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Just wondering if any of you have begun on a different path, and then switched/dropped out of the program to pursue veterinary medicine?
career changes anyone?
- Thread starter tamsdivision
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I began on a different path, and kept at it for 20+ years. Congratulations to you and everyone else for figuring it out faster than me.
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I've been a boat mechanic in the Coast Guard for the past six and a half years. Yuck. My first degree is in Health Science (Sports Medicine concentration) and my current second-degree major is Clinical Lab Science (I was going to prepare for a backup career in case I didn't get into med school).
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I've been a legal secretary for 10 years and have always wanted to be a vet! I just decided last fall that it was time to stop putting off my dream. 
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Wow... that seems an awfully negative way to view it....
I posted this before but like it anyway ...
As Grandmaster Lee told me: "It does not matter when you start, it only matters that you are doing it today" (Or something like that).
So far (and it is VERY early) the biggest difference I feel with the "kids" almost 1/2 my age is that they drink a lot more than I can. 🙁
And in answer to OP post..... Hedge fund trader ===> vet school
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"So far (and it is VERY early) the biggest difference I feel with the "kids" almost 1/2 my age is that they drink a lot more than I can. 🙁"
Love this! 🙂
Love this! 🙂
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This is an edited version of my post from another thread hahaha...
I started pre-vet school right out of high school away from home, became extremely sick, moved back to my hometown, changed my major 5 times (including sociology, psychology, and liberal arts; hated all of them), got a full time career in a completely different field, got married to a U.S. Marine, moved across the country, moved back across the country after he was discharged, got divorced, and have finally gotten back on track and gung-ho on my passion and dream since I was 3 years old in the past year and a half. ***dont mind the massive run-on sentence haha***
I started pre-vet school right out of high school away from home, became extremely sick, moved back to my hometown, changed my major 5 times (including sociology, psychology, and liberal arts; hated all of them), got a full time career in a completely different field, got married to a U.S. Marine, moved across the country, moved back across the country after he was discharged, got divorced, and have finally gotten back on track and gung-ho on my passion and dream since I was 3 years old in the past year and a half. ***dont mind the massive run-on sentence haha***
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Hey Tams,
I was in the middle of my pre-doctoral training and was scheduled to start my PhD in neuroscience when I put on the breaks and began to consider a career in vet med. Let me tell ya - that was a 'fun' few days!! Anyway... Becoming a veterinarian had never crossed my mind until I began to care for my own animals in my work and saw the need for more veterinary professionals in the research and public health fields. I guess it had always been way back in my mind... I always loved animals; and all of my previous work towards a career focused on the behavior and well being of critters. So, as they say, you gotta do what you gotta do. If your heart is leaning towards vet med, then go for it. Look into it, find a local vet to shadow and learn from, take a class or two, etc... If if it feels 'right' then you'll know. After all, you can't spend the rest of your life wondering 'what if?'.
Best of luck to you!!!
I was in the middle of my pre-doctoral training and was scheduled to start my PhD in neuroscience when I put on the breaks and began to consider a career in vet med. Let me tell ya - that was a 'fun' few days!! Anyway... Becoming a veterinarian had never crossed my mind until I began to care for my own animals in my work and saw the need for more veterinary professionals in the research and public health fields. I guess it had always been way back in my mind... I always loved animals; and all of my previous work towards a career focused on the behavior and well being of critters. So, as they say, you gotta do what you gotta do. If your heart is leaning towards vet med, then go for it. Look into it, find a local vet to shadow and learn from, take a class or two, etc... If if it feels 'right' then you'll know. After all, you can't spend the rest of your life wondering 'what if?'.
Best of luck to you!!!
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20 years in law enforcement, kids graduated high school and I started college. Life in reverse is great!
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I lasted as a programmer/tech drone at a clearing firm for stock brokerages for less than three months after graduation with a CS degree. 
That was in like, 2004 and it still took me about 5 years to start making sense out of myself.
That was in like, 2004 and it still took me about 5 years to start making sense out of myself.
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its so great to hear that you have all finally started following your dream. I guess it takes longer for some of us.
Good luck to all of you!
Good luck to all of you!
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At Penn, I would say that non-traditionals almost outnumber traditional applicants (assuming traditional = applying straight from undergrad). In my class there are lots of health/vet related MS holders, at least 1 pHd (props to GellaBella), many research people, and a bunch of vet techs
In completely non-related fields there are RE brokers, a whole bunch of finance people (not only me!), teachers, a lawyer, and a number of other random professions.
In completely non-related fields there are RE brokers, a whole bunch of finance people (not only me!), teachers, a lawyer, and a number of other random professions.
Three years of a BSc (Animal Production) degree, two years working in the animal/agriculture industries, and I've finally realised its not quite what I wanted. I guess its a short time compared to some other people.
I'm actually glad it worked out this way. I applied to a vet sci course fresh from high school (remember I'm in Australia, we can do that), as a baby faced 17 yr old. I didn't get in, I did the application and interview and had the high marks but still didn't get it. Went into the aforementioned course instead, and made my career in livestock production. And it was completely the right thing for me. Looking back now, I didn't fully understand the industry and I wasn't 100% dedicated to it. I didn't know what I was getting myself into.
Now I understand the industry, I understand the role, and I'm committed like I've never been before. I believe my job experience, and my LIFE experience is going to make me a better and stronger veterinarian.
I'm actually glad it worked out this way. I applied to a vet sci course fresh from high school (remember I'm in Australia, we can do that), as a baby faced 17 yr old. I didn't get in, I did the application and interview and had the high marks but still didn't get it. Went into the aforementioned course instead, and made my career in livestock production. And it was completely the right thing for me. Looking back now, I didn't fully understand the industry and I wasn't 100% dedicated to it. I didn't know what I was getting myself into.
Now I understand the industry, I understand the role, and I'm committed like I've never been before. I believe my job experience, and my LIFE experience is going to make me a better and stronger veterinarian.
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Like StartingOverVet, we have a couple of PhD's, several MS's, a lot of us with previous careers (though I don't really consider the folks who have been vet techs for two-three application cycles right after undergrad as non-trads) and it works. I have noticed a few more differences; fewer traditional students are as impacted by the life, health and well-being of spouses and children, and with needing to help their own parents with various concerns. I certainly don't drink or go sleep deprived as much as some of the younger students, and some of the big concerns they have aren't on my plate (no upcoming weddings, dating, engagements, etc.)
Realisticly though, everyone has their own priorities, and the only real issues I have had being a student is dealing with living 3.5 hours from my husband and our house....and now dealing with his lay off as the sole income in the family, having to help my parents/grandparents financially in the past, having an established household of 8 pets (vs when I came out of undergrad with a tortoise and a tarantula), needing to stop fostering (don't think many trad students are foster parents to humans), and the general family obligations that come with all that. I think there are some huge advantages; I relate really well to most of our instructors, I am comfortable in surgery and clinics, I don't get upset when clients are difficult, things that would have upset me when I was 21 aren't a big deal now, technology has improved massivly since I was in college and I love note taking on a laptop (couldn't have afforded one if I had gone the traditional route), and I have a solid network outside of school/vet med. I also have a business that I can continue to run while in school (not great money, but useful) and I have a background that earns speaking gigs that pay, which is a nice supplemental income.
Realisticly though, everyone has their own priorities, and the only real issues I have had being a student is dealing with living 3.5 hours from my husband and our house....and now dealing with his lay off as the sole income in the family, having to help my parents/grandparents financially in the past, having an established household of 8 pets (vs when I came out of undergrad with a tortoise and a tarantula), needing to stop fostering (don't think many trad students are foster parents to humans), and the general family obligations that come with all that. I think there are some huge advantages; I relate really well to most of our instructors, I am comfortable in surgery and clinics, I don't get upset when clients are difficult, things that would have upset me when I was 21 aren't a big deal now, technology has improved massivly since I was in college and I love note taking on a laptop (couldn't have afforded one if I had gone the traditional route), and I have a solid network outside of school/vet med. I also have a business that I can continue to run while in school (not great money, but useful) and I have a background that earns speaking gigs that pay, which is a nice supplemental income.
