DrMidlife]

I would still like to hear from some who are currently working or have worked in med school.

Try the nontrad forum.

 

[osli]

I worked through most of med school. I worked a lot my first year, almost as much my second, a little my third and very little my fourth. The decrease in work was more because the economy was taking a dump and my consulting opportunities dwindled... this is unfortunate, because I probably had more time I could have worked, especially 4th year.

Year one I averaged perhaps 15-20 hours per week, some weeks putting in nearly 40 hours. This was consulting, so nights and weekends of course, not regular daytime work hours.

I attended all classes, and studied enough to do well. I had plenty of hobbies, some of which I couldn't pursue because there isn't much money in medschool obviously, even when working, and some of which I continued to enjoy during school. I even picked up a new one about half way through school. There was even time for some golf when weather, classes, work, and family aligned.

Yes, I was married with children. I worked so the wife didn't have to. Thankfully I had the ability and opportunity to do so.

I say this not to brag, but to tell you that it is possible. That is the question you posed. It is easy? Possible for you? Only you can answer that. If you find med school generally easy it might not be a problem. On the flip side, I had plenty of classmates who studied day and night relentlessly and still struggled. There weren't enough hours in a day for them to study enough to really do well, let alone have hobbies, a significant other, children, or any semblance of a life, let alone work.

So who are you, really? You should know yourself well enough to make a fair guess at how you'll do in med school. Did you find that you could always ace a test, no matter how "difficult", if you really wanted to? Could you do that without putting in as much effort as classmates struggling to meet the average? Or were you always struggling to beat the average enough to keep your med school hopes alive? Did you laze your way through school with a minimum of study and pretty darned good grades headed for a different career, only to later find out medicine was where you were called, or have you always had your eye on medicine and have been pounding the books since the day after highschool graduation trying to achieve that?

It's possible. Definitely possible.

 

[mx_599]

I worked through most of med school. I worked a lot my first year, almost as much my second, a little my third and very little my fourth. The decrease in work was more because the economy was taking a dump and my consulting opportunities dwindled... this is unfortunate, because I probably had more time I could have worked, especially 4th year.

Year one I averaged perhaps 15-20 hours per week, some weeks putting in nearly 40 hours. This was consulting, so nights and weekends of course, not regular daytime work hours.

I attended all classes, and studied enough to do well. I had plenty of hobbies, some of which I couldn't pursue because there isn't much money in medschool obviously, even when working, and some of which I continued to enjoy during school. I even picked up a new one about half way through school. There was even time for some golf when weather, classes, work, and family aligned.

Yes, I was married with children. I worked so the wife didn't have to. Thankfully I had the ability and opportunity to do so.

I say this not to brag, but to tell you that it is possible. That is the question you posed. It is easy? Possible for you? Only you can answer that. If you find med school generally easy it might not be a problem. On the flip side, I had plenty of classmates who studied day and night relentlessly and still struggled. There weren't enough hours in a day for them to study enough to really do well, let alone have hobbies, a significant other, children, or any semblance of a life, let alone work.

So who are you, really? You should know yourself well enough to make a fair guess at how you'll do in med school. Did you find that you could always ace a test, no matter how "difficult", if you really wanted to? Could you do that without putting in as much effort as classmates struggling to meet the average? Or were you always struggling to beat the average enough to keep your med school hopes alive? Did you laze your way through school with a minimum of study and pretty darned good grades headed for a different career, only to later find out medicine was where you were called, or have you always had your eye on medicine and have been pounding the books since the day after highschool graduation trying to achieve that?

It's possible. Definitely possible.

to clarify, my hobbies and passions were not stamp collecting since it seems that you reference my post.

mine took many hours per week

secondly, did you work from home? did you have to clock in somewhere?

your job sounds very atypical to me.

it also depends on what time you get out of med school. we had class all day until close to 5-6pm most the time. classes start early. only so much time in the day to do things, especially if you like to sleep. makes it challenging to do anything, including studying if you wanted to

 

[osli]

I was addressing the op and his repeated request for a response from someone speaking from experience... not your post. Yes, my job was atypical, mostly from home with occasional flights for meetings. Consulting sort of implies that. But the hours were just as real, and could have been spent at a night job down the street easily enough I suppose.

My point to the op was only that it was possible. Looking at your post you mentioned though, you obviously don't have to be hobbyless and passionless. Some of my hobbies required several hours a week commitment away from home, sometimes many more for that hobby. I have many, and I enjoy them. Along with family, they make life worth living.

I hate collecting anything.

The obvious elephant is that if you are considering working, you absolutely must be able to perform well in med school with significantly less study than your peers. Thus, 'know thyself'.

 

[CATrtb]

Thanks for the reply osli. I believe I can handle both at the same time. I am used to working 50-60 (lately 72 hrs) hours a week and going to college. So I'm thinking I can handle 20 hrs (weekends at a slow hospital) a week while in med school. Of course I won't really know until I'm actually in the thick of it. I have read a lot of posts on how premeds "just have no clue" when it comes to the amount of studying to be done.

Either way I believe if anybody can do it, I can. I am going to keep my weekend job and see how it goes this fall. I would rather quit my job later, than quit my job now and really need one later.

 

[faith2]

I plan on tutoring for the UG affiliated with my MD school is that unrealistic? I am thinking 10 hours a week.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

i know this is a couple days old but i thought this same question. i currently drive a semi for a freight company, and i study by loading everything onto my ipod and listening to lectures, myself talk, hints, tips, whatever while i drive. i have contemplated many times the fact that driving a semi while doing this gives me a guaranteed 6-8 hours of study every single day. naturally it would be a night and some weeks would be total hell, but does anyone think a 40 hour week while going to med school, in a position allows for studying, could work?

 

[TMP-SMX]

You would be dangerously tired while driving and therefore not getting any studying done and possibly endangering yourself and others.

 

[PostLessOne]

i know this is a couple days old but i thought this same question. i currently drive a semi for a freight company, and i study by loading everything onto my ipod and listening to lectures, myself talk, hints, tips, whatever while i drive. i have contemplated many times the fact that driving a semi while doing this gives me a guaranteed 6-8 hours of study every single day. naturally it would be a night and some weeks would be total hell, but does anyone think a 40 hour week while going to med school, in a position allows for studying, could work?

the chance of this working is zero. Don't even consider it further.

 

[J ROD]

i know this is a couple days old but i thought this same question. i currently drive a semi for a freight company, and i study by loading everything onto my ipod and listening to lectures, myself talk, hints, tips, whatever while i drive. i have contemplated many times the fact that driving a semi while doing this gives me a guaranteed 6-8 hours of study every single day. naturally it would be a night and some weeks would be total hell, but does anyone think a 40 hour week while going to med school, in a position allows for studying, could work?

this has bad idea written ALL over it.....

 

[fleetgoddess]

I tutor at the undergrad. I would like to open up my own tutoring company to make more $$ as the undergrad doesn't pay that well... but there is insurance issues and other stuff that goes along with your own tutoring company that I don't want to deal with.

I think I make a bit over $10 an hour. Not great at all, but I've been doing this for three years. It allows me to buy some things I want.

 

[mx_599]

I tutor at the undergrad. I would like to open up my own tutoring company to make more $$ as the undergrad doesn't pay that well... but there is insurance issues and other stuff that goes along with your own tutoring company that I don't want to deal with.

I think I make a bit over $10 an hour. Not great at all, but I've been doing this for three years. It allows me to buy some things I want.

brainiac!

😛

 

[DOtoCanada]

i know this is a couple days old but i thought this same question. i currently drive a semi for a freight company, and i study by loading everything onto my ipod and listening to lectures, myself talk, hints, tips, whatever while i drive. i have contemplated many times the fact that driving a semi while doing this gives me a guaranteed 6-8 hours of study every single day. naturally it would be a night and some weeks would be total hell, but does anyone think a 40 hour week while going to med school, in a position allows for studying, could work?

Pick one: Truck driver OR medical student. The two are not compatible. That and if you are driving a 30 ton brick of steel at 70 mph, pay attention to the road, not you iPod.

 

[mx_599]

I cannot read the OP mind, but I think most are losing site of the general question. Sure there are occasional med students with unique opportunities of employment. However, this is not the norm.

Here at SDN, it has been our position to think it would be ******ed for the typical med student to gain employment.

Here is a great idea, spend the time you would have been working on exercising instead of letting your body go to sh it.

You live this life once...don't start a downward spiral in your 20's and 30's from which you cannot escape. Don't become that typical patient...

NO PATIENT IS WORTH YOUR OWN SACRIFICE OF HEALTH!

If you disagree, let me now how you feel about this at retirement.

 

[PostLessOne]

Pick one: Truck driver OR medical student. The two are not compatible. That and if you are driving a 30 ton brick of steel at 70 mph, pay attention to the road, not you iPod.

Actually, a truck is more like 40 tons (80,000 lbs is usually the legal load limit)

 

[PostLessOne]

I cannot read the OP mind, but I think most are losing site of the general question. Sure there are occasional med students with unique opportunities of employment. However, this is not the norm.

Here at SDN, it has been our position to think it would be ******ed for the typical med student to gain employment.

Here is a great idea, spend the time you would have been working on exercising instead of letting you body go to sh it.

You live this life once...don't start a downward spiral in your 20's and 30's from which you cannot escape. Don't become that typical patient...

NO PATIENT IS WORTH YOUR OWN SACRIFICE OF HEALTH!

If you disagree, let me now how you feel about this at retirement.

5-10 hours of week exercising is a lot different than 40 hours a week driving a truck. Not to mention that if you drove a truck, you'd still need to exercise. And the exercise theoretically can help you with your mood and allow you to work harder during your study hours.

 

[mx_599]

5-10 hours of week exercising is a lot different than 40 hours a week driving a truck. Not to mention that if you drove a truck, you'd still need to exercise. And the exercise theoretically can help you with your mood and allow you to work harder during your study hours.

no argument here...I thought the truck driving was doubly ******ed.

 

[CATrtb]

I cannot read the OP mind, but I think most are losing site of the general question. Sure there are occasional med students with unique opportunities of employment. However, this is not the norm.

Here at SDN, it has been our position to think it would be ******ed for the typical med student to gain employment.

Here is a great idea, spend the time you would have been working on exercising instead of letting your body go to sh it.

You live this life once...don't start a downward spiral in your 20's and 30's from which you cannot escape. Don't become that typical patient...

NO PATIENT IS WORTH YOUR OWN SACRIFICE OF HEALTH!

If you disagree, let me now how you feel about this at retirement.

Will exercising feed my 3 children? Will it pay my grocery bill? Honestly I would much rather not work and exercise instead. I see your point, but supporting a family is financially constraining. The limits placed by my school's COA just does not cut it. So I am forced to work through med school. I would love to borrow just $1000 more per month, but the system sees fit to save me from debt.

So I guess I should rephrase my original question:

Is there anybody out there that has been successful med student while working 20 hrs/week at a job?

 

[mx_599]

Will exercising feed my 3 children? Will it pay my grocery bill? Honestly I would much rather not work and exercise instead. I see your point, but supporting a family is financially constraining. The limits placed by my school's COA just does not cut it. So I am forced to work through med school. I would love to borrow just $1000 more per month, but the system sees fit to save me from debt.

So I guess I should rephrase my original question:

Is there anybody out there that has been successful med student while working 20 hrs/week at a job?

is that what kids do to you? wow, that sucks.

do what you need to do dood!

get food stamps. get wife to work, wtf???

you guys decided to have a bunch of kids before school 👍

 

[PostLessOne]

Will exercising feed my 3 children? Will it pay my grocery bill? Honestly I would much rather not work and exercise instead. I see your point, but supporting a family is financially constraining. The limits placed by my school's COA just does not cut it. So I am forced to work through med school. I would love to borrow just $1000 more per month, but the system sees fit to save me from debt.

So I guess I should rephrase my original question:

Is there anybody out there that has been successful med student while working 20 hrs/week at a job?

Define sucessful. Could you pass medical school and beg your way into an IMG heavy family practice/internal medicine/psych residency with your lackluster grades and performance? Probably. Are you going to get into a competitive residency with that kind of handicap? The chances aren't good.

 

[deleted128562]

Will exercising feed my 3 children? Will it pay my grocery bill? Honestly I would much rather not work and exercise instead. I see your point, but supporting a family is financially constraining. The limits placed by my school's COA just does not cut it. So I am forced to work through med school. I would love to borrow just $1000 more per month, but the system sees fit to save me from debt.

So I guess I should rephrase my original question:

Is there anybody out there that has been successful med student while working 20 hrs/week at a job?

Yes it is possible. I'm doing it right now. And in contrast to what the poster above me implied about doing crappy in school if you work, I am in the top 25% of my class.

That being said I have also become miserable. Because I work hard enough to do well in school, while working outside of school and spending time with my family, it's gotten to the point where I have pretty much zero time for anything else. For the most part my "social life" and "spare time" consists of posting on SDN from time to time. In the past I've posted on here about how it's totally doable, but I'm burning out now and I'm not sure I'd advise anyone to do this any more.

The COA is an antiquated piece of **** that might have been good for the 1950's loser med students with no life or girlfriend, but is not realistic in today's world of a diverse med school class including many who have families. (But I'm not bitter or anything).

 

[mx_599]

Yes it is possible. I'm doing it right now. And in contrast to what the poster above me implied about doing crappy in school if you work, I am in the top 25% of my class.

That being said I have also become miserable. Because I work hard enough to do well in school, while working outside of school and spending time with my family, it's gotten to the point where I have pretty much zero time for anything else. For the most part my "social life" and "spare time" consists of posting on SDN from time to time. In the past I've posted on here about how it's totally doable, but I'm burning out now and I'm not sure I'd advise anyone to do this any more.

The COA is an antiquated piece of **** that might have been good for the 1950's loser med students with no life or girlfriend, but is not realistic in today's world of a diverse med school class including many who have families. (But I'm not bitter or anything).

are you getting 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity exercise on most days of the week AND strength training on 2-3 days of the week?

have you put on any weight? BMI? what diet are you following? hobbies and passions going well?

😀

 

[deleted128562]

are you getting 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity exercise on most days of the week AND strength training on 2-3 days of the week?

have you put on any weight? BMI? what diet are you following? hobbies and passions going well?

😀

Exercise: 2-3 times a week for 20-30 min, not nearly where I should be. I half-arse it if the kids fall asleep early and I'm not completely crashed out.

Weight: I've put on 15 pounds since last year and my BMI is most certainly up. I'm following the eat processed foods since I don't have time to make healthy meals except for dinner which my spouse makes diet. My hobbies and passions are non-existent anymore and I barely remember what it's like to do something outside of work, family, and school.

Now don't get me wrong - I love my family and spending time with them, and I don't regret giving 99% of my non-work/school time to them. I'm also glad they don't have to starve and that my wife can be home with the kids. But I feel like I've really lost myself this year, and part of me wishes that 5 years ago I hadn't given up what could have been a fairly lucrative career, even though I hated it and actually think medical school is pretty cool.

My advice to the OP is just know what you're getting yourself into. Do you have family that could give or loan you about 10K a year? You talk about being short about $1000/mo after COA and that is EXACTLY where we are at. My financial aid office basically said that they think one of the reasons COA's are not allowed to be higher for families is that they don't want people to get into too much debt. HA! I'm already going to be a cool quarter million in debt by the time I'm done, what the hell is another $40,000 for the sake of my sanity?

The irony is that they will give you more money if you stick your kids in some crappy god-forsaken daycare so that your spouse can work. So basically, if you let someone else take care of your kids they'll up your COA. If you want your kids raised at home, they won't up your COA. You have no idea how tempted I've been to put my kids in "daycare" with a friend for 5 minutes a week and "pay" them $1000 a month (which they will give back to me as a gift). I report they go to daycare which I pay $1000/mo for, my COA gets upped by that amount. I wonder if that would technically be legal. Probably not. Sigh.

 

[PostLessOne]

Exercise: 2-3 times a week for 20-30 min, not nearly where I should be. I half-arse it if the kids fall asleep early and I'm not completely crashed out.

Weight: I've put on 15 pounds since last year and my BMI is most certainly up. I'm following the eat processed foods since I don't have time to make healthy meals except for dinner which my spouse makes diet. My hobbies and passions are non-existent anymore and I barely remember what it's like to do something outside of work, family, and school.

Now don't get me wrong - I love my family and spending time with them, and I don't regret giving 99% of my non-work/school time to them. I'm also glad they don't have to starve and that my wife can be home with the kids. But I feel like I've really lost myself this year, and part of me wishes that 5 years ago I hadn't given up what could have been a fairly lucrative career, even though I hated it and actually think medical school is pretty cool.

My advice to the OP is just know what you're getting yourself into. Do you have family that could give or loan you about 10K a year? You talk about being short about $1000/mo after COA and that is EXACTLY where we are at. My financial aid office basically said that they think one of the reasons COA's are not allowed to be higher for families is that they don't want people to get into too much debt. HA! I'm already going to be a cool quarter million in debt by the time I'm done, what the hell is another $40,000 for the sake of my sanity?

The irony is that they will give you more money if you stick your kids in some crappy god-forsaken daycare so that your spouse can work. So basically, if you let someone else take care of your kids they'll up your COA. If you want your kids raised at home, they won't up your COA. You have no idea how tempted I've been to put my kids in "daycare" with a friend for 5 minutes a week and "pay" them $1000 a month (which they will give back to me as a gift). I report they go to daycare which I pay $1000/mo for, my COA gets upped by that amount. I wonder if that would technically be legal. Probably not. Sigh.

It might be legal to divorce your wife and pay her to babysit the kids. Talk about a perverse incentive.

 

[deleted128562]

It might be legal to divorce your wife and pay her to babysit the kids. Talk about a perverse incentive.

Hmmmm.... she and I may have to have a talk tomorrow....

 

[PostLessOne]

My financial aid office basically said that they think one of the reasons COA's are not allowed to be higher for families is that they don't want people to get into too much debt.

This is just language designed to appease you, the angry student in their financial aid office, and to cause you to sit down and STFU. It has no real meaning. The reasons CoAs aren't higher is because for Federally backed student loans, the government is on the hook for the bill for the people who don't pay. The interest rate charged on these loans is not high enough to recover the losses from the people who default. So the government tries to loan each individual student the minimum amount of money possible for them to make it.

Think of it like loaning money to a friend of yours who has a habit of not paying you back. You're going to loan him or her the minimum amount possible for your friend to get by. Certain reasons your friend gives are more important than others. If your 'friend' wants to buy tickets to that concert Saturday night, no go. If his car broke down, you might pony up the dough.

Anyways, the government does the same thing. There's a list somewhere of the actual, official reasons that the financial aid office can raise your CoA and justify it to the government. You need to look at this list, and try to play the game. For example, I have a friend who drives a beat up jalopy because the financial aid office won't give him a CoA boost to buy a newer car, but they will help pay for auto repairs when he shows them the bill.

Net result? Well, you're probably going to have to keep working that job if you can't get your wife to work. The way the government sees it, she's not disabled (or they'd be giving her a little money) and they'll pay for the daycare (at some smelly place where childhood diseases run rampant, but most kids live through that), so what's the problem here? But you might be able to squeeze a few more Gs every year out of the government if you play the game right.

Ironically, my 'get a divorce' idea has financial reality. While paying her for daycare is probably considered a scam, if she's a single working or unemployed mother receiving nothing but child support payments from you, then she'll be eligible for all kinds of government financial assistance. Food stamps, welfare, WIC, subsidized child care, tax credits, you name it, the government will hand it over. Your situation actually falls into what is known as the "marriage penalty", where the government gives you less tax credits than if you were legally divorced and filing separate income tax returns. I'm not saying you should do this, just that the numbers do work out. And you could remarry her once you graduate and are actually earning an income that she would want a legal part of... You'd have to live in separate dwellings to not get in trouble for doing this, but technically one dwelling could be a room in a ratty trailer park that you only use to receive mail and sleep once a week....

 

[sumstorm]

The irony is that they will give you more money if you stick your kids in some crappy god-forsaken daycare so that your spouse can work. So basically, if you let someone else take care of your kids they'll up your COA. If you want your kids raised at home, they won't up your COA. You have no idea how tempted I've been to put my kids in "daycare" with a friend for 5 minutes a week and "pay" them $1000 a month (which they will give back to me as a gift). I report they go to daycare which I pay $1000/mo for, my COA gets upped by that amount. I wonder if that would technically be legal. Probably not. Sigh.

So, the spouse needs to gain employment at a daycare that you can enroll your kids in. All problems solved and she or he will be contributing to more than just your family. We all make choices, so now your choices are to cut the costs of your day to day life drasticly (doable, there are folks who live on less than min wage with kids), generate funds, take out private loans or find a solution in between. There isn't anything anywhere that says 'your desire to be a doctor means you should get it all, all at once.' I recieve more in student loans above and beyond tuition (COA) than my parents make. Whoever is staying home may have to work their rear off; coupons, discount shopping (reading inserts, tracking prices, good will, salvation army), container gardening, home baking and cooking, being part of community gardens and clothing fairs, barter systems, etc. Have one car; drop the student off and pick the student up or bike. Don't buy the vast majority of stuff new. Live off free exchanges. Trim the excess, work, or find private loans or borrow against what you have.

Is it possible to work? For some, in some jobs, yes. For others, absolutly not in any way, shape, or form. I only work summers, but I go out to sea and make good money. That might be a viable option, but you have to be willing to risk your life, your health, your hearing, your vision, and your hands. I believe you might need some of those to practice medicine. I also run my own business....0-20 hours a week...but I completly control the business and the clientelle. Non-compliance? you're fired. Attitude? you're fired. We also grow 90% of the food we eat....in about 250 sq feet. Nice to have a $20/mo grocery bill. We also feed other relatives on our excess food.

I personally think there are often far better options than working unless you are certain you can make good money working and can control your own hours. Really think about what else you can cut? TV? internet? phone? clothes? toys? travel? vehicle? groceries? food prep? I have lived on beans and rice for months because it was more cost effective.

 

[bsteven2]

Im in a similar situation and looking for advice. However, I am unwilling to work during medical school. I worked during undergrad full time and my grades suffered. Is it possible for private loans to go beyond the cost of attendance??

 

[TMP-SMX]

Im in a similar situation and looking for advice. However, I am unwilling to work during medical school. I worked during undergrad full time and my grades suffered. Is it possible for private loans to go beyond the cost of attendance??

Not anymore.

 

[isailfast]

I think you have to consider the “investment” of doing very very well in med school also. If you work as a consultant and are smart enough to do well in med school that is perfect. Bank it, I wish I was you, and I don’t “hate the playa”…so to say. If you are working a 25 $/hour job only to find yourself struggling to pass your classes and scoring average on step I its going to be a problem come residency applications. Look at the salaries of the highly competitive residency matchs. Even starting salaries of Plastics, Ortho, Rads, Optho, and Derm will make you feel much better about your future finacial security. Look at the 240 + step I along with honors and publications as equivalent to financial assets. If you choose to have loads of kids while in med school, or go back to med school after having loads of kids, you must know your life is going to financially difficult. You should know that going into it. I have no kids (that I claim) and a wife with a salary to match mine and I still find myself pinching pennies every month, hats OFF to those that can do this with kids.