Employment During Vet School

[carterej]

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How many of you have employment during vet school? Do a lot of you spend ample time studying during the week and work on weekends? Are you single? Are you married? How do you balance finances? Any tips?

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I was single during school and lived by myself, and worked one and sometimes two part time jobs during vet school. I would take care of the lab and teaching animals on weekends (horses, dogs, mice, pigs, etc), and 2-3 days out of the week I was an after-hours emergency technician at the clinical pathology lab. I found it pretty manageable, but then again, I wasn't a huge crazy MUST STUDY person. I studied perhaps 5-10 hours a week. However, a lot of people, most I would say, studied more than I did. I am just a crammer, and it works for me - the pressure helps me remember things long-term. Other people retain things better by repetition - we're all different. It was pretty much just extra money for me, since I didn't make enough to put towards real expenses like rent.

 

[katryn]

Worked a weekend jobs all through first year and the first semester of second year. First year it was 3-4 hours on saturday at a vet's office; then spring break of first year I started working 10-15 hours a week at a boarding kennel. I just stopped working all together this semester because it became slightly overwhelming. I probably could have kept working 3-5 hours, but that wasn't useful for the job that I was at.

On average I study 20-25 hours a week, and I'm married. Overall, keeping everything in balance is pretty manageable for me, but I really don't care about having perfect grades either.

 

[lailanni]

I was single during school and lived by myself, and worked one and sometimes two part time jobs during vet school. I would take care of the lab and teaching animals on weekends (horses, dogs, mice, pigs, etc), and 2-3 days out of the week I was an after-hours emergency technician at the clinical pathology lab. I found it pretty manageable, but then again, I wasn't a huge crazy MUST STUDY person. I studied perhaps 5-10 hours a week. However, a lot of people, most I would say, studied more than I did. I am just a crammer, and it works for me - the pressure helps me remember things long-term. Other people retain things better by repetition - we're all different. It was pretty much just extra money for me, since I didn't make enough to put towards real expenses like rent.

We're pretty similar.

I worked off campus (a bakery) for the first 3 years. I'd do a minimum of 16 hours a week, and the most was 27.

I didn't study as much as I probably should have. I'm a crammer too. Seems to work fine for me. Work smarter, not harder. That's my motto.

I'd net about 5k a year (with summers and all), so it was worth it for sure. Basically offset my cost of living since I live cheaply. Or if you add it up, 15k is almost an entire year of vet school tuition.

4th year has royally sucked and I don't have enough free time to work. The free time I do have, I'm basically a sad pathetic ball curled up at home trying to catch up on laundry/dishes/sleep/the rest of my life. When I'm lucky I can sub a shift now and then. Not nearly as much as I'd like to.

I'm in a long distance relationship, so that works out fine.

I really enjoyed having a fun, creative job that had absolutely NO connection to school. It was kind of my refuge - a medicine/science free zone. I got free food and a store discount. Pretty dang good deal.

I am one of the very few people who worked off campus. Most who worked got some kind of school related job. Find what suits you best. For me, you couldn't pay me enough to spend more time at school but some people don't seem to mind extra time on campus.

 

[jmo1012]

i guess i'm the opposite of the above posters, i work 2 hours a week as a group review session facilitator and even that seems like more than i can spare sometimes! i probably study 6-8 hours a day after my 7 hours of class-there is absolutely no way i'd be making good grades (or even just passing some classes) without this. this is also a complete change for me because in undergrad i was more of a crammer! i am very jealous of ya'll that get by on 5-10 hours of study a week!!!

i think it just depends on who you are honestly, and i think you definitely need to give yourself some time to adjust to the new school routine before you make decisions about jobs and such.

 

[VET 2008]

I did work and was glad I did.

I had a couple of different jobs. First to 2nd year worked about 10 hours a week (3 during the week and 6-8 on Saturday). It was good for me and made me use my time well.

I also delivered papers for the school during my second year. 1 hour each morning Monday through Friday. Only sucked when it was raining for snowing.

 

[lailanni]

i think it just depends on who you are honestly, and i think you definitely need to give yourself some time to adjust to the new school routine before you make decisions about jobs and such.

That's good advice. I didn't start working until partway through the first semester. I'm glad I didn't start out working right away, it would have been overwhelming. But after a while I noticed I felt bored and the job was just what I needed. Bake stuff with your own creative whims in a well stocked professional kitchen? Heck. I probably would have done it for free.

For me, having a busy schedule (with things I like) keeps me motivated. (Now, having a schedule full of stuff that ticks me off - that's a different story!)

I really looked forward to going to work. I enjoyed it a ton. It was both a job and recreation. I do NOT endorse getting a time consuming job during vet school that you don't like. Your free time will be at a premium and you'll want to spend it wisely.

One of the cushy things about working on-campus is that people are more aware of your exam schedule and understand what a sys path exam means. Off campus they likely won't be as flexible. I stuck to my work schedule, triple exam week or not.

 

[katryn]

I do NOT endorse getting a time consuming job during vet school that you don't like. Your free time will be at a premium and you'll want to spend it wisely.

This. That's actually part of the reason I finally stopped working. My boss went from being super nice and really accommodating with me, to my way or the highway I don't care what schedule you would like to have. She also managed to run off a few of the better people to work with and replace them with people who are mediocre at best. I went from looking forward to getting out of my house for a shift, to dreading the schedule email each week. 🙁

 

[sumstorm]

I run my own business in animal training, and at least one other vet student that posts regularly does as well. I feel a little bad that I am opting to continue my former work in behavior rather than getting more time in at a practice, but the higher pay and control of my schedule is so important. I work anywhere from 2hr - 18hr depending on the week but average 4hr (that includes creating training plans for other trainers, commercial work, evaluations, and actual hands on work.)

 

[carterej]

I've already been contacting clinics/other positions close to campus or in my home city (which I will probably drive to on weekends, seeing that it is only 1 hour away).

What salary does everyone anticipate making/did you make starting out/etc.? I've been keeping tabs on it the past year, but really would like the most HONEST feedback possible. I know it will vary by location and practice type, but I'm still interested in any feedback I may obtain.

The reason I ask is, I've really been struggling. Veterinary medicine has been my lifelong dream...what I've prepped for...what I know...what I'm skilled in...and I want it so badly I can taste it. I was accepted into my state institution for the DVM program. BUT, I also formulated a back up plan and was accepted into a PhD program with paid tuition, annual stipend, and insurance which would not require me to leave home or my boyfriend (soon to be fiance).

I'm really trying to get honest to goodness feedback from newer graduates who are integrating themselves into the field as practicioners. Do you regret your decision?
Did you have other options? Was the debt worth it?

Please provide any feedback possible.🙁

 

[skittles12]

Bake stuff with your own creative whims in a well stocked professional kitchen? Heck. I probably would have done it for free.

I just want to say I'm pretty jealous. I always tell my friends that I'm going to become a baker if vet school doesn't work out.

I had a job of regular pet-sitting the summer after 1st year. I continued it for a while into 2nd year, but once we started having 2 exams every week, I felt like it was too much. I just felt like I had no free time because I was studying and playing catch-up all the time. And what little free time I did have, I didn't want to spend bathing and grooming someone else's dogs...thankfully, the owner was very understanding of things and I helped her find someone else that would be more suitable.

 

[sumstorm]

The reason I ask is, I've really been struggling. Veterinary medicine has been my lifelong dream...what I've prepped for...what I know...what I'm skilled in...and I want it so badly I can taste it. I was accepted into my state institution for the DVM program. BUT, I also formulated a back up plan and was accepted into a PhD program with paid tuition, annual stipend, and insurance which would not require me to leave home or my boyfriend (soon to be fiance).

Just wanted to point out that you are comparing two very different aspects of these two programs. For the DVM program you are considering the 'after education' aspect (being a vet) but with the PhD program you are very focused on the 'during education' aspect (staying at home/with bf.) What happens to your considerations when you compare the pros/cons of both the during and after education? It sounds like you are experiencing ambivalence where you are drawn to the lifestyle vs the career dream. After you compare during and after for each, the biggest thing I can say is don't have regrets.

 

[carterej]

Well, I know that DVM will be easier for me to get through and MUCH more interesting to me and it's what I know I really enjoy. Buuut...with the way the economy is the Ph D draws me in as well. But, I know that with veterinary, private practice isn't the only option out there...I guess it's just hard to step into something when you're wondering "how are things going to be 10 years down the road". But, I don't want to regret not taking this once in a lifetime opportunity 🙂.

 

[GellaBella]

Well, I know that DVM will be easier for me to get through and MUCH more interesting to me and it's what I know I really enjoy. Buuut...with the way the economy is the Ph D draws me in as well. But, I know that with veterinary, private practice isn't the only option out there...I guess it's just hard to step into something when you're wondering "how are things going to be 10 years down the road". But, I don't want to regret not taking this once in a lifetime opportunity 🙂.

Well, I'm not you. And I am not in your situation. But I have a PhD and am VERY happy that I'm now going into vet med. Job prospects for researchers are not good. and the fact that you said that a DVM would be MUCH more interesting to you tells me that a PhD is not for you...do not go and spend 6 years of your life on something you're not crazy about. It's hard enough to finish a PhD when you like research. I personally think there are many many more opportunities for me in vetmed than there would have been had I stayed on the tract I was and did a post doc.

Ask yourself this: do i want a job where my role is to run a lab, write grants for funding, and mentor graduate students? It will most likely NOT involve hands on bench research. ....if YES. then the PhD MIGHT be a good path for you.

If you said NO...then do not do a PhD. A PhD trains you to be a PI, My guess is that thats' not what you want to be. and Id hate for you to regret agonizing away in a PhD program and regret turning away from vetmed. the door wont be closed, you could always come back to it...but in 7 years you're going to feel much older (believe me) and it's going to feel harder (believe me).

I'm not trying to make your mind up for you. I just think you need to really think about what you want

 

[libster06]

I don't work. I never planned to work. I wish I had the money, but the work commitment isn't something I wanted to have to keep up with. Some people don't mind, but I do. "But it's like a few hours a week." Well, so is class, and I can barely concentrate in class when I know I have a test coming up I could be studying for. To each his own though, definitely.

 

[sumstorm]

I don't work. I never planned to work. I wish I had the money, but the work commitment isn't something I wanted to have to keep up with. Some people don't mind, but I do. "But it's like a few hours a week." Well, so is class, and I can barely concentrate in class when I know I have a test coming up I could be studying for. To each his own though, definitely.

I admit, the only reason I am able to do any of it is because I completly control my schedule..so the day or two before an exam, I don't work. I will say, now that we have to do clinical experiences, time in a vet clinic is increasing my enthusiasm for my education.

 

[chickenlittle]

I worked for The Princeton Review through vet school and taught GRE/SAT prep classes. Hands down, best. job. ever. It was the most enjoyable/rewarding job I've ever had, pay was great for a PT job (started at $15/hr and was earning $20/hr by the time I left), and the schedule was relatively flexible (class schedule was posted at start of the semester and you could sign up for whichever classes you wanted to teach). My total time commitment average approx 10 hrs/wk (including classes & private review sessions), which always seemed quite reasonable to fit in around classes/studying/etc. On clinics, I usually wouldn't teach.... though I would take on the occasional marketing session or individual tutorial if it was during an easy rotation.