Advice Needed

[Paranasal]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am in need of some advice (or maybe perspective, either is good). I am going into my 4th year of Vet Uni in Budapest and I am not sure if this is for me anymore. It may be just that 3rd year sucks the life and soul from you but I have zero enjoyment or love for the job or course anymore. I am not sure where that love went or what happened to my drive but it is gone and has been for a long time now. I know with all of my being that I have no interest in going into general practice. I also have no desire to work in my home country (Ireland) and dread the thought of having to do the veterinary equivalency exams in Canada or Australia (but I'd do them). I know it's necessary but since I have no interest in doing general practice as a vet I am sort of stuck on how to use my qualification. It seems like it's either become a veterinarian or nothing. I thought about becoming a pathologist, I love pathology but it seems like one hell of a long shot to try applying for a Residency in pathology outside of Europe.

I guess I am just feeling trapped doing a course that I don't see giving me a future career. Which makes doing the study required for the exams even more difficult. I've been struggling all through 3rd year with my motivation (or lack there of) and just feel really lost this year. So any advice anyone could give on alternate career paths or anything like that would be great. I am just surrounded by people who only want to get into general practice and can't see any other options at the moment. Sorry for the ramble I am so damn tired these days.

 

[KCgophervet]

Well why would you have to do a path residency outside of Europe? I know they have them IN Europe. There's also lab animal medicine if you want to avoid GP, or government work for like food inspections etc.

 

[Paranasal]

My partner lives in Canada and I am really tired of doing long distance (also Canada is kinda great in terms of a place to live). I only speak english so that cuts out most European residencies and since the UK voted to leave the EU I have no idea what that means for the recognition of their qualifications. I hadn't thought of lab animal medicine or the food thing, thank you for the idea, I must look into those things.

 

[CalliopeDVM]

I have no idea what the competition is for Path residencies is like in Canada, but you would still have to pass the equivalency exams. However, if you do go through and pass the equivalency exams and get licensed, there are other routes for vets other than clinical medicine -- industry jobs (usually tech service for the pet food/drug/supplies companies) are probably the most common, along with government jobs (food inspection, import&export testing/disease surveillance) and academia.