OK. I'm applying this fall, and currently in the throes of trying to cram the poignant and serious reasons for wanting to be a vet into the tiny amount of words we get for personal statements. My friend's in the same boat with her Med school applications. We found it helpful to clear our heads to just talk about those reasons that aren't going to make a big statement. I thought it could be a good thread here to keep things less stressful for those applying this year, as well as maybe remind those who are on edge/waiting/etc. the reasons they're doing this to themselves!

So what are your most superficial reasons for wanting to be a vet? What just makes you grin when you think about having it be a part of your life?

My most superficial reason:

I like the uniform! I want to be able to wear boots, jeans, and a Carhartts to work in the winter, and comfy clothes in the summer. And I LIKE getting dirty.

So that I can start a band with my colleagues and call it the Cryptorchids.

One word: puppies.

the most superficial reason I can think of: meeting guys who love animals.

I haven't met a single guy my age in all the hours of volunteering, working at clinics, etc. I think it'd be cool to find a guy that volunteers with animals and works in clinics. Because I've never met one so far (unless you're counting the guy doctors).... just us women folk doing the volunteering! And I've been at 3 shelters, several events, and all that other animal experience.

Now before you start judging me, ; ) you have to notice that was the most superficial reason I could think of!

So that I can start a band with my colleagues and call it the Cryptorchids.

LOL I love that... My friends and I said if we ever made a band we would call it muscles of inspiration

Durh, the "Dr."

Also, playing with ponies.

Fluffy Cuddly Cute Things (FCCT). :D

I have to agree with mistifical----PUPPIES!

I need an excuse to accumulate more kitty scrubs.;)

So I can play with the teeny tiny kittens- everytime I get a tiny kitten it always grows up! Go figure... At least this way I would have a pretty good supply of kittens- and I won't have to feed them or clean their litterboxes. :p

Kitties, I like kitties.

So I can be the one saying "Excuse me assistant or tech, but this animal just vomited/urinated/had the most vile diarrhea known to man...could you please clean it up?" :meanie:

So when I meet the other parents at my future kids' school functions I can watch their faces melt with jealousy when I say "Oh, me? I'm a vet for the Smithsonian/Sea World/Zoo/Enter coolest vet job here"

Purely hypothetical and superficial, of course!

'Cause I look hot in scrubs. ;)

Seriously, though, who wouldn't want to wear what are basically like pajamas to work and play with puppies and kitties and fun exotics all day? Also, I agree that meeting an animal-loving guy would be pretty great, although the only guy I currently work with is the (married) doctor, who is my father's age.

That's the most superficial I can think of. :)

I like squeezing out anal sacks

So I can be the one saying "Excuse me assistant or tech, but this animal just vomited/urinated/had the most vile diarrhea known to man...could you please clean it up?" :meanie:

hahaha that cracked me up :laugh:

I like squeezing out anal sacks

Hey, that's not superficial. That's deep, man. What greater cause could a person have in life?

So I can be the one saying "Excuse me assistant or tech, but this animal just vomited/urinated/had the most vile diarrhea known to man...could you please clean it up?" :meanie:

That is too funny! Being an animal caretake, I completely agree!

Back to the point:

I could have the title of EDUCATED crazy bird lady!

the most superficial reason I can think of: meeting guys who love animals.

you should specify a straight guy, makes it even more challenging :)


for the money!:laugh:

CHESKA!!!!!!!!!! I think the monkey in your avatar bit me the other day, her name is Elvis (for obvious reasons!) I love her anyway :)

Back to the important stuff, the absolute best/most superficial reason I have to become a vet is so that I can see the faces of people in disbelief everyday when I say, "No really, I am the doctor" (I happen to be very short and look pretty young. In fact, one time I was working at a SA clinic, it was bring your child to work day. One of the regular clients commented on how cute it was that one of the Drs had brought his daughter in to work that day. Ha! Of course, I was new! But this is all beside the point.)

The money! Oh wait no, that doesn't make any sense.....

Honestly, the "I told you I could do it" factor makes me smile. That and kittens!

I gotta keep up with my little sister who is a PhD and be called "doctor" too :D

CHESKA!!!!!!!!!! I think the monkey in your avatar bit me the other day, her name is Elvis (for obvious reasons!) I love her anyway :)

Back to the important stuff, the absolute best/most superficial reason I have to become a vet is so that I can see the faces of people in disbelief everyday when I say, "No really, I am the doctor" (I happen to be very short and look pretty young. In fact, one time I was working at a SA clinic, it was bring your child to work day. One of the regular clients commented on how cute it was that one of the Drs had brought his daughter in to work that day. Ha! Of course, I was new! But this is all beside the point.)

One of the interns at the SA specialty clinic where I work, who happens to be pretty short and look young, walked into an exam room only to have the client bury her hands in her face and start laughing. Confused, Dr. ___ allowedthe client to explain herself, "When you walked in I thought you were giong to say it was 'Bring your daughter to work Day' and Daddy had given you his stethoscope and white coat!"

I am relatively young but am tall and apparently look older than I am. So, I've always had the opposite problems (people not believing me when I claim to be under a certain age or not old enough to qualify for something).

Most superficial reason for becoming a vet? As mentioned by others, definitely the fact that I get to wear scrubs and a white coat :)

you should specify a straight guy, makes it even more challenging :)


for the money!:laugh:

hehe

There really aren't as many gay (male) vet students as I thought there would be...I'm the only gay guy in my class, out of ~25.

YOUR class on the other hand, I can see your concern...especially since those numbers keep turning :rolleyes:

That's ok though, I didn't come to vet school to meet gay guys..I came to meet all the hot flame dames ;)

That's ok though, I didn't come to vet school to meet gay guys..I came to meet all the hot flame dames ;)


LMAO!! :lol:

Five words:

I'll get to neuter stuff!

Well, that and I really want to wear a white coat.

And it will be fun to be able to ask the support staff to clean up the assorted vile messes. And it will also be fun to deal with smart aleck staff such as myself who can't help but say "Geez, couldn't you make it to the restroom? Gross!"

Mine would be that it pays more than any of the other positions in the clinic :P

I get drugs and supplies for my own animals at wholesale prices and get free stuff from pharm. companies.

Besides, what other reason can there be for being a vet than to get that midnight call and go do a c-section on a prize dairy cow at 4 a.m.? In an open field using headlights from the truck and trying to keep a semi-sterile field?

And you get to drive a truck with a big vet caduceus on the back or side!

For all the white coat and "Doctor" fans ....

All lab techs wear white coats. Lots of professions wear white coats these days, even the "Pipe Doctors" dude that show up wearing one with his name "Dr. Pipes" stitched on it. I think "Lawn Doctors" are going to start wearing white coats when thy show up, too.

Ever see the "Tree Doctor" ones? SOme show up in scrubs and a white coat. And stick a 'scope on the tree to listen to it. OK .. not really, but it is an amusing visual image.

Any PhD is "Doctor", even the EdD yahoos that got their degree on-line. Any PhD shrink is "Doctor".

If anything, there is that little smug internal knowledge and the little devil sitting on your shoulder that says "sheesh, what friggin MORONS!" when you hear Aunt Mary and Gladys in the next booth at the local diner discussing poodle diets and BARF. You know the diner ... the one you stopped at for coffee and a quick bite to eat at 7a.m. after that early morning c-section.

One word: Abscesses. It is soooooo very satisfying to see what comes out. Instant gratification. Anyone with me...or am I just really really weird?

One word: Abscesses. It is soooooo very satisfying to see what comes out. Instant gratification. Anyone with me...or am I just really really weird?

It's true, abscesses are fun. I'm always slightly disappointed when all the gross stuff its out and nothing else comes out. Maybe that makes me a bad person. ;)

Yup, love those abcesses. I used to live near one vet I worked with in high school, we would go get ice cream after work and try to copy whatever the abcess looked like. Bloody and serous = strawberry topping, purulent discharge = butterscotch!

Now I am curious- does anyone here hate wearing scrubs? After years of having scrubs be mandatory uniform at a majority of the clinics I have worked for, I hate wearing them-- mostly the scrub pants, they never fit right on me. I don't mind wearing khaki pants or jeans with a scrub top, but those darn scrub pants, I hate them!

OOOOH! a dancing monkey- sweet! :zip:

One word: Abscesses. It is soooooo very satisfying to see what comes out. Instant gratification. Anyone with me...or am I just really really weird?

Yes! Abscesses! I thought I was really really sick for a long time before I realized I wasn't the only one.:D

I can probably think of a lot of these... but the one that keeps sticking out in my head is...

I really want that DVM after my name. Ohh, I really do.

But on a more serious note, and note to hijack the thread, but when you're at interviews, this is obviously a commonly asked question. So, what do you say? They get so tired of hearing, "I want to help animals!" or "I've just always loved animals!" and all the other cliches. Seriously, what do you really say to impress them and get yourself into vet school?

I cant remember exactly what i said but i think the words 'passion,' and 'human-animal bond,' were in there somewhere. I also said that i like the medical/scientific aspects (I remember that)...

I've always wanted to whip the stethoscope over my shoulders and around my neck and then spit out some fancy diagnosis...hahaha.

And of course, I looooove CATS!!!!

Yup, love those abcesses. I used to live near one vet I worked with in high school, we would go get ice cream after work and try to copy whatever the abcess looked like. Bloody and serous = strawberry topping, purulent discharge = butterscotch!


What do you eat when a botfly larva comes out?

Now I am curious- does anyone here hate wearing scrubs? After years of having scrubs be mandatory uniform at a majority of the clinics I have worked for, I hate wearing them-- mostly the scrub pants, they never fit right on me. I don't mind wearing khaki pants or jeans with a scrub top, but those darn scrub pants, I hate them!


I think scrubs are great in the OR, but there are better uniforms for other purposes. I work in lab animal and I would prefer a long-sleeve uniform without having to wear two shirts.

Read this about the Cadeceus and the Rod of Ascelpius. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius#Confusion_with_the_caduceus)

Now I am curious- does anyone here hate wearing scrubs? After years of having scrubs be mandatory uniform at a majority of the clinics I have worked for, I hate wearing them-- mostly the scrub pants, they never fit right on me. I don't mind wearing khaki pants or jeans with a scrub top, but those darn scrub pants, I hate them!

OOOOH! a dancing monkey- sweet! :zip:

Completely agree about scrub pants! I can never find ones that are long enough and I refuse to have my butt show like a lot of the ACTs that I've worked with, just to make them that much closer to being long enough!:boom: When did they add this one and the monkey?!

What do you eat when a botfly larva comes out?


:barf:


horse with a jugular abscess, very very cool, bloody, chunky, caseous, yum.


a license to cut things open and use power tools on bones!



There really aren't as many gay (male) vet students as I thought there would be...I'm the only gay guy in my class, out of ~25.

YOUR class on the other hand, I can see your concern...especially since those numbers keep turning

Even 1 puts a big dent in the availability pool...

Any PhD is "Doctor", even the EdD yahoos that got their degree on-line. Any PhD shrink is "Doctor".



My father actually has the EdD and I personally think he completely abuses the Dr title that goes with it. So the totally superficial reason is so I can be the real doctor in the family.

DVM is the ultimate martyr of the doctor fields though. Maximum schooling which results in minimum pay. No one can ever claim you did it for the money.

I can probably think of a lot of these... but the one that keeps sticking out in my head is...

I really want that DVM after my name. Ohh, I really do.

But on a more serious note, and note to hijack the thread, but when you're at interviews, this is obviously a commonly asked question. So, what do you say? They get so tired of hearing, "I want to help animals!" or "I've just always loved animals!" and all the other cliches. Seriously, what do you really say to impress them and get yourself into vet school?

In my essay and in my only interview so far I talked about how I like working with animals in order to ultimately help people. It seemed to have worked :)

My father actually has the EdD and I personally think he completely abuses the Dr title that goes with it.

In elementary school my music teacher (yeah, the lady you saw maybe twice a week) was a Dr. and I just could not wrap my pea-sized brain around that!

So I can say humongous, fun-sounding words (and know what they mean) like

Polioencephalomalacia
Hemangiosarcoma
Bilirubinemia
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy

Current favorite:

Inappropriate metarubricytosis (those naughty metarubricytes!!! floating all around with no concurrent polychromasia, how dare they!) :eek::laugh:

EDIT: Wow, I think I win the Nerd of the Week title for that one....

EDIT: Wow, I think I win the Nerd of the Week title for that one....


Yep...

But next week, I'm sure I'll win.

Yes! Abscesses! I thought I was really really sick for a long time before I realized I wasn't the only one.:D

Gross stuff is the best!

Definitely. The vet that I work for wrote in my LOR that she loved how excited I got over gross stuff. I can't wait for the AdComs to read that.

Because I look DAMN hot in shi! covered one-armed Dickies while I'm up to my shoulders pulling calves. Plus, I enjoy rolling around in the 3' of frozen snow we have at 3 AM wrangling first calf heifers and chipping calves off the ice while it's TWENTY BELOW (F) outside.

Did I mention the wind is blowing?

I like squeezing out anal sacks

I hear that.

Hypertrophic osteodystrophy
So then it's not utterly pathetic that I had a whole lot of fun the day I learned this one? Oh good. :D

Hemangiosarcoma


That is one of my favorite words ever!

One word: Abscesses. It is soooooo very satisfying to see what comes out. Instant gratification. Anyone with me...or am I just really really weird?

One of the techs at the clinic loved to squeeze, scrub and clean everything just because was satisfying.

If anything, there is that little smug internal knowledge and the little devil sitting on your shoulder that says "sheesh, what friggin MORONS!" when you hear Aunt Mary and Gladys in the next booth at the local diner discussing poodle diets and BARF. You know the diner ... the one you stopped at for coffee and a quick bite to eat at 7a.m. after that early morning c-section.

And I'll REALLY be the one laughing as I'll be the one getting paid out the wazoo by Aunt Mary and Gladys for holistic nutritional consulting when and if I specialize in holistic nutrition getting paid twice as much as you without having to do a 3 AM c-section! :p:laugh:

And I'll REALLY be the one laughing as I'll be the one getting paid out the wazoo by Aunt Mary and Gladys for holistic nutritional consulting when and if I specialize in holistic nutrition getting paid twice as much as you without having to do a 3 AM c-section!

ZZZZZZING! :p

I am also tall and have had this problem. Have you tried MOBB brand scrubs? I actually ended up with some that were TOO long! :eek:

Completely agree about scrub pants! I can never find ones that are long enough and I refuse to have my butt show like a lot of the ACTs that I've worked with, just to make them that much closer to being long enough!:boom: When did they add this one and the monkey?!

I want the "Dr." before my name. I also want to be the EDUCATED crazy dog girl. (similar to what Kara said :))

Aaaand, I just LOVE cleaning ears. :love:

I want the "Dr." before my name. I also want to be the EDUCATED crazy dog girl. (similar to what Kara said :))

Aaaand, I just LOVE cleaning ears. :love:

I'm not the only ear crazy one then?! Something so satisfying about clean ears : )

Hey, on that line of thought, does vet med have the Ear Nose Throat specialty? Can you get board cert. in that?

WhtsThFrequency- you mean words like these?

I should note, may not be safe for work due to a little colorful language...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OGXn6HuCodE

1. I think being the educated crazy squirrel lady would make me sound a little less crazy.

2. Wearing jeans/scrubs everyday will make me comfy.

3. And b/c my ex always called himself a "Dr." but he had an EdD. We all know what EdDs are worth. I want to send him a buisness card with my name on it and let him know I'm a real doc.....jerk! :D

StealthDog, I loved that! Thanks for the post! :laugh:

Oh my Gawd, my sides are hurting so bad from laughing right now.....I will be singing that all day....brilliant!

This is by the same people, I don't know how to embed it

It is like having an entire semester of Pharm in a minute and a half. Seizure time ahh! The last line is HILARIOUS but warning for a naughty word

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXROnzpsrlg&feature=related

hahaha i love it!

I am also tall and have had this problem. Have you tried MOBB brand scrubs? I actually ended up with some that were TOO long! :eek:

I haven't. I'll have to try them. Thanks!

This is by the same people, I don't know how to embed it

It is like having an entire semester of Pharm in a minute and a half. Seizure time ahh! The last line is HILARIOUS but warning for a naughty word

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXROnzpsrlg&feature=related

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

As I am sitting here memorizing way too many useless drug facts for the pharm exam on monday, this was the greatest thing!!!! I want to be an orthopedic surgeon, too...

that very well may be my tag line for the whole semester...

And I'll REALLY be the one laughing as I'll be the one getting paid out the wazoo by Aunt Mary and Gladys for holistic nutritional consulting when and if I specialize in holistic nutrition getting paid twice as much as you without having to do a 3 AM c-section! :p:laugh:

Its not about the money.

But making it about the money is certainly a superficial reason to be a vet.

:)

Valium.

And getting to meet all the big goofy dogs.

Well, Ok, and gross stuff.

Its not about the money.

But making it about the money is certainly a superficial reason to be a vet

Wait. You can actually make money being a vet? Sweet! Now I don't feel so bad for passing up med school:hardy:

thank you, that was beautiful!:laugh:

hehe

There really aren't as many gay (male) vet students as I thought there would be...I'm the only gay guy in my class, out of ~25.

YOUR class on the other hand, I can see your concern...especially since those numbers keep turning :rolleyes:

That's ok though, I didn't come to vet school to meet gay guys..I came to meet all the hot flame dames ;)

oh i laughed on so many levels with that one. can i be a hot flame dame?? lol

since i'm way behind, and deanna got to say "money" first, and someone else said hot animal guys... i'll go with... FAME. lime light and red carpet style. muahaha.

I don't know if this counts as superficial or just practical, but I look forward to the day that I don't have to pay vet bills for my own pets anymore!

I second that! Especially since one of my cats is prone to eating anything and everything, no matter how clean I keep my apartment. I learned her obsession with elastic the hard way when she had to have exploratory surgery to remove virtually an entire package of hairties from her stomach. Still to this day I have no idea where she got them. :confused:

I second that! Especially since one of my cats is prone to eating anything and everything, no matter how clean I keep my apartment. I learned her obsession with elastic the hard way when she had to have exploratory surgery to remove virtually an entire package of hairties from her stomach. Still to this day I have no idea where she got them. :confused:

My cat prefers plastic bags. Its awful! I keep things by my bed to toss in her direction in the middle of the night when she wakes me up chewing on my trash bag :mad:. Luckily, she likes chewing them the best, so the pieces she swallows tend to be very small and go all the way through her. I know, not good, but there's only so much you can do.

I agree! My horse managed to rack up $13,000 in 6 months this year in vet bills. Gotta love him though!:)

One word: Abscesses. It is soooooo very satisfying to see what comes out. Instant gratification. Anyone with me...or am I just really really weird?

Speaking of abscesses... I saw an awesome one today! There was a dog that had an eye enucleation surgery a while ago (at least a year) and he'd been scratching at that eye recently. It was red and irritated and swollen, so we shave it and the vet goes to scrub it with betadine and SPLAT pus and blood just shot out. Best thing to happen to me this week.

the most superficial reason I can think of: meeting guys who love animals.

I haven't met a single guy my age in all the hours of volunteering, working at clinics, etc. I think it'd be cool to find a guy that volunteers with animals and works in clinics. Because I've never met one so far (unless you're counting the guy doctors).... just us women folk doing the volunteering! And I've been at 3 shelters, several events, and all that other animal experience.

Now before you start judging me, ; ) you have to notice that was the most superficial reason I could think of!

I met a guy at the humane society just 2 weeks after I started. He helped me and stuff. I haven't seen him since and we don't talk or anything but I know he volunteers there a lot....and he "seemed" straight.

I met a guy at the humane society just 2 weeks after I started. He helped me and stuff. I haven't seen him since and we don't talk or anything but I know he volunteers there a lot....and he "seemed" straight.

heh, how's your gaydar? ;)

Heres one for all the techs and asst.s out there. I wanna be a vet because Ive been a tech for so long...

Im tired of explaining what a licensed veterinary technician is/does.:confused:

and I LOVE ANIMALS..awwwww. :love:

I would have loovvved to put these on my essay but for obvious reasons I didnt.

Heres one for all the techs and asst.s out there. I wanna be a vet because Ive been a tech for so long...

a. I am older than all the doctors and the clients already think Im the Dr. when I enter the room.:idea:

b. Im tired of training new vet students how to do their jobs!:cool:

c. Im sick:barf: of working for doctors who dont have a clue about how to run a veterinary hospital (ie management wise). (okay well this one wont be better until I open my own place but you get the idea)

d. I can extract teeth better than any Dr. Ive ever worked for.:meanie:

e. Im tired of explaining what a licensed veterinary technician is/does.:confused:

and f. I LOVE ANIMALS..awwwww. :love:

I would have loovvved to put these on my essay but for obvious reasons I didnt.

wait... you seem to arrogant to want to be a dvm, are you sure you are posting on the correct forum?

:laugh:

That is one of my favorite words ever!

Trust me it will lose its charm really quick once you hit clinics or onco:(

that's alright, i'll love the hell out of it for the next 6 months!

Sorry I was joking..I thought that was what we were doing on this one..Guess I misunderstood.

Sorry I was joking..I thought that was what we were doing on this one..Guess I misunderstood.

No worries, LVT2DVM, I thought it was funny. I think the arrogant comment might have been directed more as a dig against the pre-allo people, not you. Welcome to the boards. :)

Cool thanks for "getting it" ..I tend to have a weird sarcastic sense of humor. You kinda get that after working in this field for years. Like the ability to eat a sandwich over a necropsy. LOL