Do medical students work with their degree before residency?

Question

You know, with a bachelors science get a job save up pay for things. Also be able to do well in med school at the same time while working this career,... before getting a paid residency salary

One extra question - what is the lowest age to enter med school for financial benefit of time that is not laughable to the board??

Answer 1

As part of clinical training in the last two years of medical school, a medical student examines patients, writes up the history and physical findings, follows lab and imaging findings, etc., all under the supervision of residents and hospital staff. This is unpaid.

Many years ago, third and fourth year students made money by working in mostly small, private hospitals in various positions such as assisting in the OR or Labor & Delivery, or by doing admission H & P's. I can't say if that is still current practice.  

Answer 2

idk y r u asking me?

Answer 3

Many people these days enter medical school after having already completed some other advanced degree or even spent some time in another profession.  In my medical school class, there were two former lawyers, a former high school teacher and a former baptist minister, among others.  There were also people who had worked their way through college doing sophisticated jobs such as computer network management or  journalism.  The average age of medical school applicants has risen slowly over the years, and it partially reflects this tendency for people to do other things along the way.

In order to gain entry into medical school, though, one has to be a very strong student.  This is really something that requires complete attention, and few people can demonstrate the academic discipline to work that hard in school AND do other jobs at the same time.  Most college students who apply to medical school have taken on very ambitious academic schedules and have performed very well on their exams.  Even so, many excellent students apply for, but do not gain entry into  medical school.  There are a limited  number of medical school positions, and many applicants are bound to be disappointed.

Once in medical school, the process is similar to college in that there are a series of lecture classes and lab classes to attend, but unlike college, one cannot decide WHEN to take the various classes, and there is no provision for customizing the schedule.  Everyone does the same thing.  The schedule is extremely demanding with absolutely no "after school time" that shouldn't be given over to some sort of self directed study.  There are almost no medical students these days who maintain some sort of extracurricular job.  Also, there are typically no significant break periods where one could do temporary work.  Some schools may have a short break between the first and second year, but it's hardly enough time to work and save.

After medical school, there is nothing to stop people from working as a doctor straight away without residency.  There are actually still ways that people do this, but it is exceptionally rare.  Most people go into residency immediately after completing medical school and obtain specialty training.  

For those who do not go directly into residency, anything is possible.  They could choose to work in a medical field or anything else where they can find a job offer.  However, if they do so, they would run the risk that in applying for a residency position later on, their behavior would appear irregular and would cause concerns.  

Residency programs are looking for the best residents that they can get.  An applicant that has stepped away from medical training and is now returning looks "risky" on paper.  They could easily be passed over for people who are fresh out of medical school, less likely to have forgotten things. Many residency programs are extremely competetive, and these programs are going to choose the best of the best, who are most likely to succeed.

People who go into the medical field are looked at by banks and other creditors favorably.  Loans are readily available.  Many people finish their training deeply in debt for their schooling.  Owing $150,000 is common.  Many owe more.  Typically there is no problem paying this off.  The loans are "cheap" in that the interest rates are very low.  Payment plans are extremely reasonable.  Because of this financial support option, few medical students have any desire to work any harder than they have to!

As to the minimum age for medical school or licensure, I don't think there actually is one.  There are very real "Dougie Howsers" out there and one of them was a couple classes ahead of me when I was in medical school.  It was a woman who had been homeschooled as a child and entered college level courses at age 10.  She finished college at 14 and started medical school.  She was an MD/PhD student and had completed 2 years of medical school and 3 years of research when I met her.  She seemed to be doing just fine.  

In the end, it seems that it all balances out.  Whether people start medical school early in their lives or later, they seem to find their appropriate place in the field.

Answer 4

Some medical students try having a job. Most give it up. Medical school is usually too time-intensive to support a full time job, and most part time jobs don't pay enough, even with a science BA or BS. Most just take out extra loans for personal finance.

You ned to have taken certain courses, math, bio, chem, etc. Most med schools also require that you have an actual degree. So if you got out of high school early and got out of college early (probably with a degree other than science), maybe 18/19?

You do get paid during residency, but it's a very small salary for the number of hours you will be working.

Answer 5

Residence is part of getting your degree.  Without doing it, you are not allowed to work.  Also, I don't think that residency is paid, at least for the first while.  As for how old you have to be, there really is no age requirement.  If you have a high school diploma or a GED, you can apply.  Keep in mind though, even if you have that, it doesn't mean that the school will accept you into the program.