Working in Dental School?

[newyorkblork]

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Greetings Collective Knowledgebase:

The most recent post I could find on the topic was from 2007, so I thought I might ask for more recent and relevant opinions.

What do you think: is it possible (and worth it) to work during Dental School? I have a job that pays 22$ an hour (soon to escalate to 25$, I hope) and is available Saturday and Sunday 10A-1P.

So total it would be about 120$ a week, but it would mean a slight reduction in study time, as well as a severe reduction in social time (can't really stay out late on Friday or Saturday if I have to be up at 9 and fresh enough to study after).

Alternatively I could work M/W or T/R 630-930 or 7-10.

Any thoughts are more than welcome!

 

[Daurang]

If you can handle 8 hrs a week, go ahead. It's really not much you're saving considering you're spending $400,000 for your dental school. the day you sense too much pressure just quit that job.

 

[omaralt]

it also depends on the type of job. is it something where you can sit and study? i worked as a lab monitor at my dental school and it was great. got paid (only $10/hr though) to study and do lab work. was great. if your going to be doing something exhausting (ie construction) its definitely not worth it.

 

[DrReo]

Greetings Collective Knowledgebase:

The most recent post I could find on the topic was from 2007, so I thought I might ask for more recent and relevant opinions.

What do you think: is it possible (and worth it) to work during Dental School? I have a job that pays 22$ an hour (soon to escalate to 25$, I hope) and is available Saturday and Sunday 10A-1P.

So total it would be about 120$ a week, but it would mean a slight reduction in study time, as well as a severe reduction in social time (can't really stay out late on Friday or Saturday if I have to be up at 9 and fresh enough to study after).

Alternatively I could work M/W or T/R 630-930 or 7-10.

Any thoughts are more than welcome!

10A-1P isn't that big of a deal. It'll just cut out of your fun time. That's what kept me sane. Also, as mentioned above a few hundred a week is insignificant, but helps a little, compared to the big picture. A few of my classmates tried working and no longer do. FWIW

 

[SeattleRDH]

If it keeps you from staying up late on friday and saturday that might be a good thing! And then when you have a break from school you'll have extra cash to go on a "real" vacation.

 

[MXDenty77]

You guys lets think long term about this. 120 per week * 52 weeks * 4 years = 24,960 bones. If you were to instead take out loans for this much and pay it back over a ten year period, with compounded interest over a ten year pay period you will pay back approximately 1.5 times the amount you borrowed. that means you could pay back 36,000 (10% of the 400,000 someone mentioned you were taking out for school; that is a BIG chunk.) in debt or work for two days a weekend and make 25,000. Unless you feel like this job is driving you crazy I would suggest maintaining employment. This doesn't include the jump you would have on your peers if you invest that money versus your peers that loaned the same amount. This could end up being an even bigger boost compared to the debt laden dental students, like myself unfortunately. The more you save earlier on the less you will have to worry later on. Just think compounding interest baby!

 

[SeattleRDH]

You guys lets think long term about this. 120 per week * 52 weeks * 4 years = 24,960 bones. If you were to instead take out loans for this much and pay it back over a ten year period, with compounded interest over a ten year pay period you will pay back approximately 1.5 times the amount you borrowed. that means you could pay back 36,000 (10% of the 400,000 someone mentioned you were taking out for school; that is a BIG chunk.) in debt or work for two days a weekend and make 25,000. Unless you feel like this job is driving you crazy I would suggest maintaining employment. This doesn't include the jump you would have on your peers if you invest that money versus your peers that loaned the same amount. This could end up being an even bigger boost compared to the debt laden dental students, like myself unfortunately. The more you save earlier on the less you will have to worry later on. Just think compounding interest baby!

Good advice.

 

[uncbestyet]

I doubt it would add up enough to do it ... but might the job (income)affect your financial aid?

 

[newyorkblork]

I doubt it would add up enough to do it ... but might the job (income)affect your financial aid?

Nope. At 150 a week, a generous estimate, it still comes out to be 7,800 a year, and that's assuming I work all 52 weeks, which won't happen.

It's more a question of whether or not the dollars I'll save is worth the time I'll spend. I of course realize this is ultimately a personal decision, but just wanted to have some "experienced others" weigh in.

 

[DrReo]

Nope. At 150 a week, a generous estimate, it still comes out to be 7,800 a year, and that's assuming I work all 52 weeks, which won't happen.

It's more a question of whether or not the dollars I'll save is worth the time I'll spend. I of course realize this is ultimately a personal decision, but just wanted to have some "experienced others" weigh in.

You can float it to see if it'll work. I could of definitely worked my first semester. The second semester, there were weeks of multiple exams on Monday/Tuesday. And your worked schedule wouldn't be favorable.

 

[charlestweed]

I made (or saved) at least $400/month without having to work. Instead of living with 1 roommate, I lived with 4 other roommates in a 2 bed 2 bath appt. We also split the electricity, gas, phone, water bills. As a result, I spent less than $45k for the whole 4 years of dental school….and I lived in Westwood, one of the most expensive areas in LA.

My roommates were also my classmates. We have similar schedules. We picked up class handouts when one of us was too lazy to show up for class. We studied together and we all specialized after dental school.

 

[jay47]

Nope. At 150 a week, a generous estimate, it still comes out to be 7,800 a year, and that's assuming I work all 52 weeks, which won't happen.

It's more a question of whether or not the dollars I'll save is worth the time I'll spend. I of course realize this is ultimately a personal decision, but just wanted to have some "experienced others" weigh in.

You must be teaching for a test prep company- don't count on working all the time. I worked two nights a week teaching my first semester for about 4-5 weeks. Definitely doable for that time, but the second semester that would have been a lot harder.

 

[brandonbraud]

Sure, keep your 22$/hr job and risk not performing well in your classes in dental school so you can have beer money? Come on now. I don't know why I'm even bothering to respond to this. No wonder i never get on here anymore, nobody ever has anything intelligent to say.

 

[newyorkblork]

Sure, keep your 22$/hr job and risk not performing well in your classes in dental school so you can have beer money? Come on now. I don't know why I'm even bothering to respond to this. No wonder i never get on here anymore, nobody ever has anything intelligent to say.

So don't bother wasting your precious time getting on here, especially if you're going to add to the collective unintelligent mass of posts.

To the others, thanks for the input.

 

[DrReo]

So don't bother wasting your precious time getting on here, especially if you're going to add to the collective unintelligent mass of posts.

To the others, thanks for the input.

The sad thing, there are people who think this way. So his words are not that far from reality!