Working during pharmacy school??

[MuraRX]

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Here's a question. Does anyone plan on working while they're completing their PharmD? I've never Not worked while attending college, and I don't know how I will handle the expenses (although my husband will work, but one income is just barely enough these days). Is it even feasible to have a part-time gig and still do well in school?

PS...still waiting to hear from UCSF so I don't even know if I'll be going to pharmacy school yet this year!---Just trying to plan ahead.

 

[patmcd]

A fair number of people work a few hours a week (less than 10) to make some extra cash and get practical experience. But I'd say few people are able to manage a part time or mroe job and still do well in school.

 

[ndearwater]

I'm hoping to work 8-15 hours per week in my first semester. We'll see. If it becomes too stressful I won't work, but it would be nice to bring in at least $100/wk for gas, cell phone bill and just random expenses.
Luckily my boyfriend has the rent, utilities, groceries etc. covered and thanks to my mom I have no car payment!

 

[MuraRX]

I'm hoping to work 8-15 hours per week in my first semester. We'll see. If it becomes too stressful I won't work, but it would be nice to bring in at least $100/wk for gas, cell phone bill and just random expenses.
Luckily my boyfriend has the rent, utilities, groceries etc. covered and thanks to my mom I have no car payment!

Wow that's great...do you know where you plan on working? I have always worked in the healthcare or research fields, but I'm thinking about waiting tables for extra cash so that I can make as much as possible in the least amount of hours per week. (Plus I could do without a job that doesnt require too much intellectual/analytical thinking) 🙂

 

[uscpharm09]

I started working during winter break (I'm a P1 right now) and during a typical week I'll work about 13 hours. One full day on the weekend and a 5 hour night during the week. I think it's manageable, and it forces you to budget your time really well. Quite a few of my classmates also work, some a little bit more than I do, some a little less. And around here (in LA), it's hard to find a job as an intern where they'll allow you to work full time only during the summers (in order to get your required hours to sit for NAPLEX). I figured I'd secure a job early on, so I wouldn't have any worries about hours later on. Hope that helps. =)

 

[kelli]

Some students opt not to work their first year in pharmacy school in order to better acclimate themselves to the workload. But it's more than doable to work part-time starting your first year and then take on a full-time workload when summers & vacations roll around. I would say 12-16 hours/week during school is very manageable. I know a few people who worked 20+ hours during the school year, but it's a lot more stressful and some of their grades suffered as a result. So keep it to about 15 hours/week and you should be fine.

 

[MuraRX]

Thanks for all the input everyone! Hopefully I will have the option to be a full-time pharmacy student with a part-time job!!!! Now I just have to be patient and keep waiting for that letter to come 🙂

 

[ndearwater]

Wow that's great...do you know where you plan on working? I have always worked in the healthcare or research fields, but I'm thinking about waiting tables for extra cash so that I can make as much as possible in the least amount of hours per week. (Plus I could do without a job that doesnt require too much intellectual/analytical thinking) 🙂

I'm hoping to work as a tech in the hospital on the campus where my school is located. Cross your fingers for me. 🙂

 

[patmcd]

If your used to working and going to school then the transition to working in pharmacy school shouldnt be too hard. For someone who hasnt worked and gone to school at the same time learning to budget your time well could take some time.

 

[PharmGrl]

I am a pharmacy tech right now, also waiting for interview/letter from my school of choice. I plan on working weekends at the pharmacy I tech at now, and we have had several students who work just weekends so they can have the weekday times available for library, group study, etc. The pharmacy manager strongly recommended at least weekends to keep me up to speed on the industry!

 

[Poland]

I know that there are several ways to fund the education in pharm school, but how are we supposed to survive without working at all? I am scared of the situation personally. I am just in pre-pharmacy courses and am of course in the low financial state that most couples my age are. There is only one school, which is my school of choice anyway, that I will probably be able to drive to. It may take about 45 minutes to an hour. That will be the blessing. In that scenario I will only be 100,000 dollars in debt from pharmacy school and not also living expenses. If I am not accepted here but anywhere else, we will have to uproot our health insurance, his above minimum wage income, and our current living arrangements which are really enabling my academics in the first place. I know this is all for the greater good, but it is scary even now in basic pre-pharmacy.

 

[Baxter81]

Here's a question. Does anyone plan on working while they're completing their PharmD? I've never Not worked while attending college, and I don't know how I will handle the expenses (although my husband will work, but one income is just barely enough these days). Is it even feasible to have a part-time gig and still do well in school?

PS...still waiting to hear from UCSF so I don't even know if I'll be going to pharmacy school yet this year!---Just trying to plan ahead.

I have been working full time (40+) for the past year that I have had off from school since graduation. So I have been saving alot of cash so that I won't have to work during my first year. I think I will try to get a 5-10 hr/week job at a pharmacy to gain some experience, but thats about it.

 

[toscogo]

I am used to working 50 to 60 and taking 21/22 credits during my prepharm, i think it makes me extremely efficent when i work!! When i have 4 to 5 tests during a week i call off work which makes me realy mad and i better account for those hours studying if i am going to be broke the next pay period!! i hope to work 32hr/ week(16hrs double shifts) as a practical nurse. I actually throw in about 3hrs during each shift studying or on my laptop during class projects.

Toscogo
University of Florida
Class of 2010

 

[DownonthePharm]

I probably wont work for the first semester at least. I have always worked and gone to school at the same time, so Im looking forward to only doing one thing at once. But I will probably be settled in enough after my first year to work 10-15 a week.