My program had us sign a form declaring that we would not work throughout the duration of the program. If you wanted to work, you would have to make an appointment with the program director to discuss and petition for an exemption.
They had us to that because they want to place us in an optimal environment to be as successful as we possibly can in the pursuit of learning anesthesia. It worked.
There's NO way I could work part time and still do well in the program. There's just too much volume you're responsible for and too little time to begin with. I may be able to work weekends and then do the bare minimum to skim by and not fail out, but what is that worth? I would be completely exhausted, burnt out, stressed about whether or not I would get booted out, and most importantly, I would be learning how to be a barely adequate anesthetist. I can't imagine a reason why I would trade academic success and professional growth for an extra $100-200 per week. NOT worth it at all.
It sounds easy to look at the situation from a distance and say “Oh yeah, I’ll work 12-20 hrs on the weekends and be fine. No problem.” It’s a different animal when you’re in the thick of it. Too much volume. Not enough time. Anesthesia school is humbling.
If that extra amount of cash is that important to you, why not take the loans during school and then live on your current budget for the first year or two s/p graduation. Stockpile savings. Pay of debt quickly. Live WELL BELOW your means. Spend like you’re making $25-30K annually. AND you will end up a BETTER anesthetist. Slam dunk.
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