doc-to-be said:
I'm currently in my first year of med school, and I've got this nagging feeling that I'm in the wrong place...
It's a great med school, but my heart just isn't in it.
Before applying I spent a long time trying to decide between med school and vet school. I'm obsessed with horses and had seriously considered becoming an equine vet, but I think I let my head choose instead of my heart.
Have any of you had this type of experience? Any advice?
I'm so afraid of making the same mistake. I'm taking my sciences at Drexel's post-bacc program now and plan on med school over vet school for a few reasons even though I know I'd rather work with animals (in the words of my cat's vet, "We have much better patients!"
1) My post-bacc program ends this coming December with the MCATs that spring, and one of my programs linkages could vault me into med school only a few months after my MCAT's. Vet school would require me to spend that spring taking microbiology, biochem, and all the rest of those other prereq's that Vet school requires.
2) A part of me really does wants to work with human patients. Being an MD offers moments Vets don't get, and vice versa of course.
3) I'd want to work at a zoo with exotic species, not just be your normal neighborhood vet (which leads to #4). I assume this specialty is extremely difficult and competitive - on the level of neurosurgy for MD's.
4) I'd have to move to a zoo where there's a position for me. MD's are in demand in every city in the nation. I could wind up god knows where considering most cities don't need a DVM who treats leopards or something like that.
5) Vets are so drastically underpaid. For the work they put in they really get ripped off in the wallet.
OK, those are the only reasons I wouldn't choose vet school. I love domestic animals, but I have this obsession with wild animals, especially the predators like the big cats, wolves, crocodilians, bears, etc. I dunno what it is really, but my parents say I've been like this since the first time they took me to the zoo (cried like a baby when I left, the story goes). Even now, I'll only go to the zoo by myself because when I go I'm there forever and I don't need someone telling me "Lets go already, my feet hurt!!"
For me, being the vet/curator of a large sanctuary for wolves or cats would be the ultimate life. I could definitely handle working at a city zoo as well. I just don't know how close to reality that is. It seems easier to become an MD to be honest. What do you guys think? Is it near impossible to work secure work in an area like that?