HELP - trying to decide if I should quit

[TheNerdiestRedneck]

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Hey there everyone. So I'm having a difficult time deciding if I should keep my vet assistant job (which I've had for about a year and a half, ~1,500 hours) during my senior year. The hospital cut down everyone's hours over the summer, especially mine, so I tried to find another job at a different hospital, but had no success. I did however get a part time job at a horse farm, and have just been working both. As fall semester is quickly approaching, I need to decide which job I'm going to keep during the school year, since I'm taking 6 classes and there's no way I can do both. I've been frustrated with my vet job for a while now, as are most of the other staff. Our hospital and our sister hospital (we're both VCA hospitals) both have a very high turnover rate because of how employees are treated. I had my heart set on quitting the hospital and keeping the barn job, but now I'm freaking out because I want to do what's best for my vet school apps, and what's best for myself, but I don't want to make a wrong choice.

I attached a pro/con list I made, as well. Any advice/input is appreciated.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

What would you enjoy more?

Life is not vet school. Don't get into the habit of forcing yourself to be miserable because of numbers. That is a one way ticket to burnout. Diversify.

 

[TheNerdiestRedneck]

I enjoy my job as an assistant, and I love working in the field, but I do not enjoy the hospital I work at.
I have other hours too, but even though I'm taking a few years off to work and take more classes, I know I'll need all the hours I can get. I'll probably graduate with a 3.0, and I'm going to try to raise it a bit before applying, but I know I need to have a lot of experience hours.

 

[katashark]

So you have 1500 hours of small animal? Go for barn stuff. New and interesting and you don't have to stay at the crappy hospital.


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[DVMDream]

Hours are just a number. Consider the actual experience. Also consider any LoR.... it is not worth it to burn out at a place you don't like just to add some hours. You have plenty of small animal hours, do you have a good LOR from a vet?

 

[TheNerdiestRedneck]

Hours are just a number. Consider the actual experience. Also consider any LoR.... it is not worth it to burn out at a place you don't like just to add some hours. You have plenty of small animal hours, do you have a good LOR from a vet?

I'm sure one or both of the vets at the SA hospital would do an LOR for me. They both wrote one when I was applying for a month-long equine hospital internship (which I got). Should I get them to write LORs now, even though I'm not applying for a few years?

 

[katashark]

I'm sure one or both of the vets at the SA hospital would do an LOR for me. They both wrote one when I was applying for a month-long equine hospital internship (which I got). Should I get them to write LORs now, even though I'm not applying for a few years?

Yeah, while you are fresh in their mind. They can always save it for when you apply and submit it, or they can give you a copy, then when you apply you can refresh their memories by sending their first draft to them.

 

[Lupin21]

I'm sure one or both of the vets at the SA hospital would do an LOR for me. They both wrote one when I was applying for a month-long equine hospital internship (which I got). Should I get them to write LORs now, even though I'm not applying for a few years?

Hopefully you would also have another vet that was more recent to your application as well. I believe it best to have the people writing the LORs to know you and what you've got at the time of the application. 🙂

 

[TheNerdiestRedneck]

Thanks so much you guys, you really calmed my nerves about it. I really do feel like quitting is what's best right now. I put in my resignation, and they said I'm still welcome to come back any time!