Advice on working the summer before starting 1st year

[ashbud]

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Hey guys! I just got into vet school at an out of state college. I wanted to know if anyone recommends working the summer before starting school or if you explicitly do not recommend it. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[katryn]

It's really up to you. Some of us worked, some of us went on mission trips, some of us bummed around at home and did nothing.

I'm all for working. But I can't stand the thought of more than an hour or two of free time in a single day, and like to be active. Add the ability to make money on top of it, and I'd rather be gainfully employed than anything else.

 

[libster06]

I worked, because I had to pay rent. Plus, all of my other friends work too and I'd be quite bored if I didn't have something else to do during the day. I did a study abroad program my junior year of undergrad from Late June-August so I didn't work then and it was okay, but I'd rather have a job.

 

[skittles12]

Lol, I was one of those that "bummed around" I guess. I did, however, work a ton the summer before that, so I didn't feel too bad about it. I took that summer to take several trips, including a week long road trip. This summer, however, I will be working for sure. It's really up to you and how you would feel about working or not.

 

[RadRadTerp]

I wish I had the luxury of not working before starting school. If you're counting on those loans to last you through the semester, extra cash is nice. If my folks were helping me out through school, I'd take a vacation for a good part of the summer if I could since the next two summers you have you'll want to be getting veterinary experience (depending on your career goals).

 

[StartingoverVet]

Whether you work or not, I think the most important thing is to be rested and healthy at the start of classes. Jamming everything in is really dangerous and can lead to a really bad start to vet school (I am guilty). Give yourself a healthy cushion, especially if you are moving a long distance to an unfamiliar area. It is nice to have some idea where the grocery store is, etc before classes start.

 

[Minnerbelle]

Whether you work or not, I think the most important thing is to be rested and healthy at the start of classes. Jamming everything in is really dangerous and can lead to a really bad start to vet school (I am guilty). Give yourself a healthy cushion, especially if you are moving a long distance to an unfamiliar area. It is nice to have some idea where the grocery store is, etc before classes start.

👍

yeah, I was going and a going until the very last minute... so my bf and I had to drive 16 hrs/day to haul our asses to CO. I got here late Friday night right before orientation started (Monday). Bought all my furniture and assembled my room over that weekend. We had to go high up in the mountains for a retreat during orientation so I essentially ended up ascending from sea level to 9,000 ft within 4-5 days while fatigued and emotionally drained. Cue altitude sickness. Worst experience ever.

I went to classes the first couple days with just a notebook because I didn't have any school stuff yet. Everything that first month was soooo hectic (esp when the first anatomy exam starts on week 3). As a result, I was out sick from school pretty much 1 full week out of every month during my first semester. Had I not already taken most of my first semester courses already before vet school, I'm sure I would have flunked out.

Once school starts, it starts out with a bang (esp with all these eager gunners around you who manically start studying after the first lecture) and never stops. So I highly advise that you have your life in order before that happens!

 

[lailanni]

I went to classes the first couple days with just a notebook because I didn't have any school stuff yet.

Haha, I can one-up that. I went to school with all my notes in a cardboard box because I didn't have a binder yet. To top it off, it was a box for plastic garbage bags. It fit the notes exactly! Actually I kept it in that box for about 1.5 weeks.

Then again, I'm a very relaxed person and that sort of thing doesn't bother me. I pass my exams and do alright, I just do it my own way on my own timeline. (Meyers Briggs people, I'm a big P)

I would recommend getting your home set up before classes start. I only sort of got my place set up before classes and it would have been nice to be settled in beforehand. I just wanted to spend the max possible time at home before I went to school and accepted the outcome (notes in a garbage box).

If you don't need the extra money via work, take the time to smell the roses. It won't come again for a very long time. Probably not until you retire. After you graduate you'll want a job. After you get a job, you'll want to have a house or start a family = no break from work. Then you'll have to send your kids to college, or pay off your massive loans, etc etc. This is one of the last times you'll be able to do as you please, so have some fun 🙂

 

[that redhead]

Whether you work or not, I think the most important thing is to be rested and healthy at the start of classes. Jamming everything in is really dangerous and can lead to a really bad start to vet school (I am guilty). Give yourself a healthy cushion, especially if you are moving a long distance to an unfamiliar area. It is nice to have some idea where the grocery store is, etc before classes start.

I'm working this summer to save some money and taking the week before classes start to move up there, settle in/learn my way around and relax 👍