Advice... feeling completely hopeless

[BaliDoll]

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Hello..

I wanted to see what opinions here were, and probably vent a bit, too. I am 21 years old and I have a chronic illness that has led me to have two transplants, my kidney and intestine. I have a huge drive for school, but a very bad transcript because of my health. I finished high school online, I've gone to two community colleges, and I was about to start my third this past week. The first I moved away from, the second I was disqualified due to having too many W's because of my health, I could have reinstated but this third one has a better pre-vet track so I chose to just change schools... again... even though it will probably look bad.

This past week I had a HUGE backtrack with my health. I almost lost my intestine due to rejection... I was terrified but I am on prednisone [which is HELL] and doing a lot better... they say in 6 weeks I should be back to normal. I wasn't there for my first day of classes this week and they dropped me from everything, so I am not taking classes this fall.

I am contemplating just getting online training for vet tech school, because I figure if it's online I can at least know that I am going to get through it- whether I am in the hospital or not I can finish online classes. Is this even legit though, or would that be a huge waste of money and time? I work at a vet hospital now as a receptionist (Which I am doing EVERYTHING in my power to keep this job because it is my only glimmer of hope of keeping my dream alive lately.).

Do you think I am kidding myself trying to get into vet school with a transcript like this? I just don't know what to do.... I feel so down and lost. I want this more than anything, but I just feel like I can't do it.

My school I am going to eventually for the pre-vet is Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA. It has been mentioned here in posts I have searched, people seem to think it's good... so that's at least good. I just worry I just look like HELL on paper with shoddy community colleges and stuff.

If I get a vet tech thing before I go to vet school will it look bad, good, indifferent? And is an online one a horrible idea? I feel like it is but I feel trapped into online classes. Or online school completely... Are there classes I could get into online at schools that would be upper division enough to get into vet school that wouldn't be from a CC or Uni? I have been searching for something that I could start NOW, I don't want to waste 6 months waiting for spring.... Something that I could be doing now would keep my hope from dwindling. Is there such a thing as online school that's quality enough to get into a uni that's not from a CC?

I don't know, I'm rambling. I appreciate any help/insight. I have been through a lot, and I am sick of it... I just want things in my life to settle down and be good for a while...

 

[sumstorm]

Wow...that is a lot to deal with. I lost my first husband to post-kidney/pancrease transplant fungal infection, so I have a bit of perspective on this. I'm sorry about the pred; I was on it for 6 months a few years back...I felt like crap, took forever to recover from the side effects...and I still have the weight, but far better than rejection.

I am not going to address everything. First, talk to your transplant team and counselors....make sure medicine is compatable with your state of health. My late husband was a medical tecnologist and phlebotomist...and he was told in no uncertain terms that the field was too risk to his transplants. He pursued a different path and ended up studying diagnostic images; no patient contact resulted in a lot less risk. Now, you can always disregard what your councelors advise, but there is a real potential for immunocompromised individuals to be at risk in vet med and you need to know the risks.

Next, ask each school what you need to do to add a medical addendum to your record. Consider contacting any local ADA support organizations and gaining counseling/advice through them.

If you do a vet tech program, make sure it is appropriatly accredited. there are at least 2 accredited distance programs, but the supervising vet must agree to train, document and certify your skills. If the programs aren't CVTEA, don't bother (at least that is my opinion.) http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/vettech_programs/allprograms.asp

some states do not require attending school to sit for LVT. see what your state requires.

How vet tech looks will be debatable and depends on attitude and school.

 

[BaliDoll]

I am not going to address everything. First, talk to your transplant team and counselors....make sure medicine is compatable with your state of health. My late husband was a medical tecnologist and phlebotomist...and he was told in no uncertain terms that the field was too risk to his transplants. He pursued a different path and ended up studying diagnostic images; no patient contact resulted in a lot less risk. Now, you can always disregard what your councelors advise, but there is a real potential for immunocompromised individuals to be at risk in vet med and you need to know the risks.

Thank you, I appreciate your help, especially with your unique insight. I am sorry about your husband. Yes, I have been told already it's not the most desirable move in the minds of my doctors for me to be going into a field where I will be exposed to a lot of dangerous things while immuno-suppressed, but they also say I have been given a second shot at life and I need to go through with what I want. They would obviously prefer I don't be around animals at all, but I feel like I need to follow my heart.

I appreciate the link, I would only do an accredited school of course. I am going to start off with student services knowing EVERYTHING about my health when I get back to being able to sit in school, I was stubborn and didn't want to be labeled a disabled student but it's really screwed me over a lot not having anyone on my side when I have been dropped/received F's from being in the hospital during finals- three times.

I need to look into the ADA stuff... my parents keep telling me that I am eligible for a lot of help I am not getting, and I am really starting to except I am not going to get through school without excepting I am not normal and I do need help... sadly...

 

[sumstorm]

OK, you should know that many vet schools will require you to sign something on admission stating that you can comply with certain skills (generally a list) without undo risk to yourself or others with reasonable accomodation in a manner similar to other students/professionals. And you can be called on that...so your health may create issues at some point. I am not saying that to discourage you....but those forms aren't easy to find before admissions; you generally will need to ask...and your best bet is to know ahead of time to makes sure you can prepare for those requirements.

If you got F's....it will be harder to solve, and you may be fighting a major uphill battle, suggesting that you might need to look into schools that will do grade forgiveness. Now, grade forgiveness generally comes with a catch; ie the grades have to be over so many years old, or you give a date past which they are disregarded but any credits/grades/prereqs obtained then will also be discarded, or you have to show how you will not face the same issue in vet school.

Seriously, there are entire support networks for transplant recipients, use them. Find lists and put out there a request for medical professionals with transplants to chat with you. They can give you far better advice than any of us can. They can share how they function, what issues they had to face and how they got through, etc. They may even become advocates and mentors. Also, the ADA can teach you about reasonable accomodations (such as possibly having a 'clean space' or rebreathing systems for dissections rather than spending large amounts of time in a chemically laden room. There is at least one other person on the forums with a transplant, but I don't remember who. sorry! When you start looking at schools/policies, take a look at their policy on student pregnancy...that will often suggest the attitude they will have to flare ups of health issues.

good luck!

 

[sofficat]

Wow, that is a lot to deal with, especially being so young. I'm not sure what I have to add to your questions/vent session... here are my initial thoughts (and I don't know anything about your health status here so I hope I don't offend you)- is this going to be an ongoing problem? Because missing weeks, even days of vet school is going to be a big deal. And working with animals in any immune suppressed form is not a good idea at all.

I think because of your unique situation you can explain on your vet school application why your GPA and transcripts look bad. As long as there is a point when everything got better (your pre-reqs, your course load etc) that proves you got all your ducks in a row and you got passed your health stuff (hopefully!) I think that'll help.

As far as vet tech stuff, opinions vary but it looks like that might be your best choice for this semester. Keep in mind though that not many pre-reqs are taken in vet tech school, so you also may be wasting time and money on classes that aren't necessary.

Sorry you were dealt a crappy deck lately. Keep on truckin!

 

[StartingoverVet]

A few thoughts...

It seems to me that right now things seem to be in the impossible/hopeless stage for you. To me, the most important thing for you is to put the past behind you. You can't change it, don't worry about it. You should still have plenty of hope.

Every applicant comes from a different background, and with the exception of a few schools with strict cut-offs, you can be considered by a number of schools. Of course you will have to demonstrate that things have changed and that you could actually handle vet school(and that is an important part of the equation), but you have plenty of time to worry about that.

I would stay focused on improving your health, and advancing yourself any way you can. That can be through tech training on-line, or even self-education in the meantime. Once you are healthy enough you can get many jobs even without a tech license (see previous threads about different states regarding this).

Honestly, if I am an adcom and see an applicant suffering through the health issues you did, I would pretty much discount the grades in that period. If I saw a person who took on-line classes, who fought back to be involved in the profession, and then ultimately took a bunch of science classes and did well later on, then I would be pretty impressed.

Sorry for the rambling reply.. .To sum it up... forget what has happened before. Do whatever you can to improve yourself, both healthwise and academically, and kick-ass when you can. No reason to give up hope.

 

[frozen_canadian]

Wow, I'm sorry for everything you're going through. That is a lot to deal with.
IMHO, I this is not the time to focus on your career. If I were you, I would forget school for a year. Focus on your health, staying strong, recovering. Continue to work if possible, but relax as much as you can and just stay away from thinking about school, admissions, career goals, stress. You're still very young and have plenty of time to pursue vet school when your body is more able to handle it
Good luck and stay strong!

 

[PearlDVM]

I think that you can definitely overcome your academic obstacles and have a shot at vet school. You've got the right attitude - and if this is what you really, really want to do with your life - then don't give up on it!
I had a failing grade in biochem (had to retake it) and a ton of Ws because of a health issue in school - and it didn't ruin my chances (tho, it seems your experiences are MUCH more difficult than mine were). It did mean it took longer for me to get into vet school, but it's not impossible. I really do think that schools love to see people overcome obstacles.

I don't think going through a tech program would look bad on your application - but I don't think it's necessary either. I would actually recommend looking for other sciences classes online from universities to help your GPA. I know UC Berkeley extension has some good online bio classes.

I noticed that you listed a california school - so I thought of this program when I read your post:
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/studentprograms/subpages/sep.html
its a program at davis for undergrads who have had some disadvantage/obstacles. It might help you by adding to you application, and maybe giving you even more insight about what to do next. You'd have to apply next summer, tho - since applications were already due this year. Good luck!!! I'll be sending you some good healing thoughts!

 

[BaliDoll]

Thank you, everyone.

I am being told by pretty much everyone around me to get my health in order before I add the stress of school. Originally I was going to school for an arts degree so it seemed a lot less of a HUGE deal like it is when you're going for something competitive, like vet school, and missing school/getting W's.

The first year after my transplant I was the healthiest I had ever been in my entire life, but then I think I began to almost take advantage of it and not be as careful/strict about things I used to be- I thought of myself as "normal" because I had a good year- which I'm not.

I'm going to look into that Davis program, Pearl, it sounds like a good thing to add on to show I am serious about this, even if my grades make me look like I just wasn't staying focused. It's annoying that I get a W (or F, because my schools don't take my letters from doctors in time) for health reasons when I know many kids who get them for going out and drinking and being numbskulls... 🙁