Working while in school

[Drprttygyrl4]

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This may be a stupid question, but I really want to know. Is it crazy to work, while in medical school.? I know that working a job that requires you to be present five days a week is out (unless you are superman or superwoman). I think that 10 or 16 hours on the weekend might be ok. However, I have not started classes yet, so I am no sure. If anyone has any thoughts, please reply.

 

[jhug]

no way (in my opinion). My dad put it perfectly, but i can't remember exactly how he said it...more or less, don't limit dinner by going after crumbs (ie: you'll make peanuts now, don't make it at the expense of your future salary because of a poor performance in school)

 

[OSUdoc08]

This may be a stupid question, but I really want to know. Is it crazy to work, while in medical school.? I know that working a job that requires you to be present five days a week is out (unless you are superman or superwoman). I think that 10 or 16 hours on the weekend might be ok. However, I have not started classes yet, so I am no sure. If anyone has any thoughts, please reply.

It would be a poor decision to work your first semester. Once you get used to it, you can gradually add work. Take out additional loans if money is tight.

 

[jao86]

Definitely don't work. You don't want to jeopardize your future by making a few extra bucks right now. Focus on studying for at least your first year. If you see that you can handle the courseload then take on a part-time job.

 

[ItsNotATumor]

Working might be tough, and possibly against the rules. I'd check it out first with my school, they may give you more aid money as a disincentive to working.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Against the rules? What type of school do you go to? Do you have to sign out if you leave for the weekend and leave them a contact number too?

 

[rgporter]

It would be a poor decision to work your first semester. Once you get used to it, you can gradually add work. Take out additional loans if money is tight.

And how exactly do you accomplish this? I have been told that you can't take out more loans than the estimated cost of attendance. Since they count on you having roommates, it can be kind of difficult for those of us with unemployed spouses. What other additional loan options are there for us poor med students?

On a side note there is a guy from Africa working at my lab full time (yes a full 40 hrs per week) and attending the U of U medical school. Don't know how he's doing it but mad props the the guy, I will try it only if forced to do so. The family has to eat.

 

[Scooby Moo]

This may be a stupid question, but I really want to know. Is it crazy to work, while in medical school.? I know that working a job that requires you to be present five days a week is out (unless you are superman or superwoman). I think that 10 or 16 hours on the weekend might be ok. However, I have not started classes yet, so I am no sure. If anyone has any thoughts, please reply.

It's not crazy at all as long as the work obligations don't interfere with your school obligations. Plenty of my classmates (including myself) held part-time jobs at various times throughout the first two years of med school. And, while third-year is probably a horrible time to try to squeeze a job in because of the number of hours you'll be devoting to clinical rotations...fourth-year seems to be a decent time to consider earning supplemental income if it's something you're interested in.

Lots of jobs can even be beneficial in the school sense too...tutoring pre-meds as an MS-1, tutoring/TA-ing first-year courses as an upperclassman, lab/research positions, medical transcription, etc. It just takes a little timing and feeling out what works best for you. 👍

 

[aquaboy]

I think it's totally possible to work part-time during your 1st two years. Although I would only work if you get paid $20+/hour because then it is actually worth your time. I teach an MCAT review course and taught around 5 hours/week during my first year and plan on doing the same this next year. It pays pretty well and has brought in some much needed cash since I have a family and still am expected to get by on a single student budget ( a freakin joke)! 😡

There's no way I would work part time though unless I was making very good money or if it cut into my study time. You do have time for other things during years 1-2. Why not spend a bit of that time making some extra spending money instead of watching TV, playing video games, etc. 😎

 

[GoodMonkey]

i work during the school year; i worked my entire first year and plan to continue working my 2nd year. i work in biotech and am admittedly very fortunate, as they let me set my own hours and my own schedule and pay me quite well. during the school year i worked anywhere from 10-25 hours a week, depending on the rigor of my classes at that moment. it was easily do-able for me, but i don't go out much to raging partying whatnot, and did most of my hours on weekends and in the evenings. i own my house, in addition to my other bills, and i choose to work rather than get a roommate. 🙂

 

[OSUdoc08]

And how exactly do you accomplish this? I have been told that you can't take out more loans than the estimated cost of attendance. Since they count on you having roommates, it can be kind of difficult for those of us with unemployed spouses. What other additional loan options are there for us poor med students?

On a side note there is a guy from Africa working at my lab full time (yes a full 40 hrs per week) and attending the U of U medical school. Don't know how he's doing it but mad props the the guy, I will try it only if forced to do so. The family has to eat.

Private loans are not limited. Also, the financial aid office should be happy to adjust your cost of attendance based on your personal needs----just tell them.