Being an LVT hurt chances?

[cgundler]

I've read the few threads on here about people considering becoming an LVT/CVT/RVT (whatever it is in your state) before applying to vet school, and I understand why it would not be more benificial than just going straight to undergrad. However, what about those of us who took the Vet Tech program and through the experience we gained there decided that we wanted to be vets? I am graduating in May and going to take my LVT licensing exam in July. I am also starting undergrad in August with the hope of eventually going to vet school. Will my licensure really hurt my chances of getting in that badly?

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[Bill59]

Will my licensure really hurt my chances of getting in that badly?

no

 

[luplodw]

I wouldn't worry about it at all. As long as you go into the interview with an attitude that you don't know everything and you are eager to learn more, then I think it will be a benefit. I don't think the adcoms will really look into it as much as some people think.

 

[crittergal]

I've read the few threads on here about people considering becoming an LVT/CVT/RVT (whatever it is in your state) before applying to vet school, and I understand why it would not be more benificial than just going straight to undergrad. However, what about those of us who took the Vet Tech program and through the experience we gained there decided that we wanted to be vets? I am graduating in May and going to take my LVT licensing exam in July. I am also starting undergrad in August with the hope of eventually going to vet school. Will my licensure really hurt my chances of getting in that badly?

Welcome to my world. I'm an LVT with 10 years in ECC, shelter, and WL medicine and haven't had much of an interest yet. 🙄

Now, do I think this is because of my LVT? No. Do I have any basis for this belief? No. Honestly, I think that my issue is earlier academic blunders and choking on the GRE. Does my LVT hurt my chances? Dunno. I know that people on SDN have been told that it can hurt an applicant's chances. I've also been told that it could help me- and I've racked up some incredible experiences through the years. Either way, LVT is path that my life took and DVM is the direction it will go.

In short, if that is the best route for you, I say do it. I don't think it is the licensure that hurts one's chances. You've just got to be able to explain why you chose to make such a fundamental transition in the profession. I, and most others that have spent any time in a clinic, have seen too many LVTs act like they are mini-doctors. I suspect it is this attitude that could make schools nervous about LVT/CVT/RVT applicants. That level of arrogance can be exceptionally toxic in an academic, mutually learning environment. Most techs are great, but a few bad apples can make it tough for the rest of us.

I think adcoms focus more on attitude and experiences, grades, and good ol' russian roulette when selecting their class.

 

[twelvetigers]

We tend to pooh-pooh it only if people are considering pursuing the certification to make themselves better applicants for vet school. In that case, it's a waste of time and money. In your case, it's perfectly understandable. 🙂

 

[sumstorm]

You've just got to be able to explain why you chose to make such a fundamental transition in the profession. I, and most others that have spent any time in a clinic, have seen too many LVTs act like they are mini-doctors. I suspect it is this attitude that could make schools nervous about LVT/CVT/RVT applicants. That level of arrogance can be exceptionally toxic in an academic, mutually learning environment. Most techs are great, but a few bad apples can make it tough for the rest of us.

I think adcoms focus more on attitude and experiences, grades, and good ol' russian roulette when selecting their class.

I would agree with all of that....and to not assume that your practical skills increase your value as an applicant; as one adcom told me last night: the techs that do well in vet school are those who want to understand the science and medicine behind the procedures and skills that they know. However, techs that approach vet school thinking they have it figured out, or that they have ‘practiced vet med’ or that the skills are more important than the mental processes aren’t going to get in…or are going to isolate themselves once in.

The topic came up last night when a first year mentioned they felt lacking in skills compared to a couple of LVT’s that are enrolled.

 

[Pandacinny]

I'm an RVT, though I didn't go through a formal program (the rules are more lax in my state), and it didn't hurt or help my chances. Nobody ever mentioned it as a negative any of the times I applied, but they didn't bring it up as something that set me apart either. If I were you, I would use that certification to launch into a good variety of vet experience with large and small animals, horses, research, and etc. Otherwise, just get the best grades you can in your undergrad courses and focus on being an all around good applicant.

 

[cgundler]

Thanks guys! Some of the people in the vet-tech program I'm in now act like mini-doctors, so I can completely understand why that would be a concern. I am more interested in the 'why' aspect of vet med than in just doing it because that's what the book says- another reason I want to continue to vet school. I'll just focus on my undergrad and hope for the best!

 

[Sk8gurl06]

(I AM AN LVT, MY HUSBAN IS APPLYING TO VET SCHOOL. THAT IS WHY I AM ON THIS SITE)


Well I had a Dr. at the practice that I worked at years ago, tell me if I ever hoped to be a vet to not go to school to become an LVT. She told me Vet schools frown at LVT's because the kind of person that is an LVT is much different than the kind of person that wants to be a Dr. "If you want to be a Dr. there should be no question", she told me. I think she was full of crap actually.

I now work with a Dr that was a LVT for 10 years before applying to Vet school. I know he did have a hard time getting in, but I think it was more based on grades and gre. He went to University of Prince Edward.

Also when I was in school, there were two girls that were in my graduating class, that applied and were excepted into Vet school while in the LVT program. These girls had been applying to vet schools before entering the LVT program but had never been excepted.

Hope this helps!!!

 

[cgundler]

Well I had a Dr. at the practice that I worked at years ago, tell me if I ever hoped to be a vet to not go to school to become an LVT. She told me Vet schools frown at LVT's because the kind of person that is an LVT is much different than the kind of person that wants to be a Dr. "If you want to be a Dr. there should be no question", she told me. I think she was full of crap actually.

That's my current teacher for the LVT program. But sometimes I just think she has inadequacy issues and doesn't want anyone to advance any farther than she has, lol.

 

[projekt]

... an LVT is much different than the kind of person that wants to be a Dr. "If you want to be a Dr. there should be no question", she told me.

I think if you have valid reasons for becoming an LVT and then valid reasons for deciding to be a doctor, it's all positive. If your career path makes sense, that's positive. If it shows whimsy, that's negative. Vet school wants to train enthusiastic vets.

 

[cgundler]

If your career path makes sense, that's positive. If it shows whimsy, that's negative.

Can you elaborate?

 

[marycatherine]

Can you elaborate?

I believe it means that you shouldn't work on an LVT to reassure yourself you want to do vet school. If you want to decide whether to be a vet, you should take the science class pre-reqs and shadow vets rather than get a different certification.

 

[projekt]

I believe it means that you shouldn't work on an LVT to reassure yourself you want to do vet school. If you want to decide whether to be a vet, you should take the science class pre-reqs and shadow vets rather than get a different certification.

Right, I mean that overall if it looks like you went from lab tech to pharmaceutical sales to auto mechanic to wanderer to back in school for electrical engineering, to vet tech school, well, you have some 'splainin to do.

On the other hand, if you became an lvt, and then you discovered that you are good at science and want to be a vet, then I don't see why it would hurt at all.

 

[xenobart]

My girlfriend is an RVT in her state, and it didn't seem to hurt her in veterinary school admissions. She did not pursue the degree through a traditional technician school and instead got her license by accumulating enough hours working with animals and coursework in her undergraduate biology exam that she was allowed to sit for the RVT test and pass. My girlfriend says she was not asked about her RVT license in her interview but rather all the interesting experiences she had working as a veterinary technician. If you would really like to get an RVT / LVT license in route to vet school I wouldn't let fear of it being frowned upon eep you from pursuing the license. Committees seem to look at grades, animal experience, and GRE, rather than caring about whether or not you got an RVT or LVT along the way.

Also, now that she is in veterinary school my girlfriend is finding there are advantages to being an RVT. One is that she gets to do work at student spay / neuter clinics typically only let 3rd years an up do, like aid in surgeries and monitor anesthesia, while non-RVT first and second year students typically have to do less-interesting scut-work. It's also much easier for her to find summer work as an RVT while in vet school.

 

[sumstorm]

Can you elaborate?

Also, there is a difference between 'got an LVT then realized DVM is my passion' and 'want to get into vet school so went to school at a CC for an extra 2 years to get a leg up.' I just don't think it provides a leg up especially if it delays pre-reqs or entry by 2 years. And, each state is different concerning how hard/easy it is to gain employment and/or obtain an LVT.

 

[cgundler]

I believe it means that you shouldn't work on an LVT to reassure yourself you want to do vet school. If you want to decide whether to be a vet, you should take the science class pre-reqs and shadow vets rather than get a different certification.

I thought about that, but I only realized that I wanted to be a DVM after nearly two years of experience that I gained through school. It would be kind of stupid to drop out of the LVT program after 4 out of 5 semesters and just have a lot of useless nontransferable credits.

 

[purplesaurus]

I thought about that, but I only realized that I wanted to be a DVM after nearly two years of experience that I gained through school. It would be kind of stupid to drop out of the LVT program after 4 out of 5 semesters and just have a lot of useless nontransferable credits.

I would agree with you here. And here's another perspective: if vet school does not work out for you for some reason, or if it just takes you a looong time to get there, you will have a career/education to fall back on.

And this is just a personal opinion (someone else can maybe give a more informed view), but I would think that not finishing your program would look less good (that wording sounds weird, but I don't think it would look bad, per se) than finished and getting your license.