Has anyone else decided on this path a bit late?

Veterinary Science Graduate Programs from U. of I.
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sh000435

sh000435

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This is my first post so to begin with, hello! I have been lurking for a while and finally created an account. I am a sophomore at a state school in Georgia. I am a history major right now, but I know that is not the route I want to take. I was only a history major because I didn't know what the heck I was doing with my life. So far, I have only taken one biology class and pre-calc. All of my other hours consist of core classes/history courses. I do volunteer at my local humane society. I don't know if that will help me any when it comes to getting into a program. I am just looking for some insight, some guidance, and maybe a little comfort because I am in a constant state of anxiety that I will not be able to become a veterinarian because I couldn't decide on a career until I turned 20.
 
You're only 20! I'm 25 and I'm just now going through my earliest pre reqs (Gen Chem 1 right now) You have so much time ahead of you, I won't even be able to apply until I'm 26 assuming I rock out 15 credit hours per semester while working full time to support myself. It doesn't matter what time you decide on your path, some people are 30s and older returning to school. It's about being mature enough and having enough self discipline to chase your dreams, because vet school requires so much of both. Age is irrelevant other than doing it now before you regret not doing it later 🙂 Make sure you get hours at vet clinics, not just the humane society, actual hospitals. Check into your schools (If GA is your instate, then you're in good shape) and what classes they specifically require, contact admissions. Take a deep breath and go step by step towards your goals 🙂
 
Well, if its any consolation, I changed my major 5 times and didn't decide on vet med until fall 2012 (so, the start of my 5th year). I worked my a** off and starting that January volunteered every chance I had at my vet clinic and explored every possible way to get experience. I had previously been a Nursing major so it took a lot of hard class work as well, as I had to double up on a lot of science classes, but it was worth it. I applied this cycle, and managed to grab about 500hrs total, between m vet clinic and an equine clinic. Its doable (and I only have a 3.38 cGPA). I applied to 4 US schools, was rejected by 3, but I have an interview for the 4th on Monday. I honestly wasn't expecting to get even an interview this cycle, but you CAN do it!!! That being said, I have about 4000hours of biomedical research experience which helped. BUT, I did this all in slightly more than 1 year....so you can DEFINITELY do it now!!
 
I'm 26 years old and just got accepted into Edinburgh. I have spent the past 2 years working in Animal Control, so going back to school might be hard. I didn't finish undergrad till I was 24.

I really don't have any excuse as to why I haven't applied till I'm so "old" but times slips by. I think if you are 20, you will be ok if you decide you want to be a vet.
 
LetItSnow said:
Hahahahahaha. 20 years old and a bit late?

Hahahahahahaha.

I love it. 🙂
Click to expand...

Don't you remember? If you haven't wanted to be a vet since you were 2, it is too late.... 😛 😉





OP, there are a lot of people here who have gone to vet school later in life after having a different career for 10-20 years. You are only 20 years old, you aren't by any means "late". Actually, you are still going to be among the early group compared to some. The best thing you can do, is to get some veterinary experience and shadow a vet, you need to make sure this is a career that you really want to pursue. Get experience first, then decide. 20 years old is still so young, you have more than enough time to make decisions and figure out what you want to do with life. Also, use the search function on the forums, this topic comes up quite frequently and you will find many other threads and posts on it with just a simple search.
 
I am 29 and on my first application cycle. If I get accepted this year I will be 30 when I start 1st year. You are not starting late!
 
So nice to hear that! I didn't mean to imply that I am old; I know I am very young. I am just the last one of my friends to decide on anything and it makes me feel like crap. Sorry if anyone was offended. :sorry:

I did try to use the search function - I will admit that I didn't try very hard.

How do I approach a vet/clinic about shadowing and volunteering? I have a few small clinics in my town that would be ideal.
 
Everyone here is really awesome! Thanks for all the speedy replies, advice, encouragement, and laughs. I apologize for my questions being basic and frequently asked.
 
sh000435 said:
So nice to hear that! I didn't mean to imply that I am old; I know I am very young. I am just the last one of my friends to decide on anything and it makes me feel like crap. Sorry if anyone was offended. :sorry:

I did try to use the search function - I will admit that I didn't try very hard.

How do I approach a vet/clinic about shadowing and volunteering? I have a few small clinics in my town that would be ideal.
Click to expand...

I am sure you didn't offend anyone... life isn't a race, so don't compare yourself to your friends. Some people take a bit of time to decide what they want to do and that is fine. There is no life race, no gold medal at the end, so explore some things, find out what interests you and decide upon what makes you happy, even if it takes you a few extra years than your peers, it is no big deal.

Best thing you can do, is walk into the clinic, with a resume and talk to them. Dress nicely, express your interest in vet med and ask if you can shadow for a day. If it goes well, then see about coming back more regularly with shadowing. 🙂
 
sh000435 said:
Everyone here is really awesome! Thanks for all the speedy replies, advice, encouragement, and laughs. I apologize for my questions being basic and frequently asked.
Click to expand...

Ha. Ok, I'm sorry I snarked at you. You didn't offend anyone, don't worry; there's nothing wrong with your question. It's just.... you're super young. You probably haven't closed the door on ANYTHING in life.

So no, it's not too late to choose a veterinary career if that's what you'd like. 🙂
 
Should I ask to speak to the vet or just whoever is at the front desk?
 
LetItSnow: No worries! I have thick skin. And sarcasm is funny too. :happy:
 
There are at least 3 people I know of in my class who are over 30, one who is late 40s, and the class above me has a woman who is in her 50s. Most are late 20s, but it's really never too late if you can financially afford it.

I think it's best to ask a vet directly, but a lot of times you have to go through the receptionist to get to the vet. A friend was told by a receptionist that they didn't take shadows, but when she took her dog in for an appointment and got face time with the vet, the vet said she could come. I got my vet hours thanks to a "who you know" type thing. My mom's boss's daughter is married to a local vet and they were willing to take me on with a paid position because our families knew each other. Just be persistent and keep trying clinics until you get a yes. Maybe ask to come shadow for just one day. See how that goes then ask to come back. Sometimes that approach seems more attractive to clinics rather than taking on a stranger for an extended commitment. That way, if you're not a match for the clinic or they're not a match for you, you're not stuck.
 
Accepted this cycle at 34, will be 35 when I start in August. At 20, you're embryonic. Go for it.
 
The average age for my class incoming last fall was 25... (granted, we have a few old people outliers skewing things a bit... 😛)

Shadowing in clinics is a great way for you to get your toes wet and to make sure you're actually in the field you want to be in. But if you hate shadowing, don't let that necessarily turn you away from vet med. I hated shadowing in clinics. Only did it a grand total of 4? times. Maybe it was 3. But I also don't think either of the clinics/vets I shadowed were particularly good fits for me... so it doesn't hurt to shop around. But even if all you take away from your first shadowing experience is that the sight of blood or the pus filled something-or-other squirting you in the face doesn't totally freak you out, well, that's a valuable piece of information right there. If you have a particular clinic in mind, call up their main line and make an inquiry with the receptionist. Or if you have a vet you take your pet to that you'd like to shadow, just ask them next time you're in. They still might make you talk to the receptionist since they're the ones who deal with the schedules. Don't be like me and make yourself a such a horrible anxious basket case about asking to shadow that you end up avoiding it for long enough that (long story short) you end up applying to vet school two years later than most of your pre-vet classmates. :nailbiting:
 
One thing I've learned since the start of my journey to becoming a vet: many paths can lead to becoming a veterinarian. I'm in a MS program for geology. I'll be going back to undergrad take the rest of my prereqs this fall, then applying in 2015. I'll be 25+ when I start vet school. 🙂

To start getting experience, I've been going to the Humane Society as a prevet volunteer. In a month, I've been able to help with presurgery prep, postsurgery recovery, blood draws, and restraints. I've also gotten to shadow surgeries. This gave me more confidence to ask other places about internships/shadowing/assistant positions. But it's all really about persistence. I've learned loads more than most prevet volunteers who've been there longer than me because I'm not afraid to ask to do something, since the worst they can say is no (and they usually say yes).
 
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