Do you get days off during vet school?

[KHansen1288]

I'm going to be a nurse while going to vet school so I don't get into a whole bunch of dept, but I don't know if we get a couple of days off or if students can arrange your school schedule with your work schedule.

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[Ashgirl]

Do you mean a few days off a semester, or a few days off a week?

Unfortunately, your schedule (for the most part) is all set for you. Unless there are electives, you don't really get to pick what you take. Time in class/lab does vary by school, but most have a pretty full schedule (9am-3/4pm give or take a few hours here and there), so if you are planning to work a substantial amount, it might be difficult to balance school and working. Taking a few days off a semester (so skipping class/lab) could be possible I suppose, though missing a few days a week to work could be problematic/discouraged.

On a personal note, I don't think it would be possible for me to get a job at the moment due to the sheer amount of studying required. However, there are several in my class who work 5-10 hours a week outside of class and find it doable, so it's all up to you and how you adjust to the curriculum.

 

[lei325]

Yeah, I agree with Ashgirl. I wouldn't recommend working a whole lot, you'll burnout quickly and that's not healthy. It's not like undergrad where you can pick and choose which classes you take at certain times. You might be able to pull a graveyard shift (I'm guessing by nurse you mean human nurse) on a weekend, but there's no way you can do a full time job and go to vet school at the same time.

 

[hedgehogcatcher]

I also agree. You don't get to pick your schedule except 1-2 electives and our schedule isn't always the same week to week. We're usually full up most days 8-3 or 8-5 depending on the afternoon labs that day. Occasionally we'll have 1-2 hour blocks off during that time. Usually the schedule posted at the beginning of the semester changes some as things come up, too.
So, your options for regular shifts are generally limited to after 5pm or on weekends (though i'm sure you could sub in for someone on occasional light days)
Also, you will need to spend a few hours a night studying. Semesters average 20 credits each, way more than an undergraduate full load. 20 hours total studying outside of class per week is probably a conservative estimate (with individual variation depending on learning style and goals)
Working is not recommended but a lot of students do work 5-10 hours a week with few problems. More than that and you're risking burning out and/or not having enough time to study. If you're spending that much money you might as well give yourself the best chance of succeeding!

 

[lailanni]

I'm going to be a nurse while going to vet school so I don't get into a whole bunch of dept, but I don't know if we get a couple of days off or if students can arrange your school schedule with your work schedule.

Your whole schedule is totally plotted out for you and most of your days are full.You sort of have weekends off during the early years, but you won't later on as you have patient care. And generally you'll probably take some of the weekend to study or go into lab. So you're really only truly free during school breaks.

You can work if you want to, but it really depends on your personality and how you deal with vet school. I was working anywhere from 12-24 hours a week (in a bakery) because it was fun for me, not work. So it was both a money maker and a stress outlet. During the first couple years I could work closing shifts and weekends. I had to cut way back and only sub shifts when I was in clinics.

I don't suggest taking your free time to actually WORK at something that feels like work! That could be a recipe for disaster. You have such little free time - you need to make it worth your while, not exhaust yourself.

If you really want to work to decrease debt, I imagine you can go somewhat full time during the summers as a nurse? That could pay well?