Can someone describe pros/cons of committing to vet school?

[jmg12]

I'm currently a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. After this year I'll be completely done with the pre-reqs for vet/med school (I've done more bio courses than are required because I am a biology major). My GPA is above a 3.8 (so no worries on that). However, I'm recently been doubting whether I should actually make the commitment this summer, study for the GRE and try to get into a vet school. Believe me, I am completely passionate about animals. I've volunteered plenty of hours at hospitals to realize that I love helping animals. However, I've been having doubts about the overall lifestyle, stress, low-pay that vets can receive. I don't come from a family of a lot of money so affording vet school will be difficult. I'm not sure what to do at this point after reading how difficult the life of a vet is right after graduation. I worked my *** off to get to this point and I want to have some reward by the time I finish all my education. Any input from vets would be great...lifestyle, salary, overall reward from the job, stress...thanks.
P.S. : I'm not interested in this field to be super rich when I'm older, I would just like a decent reward after all the years of education and money spent.

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[Lab Rat83]

Honestly, you have to come up with your own pro/cons list. No one can do that for you. It's a lot more than just loving to help animals. You pretty much go into it despite the apparent setbacks because you can't picture yourself doing anything different and being just as happy.

If at this point, this early in the game, you need to be convinced then vet med might not be right for you.

 

[jmg12]

I wasn't asking to be convinced...I was asking to hear what vets had to say about their overall satisfaction. But I do like your idea of my own pros/cons list.

 

[jmo1012]

http://vetsbehavingbadly.blogspot.com/ i think maybe you'll get some good pros/cons here? this is only a small subset of the population, but it is still a group of opinions

 

[Digitalangel]

I'm in the same boat as you, I'm also a junior and have been reconsidering my options the last few months. I work at a vet and find it extremely rewarding but the future debt/salary ratio ill be taking on is pushing me away considering i could spend the same amount of time in a different medical field and be more financially stable. i started shadowing a dentist a few months ago and was offered a job with higher pay. i decided to take the job and see how much i enjoy working in a medical environment without animals and make my decision soon. as of now i think i am going to steer away from vet and hope i could be happier doing something else, and satisfy my love for animals by having pets and maybe do something more involved with them in the future.

 

[dyachei]

http://vetsbehavingbadly.blogspot.com/ i think maybe you'll get some good pros/cons here? this is only a small subset of the population, but it is still a group of opinions

that post describes the change in my view of vet med very well. I don't want to bring anyone down and its probably because my work environment is super stressful.

 

[kernel]

I think you should find a vet to shadow and get to know a little bit.

 

[parula]

I hate to echo an earlier post, but I think a pros/cons list is something that you need to do personally. Nobody can tell you the pros and cons of vet school for you, everybody goes (or doesn't go) for different reasons.

The one piece of advise I got when applying that I found helpful was that if you can imagine yourself being happy in ANY profession other than veterinary medicine, do that instead. It's an expensive life decision to make, and it's not for everybody. I've spent a lot of time doubting that this was the best and smartest life choice for me, but I can't see myself being happy in any other profession.

 

[jmg12]

I shadow the vets in the University of Pennsylvania Vet Hospital. I really like this. I'm also not much of a people person but medicine is definitely my thing. I just don't want to be miserable with my life if I choose veterinary science no matter how passionate I am about it. There's plenty of people who are so passionate about something and then hate it 10-15 years down the line and wish they never did it...I'd prefer not to be one of those people.

 

[dvmdreamer]

http://vetsbehavingbadly.blogspot.com/ i think maybe you'll get some good pros/cons here? this is only a small subset of the population, but it is still a group of opinions

I thought I had a good idea of what I was getting myself into, and now I'm kind of terrified after spending the past half hour reading these. 😱

 

[dyachei]

I shadow the vets in the University of Pennsylvania Vet Hospital. I really like this. I'm also not much of a people person but medicine is definitely my thing. I just don't want to be miserable with my life if I choose veterinary science no matter how passionate I am about it. There's plenty of people who are so passionate about something and then hate it 10-15 years down the line and wish they never did it...I'd prefer not to be one of those people.

This particular part is of concern. Mostly because you have to deal with people quite regularly to get treatment plans approved, communicate findings to them in understandable ways, and speak easily with your colleagues to collaborate on patient care. I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but just thought I'd point out the obvious

 

[orca2011]

I shadow the vets in the University of Pennsylvania Vet Hospital. I really like this. I'm also not much of a people person but medicine is definitely my thing. I just don't want to be miserable with my life if I choose veterinary science no matter how passionate I am about it. There's plenty of people who are so passionate about something and then hate it 10-15 years down the line and wish they never did it...I'd prefer not to be one of those people.

You know you deal with people every day right? You actually should have decent people/communication skills if you want to do well.

And like others said, if you'd be happy doing something in human med, you'd be better off with that.

 

[jmg12]

No I meant as in touching and working on people...sorry for the miscommunication. I know the requirements of dealing with owners, etc...I just meant that I would be disgusted by having to work on a human lol

 

[kernel]

I thought I had a good idea of what I was getting myself into, and now I'm kind of terrified after spending the past half hour reading these. 😱

Many of the posts pretty much sum up my experiences working at a clinic, so I'm OK with what I'm getting myself into.

See: "Diagnosis: idiot!" and "Walk softly & carry a large tranquilizer gun"

 

[parula]

I shadow the vets in the University of Pennsylvania Vet Hospital. I really like this. I'm also not much of a people person but medicine is definitely my thing. I just don't want to be miserable with my life if I choose veterinary science no matter how passionate I am about it. There's plenty of people who are so passionate about something and then hate it 10-15 years down the line and wish they never did it...I'd prefer not to be one of those people.

True, but there is a lot you can do with a DVM...enough options that if you end up really hating what you are doing or where you are, there is always the switching jobs option. Just because medicine is your thing doesn't mean you have to work in a animal hospital, have you had veterinary experience outside of a vet hospital? That may help you decide if getting a vet degree is worth it.

 

[Minnerbelle]

True, but there is a lot you can do with a DVM...enough options that if you end up really hating what you are doing or where you are, there is always the switching jobs option.

I hear this being tossed around all the time, but I really wonder how feasible it is. Sure, there are anecdotes of this person and that who went from GP to industry and loves it, etc... but anecdotes can be found for pretty much any statement.

When you've done nothing but small animal GP for 5-10 years, and you're having a hard time paying off your student loans, and you have a mortgage to pay, etc... how easy is it actually to spring forth and do something totally different? Ideas I hear being tossed on this front are things like public health, research, industry, usda, etc... I can say that research really isn't an option, but what about the others? I'm not trying to be sarcastic, and I'm genuinely interested. Can the average practitioner just apply to these jobs and get it without a whopping dose of luck? People also say you can specialize and do only what you love, but really? Is that realistic for a lot of people in this situation?

Yes, I can conceivably see how someone can switch from day practice, to maybe emergency, or shelter medicine, or a housecall practice, or maybe focus on one species or another... but I'm not sure how "flexible" I would call that.

 

[jmg12]

Many of the posts pretty much sum up my experiences working at a clinic, so I'm OK with what I'm getting myself into.

See: "Diagnosis: idiot!" and "Walk softly & carry a large tranquilizer gun"

Well this all managed to add some serious doubt.

 

[Trilt]

I hear this being tossed around all the time, but I really wonder how feasible it is. Sure, there are anecdotes of this person and that who went from GP to industry and loves it, etc... but anecdotes can be found for pretty much any statement.

When you've done nothing but small animal GP for 5-10 years, and you're having a hard time paying off your student loans, and you have a mortgage to pay, etc... how easy is it actually to spring forth and do something totally different? Ideas I hear being tossed on this front are things like public health, research, industry, usda, etc... I can say that research really isn't an option, but what about the others? I'm not trying to be sarcastic, and I'm genuinely interested. Can the average practitioner just apply to these jobs and get it without a whopping dose of luck? People also say you can specialize and do only what you love, but really? Is that realistic for a lot of people in this situation?

Yes, I can conceivably see how someone can switch from day practice, to maybe emergency, or shelter medicine, or a housecall practice, or maybe focus on one species or another... but I'm not sure how "flexible" I would call that.

The industry vets I've talked to have pretty universally said that their companies want to hire people who have done a good amount of years in practice first. Obviously that's only one path and I could definitely see it being really difficult to branch to research/public health/whatever, but I will throw that out there. 🙂

 

[Minnerbelle]

The industry vets I've talked to have pretty universally said that their companies want to hire people who have done a good amount of years in practice first. Obviously that's only one path and I could definitely see it being really difficult to branch to research/public health/whatever, but I will throw that out there. 🙂

How did they get these positions? Was it who they knew? Or did they just find an opening in a job ad and apply? Or is there a secret way to open some doors? I'm super curious

 

[cowgirla]

The industry vets I've talked to have pretty universally said that their companies want to hire people who have done a good amount of years in practice first. Obviously that's only one path and I could definitely see it being really difficult to branch to research/public health/whatever, but I will throw that out there. 🙂

USDA/APHIS also told me that they prefer vets with a few years of practical experience under their belts. I think their average was close to 10 years in practice if I remember correctly, but I had this conversation a few years ago so might be remembering wrong.

 

[lexypanini]

How did they get these positions? Was it who they knew? Or did they just find an opening in a job ad and apply? Or is there a secret way to open some doors? I'm super curious

You could also work in a big consulting firm like McKinsey. They don't care about your background so much--they have hired history majors in the past. They care that you can think analytically and work well in a team and they do pay a loooot of money.

 

[Trilt]

How did they get these positions? Was it who they knew? Or did they just find an opening in a job ad and apply? Or is there a secret way to open some doors? I'm super curious

I didn't really ask that closely, sorry. 🙁 I'm pretty sure one talked about hearing about the job from a drug company rep, but beyond that I honestly don't know. I was just curious in first semester about industry vets because it was a part of the field I'd never actually considered, so I talked to a couple reps after lunch meetings/in our career class.

 

[Minnerbelle]

USDA/APHIS also told me that they prefer vets with a few years of practical experience under their belts. I think their average was close to 10 years in practice if I remember correctly, but I had this conversation a few years ago so might be remembering wrong.

Do they care what kind of practitioner you were? As in do small animal practitioners have a reasonable chance?

 

[pirateyoho]

Well this all managed to add some serious doubt.

While I think doubting your choice of profession is a normal and even smart thing to do, I wouldn't let the VBB blog posts get to you too much (and certainly not be the reason for your final decision). I work in a vet hospital, and we see some crazy cases and deal with crazy clients. But at the end of the day, my coworkers and I all are able to laugh at the ridiculousness, and none of us regret having to put up with it to do our jobs (which we love). I really don't think that my attitude toward working in a veterinary practice will change in 10-15 years. (Though we'll see if I still say that with $200+ in loans breathing down my neck. 😉 )

 

[cowgirla]

Do they care what kind of practitioner you were? As in do small animal practitioners have a reasonable chance?

I honestly don't know. The people I talked to were very large animal oriented and we were talking foreign animal dz/slaughterhouse/food safety-regulatory type work. I know there's about 8million other departments though - but I don't talk to them since I like cattle

 

[ThePiedPiper]

I would say exploring other options, where you feel you can, might be beneficial to you. I've been working at an animal dentistry clinic for two months and have already witnessed some frustrating cases, techs and the vet getting yelled at on the phone, your average Joe who is convinced they know more than you do, medically, to the point you're required to have them sign a waver, people who were told to pick the animal up at 5 but are "still at work" when you call, so you're stuck in until 8 or 9, people who take off without paying, etc. In the same wind, speaking as an assistant, you get to be the hands stroking a patient as she's recovering from anasthesia, the one who cleans out the kennels and makes the beds for the next patient coming, the one who cleans the clinic and makes it **** and span etc. As an assistant or tech, simply from what I've witnessed, you definitely do a lot more handling and caretaking of the animals and general practice, whereas as a vet, you're definitely involved in the actual medical procedures. I am currently trying to find work in a GP, so my opinions might change, but I won't be applying for a few years off because I still need to do my pre-reqs. 😛

I think the one big thing I can say is that you need to be willing to work with the people, all the nitty gritty that comes with it. You need to be willing to work with people who force you to have them sign a release of liability because they're taking the animal home with them versus keeping it in the clinic overnight. You need to be willing to work with people who will think they know the diagnosis better than you do because they read it on Google. You need to be willing to work with people who have caps of $500 or less on their animals and who opt to euthanize an animal for an otherwise treatable condition. You need to be willing to work with people who will argue, yell, b---- at you, blame you, etc. You need to be willing to work with people who might sometimes skip out on paying. And I would argue that you need to somewhat be as interested in that as you are in working with the animals and the best clients you could possibly imagine, or if you're not interested, you need to at least be confident that you can handle it when you lay out the most persuasive medical argument on the table and you still get a "no." You somewhat need to be as interested in psychology as you are in medicine, because the profession marries the two. You also might need to drop the idea that you want to live lucratively, at least for a while, because when you're graduating with >$100,000 in loans and making bank when you score a job for $60,000 versus an internship for $20-30,000, it's going to take time before you can live comfortably and don't have to budget as much as you describe doing in your OP. That doesn't mean you won't ever live lucratively, but I'm often told that I'm optimistic. 😛

For me, it was mostly a matter of looking at the profession from the standpoint of the cons and seeing if that passion still existed, and it did. It might for you, or your doubts might be telling you something, but only you can be the decider of that one for yourself.

 

[kernel]

Well this all managed to add some serious doubt.

I didn't mean to discourage you, although I certainly don't want to sugarcoat anything. As others here have said, working in private practice comes with its fair share of BS. Some people can easily look past it and reap the rewards/satisfaction at the end of the day. Given your hesitation, I would strongly recommend you find a clinic where you can see what goes on first hand. I imagine that what you see at Penn is a little bit different.

Also, to reiterate what others have said, there are tons of options as for as veterinary career paths. You definitely *do not* have to go into private practice. I can't personally go into much detail about those options though.

By the way, you should check out Elliott Garber's blog!!!
http://www.elliottgarber.com/

 

[bbeventer]

Not going to lie, there are days I wish I could go back in time and kick my high school self in the butt, and got my path in line for an MD.

The rest of the times I go back and forth between passionate field in vet med (and being on the low salary side), or wrestling with snowball (and getting paid a bit better).

eta: Getting in to vet school and perusing vet med is a great life accomplishment and anyone who's achieved it should be proud. I know I look up to the interns and residents (as well as the clinicians) with great respect at our VTH. We are lucky enough to belong to one of the most highly respected professional fields (that is saying a lot), its just with the proposed opening of new schools our job prospect and profit margins seem to be getting even smaller.

 

[pirateyoho]

We are lucky enough to belong to one of the most highly respected professional fields (that is saying a lot),

Huh? Are you speaking of your particular VTH or of the field of vet med as a whole? Because I personally think vets are highly under respected and under valued because people just aren't aware of how much effort and time is required to become a vet.

 

[bbeventer]

Huh? Are you speaking of your particular VTH or of the field of vet med as a whole? Because I personally think vets are highly under respected and under valued because people just aren't aware of how much effort and time is required to become a vet.

Its from a GALLUP poll

Sorry I guess I should of used the word "trusted" instead of respected, because I agree with you that people do not "respect" how much education we have to undergo. But I think in order to trust someone, you have to respect them.

 

[orca2011]

Huh? Are you speaking of your particular VTH or of the field of vet med as a whole? Because I personally think vets are highly under respected and under valued because people just aren't aware of how much effort and time is required to become a vet.

I think she is talking more along the the business side (might be wrong) of it as I'm constantly being told how vets are easily able to get the loans they needed for their practices and things along those lines. And yes, I'd say the population as a whole doesn't realize the amount of effort we put in to get to that point, but I also know there are a number who do realize it...but they also are the people who look at their pets as children or siblings, so...

 

[pirateyoho]

Its from a GALLUP poll

Sorry I guess I should of used the word "trusted" instead of respected, because I agree with you that people do not "respect" how much education we have to undergo. But I think in order to trust someone, you have to respect them.

😛 Okay. That, I can believe. Thanks for clarifying. 😀

 

[adams30]

Because I personally think vets are highly under respected and under valued because people just aren't aware of how much effort and time is required to become a vet.

Yeah sometimes I feel the same way.

There are a few people who I run into that understand the level of difficulty it is to become a vet / be a vet. These are usually people in the medical field or people who own animals themselves.

Like over the weekend, I was at a dinner with my boyfriend and the people we were sitting with asked us what we are doing next year. I told them I got into vet school and was going to become a vet, and I got just a blank look and "oh that's nice". My bf is an engineer so he ALWAYS gets the "oh you're an engineer you must be so smart!" whenever we meet new people together. I have high respect for engineers but sometimes it's a little annoying when you feel undervalued for all of your hard work. I guess it's just that people don't understand what it takes for us to get to where we are.

 

[krist]

Not going to lie, there are days I wish I could go back in time and kick my high school self in the butt, and got my path in line for an MD.

ugh me too. I love vet med and I even like vet school sometimes so far but I wish I would have explored my other options better to see if I would like doing something like human medicine, because I think any of us that got into vet school could have also gotten into med school if we devoted our time to human med instead of vet med :/

and then i keep reading/hearing/talking to these vets that are like "if i could go back in time I'd for sure go to med school" or something like that. I know human medicine has its fair share of problems and crazy patients and everything so I honeslty doubt its too much different in that respect, but at least you are getting paid 200k+ to deal with the crazies 👎

 

[dvmdreamer]

and then i keep reading/hearing/talking to these vets that are like "if i could go back in time I'd for sure go to med school" or something like that. I know human medicine has its fair share of problems and crazy patients and everything so I honeslty doubt its too much different in that respect, but at least you are getting paid 200k+ to deal with the crazies 👎

Not as a general practitioner though- they are just as underpaid and undervalued as we are.

My big attraction to vet med is the problem solving. The never knowing what you are going to get in, and having to figure out how to attempt to fix something you have never seen before. Or just figure out WHAT it is! You get to be creative constantly, from solving a behavior problem to coming up with a surgical procedure. Human doctors don't get to do this. GPs give vaccinations and pass everything fun on to a specialist. They don't get to see an OR, ever, even just to remove a skin mass. Specialists are so specialized now they aren't just orthopedic surgeons, but an orthopedic surgeons who performs a specific hip procedure on geriatric patients with a history of ____. And they perform THAT procedure, all day long. Do they get to be in delivering babies one day and weilding a bone saw the next? No. But we do.

(I have an interview next week- need to keep reminding myself what I'm in this for, as starry eyed as it may be).

 

[idigapony70]

So I had a question regarding alternative career paths and whether or not it is vet medicine as a whole that is suffering, or just GP? It seems like the article in the NYTimes that is causing an uproar focused largely on GP, but how are other parts of the field doing? As I understand it, there are not very many people filling laboratory animal positions (the field I want to go into anyway, but I don't know how it might have recently changed). When I looked up openings at at a large research university for veterinary medicine, there were a couple entry positions that paid around 80K/year. With a relatively high starting wage, does that indicate the need in this part of the field? I mean to sit down and talk to one of the veterinarians soon to discuss the prospects in this field, especially because I am more than likely attending Western U, and if I can't get a decently paying job I might drown in a sea of debt... All feedback is appreciated!

 

[pirateyoho]

Not as a general practitioner though- they are just as underpaid and undervalued as we are.

My big attraction to vet med is the problem solving. The never knowing what you are going to get in, and having to figure out how to attempt to fix something you have never seen before. Or just figure out WHAT it is! You get to be creative constantly, from solving a behavior problem to coming up with a surgical procedure. Human doctors don't get to do this. GPs give vaccinations and pass everything fun on to a specialist. They don't get to see an OR, ever, even just to remove a skin mass. Specialists are so specialized now they aren't just orthopedic surgeons, but an orthopedic surgeons who performs a specific hip procedure on geriatric patients with a history of ____. And they perform THAT procedure, all day long. Do they get to be in delivering babies one day and weilding a bone saw the next? No. But we do.

(I have an interview next week- need to keep reminding myself what I'm in this for, as starry eyed as it may be).

👍 This is why human med is unattractive to me, as well (that, and I find human bodies icky ). I love how holistic veterinary medicine is in comparison. I also feel like we kind of get the best of both worlds because we get to work with animals *and* get to know our human clients. (They're not ALL crazy. I actually really like some of ours.)

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

So I had a question regarding alternative career paths and whether or not it is vet medicine as a whole that is suffering, or just GP? It seems like the article in the NYTimes that is causing an uproar focused largely on GP, but how are other parts of the field doing? As I understand it, there are not very many people filling laboratory animal positions (the field I want to go into anyway, but I don't know how it might have recently changed). When I looked up openings at at a large research university for veterinary medicine, there were a couple entry positions that paid around 80K/year. With a relatively high starting wage, does that indicate the need in this part of the field? I mean to sit down and talk to one of the veterinarians soon to discuss the prospects in this field, especially because I am more than likely attending Western U, and if I can't get a decently paying job I might drown in a sea of debt... All feedback is appreciated!

Keep in mind that the majority of these academic positions require a residency and board certification and/or a PhD. That's why the starting salary is so high. A position for an unspecialized person just out of school getting 80k at a teaching hospital would be very rare indeed...I have never seen one, although I suppose they may exist.

The problem with many specialties such as lab animal now, though, is that the positions going unfilled are usually very high-level ones and unsuitable for newly minted lab animal vets (ie a year or two out of residency). Findings a job as a brand-new specialist can be quite daunting in many specialties now.

 

[primatevetjess]

Keep in mind that the majority of these academic positions require a residency and board certification and/or a PhD. That's why the starting salary is so high. A position for an unspecialized person just out of school getting 80k at a teaching hospital would be very rare indeed...I have never seen one, although I suppose they may exist.

The problem with many specialties such as lab animal now, though, is that the positions going unfilled are usually very high-level ones and unsuitable for newly minted lab animal vets (ie a year or two out of residency). Findings a job as a brand-new specialist can be quite daunting in many specialties now.

I have to agree with WTF. I start a lab animal medicine residency in July, and I am constantly looking at job postings. Most of them are for director or assistant director positions and require 10+ years of post-residency experience. Even some of the postings for clinical veterinarians request 2-5 years of post-residency experience. Positions for LAM vets fresh out of residency are very few and far between. And with >30 residency programs, that's at least 30 people every year vying for those few positions (this isn't even taking into account the programs that take multiple residents each year).

I'm thrilled that I landed a residency, and very excited about it, but am starting to worry about what my job prospects will be when I'm finished.

 

[krist]

Not as a general practitioner though- they are just as underpaid and undervalued as we are.

My big attraction to vet med is the problem solving. The never knowing what you are going to get in, and having to figure out how to attempt to fix something you have never seen before. Or just figure out WHAT it is! You get to be creative constantly, from solving a behavior problem to coming up with a surgical procedure. Human doctors don't get to do this. GPs give vaccinations and pass everything fun on to a specialist. They don't get to see an OR, ever, even just to remove a skin mass. Specialists are so specialized now they aren't just orthopedic surgeons, but an orthopedic surgeons who performs a specific hip procedure on geriatric patients with a history of ____. And they perform THAT procedure, all day long. Do they get to be in delivering babies one day and weilding a bone saw the next? No. But we do.

(I have an interview next week- need to keep reminding myself what I'm in this for, as starry eyed as it may be).

Very true, and that is definitely one thing I love about vet med. Although some argue that vet med will eventually become uber-specialized one day too...

And while GP Mds are as undervalued and underpaid, they can (probably) always find a job somewhere and definitely make more than our average of 60-80. It's more the job and financial security that in enviable of human medicine, but we both have to deal with crazy patients/clients, and they most likely have more monotony day to day.

 

[EngrSC]

and then i keep reading/hearing/talking to these vets that are like "if i could go back in time I'd for sure go to med school" or something like that. I know human medicine has its fair share of problems and crazy patients and everything so I honeslty doubt its too much different in that respect, but at least you are getting paid 200k+ to deal with the crazies 👎

A close family friend of mine is an anesthesiologist and he's been practice for ~20 years now. At the time he applied to med school he was also accepted to vet school but was persuaded to go to med school because of the money, better job prospects, etc. etc. Looking back on it now, he hates anesthesiology and wishes he had gone to vet school instead. He despises human med.

So ... I think the moral of the story is, the grass always appears greener on the other side 🙄

 

[Trilt]

A close family friend of mine is an anesthesiologist and he's been practice for ~20 years now. At the time he applied to med school he was also accepted to vet school but was persuaded to go to med school because of the money, better job prospects, etc. etc. Looking back on it now, he hates anesthesiology and wishes he had gone to vet school instead. He despises human med.

So ... I think the moral of the story is, the grass always appears greener on the other side 🙄

My optometrist always tells me he loves his job, but wishes he had gone to vet school instead. Definitely think it's a greener grass situation.

 

[nyanko]

didn't read but

con: vet school sucks a bag of butts

hth

 

[Indigo10]

I'm currently a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. After this year I'll be completely done with the pre-reqs for vet/med school (I've done more bio courses than are required because I am a biology major). My GPA is above a 3.8 (so no worries on that). However, I'm recently been doubting whether I should actually make the commitment this summer, study for the GRE and try to get into a vet school. Believe me, I am completely passionate about animals. I've volunteered plenty of hours at hospitals to realize that I love helping animals. However, I've been having doubts about the overall lifestyle, stress, low-pay that vets can receive. I don't come from a family of a lot of money so affording vet school will be difficult. I'm not sure what to do at this point after reading how difficult the life of a vet is right after graduation. I worked my *** off to get to this point and I want to have some reward by the time I finish all my education. Any input from vets would be great...lifestyle, salary, overall reward from the job, stress...thanks.
P.S. : I'm not interested in this field to be super rich when I'm older, I would just like a decent reward after all the years of education and money spent.

I have not really read other peoples posts but I can tell you some of my pros and cons.

Pros:
I love working at a vet. Everyday when I go to work I am excited to treat patients. I love the medicine side of things but I also really like the business side. I like to learn new things that are hands on which is a common thing in vet med. I also may be that weird vet student that thinks vet school isn't that bad. I honestly think its 10X better then my undergrad. But that is just my opinion and I may have had different experiences then other people. Sure its hard, and we all have our bad days, but I am more happy then I have ever been in a school situation. I know for a fact that I would hate human medicine, so no regrets there.

Cons:
For a lot of people vet med is expensive. If you can find a way to do it in a affordable way then that is ideal. My debt won't be that bad after school, but I have to sacrifice a lot for it to be like that (sold my horse, lived on noodles...) The worst part is my parents actually have the money to help with my school, but they choose not too. They just both bought brand new cars when there other cars were TOTALLY FINE 🙁
Also the job market is tight, but if you are good at networking, talking to people, and if you don't mind moving for work its possible to find a job. Who knows where the job market will be in 4-5 years.

I think vet med is more of a calling then anything. I cant see myself doing anything else and if you follow your calling you will be happier then if you ignored it. There are problems with every career path... you just have to find the one that YOU would be most happy working with. Some people are more upset about the crazy clients and the financial constraints then I am. I honestly don't like the veterinarians behaving badly posts. A lot of them are really negative and even though that person hates there job and regrets it doesn't mean that everyone does. Its totally fine that shes posting on a blog, but I don't agree with her complaining about clients. I would have a huge problem with it personally if I was her co-worker. If any of her clients found out that she was posting about them, they could potentially tell everyone they know and then that would make a bad name for that particular clinic. I have met a lot of vets that are very happy with what they are doing and wouldn't trade there job for the world. So it all depends on you really and what kind of environment you want to work in. Vet med is a hard career path for everyone, but the amount of reward you get from working is different for each person.

 

[bbeventer]

My optometrist always tells me he loves his job, but wishes he had gone to vet school instead. Definitely think it's a greener grass situation.

My optometrist was trying to persuade me to go to optometry school instead of going into vet med. I told him I'm not keen on eyes. He he really enjoys his job though!

 

[ThePiedPiper]

My optometrist was trying to persuade me to go to optometry school instead of going into vet med. I told him I'm not keen on eyes. He he really enjoys his job though!

Haha. This reminded me of when I was bored to death learning about the retina in my Perception class, so looked at where studying the retina as intensely as my professor did/does could get you. After reading what a retinal surgeon's salary is, I joked and told my mother maybe I should get over my intense dislike and disgust of eyes.

 

[philomycus]

P.S. : I'm not interested in this field to be super rich when I'm older,.

excellent, b/c that prob won't happen

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

excellent, b/c that prob won't happen

 

[cowgirla]

Believe me, I am completely passionate about animals

.
Be prepared to spend more time with owners than with animals. And no matter how much you want to help the animals doesn't mean the owners will A) listen to you B) be able to afford treatment or C) choose to treat at all. You'll likely have to euthanize animals with "fixable" problems and that can take a toll if you are only in it to help animals.

salary, overall reward from the job, stress...thanks.

Reward - low. occasional puppy kisses and cuddly kittens.
Salary - even lower. unless you have a magic wand.
Stress- high. owners of said puppies and kittens will find something to complain about.

P.S. : I'm not interested in this field to be super rich when I'm older,

If you want to be any kind of rich, you should probably consider a different field. I suspect my next house will be a nice cardboard box somewhere.

I would just like a decent reward after all the years of education and money spent.

You get to play with puppies and kittens. or foals and calves. And...um....yeah, that's probably about it.



This post comes with a very large grain of salt and the disclaimer than I am in an "I hate vet school" mood tonight. Plan B/margarita shack is sounding better and better.

 

[twelvetigers]

didn't read but

con: vet school sucks a bag of butts

hth

Pretty much. Haha.