Gaining experience during the semester

[Backwoods Boy]

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Hey everyone. I know this sounds like the typical experience question and maybe it is but I am unsure. What I would like to know is how you balance school, studying, experience, and work.

I know it is probably something that one just has to figure out and that makes sense. However, is it plausible to do this?

I drive approx. 50 miles to school. I have classes MWF this fall from 8-3 MW and 8-1 F. On Tuesday and Thursday I'd like to work 8 hours or so at a local animal hospital to gain experience. Would it be plausible to work a couple hours MWF after classes at another clinic to gain experience there as well? I am going from a 13 credit hour semester to and 18 (I know, not a big difference).

So is it one of those things that I should just test the waters and see or wait on the 1-2 hr daily experience for another semester to make sure things work out.

What would you do?

 

[cubs11]

I was in a similar situation driving that distance to and from school, with classes M-Th all day. It of course depends on your classes (the work load involved) to determine if you can handle those hours working as well. However, what about volunteering for additional hours? Perhaps at an emergency clinic that has later hours on the days you have class or one day on the weekend? Volunteering might give you a little more freedom to work around your school schedule. Good luck 🙂

 

[aspiringDVM]

Personally, I'd probably stick with working at the one clinic and see how it goes -- you don't want to stretch yourself too thin. On the other hand, if you have a good GPA but are really low in experience, it might be worth it . My commute isn't as long as yours (about half an hour), but I've found that taking ~20 hours/ semester and working one day a week plus Saturdays is just about perfect for me.
Don't you envy the people who can roll out of bed and walk across campus to be at class within 15 minutes?

 

[Backwoods Boy]

Personally, I'd probably stick with working at the one clinic and see how it goes -- you don't want to stretch yourself too thin. On the other hand, if you have a good GPA but are really low in experience, it might be worth it . My commute isn't as long as yours (about half an hour), but I've found that taking ~20 hours/ semester and working one day a week plus Saturdays is just about perfect for me.
Don't you envy the people who can roll out of bed and walk across campus to be at class within 15 minutes?

I forgot that I could work Saturday's...

I just got my first experience in the field this summer and I only have 40 hrs or so thus far due to weather and other issues. Not a lot can be done outside with horses when it's raining like crazy.

 

[VeganSoprano]

For me, it works well to have part of the week focused on work and part focused on school. I work 7-5 Sat-Tues so I have Weds, Thurs, and Fri to focus on school. I work a second job and only attend school part-time (I'm a non-trad and already have a first bachelor's), but that sort of balance works well for me. When I'm at work, I'm focused on work. When I'm not at work, I spend a lot of time focused on school. Volunteer experience can be worked in a few hours a month.

 

[StillDreaming]

i would hold off on the extra experience... Focus on the one clinic and if you find you really can ahndle more, then go for it... But wait a couple weeks till classes have got into high gear... the diff between 13 and 18 is huge depending on these classes and how hard they are...

my advice is wait, and decide either next semester or half way through this semester

 

[Backwoods Boy]

I will probably hold off on the extra experience (for now at least). I know that I am going to take some classes there next summer so I will have multiple experience opportunities (research, emergency clinic, wildlife sanctuary).

 

[Backwoods Boy]

Called a local vet. He said he could use the help and does surgeries on Tuesday's and Thursday's. Thankfully, those are the day's I am off.