Coping with hating vet school

[spicycookie33]

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As the title states, i am very much not enjoying vet school. I'm in my first year and I feel overstimulated and overwhelmed in every way possible. dont have much else to say besides is there anyone else here who did not enjoy their love vet school experience? and when does it get start to get better?

 

[battie]

I'm sorry you're not jiving with vet school. It's hard, it's long, it's unforgiving. Not sure if you just want to commiserate or want some true advice. In case of the latter, I would say that identifying what the causes of the overstimulation and what seems overwhelming to you is a place to start.

As an example, I never missed a class in first year 1.0. Like I went to 98% of my classes for the whole year in addition to all the clubs and such. When I repeated first year, I went to class for the sake of being socially integrated with my class, but didn't go for the benefit of the lecture unless they were a prof that actually taught and expounded on their slides. Otherwise I put in headphones and made my own flashcards or outlines (whatever worked for that subject). Massive improvement in my grades, like 5-6%.

Next was realistic expectations. I went in wanting to be top of my class, being a badass and such. Obviously I repeated first year 🤣 I found my expectations if myself too high and had to acknowledge and accept that. So then I settled for "pass". Stress greatly improved and now I live by, "Do the best you can with what you have".

 

[pp9]

As the title states, i am very much not enjoying vet school. I'm in my first year and I feel overstimulated and overwhelmed in every way possible. dont have much else to say besides is there anyone else here who did not enjoy their love vet school experience? and when does it get start to get better?

I didn't love vet school either. I mean, what's to love? You're slogging through an onslaught of material and paying through the nose for it, it's not exactly a fun time. I'm grateful for the friends I made and what I learned, but I'd never want to go back. It did start to get better by second year just because you're done with a lot of the miserable lab time (anatomy, mainly). Third year and clinics were even better, although each period of vet school comes with its own challenges.

 

[Caia]

I did not enjoy vet school. I would not go back if I was transported into the past, even if I am finally happy now several years post-grad.

Agreed with @battie that you have to figure out what is overstimulating and overwhelming. I could have used a therapist during my years in school and it would be something I recommend for everyone. You're often still learning about yourself in this process and having someone help you sort through your feelings when you're having a hard time is invaluable.

I am a late-in-life diagnosed ADHD. Vet school likely would have been much less miserable for me if I had figured it out sooner.

What helped me getting through was focusing on my end goal. Why did you decide to go to vet school? What are your passions? Spending some time in a clinic or shelter with animals helped remind me why I was putting myself through it.

Self care is also important. You do need to have non-school time to do something you enjoy outside of vet med. Even when it feels impossible with the schedule, caring for yourself so you can continue the slog is important.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. Being a new grad also sucks but that can be a future problem. One step at a time and you'll be at the end before you know it.

 

[Caia]

I also feel that we make getting into vet school and becoming a veterinarian such a huge part of ourselves and our identity that when you get there and it sucks, it can really mess with you. I went through several crises of identity through school and in the years after graduation. When the picture I had envisioned for myself wasn't matching reality, I struggled thinking there was something wrong with me. Therapy has always helped significantly and allowed me to sort out why I was struggling and changing my mindset. Seriously, cannot recommend enough.

 

[pp9]

I also feel that we make getting into vet school and becoming a veterinarian such a huge part of ourselves and our identity that when you get there and it sucks, it can really mess with you. I went through several crises of identity through school and in the years after graduation. When the picture I had envisioned for myself wasn't matching reality, I struggled thinking there was something wrong with me. Therapy has always helped significantly and allowed me to sort out why I was struggling and changing my mindset. Seriously, cannot recommend enough.

This is such a great point. I do think part of the incoming vet student has this feeling that they will finally love school, they will be interested in everything, it's going to be a great time because it's ***VET SCHOOL*** the dream you've been dreaming of, they will love the day to day, etc. It's really grueling, it's school on steroids and it's a lot. I don't think I could think of any of my classmates that could honestly say they truly loved the 'school' part of vet school.

 

[katiemcat]

I can honestly say I’ve hated vet school. I love the friends I’ve made along the way. I’m excited for the future. But you couldn’t pay me to do this all over again. Vet school is a means to an end. I don’t think it’s crazy at all to not enjoy being under constant mental and physical stress while actively hemorrhaging money.

 

[TheDogFather]

I personally did not "hate" vet school. I was a non-traditional student that came to school after many years in a completely unrelated field. I would describe my take as a mixture of disappointment, bemusement, and a small degree of disgust. Almost all of the instructors and staff were tolerable to very nice but it quickly became apparent that the curriculum was a meandering maze of unrelated facts and subjects presented by faculty reading PowerPoint slides identical to the hardcopy notes that we had to purchase. Quantity took precedence over quality and the practical was tertiary to the possible and, again, volume. I could go on and on but understand that you are not alone and that outside the walls of academia there is much dissatisfaction with the current state of veterinary education on the part of vets in the "trenches" and their clients. If you aren't thinking of specializing, you are there to pretty much hold down a chair and generate tuition dollars. Nothing more.

 

[mgosborne03]

I’m also a current first year and feel the same way. I’m not doing well in multiple classes and scared that I’m going to fail a class. I’m not even struggling with understanding the material it’s just so much information that I feel constantly overwhelmed. I’m not much help but just wanted you to know you’re not alone in feeling that way!

 

[sfjmercado]

I personally did not "hate" vet school. I was a non-traditional student that came to school after many years in a completely unrelated field. I would describe my take as a mixture of disappointment, bemusement, and a small degree of disgust. Almost all of the instructors and staff were tolerable to very nice but it quickly became apparent that the curriculum was a meandering maze of unrelated facts and subjects presented by faculty reading PowerPoint slides identical to the hardcopy notes that we had to purchase. Quantity took precedence over quality and the practical was tertiary to the possible and, again, volume. I could go on and on but understand that you are not alone and that outside the walls of academia there is much dissatisfaction with the current state of veterinary education on the part of vets in the "trenches" and their clients. If you aren't thinking of specializing, you are there to pretty much hold down a chair and generate tuition dollars. Nothing more.

You should see the show that nursing schools put on - try a nursing diagnosis and care plans. Oh and white shoes.