Working PROHIBITED in certain med schools?

[JPSmyth]

Hey guys, so I know I've seen on here in a few posts that people say some medical schools prohibit working while you're in school. However I can't find this information on an actual .edu school website. My friend doesn't believe that this is the case, but I thought that certain schools actually didn't allow it at all? If someone could provide a link to any us medical school page that says this it would help me get this straight.

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[deleted480308]

Possible and good idea are very different...your job is to pass with good scores

 

[Goro]

Form personal observation, med students who try to pull off working and med school crash and burn.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

I worked my first 2 years, but it was a job that still allowed me study time (and paid very well). I wouldn't have done it if it I couldn't have studied during it. I drove a semi before med school, so I just continued doing that PRN on the weekends and would listen to lectures over and over again. I didn't do it every weekend, only when I didn't have a test coming up, and I rarely worked both days. And I wasn't top half of my class and didn't aspire to anything competitive.

And in retrospect, it helped me and my family financially at the time, but it sure as hell didn't help my application for residency.

 

[JPSmyth]

I have no intentions of working during medical school.

My friend told me that it's illegal for a school to prohibit you from working, and I disagreed and said that I thought there were medical schools that tell their medical students that they aren't allowed to work. I was just looking for a link to prove this

 

[medic4lyfe]

Highly discouraged at our school. Not expressly forbidden. I worked my first year and managed. Quit for my second year. Med school is not a time to just manage.

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[eteshoe]

I have no intentions of working during medical school.

My friend told me that it's illegal for a school to prohibit you from working, and I disagreed and said that I thought there were medical schools that tell their medical students that they aren't allowed to work. I was just looking for a link to prove this

In my case it is since I get NIH funding. There's some convoluted work around but I don't know the details.

 

[Taddy Mason]

It's not listed on my school's website but the policy prohibiting working is listed in a packet that has to be signed and dated and turned into admin during orientation.

 

[moy505]

I worked my first 2 years, but it was a job that still allowed me study time (and paid very well). I wouldn't have done it if it I couldn't have studied during it. I drove a semi before med school, so I just continued doing that PRN on the weekends and would listen to lectures over and over again. I didn't do it every weekend, only when I didn't have a test coming up, and I rarely worked both days. And I wasn't top half of my class and didn't aspire to anything competitive.

And in retrospect, it helped me and my family financially at the time, but it sure as hell didn't help my application for residency.

How much does driving a semi pay? And how long does it take to become a driver? I'm prob gonna have a year till starting med school, and I'm looking for a job. Would you recommend being a semi driver?

 

[ortnakas]

If I remember right, not working was in our matriculation agreement as well, but I know my school has been known to make official exceptions and/or doesn't seem to actively search out students who are working on the side (i.e. as long as you stay under the radar academically and professionalism-wise, chances are good they wouldn't notice). There are also some students who end up working for the school as library monitors or tutors, and obviously that's allowed.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

How much does driving a semi pay? And how long does it take to become a driver? I'm prob gonna have a year till starting med school, and I'm looking for a job. Would you recommend being a semi driver?

Some places pay better than others, but the amount of time it takes to get the decent paying jobs makes it not worth it if you only have a year. I usually made average $250 per run so it was good money, but I had 6 years of experience at that time so I was able to get the better paying routes. So if you only have a year, I would say no. It takes a few months to even get your license plus it is a decent amount of money if you go the standard "truck driving school" route. Other routes are faster but way more money. In addition, you generally have to spend a year or two doing crappy routes.

 

[gyngyn]

Hey guys, so I know I've seen on here in a few posts that people say some medical schools prohibit working while you're in school. However I can't find this information on an actual .edu school website. My friend doesn't believe that this is the case, but I thought that certain schools actually didn't allow it at all? If someone could provide a link to any us medical school page that says this it would help me get this straight.

It's usually in the Student Handbook.

 

[Stagg737]

A lot of schools offer jobs working in the library or sitting at the front desk of buildings. Students can do that where I go and I think they get $10/hour. Not a ton of money, but a good way to make some spending/food money each month. Especially since you're basically being paid to sit there an study.

How much does driving a semi pay? And how long does it take to become a driver? I'm prob gonna have a year till starting med school, and I'm looking for a job. Would you recommend being a semi driver?

If you live somewhere that you're familiar with the area, look into being a delivery driver or Uber if you're in a city. If you've got a car it's relatively easy to find a job and can pay really well in the right area. I'm originally from the burbs and had friends making 30k/year easy as delivery drivers. They loved it because they basically were just listening to the radio and driving around and had plenty of time off to hang out with friends. Even just doing a few days a week can make some solid money. The guy that does my parent's taxes delivers pizzas on the weekends and said he pulls in an extra 18-20k a year working an extra 8-10 hours a week. Not bad money for a job with such low hours that doesn't even require a high school diploma...

 

[Promethean]

If I remember right, not working was in our matriculation agreement as well, but I know my school has been known to make official exceptions and/or doesn't seem to actively search out students who are working on the side (i.e. as long as you stay under the radar academically and professionalism-wise, chances are good they wouldn't notice). There are also some students who end up working for the school as library monitors or tutors, and obviously that's allowed.

I don't recall any official LECOM prohibition against it. I recall it being asked in our interview, and we were told that it is discouraged, but not prohibited.

It is nice to say that med students shouldn't work, that we ought to focus completely on our studies... but I can't afford to do that. Even living very frugally, I don't have the resources to make that work. I'd rather work a few hours every week and have enough money to be able to meet all my obligations, than to avoid working at all and spend all my hours freaking out about how I'm going make ends meet.

 

[tantacles]

Form personal observation, med students who try to pull off working and med school crash and burn.

I would be the opposite, though I didn't work continuously. I took two part time jobs during m1 and m2 year (not at the same time). A classmate wrote questions for Kaplan during m1 and m2 year and also did quite well.


Large dogs

 

[Mad Jack]

It's not prohibited at my school, but I believe you have to let them know you are working so that if you have a bad semester, they can ask you to stop. I don't know if everyone follows it, but I could swear I read it somewhere in the orientation materials. Plenty of my classmates work, but they do work that lets them study- stints at the school library and such, nothing crazy.

 

[Goro]

Work-study as in the library or in the lab is doable.

I would be the opposite, though I didn't work continuously. I took two part time jobs during m1 and m2 year (not at the same time). A classmate wrote questions for Kaplan during m1 and m2 year and also did quite well.


Large dogs

 

[tantacles]

Work-study as in the library or in the lab is doable.

Well, I worked as a bartender and sang professionally, which was also doable.


Large dogs

 

[Goro]

I commend you for your ability to do this, but our Student Advancement Committee has seen just too many failing students who tried to walk and chew gum at the same time, and couldn't manage it.

Well, I worked as a bartender and sang professionally, which was also doable.


Large dogs

 

[moy505]

Some places pay better than others, but the amount of time it takes to get the decent paying jobs makes it not worth it if you only have a year. I usually made average $250 per run so it was good money, but I had 6 years of experience at that time so I was able to get the better paying routes. So if you only have a year, I would say no. It takes a few months to even get your license plus it is a decent amount of money if you go the standard "truck driving school" route. Other routes are faster but way more money. In addition, you generally have to spend a year or two doing crappy routes.

Got it. It's nice that you were able to spend some time doing a difficult blue collar job before med school. I'm sure you'll be able to empathize w/ your pts better. It just seems to me like so many docs just grew up in ivory towers, and as physicians they just continue to be removed from the reality of living a working class lifestyle...can you tell i had a bad ER experience last nite? lol

 

[doyouhaveaflag]

Hey guys, so I know I've seen on here in a few posts that people say some medical schools prohibit working while you're in school. However I can't find this information on an actual .edu school website. My friend doesn't believe that this is the case, but I thought that certain schools actually didn't allow it at all? If someone could provide a link to any us medical school page that says this it would help me get this straight.

We sign something during orientation week at my school saying we promise not to work. I don't know whether or not this is stated anywhere on the school's website. However, if we have good grades, we can ask the Student Progress and Promotions Committee for an exemption. I got one, but my job is only a few hours a week and very flexible. Summer has no restrictions though.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

Form personal observation, med students who try to pull off working and med school crash and burn.

Give me a break. It's important to be smart about it, but there's no reason you can't do some work during med school. I worked doing H&Ps at a surgery center as an MS4 (as did about 1/5th of my class.) I also worked in the summer between the 1st and 2nd year. During my surgery rotation? Of course not. Lots of people did paid research kind of stuff.

But during MS1/MS2 I'm sure I spent at least 10 hours a week skiing/climbing etc. I obviously could have substituted that time for working and still passed everything.

 

[Goro]

I'm not making the news; just reporting it. Obviously, if a student who is good at time mgt can spend enough time in the lab and get a poster or pub out of it during M1/M2, then they probably could handle some kind of work experience.

But this is only recommended for the most exceptional students. My advice still stands.

And try and avoid the sin of solipsism.

Give me a break. It's important to be smart about it, but there's no reason you can't do some work during med school. I worked doing H&Ps at a surgery center as an MS4 (as did about 1/5th of my class.) I also worked in the summer between the 1st and 2nd year. During my surgery rotation? Of course not. Lots of people did paid research kind of stuff.

But during MS1/MS2 I'm sure I spent at least 10 hours a week skiing/climbing etc. I obviously could have substituted that time for working and still passed everything.

 

[sammiesings]

I've wondered about this too. If you have ever worked as a research associate in academia you know its a low key position that also could help you build a research resume for residency if you could pull of doing it while in medical school. I know of folks who have done so, but I'm wondering if this is common given A) academic environment B) research experience you're getting paid to do C) very lax hours. Yes, no? Same "work takes away from studying" situation?

 

[Mr Medschool Money]

I've wondered about this too. If you have ever worked as a research associate in academia you know its a low key position that also could help you build a research resume for residency if you could pull of doing it while in medical school. I know of folks who have done so, but I'm wondering if this is common given A) academic environment B) research experience you're getting paid to do C) very lax hours. Yes, no? Same "work takes away from studying" situation?

My PI asked me multiple times if he could pay me for my time. I was working for credit one time so I had to decline but other than that I got paid to gather EPIC data and I got 4 publications out of it. You can definitely find paid research positions. I think you just have to look for them. At my institution, PIs have money sitting around to pay students for their research time that cannot go anywhere else. These publications will definitely be a centerpiece of my upcoming residency interviews.