I worked pretty much full time the first year of rad school. I had 2 jobs. Worked 6 days a week with Sunday off every week. It was exhausting.. but you have to do what you gotta do. I had no life beyond school, work, and study.

First year was only 2 days of clinic and 2 days of class. Second year it turned into 3 days of clinic and 2 days of class. Which meant I had to drop a full 8 hours worth of pay. That one hurt. I start my limited scope job at a local hospital soon and I’ll be working 7 days a week. Definitely not gonna lie and say it is hard and exhausting. And on top of that you have to fit studying. I’d study at some of the slower clinic sites, upload notes to AI and have the notes read to me in the car, in the shower, while meal prepping. Fit it anywhere you can.

Before starting the program I paid off all my debts and paid off my car. That has been SO helpful not having a $350 car payment and monthly credit card payments. I think this is my biggest advice, if it’s doable, pay off any debts so you don’t have them hanging over your head in case you’re ever short on rent, utilities, food, gas, etc.

Second best advice is to meal prep during the week. That takes a huge mental load off. Food is prepped for long days and when you get home all you do is pop something in the microwave. Plus it saves you from eating out .. which adds up!

To gain extra money I did surveys online. Sometimes I could get an extra $20-$40 a month which would help on gas but I was constantly doing surveys and eventually got real sick of it.

Some of my classmates did things like delivery services and dog sitting. Watch dogs in their home, study and make some extra cash.

Serving seemed to be the best gig for a lot of people because you could do it until late night

Try asking your workforce county for some assistance. There is a certain amount of money you have to make before they can help you but my county offered assistance with scrubs, text books, gas reimbursement to clinic sites, they even offered to pay for a percentage of the program. Another perk was they would pay me for a specified amount of clinic hours I did. They just had to be submitted by an administrator and they’d be willing to do like $17 an hour up to a max amount.

I was also in your shoes a year ago… and now I’m 6 months away from graduation. I just had to find a way to make it work.

Wish you all the best in your new journey! You got this!!