I'm an NT student that will matriculate in August. I'm interested in hearing from other current and former NT's. Did you leave an SO and/or kids behind while in vet school? How did that work out? What was it like being so much older than your classmates? What was the best/worst thing about attending as a NT? Now that you've done it, is there any "if I knew then.." advice you would give your former self?
For the traditional students reading this - what are your thoughts on having NT classmates? Are there things that would concern you about it? Is it something you'd rather not deal with?
I love how the traditional students are replying. So many funnies. (Just messing with you guys,
@jmo1012 and
@WildZoo )
I only applied locally because of an SO and kids. I made the concession that if I wanted to go to vet school, it had to be without upsetting their apple cart, so either I got in here in MN or I didn't go to vet school. Otherwise, as much as I *LOVE* UMN, I think I probably would have considered someplace cheaper, like our wonderful neighbor Wisconsin, where OOS tuition is cheaper than MN's IS tuition. (Hint, hint UMN.) I do know of a girl in our class from CA who left behind her hubby to come here. And a girl in the class before whose husband lived elsewhere while she was in vet school. It was hard for both of them to be apart from their spouses, just like you'd expect. That said, they both made it work. Neither had kids, though.
Being older than my classmates .... meh. I get constantly teased about my age. So much that I've just learned to roll with it and I throw my own age comments out pre-emptively. But mentally I'm probably even younger than
@WildZoo so it all works out. It actually has advantages once you get to clinics: clients don't have any hesitation working with and trusting me, whereas some clients are less comfortable with younger types. But that's not a big deal.
Best thing about being NT? I dunno. I can't think of much. I'm pretty grateful every day for the chance to do something different in life. But I'm not sure there's really anything about being a NT that is 'best'? At least, nothing pops to mind.
Worst thing about being NT? I'm really NT (i.e. old). People laugh and roll their eyes at me, but my brain just doesn't work as well as the kids (i.e. 20-somethings) in my class. These punks learn so damned fast. They remember everything. They make connections super quick. Give them a set of clinical signs and they'll spew out twenty or thirty differentials while I'm still sitting there thinking "ummmmm..... cancer?" I just can't think as fast as they can and I can't master skills as fast as people who started at the same level I did. I'm really happy with where I'm at, and I bring a lot of other strengths to the game, but I won't lie: I'm not as sharp as most of my classmates and there are days it really frustrates me.
Now that I've done it, what advice would I give? Hm. Consider the money angle carefully. But otherwise ... I don't have regrets. I like what I'm doing. I love dealing with clients - the great clients are great, and the stupid clients .... they give you something to laugh and vent and roll your eyes about.
For the record, I'm a little tired of the 'NT' term. It's gotten wayyyyyyyyyyy too watered down. You hear people calling themselves NT because they took one year off between high school and college. Meh. Whatever. I personally view 'NT' as more significant. Like going back to vet school 5-6 years after college. Or taking off 5-6 years between high-school/college. A real honest-to-god gap, not some "technically I'm NT" kinda thing. Just me.
G'luck. It's been a LOT of fun (and challenge) for me.
