By So, you’ve gone through the MCAT registration process, passed the MCATs, gotten into your chosen medical school, and began studying. Congratulations! However, one thing may be on your mind, and that’s EXPENSES!
As medical students, extra cash can go a long way, especially with the high tuition fees, expensive student loans, books, and housing costs! This has you wonder how you can make money to help curb the increasing expenses. Here are some ways medical students can make money:
- Tutor
Medical students are qualified learners, so why not share knowledge and tutor others in different subjects? The demand for tutors is rising, and if you’re good at it, you can earn a lot on the side. You can make over $100 an hour tutoring students on studying for MCATs, providing an MCAT practice test, or guiding them through exam guides.
You can advertise your tutoring services online, in local schools and libraries, or even ask your classmates if they need a tutor!
- Work as an EMT
You can find a lot of medical students who work as Emergency Medical technicians while juggling their studies. This doesn’t only help pay the bills, but you get to learn a lot in your field, gaining experience and applying what you learned in school. This is a great option for those who are interested in working in the emergency medicine and trauma field.
Another option is to be a phlebotomist, which is someone who draws blood. You don’t need to be a nurse or doctor to work as a phlebotomist, and you can work in a lab of any teaching hospital.
Being an EMT or phlebotomist allows you to have flexible hours, so you can work according to your schedule to manage your time well.
- Medical Scribe or Research Assistant
Being a medical scribe or research assistant may not give you the flexible hours as other positions do, but you also get to learn a lot in your chosen field. The job can also be a great addition to your resume and list of experiences, which is helpful as you work your way up in medical school.
Being a scribe will have you shadow an attending physician, taking notes and entering them into EMRs. You can also be a medical research assistant, which may be offered in your school. The hours may be flexible depending on the project and the doctor in charge, though the job can be demanding.
- Other Ideas
There are also other ways medical students earn money, such as:
- Donating plasma or sperm
- Being a research subject or participating in focus groups
- Driving for Uber or Lyft
- Babysitting
- Bartending or waiting tables
- Buying and reselling products
- Commissioning artwork (if you are creative!)
Wrapping It Up
There are many ways medical students can make money, with a lot of ideas being related to their field. Try any of these side gigs that work best for you to help lessen the hefty expenses of the school.
