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How do you earn money while being in med school?
I am a senior in hs, and will be pursuing a biology bs/ pre med degree in college and after that want to get into a good med school, but since med school is quite expensive and I will certainly have to take student loans, how do i earn any good money in med school? For most other majors, you can do jobs after your undergraduate degree and get a better job if you get a master’s degree, which is usually completed in a maximum 6 years, but for med school i will be unemployed for a whopping 8 years! How do i earn money in that time to take care of my finances??
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7 answers
Updated
Paul R.’s Answer
Ari-
First of all, hats off to you for wanting to pursue a career in medicine. As it turns out I did to many years ago. I studied hard in college and got into a very competitive medical school (UT Southwestern). But I made a mistake: I did not take out enough student loans. I was concerned about the debt I would incur. Turns out, this was a bad idea. Everyone is different, but there is no possible way I could have worked while in medical school. I'm the kind of person who had to study VERY hard to do well, and it was difficult because the school was so competitive. I burned out. I was literally hungry because I didn't have enough money to even eat properly.
I recommend the following:
1. Make sure medicine is your passion and that you truly want to spend the next 8 years studying and working grueling long hours. This will pay off in many ways down the road, but understand the stressors you'll have to endure to get there.
2. Ask for help! Financial aid is complex, but advisors are there to help. I thought I knew what I was doing. I didn't.
3. Engineer a situation for yourself where you have enough money to not have to work during medical school. You need to focus and you also need time rest and recharge. You don't want to burn out. There is a lot at stake if you do.
First of all, hats off to you for wanting to pursue a career in medicine. As it turns out I did to many years ago. I studied hard in college and got into a very competitive medical school (UT Southwestern). But I made a mistake: I did not take out enough student loans. I was concerned about the debt I would incur. Turns out, this was a bad idea. Everyone is different, but there is no possible way I could have worked while in medical school. I'm the kind of person who had to study VERY hard to do well, and it was difficult because the school was so competitive. I burned out. I was literally hungry because I didn't have enough money to even eat properly.
I recommend the following:
1. Make sure medicine is your passion and that you truly want to spend the next 8 years studying and working grueling long hours. This will pay off in many ways down the road, but understand the stressors you'll have to endure to get there.
2. Ask for help! Financial aid is complex, but advisors are there to help. I thought I knew what I was doing. I didn't.
3. Engineer a situation for yourself where you have enough money to not have to work during medical school. You need to focus and you also need time rest and recharge. You don't want to burn out. There is a lot at stake if you do.
Updated
Paul R.’s Answer
Ari-
First of all, hats off to you for wanting to pursue a career in medicine. As it turns out I did too many years ago. I studied hard in college and got into a very competitive medical school (UT Southwestern). But I made a mistake: I did not take out enough student loans. I was concerned about the debt I would incur. Turns out, this was a bad idea. Everyone is different, but there is no possible way I could have worked while in medical school. I'm the kind of person who had to study VERY hard to do well, and it was difficult because the school was so competitive. I burned out. I was literally hungry because I didn't have enough money to even eat properly.
I recommend the following:
1. Make sure medicine is your passion and that you truly want to spend the next 8 years studying and working grueling long hours. This will pay off in many ways down the road, but understand the stressors you'll have to endure to get there.
2. Ask for help! Financial aid is complex, but advisors are there to help. I thought I knew what I was doing. I didn't.
3. Engineer a situation for yourself where you have enough money to not have to work during medical school. You need to focus and you also need time rest and recharge. You don't want to burn out. There is a lot at stake if you do.
First of all, hats off to you for wanting to pursue a career in medicine. As it turns out I did too many years ago. I studied hard in college and got into a very competitive medical school (UT Southwestern). But I made a mistake: I did not take out enough student loans. I was concerned about the debt I would incur. Turns out, this was a bad idea. Everyone is different, but there is no possible way I could have worked while in medical school. I'm the kind of person who had to study VERY hard to do well, and it was difficult because the school was so competitive. I burned out. I was literally hungry because I didn't have enough money to even eat properly.
I recommend the following:
1. Make sure medicine is your passion and that you truly want to spend the next 8 years studying and working grueling long hours. This will pay off in many ways down the road, but understand the stressors you'll have to endure to get there.
2. Ask for help! Financial aid is complex, but advisors are there to help. I thought I knew what I was doing. I didn't.
3. Engineer a situation for yourself where you have enough money to not have to work during medical school. You need to focus and you also need time rest and recharge. You don't want to burn out. There is a lot at stake if you do.
Updated
Marylou’s Answer
My son did what they called work/study. He worked in the campus store. And earned money while he was studying without having to leave campus. Check that out.
It gave him something to do. And it wasn’t labor intensive. Give him plenty of time for his studies and his sports.
Hope this is helpful.
It gave him something to do. And it wasn’t labor intensive. Give him plenty of time for his studies and his sports.
Hope this is helpful.
This is very helpful. Thank you, Marylou!
Ari
You are most welcome. Keep on keeping on.
Marylou DiFilippo
Updated
sheen’s Answer
1- Exploration: There's always the opportunity to delve into research roles, either within your local hospital or from the comfort of your own home.
2- Mentorship: Consider joining tutoring platforms where you can share your knowledge of Biology or any other subject you excel in, with eager college students.
3- Digital Entrepreneurship: Launch your own mini enterprise on an e-commerce platform, sourcing affordable products from low-cost websites and selling them for a profit.
2- Mentorship: Consider joining tutoring platforms where you can share your knowledge of Biology or any other subject you excel in, with eager college students.
3- Digital Entrepreneurship: Launch your own mini enterprise on an e-commerce platform, sourcing affordable products from low-cost websites and selling them for a profit.
Thanks for the advice!!
Ari
Updated
Karissa’s Answer
My husband graduated from a Tier 1 medical school in 2016. The school made him sign an agreement that he would not work during medical school. In the first few years he had summers off. You could work then. During rotations, his junior and senior year, he went to school year round. You get more student loan money in medical school than in undergraduate. They loan you more than you would get in a normal graduate school program. You will have enough to live in a cheap studio apartment or live with roommates. The only thing you have to worry about is having a stable living situation when you enter medical school and expenses covered for two weeks. Good luck.
Thank you so much for the advice, Karissa! I really appreciate it! I didn’t know about the extra student loans, thanks!!
Ari
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Ari,
You are correct, medical school is expensive. After you undergrad degree (4 years), you'll be in med school for another 4 years. During your residency you'll get paid (or get a stipend) though.
You need to visit the financial aid office of your med school to find out what kind of package they can offer you and if there are any other scholarships available. Then you need to look for any other scholarships and apply, apply, apply before you think about student loans. You might be able to get work as a teaching or research assistant too.
I hope this helps! Good luck!
KP
https://www.inspiraadvantage.com/blog/how-much-do-medical-residents-get-paid
You are correct, medical school is expensive. After you undergrad degree (4 years), you'll be in med school for another 4 years. During your residency you'll get paid (or get a stipend) though.
You need to visit the financial aid office of your med school to find out what kind of package they can offer you and if there are any other scholarships available. Then you need to look for any other scholarships and apply, apply, apply before you think about student loans. You might be able to get work as a teaching or research assistant too.
I hope this helps! Good luck!
KP
Karin recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much for help, Karin! I really appreciate it!
Ari
Updated
Letroy’s Answer
Consider the possibility of wisely utilizing your time by delivering for Uber Eats or Instacart. The beauty of this option is that you're in control of your schedule, and you can earn as much as you need within a few hours. On average, you could pocket $100 in just 5 hours on either platform. This also provides you with the opportunity to multitask by listening to lectures or studying for tests, using voice notes of the material you need to master.
While I may not have a background in medicine, I do possess effective study habits. Regularly listening to recordings of your learning modules can help cement the information in your mind, ensuring your finances don't take a hit in the process. As previously mentioned, I'm not a medical professional, so please view this as friendly advice to help keep you afloat during your 8-year journey.
You've chosen a noble career path, and the challenges you encounter in med school won't hold a candle to the sweet taste of success that awaits you. I wish you immense success on your journey and urge you to stay safe.
Gig based apps
Tutoring
House Sitting
Religious Background Employment i.e. work for your church, synagogue or mosque
While I may not have a background in medicine, I do possess effective study habits. Regularly listening to recordings of your learning modules can help cement the information in your mind, ensuring your finances don't take a hit in the process. As previously mentioned, I'm not a medical professional, so please view this as friendly advice to help keep you afloat during your 8-year journey.
You've chosen a noble career path, and the challenges you encounter in med school won't hold a candle to the sweet taste of success that awaits you. I wish you immense success on your journey and urge you to stay safe.
Letroy recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so so much for the encouragement and your advice, Letroy! I will surely try out listening to lectures to see if they help me! Thank you a lot for your well wishes, this really made my day and encouraged me to try harder for my dreams! Thank you!!
Ari