If you could think of one thing you'd rather do, veterinary medicine is not for you

[confused7]

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That was the impression I got from reading this forum, if anyone can remember me from my previous thread.

This question is mainly directed at current vet students or working vets:

Is it true that this is the only profession you could ever see yourself doing?
Have you always wanted to become a vet?

I have just given up my place in vet school and the regret is starting swallow me.

Although I have never wanted to be a veterinary surgeon, I felt like this was a profession I would be able to grow into and learn to love. I still have no idea what I'm going to do with my life, any ideas?

`~`~`~Farvel, Ciao, Goodbye vet school~`~`~`

 

[Felixor90]

Good for you for realizing this is not your path. Although it's worth it for most of us, I'm pretty sure there's a lot of people that wish they could see themselves doing something else.

 

[stenodactylus]

I could see myself being an animal control officer. I really could. Or a police officer or work for fish and game.

But I'm still starting vet school this fall. Next week, actually. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Cyndia]

While I am really sorry to hear that you have given up your place, I'm also happy to hear it - I know it must have been a really tough decision, but with your circumstances I think it may have been the right one. I know it must feel really awful, but if it helps, keep in mind you don't necessarily have to give it up vet med completely. Once you sort out some of the other things going on in your life, if you feel ready and find you're still thinking a lot about becoming a vet, you could always try reapplying later.. Or you may end up finding some alternative career path that you really like. What is it about vet med that attracted you so much in the first place? That might help you find something else you would enjoy, perhaps going into research, or working as a technician, etc.

Personally, I did consider majoring in computer programming for about a year when I was in high school. I had taken some programming classes and was really good at it, but I realised pretty quickly that I'd probably be unhappy with sitting at a computer all day (I did an internship at a government office and hated it), so I decided to pursue vet med since that had been my dream since I was a kid. I made this choice when I was young and uninformed about the debt, and by the time I'd come to realise the truth, I was already nearly finished with my animal science degree. There was nothing I was interested in that I could have done with that degree, so I did a masters since I was somewhat interested in research. I realised pretty quickly that being buried in a lab was also not for me, and by then I'd invested so much money into that career path already, I felt I had no choice but to pursue vet med. It was still my dream though, and I really just didn't see myself in any other path that was feasible - anything that I even remotely liked would also have cost a lot of money because it would require another degree, and I definitely wouldn't have been as happy as I would be working as a vet, so I decided to go for the vet degree.

Anyways if you ever want to talk more, feel free to PM me, I'm always happy to respond. 🙂

 

[confused7]

Cyndia! It is always a delight to read your replies. I am truly happy that you will be working towards your dream. I hope you enjoy every minute of vet school, will you be going to UCD or your instate??

 

[Cyndia]

Cyndia! It is always a delight to read your replies. I am truly happy that you will be working towards your dream. I hope you enjoy every minute of vet school, will you be going to UCD or your instate??

Thanks for the well wishes! It took me forever to decide, but I finally picked the University of Florida. I'm making the big move over in two weeks, I'm pretty nervous and really sad that I'm leaving Europe but I'm also excited about it 🙂

 

[LetItSnow]

I could see myself doing dozens of things..... Shrug. But I'm happy with my decision to pursue one of them (vet med).

 

[DVM882029]

Thanks for the well wishes! It took me forever to decide, but I finally picked the University of Florida. I'm making the big move over in two weeks, I'm pretty nervous and really sad that I'm leaving Europe but I'm also excited about it 🙂

I also am moving to Gainesville in 2 weeks so I can get residency and apply to cvm next year 🙂 big scary cross country move for me but I love Gainesville so I hope it'll work out! Good luck with yours!!


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[allygator13]

Actually, part of the reason I decided to go to vet school was because there are multiple things I could see myself doing. I've been interested in animal behavior research, infectious disease research, medicine, public health, and paleontology, to name a few. The great thing about getting a DVM is that it opens the door to all sorts of neat jobs and opportunities and allows you to work with aspects of different disciplines depending on your interests. I know veterinarians who've started off in private practice and ended up in research, vets who started out in lab animal medicine and ended up in wildlife medicine, vets who do research part of the year and spend the rest of the year travelling to third world countries working with local communities, vets who teach part time and do pathology...the list goes on. Almost every veterinarian I've met has had a wildly different career track from the next vet and many have dabbled in multiple areas of veterinary medicine (which encompasses a lot). As long as you can do it while hopefully having some financial stability and maintaining a personal life, there are so many different doors open to people with DVMs. I have a lot of interests I want to explore and bring into my career, which is why I ultimately opted to go to vet school instead of just getting a PhD. Hopefully I'll get the chance to do at least some of what I want to do. 😀

This is kind of how I am as well. I double majored in biology and chemistry in undergrad and strongly considered going to grad school for chemistry. Financially, chemistry would be better since most programs PAY YOU to be in grad school. But, I love medicine, and I figure I could probably make my way into pharmacology research as a vet somehow.

 

[Trilt]

I could see myself doing dozens of things..... Shrug. But I'm happy with my decision to pursue one of them (vet med).

Absolutely, same here. There are so many different careers and paths out there - I absolutely hate the "if you could do anything else, don't do vet school!" mantra, because hell yes, I could do other things and be happy, but they're not what I want to do.

 

[dyachei]

Really the point of it is to determine if the loans, headaches, and job market are still worth it to you to pursue this career. So spelling it out like that makes people consider that.

 

[Kpowell14]

I'm a second year vet student, and I think about other career paths a lot. I had surgery on my knee a couple months ago and since have been seeing a lot of our human medicine counterparts- Surgeon, Nurses, PAs , Physical Therapists etc. And I often think about how I should have just gone to PA or PT school. And to be completely honest, if I was a single person I probably would've dropped out of vet school to pursue a PA or PT degree. I love Vet med but the debt is ridiculous. I love my school and I love my friends I've made at school, hell in even good at school grades wise, but I don't want to be in debt for the rest of my life... Thank goodness I am married and we have a plan in place to pay my debt off in a reasonable amount of time. If I wasn't married I don't think I would be in vet school anymore..

 

[WulfpackChica]

I did do other things, my jobs kept me close enough to vet med that it made me wonder. I enjoyed these jobs, but I was not happy.

I did lots of soul searching before applying to Vet school again. I am looking forward to starting this new chapter 🙂

 

[DVMDream]

At one point I was thinking about pediatric oncology.... but that didn't last long. I can't do people medicine.

I have wanted to be a vet since I was 7. I hate history, I don't care for English (as in literature or being a teacher doing that), I suck at the arts, don't really care to do anything in human medicine, math would be ok but not something I would enjoy, don't want to be sitting in a cubicle, my mind is highly science oriented and I have always wanted to do something involving science/medicine. It just fits me. I have thought of a few different types of jobs, but could not actually see myself doing them or being happy with them. The vet clinic and working in a vet clinic makes me happy but I also didn't want to be a tech, I wanted to do the diagnostics, surgery, etc.

In short, I can't really see myself doing anything else that would make me as happy as vet med.

 

[WillowLeaf]

I've wanted to be a vet for as long as I can remember. I took a few years off from that dream and explored some non-science majors (anthropology, archeology, art...) but I missed science and vet med too much. Yes, I could enjoy other careers. But I wouldn't be as happy as I think I'll be as a vet.

 

[allieh8607]

I think I would have been very happy as a nurse. Is it what I have wanted to do for my whole life, no. But I think I would be happy doing it because a lot of the reasons why I wanted to go into vet med were because I loved the relationships I saw between not only veterinarians and their animal patients, but also between veterinarians and the human owners. And I think I would be able to form many valuable relationships as a nurse but in the end, I would rather do it with animals and people while getting to be the decision maker regarding the different aspects of medicine. Last summer before I started vet school I really was freaking out about the debt and had actually requested info about a few nursing programs. My parents got to the mail before me on the day the info came (of course) and confronted me and it was this huge ordeal. That night my boyfriend told me he was more than willing to help pay off my loans once that time came and it wasn't until then that I was sure I could do this. If I was single at the time I really don't know if I would have gone through with it. Looking back now that was probably a foolish move on my part and even a year later my mom gives me hell for "prematurely relying on my bf" but we had both discussed our future and marriage seemed like it was in the cards so I took that leap of faith. If something goes sour, well then I'll have to lay in the bed I made for myself but I'm optimistic 🙂 If I was single I think nursing is where I would have ended up and I would have been happy, but I know for certain I wouldn't have felt as fulfilled or content as I would have in vet med.

 

[that redhead]

I was another kid who always wanted to be a vet. I kept my blinders on to the point that I never truly explored any other career paths and by the time I realized that, it was kind of "too late" in my mind to branch off and try something new on the off chance I liked it more. Which I do regret, in a way. There are definitely other things I could see myself doing and being happy doing but in the end, I chose this career path and I've committed myself to it. Fourth year has taught me that this is definitely something I will be happy doing and I only hope that the financial downsides don't eat away at me later down the line.

I agree with Cyndia, though; I think this was the right decision for you at this point in your life. No use crying over spilled milk - start experiencing other things and see what strikes your fancy.

 

[Panderson]

I have wanted to be a vet since I was little. I used to play pretend animal doctor pretty much all the time... But I was always afraid of not being smart enough.

When I was in high school, i had no idea what I would do with my life. I was really into theatre, and was actually pretty good at it. I helped me through some of the rockiest times of my teen years and gave me so much confidence! I started racking up some pretty prestigious parts in plays in my area. I wanted to take the world by storm... I remember it so well. I toured the university I currently attend saying I wanted to be a theatre major. The recruiter for the drama department gave me a list of things I could do with a B.A. in theatre. I was so excited, because you know, I was always told only 2% of actors or actresses were employed. Much to my disappointment, the list comprised of waitress, mcdonalds worker, plumber, etc. I never auditioned for them, but it was just a fair warning of what I was getting myself into. It was a reality check. I was always fairly good at science growing up, and was also incredibly interested in it. I'm going into my 3rd year of prerequisites and currently work at an SAH, and I love it.

So while sometimes I long for that stage again, I wouldn't change my path for the world. I could still see myself doing it. But I know what is in my heart, and it's healing these animals. Theatre only served to mold me into the vet I will hopefully be someday... And to me it doesn't get much better than that! My advice to you, OP is that the purpose for your life will come to you when you least expect it. Don't give up, and keep working hard. Your journey you've made to get to vet school (which is NOT easy, and you should be proud) will likely serve you a much greater purpose. Good luck!

 

[worried987]

Hopefully you guys don't mind but I'm going to briefly hijack this thread looking for some advice or reassurance. I am a vet student, just finished my first year, and I'm having some major doubts about this career path. Being exposed to more aspects and information in the field now than I ever was before applying to vet school (despite all the hours in the field I needed to get before applying, its just not the same) is just really making me question everything. Enough that I would make another SDN account to ask you guys about it (because I'm a tad too ashamed of how I'm feeling to use my regular account).

I did well enough the first year, decent grades, don't feel over stressed or like I'm killing myself. But I'm not as in love with the field as I was this time last year. I'm becoming disenchanted, and wondering if this is really the career I want. Now I'm starting to think I'd be happier trying to find a job as a zookeeper or maybe going back to school to become a commercial pilot and get to travel the world. The more disenchanted I become with vet med the more alternate career options I consider and wonder if I wouldn't be happier elsewhere.

I'm somewhat non-trad, took a couple years post undergrad to work and save some money, but planned on being a vet since 4th grade and always working toward that goal.

I'm afraid now that I'm burying myself in debt for a career I may not even want anymore. I also feel like I can't even stop now if I wanted to because I have so much debt from just the first year that the best bet for me to pay it off would be as a vet. And I can't imagine the shame and guilt I'd feel after working so hard to get into this field just to drop it now.

Because of the title of this thread I thought you guys might be able to give me some advice or your thoughts on the subject. If nothing else, I just had to tell someone, even if anonymously.

 

[DVMDream]

Hopefully you guys don't mind but I'm going to briefly hijack this thread looking for some advice or reassurance. I am a vet student, just finished my first year, and I'm having some major doubts about this career path. Being exposed to more aspects and information in the field now than I ever was before applying to vet school (despite all the hours in the field I needed to get before applying, its just not the same) is just really making me question everything. Enough that I would make another SDN account to ask you guys about it (because I'm a tad too ashamed of how I'm feeling to use my regular account).

I did well enough the first year, decent grades, don't feel over stressed or like I'm killing myself. But I'm not as in love with the field as I was this time last year. I'm becoming disenchanted, and wondering if this is really the career I want. Now I'm starting to think I'd be happier trying to find a job as a zookeeper or maybe going back to school to become a commercial pilot and get to travel the world. The more disenchanted I become with vet med the more alternate career options I consider and wonder if I wouldn't be happier elsewhere.

I'm somewhat non-trad, took a couple years post undergrad to work and save some money, but planned on being a vet since 4th grade and always working toward that goal.

I'm afraid now that I'm burying myself in debt for a career I may not even want anymore. I also feel like I can't even stop now if I wanted to because I have so much debt from just the first year that the best bet for me to pay it off would be as a vet. And I can't imagine the shame and guilt I'd feel after working so hard to get into this field just to drop it now.

Because of the title of this thread I thought you guys might be able to give me some advice or your thoughts on the subject. If nothing else, I just had to tell someone, even if anonymously.

I bold the above because I think it is important to remember that vet school is not equal to being a vet. Vet school is the path to get to that goal but it is kind of an annoying, aggravating, stressful stepping stone. I often forget while in classes why I started this path in the first place but as soon as I am back in the clinic even for a day, I remember. Just remember that vet school is not what being a vet is like.

I also want to comment on the commercial pilot and "travelling the world" thing. I have a high school friend who is a commercial pilot, you don't really get to "travel" as part of the job. Yes, you are flying to different places but your time is made up with working and by the time you do get to your final destination, it is food, shower, bed... then fly home the next day (if you aren't already back home). Sure, you might have the money to travel but that would be outside of the actual job.

My suggestion is see if you can't get yourself back into a vet clinic for a little bit this summer, but if you are still feeling the same way maybe defer a year and make some decisions? It is ultimately up to you, but no point in burying yourself in even more debt to continue in the field if you really are not going to enjoy it.

 

[LetItSnow]

Hopefully you guys don't mind but I'm going to briefly hijack this thread looking for some advice or reassurance. I am a vet student, just finished my first year, and I'm having some major doubts about this career path. Being exposed to more aspects and information in the field now than I ever was before applying to vet school (despite all the hours in the field I needed to get before applying, its just not the same) is just really making me question everything. Enough that I would make another SDN account to ask you guys about it (because I'm a tad too ashamed of how I'm feeling to use my regular account).

I did well enough the first year, decent grades, don't feel over stressed or like I'm killing myself. But I'm not as in love with the field as I was this time last year. I'm becoming disenchanted, and wondering if this is really the career I want. Now I'm starting to think I'd be happier trying to find a job as a zookeeper or maybe going back to school to become a commercial pilot and get to travel the world. The more disenchanted I become with vet med the more alternate career options I consider and wonder if I wouldn't be happier elsewhere.

I'm somewhat non-trad, took a couple years post undergrad to work and save some money, but planned on being a vet since 4th grade and always working toward that goal.

I'm afraid now that I'm burying myself in debt for a career I may not even want anymore. I also feel like I can't even stop now if I wanted to because I have so much debt from just the first year that the best bet for me to pay it off would be as a vet. And I can't imagine the shame and guilt I'd feel after working so hard to get into this field just to drop it now.

Because of the title of this thread I thought you guys might be able to give me some advice or your thoughts on the subject. If nothing else, I just had to tell someone, even if anonymously.

That's the reason I really don't like the whole black and white nature of "if you can see yourself doing anything else, vet med isn't for you" attitude. Doubting and second-guessing is part of life. Definitely more some people than others, but it's pretty damn normal to have doubts about what you're doing. For people who buy the black and white nature of that question, any doubt means "get out now!" And that's really overly simplistic thinking.

I think nobody can really give you the straight-up answer; you just have to decide if it's what you want to do. I'd sit back and consider all your options and see which one seems to make the most sense. Maybe go out to coffee with a few different people. That's one piece of straight-up advice I can give: don't just tell a bunch of anonymous people on an Internet forum - get together with a few friends... some vet school fiends... maybe your parents... some non-vet-related friends... talk to them about it and see what people who know you say.

For what it's worth, I really don't like being IN vet school. But I like being in vet medicine more and more the further I get into it. I'm just tired of all of the hoops and nonsense associated with vet school. But I have to separate that from what I think of the field itself, because vet school doesn't equal vet medicine.

 

[epivetlove]

Like what was mentioned earlier up in this thread, one of the greatest things, imo, is the diversity of careers that someone can have with a DVM. You don't have to just do private practice. There are more paths in vet med than I can shake a stick at and I've done a lot of research. It will be a very personal decision to say if the journey to obtain a DVM (and beyond) is worth the price tag. I don't think anyone can truly give you an answer because every situation will be a little different. All of my dream jobs lay within vet med, so despite some nervous jitters about the debt, I absolutely feel that it'll be worth it. I hope I can say that 4, 10, 20 years from now...but I'm committed to taking that risk and coming to that decision took countless hours of soul-searching and talking with recent and not-so-recent grads.

 

[hopefulinva]

There are many other (far more lucrative things) I could see myself doing.

I once admitted to a guy at a party (the only situation in which I would ever admit such a thing) that database architecture tickles me like nothing else does. His jaw literally dropped and he asked me if I knew how much I could be making with that particular skill.

Perhaps I would make a good computer programmer, a decent graphics artist, an alright game designer. But that'd get boring. Vet med is dynamic and wonderful and satisfies the intellectual in me to an extent that I don't think anything else ever could.

The benefits of our field is it is so broad, if it turns out you don't like small animal clinical medicine (or any sort of clinical medicine) there's almost no end to the things that you can do. Animals are involved in every aspect of this bold world, so if your dream job within the field doesn't exist, it's not too far-fetched an idea to create it yourself.

 

[WillowLeaf]

There are more paths in vet med than I can shake a stick at

That phrase always cracks me up. Such a funny mental image. Very true advice though.

 

[bluesails]

I also want to point out that it's FINE if you can imagine yourself doing something else! The majority of people who want to do vet med are intelligent, adaptable, capable individuals, so it shouldn't be expected that we all have only ONE career dream. Actually, it would be absurd. I learn about jobs all the time that would probably be okay for me (and probably a better lifestyle than vet med), but I still choose to go to vet school.

 

[lailanni]

I'm a second year vet student, and I think about other career paths a lot. I had surgery on my knee a couple months ago and since have been seeing a lot of our human medicine counterparts- Surgeon, Nurses, PAs , Physical Therapists etc. And I often think about how I should have just gone to PA or PT school. And to be completely honest, if I was a single person I probably would've dropped out of vet school to pursue a PA or PT degree. I love Vet med but the debt is ridiculous. I love my school and I love my friends I've made at school, hell in even good at school grades wise, but I don't want to be in debt for the rest of my life... Thank goodness I am married and we have a plan in place to pay my debt off in a reasonable amount of time. If I wasn't married I don't think I would be in vet school anymore..

I am always a little envious of people who are in dual income households. Getting by on one vet income with debt payments isn't fun. Sure, it's possible. But not especially cushy and with the average loan size you can forget about owning a home anytime soon - even getting a new(er) car can be a stretch. Some people live with family to help get the payments down.

I didn't discover I liked other fields until I was already in vet school. I had been so academically focused that I never really considered anything outside of the college track. I got to work a bunch of odd jobs to get through school and it turns out I would have been happy doing other things I'd never even thought of before.

Hindsight is 20/20. I think if I knew then what I knew now, I probably would have done something else. I don't regret finishing vet school but I do wish I would have taken a breather to discover other fields before diving in. I thought there was only one option for me but there were actually a few!

As for the saying (if you can think of one thing you'd rather do...) I wouldn't say it's black and white, but I would say if you have serious doubts then it's best to pause and think. See if you like the clinics (or research, or lab animal, etc etc). Look at unrelated options that might have some appeal to you. Maybe you've been curious about another field but haven't thought to give it a chance.

If you decide vet med isn't for you there's no shame in that. It's not a crime to change your mind. Be fair and honest with yourself. There are a few people in my class who currently aren't working in the field at all. So even graduates changes their minds. I've always had the utmost respect for people who have said "this isn't for me" and decided to change paths. It takes quite a sense of self, determination, and courage to step away from the known and try to forge a new trail.

 

[Kpowell14]

I am always a little envious of people who are in dual income households. Getting by on one vet income with debt payments isn't fun. Sure, it's possible. But not especially cushy and with the average loan size you can forget about owning a home anytime soon - even getting a new(er) car can be a stretch. Some people live with family to help get the payments down.

I didn't discover I liked other fields until I was already in vet school. I had been so academically focused that I never really considered anything outside of the college track. I got to work a bunch of odd jobs to get through school and it turns out I would have been happy doing other things I'd never even thought of before.

Hindsight is 20/20. I think if I knew then what I knew now, I probably would have done something else. I don't regret finishing vet school but I do wish I would have taken a breather to discover other fields before diving in. I thought there was only one option for me but there were actually a few!

As for the saying (if you can think of one thing you'd rather do...) I wouldn't say it's black and white, but I would say if you have serious doubts then it's best to pause and think. See if you like the clinics (or research, or lab animal, etc etc). Look at unrelated options that might have some appeal to you. Maybe you've been curious about another field but haven't thought to give it a chance.

If you decide vet med isn't for you there's no shame in that. It's not a crime to change your mind. Be fair and honest with yourself. There are a few people in my class who currently aren't working in the field at all. So even graduates changes their minds. I've always had the utmost respect for people who have said "this isn't for me" and decided to change paths. It takes quite a sense of self, determination, and courage to step away from the known and try to forge a new trail.

Agree 100% . I have several single friends in vet school and I worry about how they are going to manage the debt load with only one income. Most people know going Into to vet school that the pay isn't all that great.. But I think everyone would like to own a home/ have a drivable car / have kids at some point, and be comfortable. I just can't imagine doing this if I was a single person knowing only my income would be going to my loans - which will be it's own mortgage payment. It's definitely something to think about before jumping head first into this career.

 

[Rainheart]

Some of us just haven't been fortunate enough to meet our SO yet... So maybe that means I'll still be living at home after vet school, I don't know. I guess it depends on what happens these next 3 years. I would not willing to put off my education to wait until I meet the girl of my dreams (if I /ever/ do). Who knows how long that could take; it isn't worth the uncertainty. It is fortunate that I don't want kids, but I would like to own a home one day, and eventually get a bigger car. I'm just happy to not be paying OOS tuition for 4 years (only one year).

 

[that redhead]

Agree 100% . I have several single friends in vet school and I worry about how they are going to manage the debt load with only one income. Most people know going Into to vet school that the pay isn't all that great.. But I think everyone would like to own a home/ have a drivable car / have kids at some point, and be comfortable. I just can't imagine doing this if I was a single person knowing only my income would be going to my loans - which will be it's own mortgage payment. It's definitely something to think about before jumping head first into this career.

I agree. I'm so fortunate that I'm married to an awesome guy with a stable, well-paying job who is 100% committed to supporting us while I pay down my loans. Granted, my tuition is higher than almost all other schools (even OOS) but I know I'm lucky.

 

[LetItSnow]

Really? Because I would MUCH rather be single with debt knowing I could live in a crappy apt, have a crappy car, whatever. *I* don't mind that kind of lifestyle. I find it way more stressful to think about the fact that I have four other mouths to feed, and I'd rather THEY don't have to live in a crappy place, etc. I mean, I totally love my family, but being young, single, and in debt with a lifetime to pay it off and work your way out doesn't sound at all bad to me.

 

[DVMDream]

Agree 100% . I have several single friends in vet school and I worry about how they are going to manage the debt load with only one income. Most people know going Into to vet school that the pay isn't all that great.. But I think everyone would like to own a home/ have a drivable car / have kids at some point, and be comfortable. I just can't imagine doing this if I was a single person knowing only my income would be going to my loans - which will be it's own mortgage payment. It's definitely something to think about before jumping head first into this career.

Drivable car, I don't know many people that have undrivable ones. I mean, a new car, yeah, I would like one at some point. But that doesn't bother me, I am fine with used cars. I have always owned drivable cars, just not fond of the undrivable ones... they don't really "go" anywhere... 😛 😉

Even now at 26, I still don't want kids. Every once in a great while I might think "having a kid would be nice" but then I am immediately reminded of exactly why I don't want kids. Just isn't a desire everyone has.

Also, eventually I would like to own a home, but I am ok with renting as well. Again, doesn't bother me. I also don't need some large house, it is only me (currently) so I can get a smaller home and be fine. People seem to want big homes and more house than what they actually need lately, never has made sense to me.

I feel like being single, without an SO and without a family, you have much more financial freedom. No debt from your SO to add to your own debt. You can drive whatever you feel like without having to worry about if the family will fit in it. You can live where you want without having to worry about family so you can live in an apartment without having to worry about space. Also, you only have your expenses to deal with. Kids are expensive. Being single you only have one mouth to feed (maybe more if you have pets, but they aren't as expensive as kids usually). You only have to worry about clothes for you. Health insurance for you. Etc, etc. So while, yes, it sucks having all the vet school debt while single, you don't have to worry about all the added expenses of having a family. Just having an SO would probably not be bad and might be better than being single but once kids are added to the mix, that just adds a ton of cost to the situation.

My parents managed to make ends meet off $30-40K/year, with 4 kids, a house, two cars and we had more than what we needed growing up. I can guarantee the cost of 4 kids each month is probably darn close to a student loan payment each month, if not more. We went on vacation every summer, had TV, cable, internet (when it came around), video games, plenty of clothes, etc, etc. Honestly, I would be more worried about those wanting kids and a family, but that is just me.

 

[Minnerbelle]

Really? Because I would MUCH rather be single with debt knowing I could live in a crappy apt, have a crappy car, whatever. *I* don't mind that kind of lifestyle. I find it way more stressful to think about the fact that I have four other mouths to feed, and I'd rather THEY don't have to live in a crappy place, etc. I mean, I totally love my family, but being young, single, and in debt with a lifetime to pay it off and work your way out doesn't sound at all bad to me.

I think single with debt and a lifetime to pay is much better than with multiple mouths to feed. But, two incomes without extra mouths to feed and being able to pay off debt in 5-10 years is much more preferable with a consenting partner who is dedicated to help paying that debt, at least IMO.

 

[CalliopeDVM]

There are many other things I could see myself doing and I did not want to be a vet when I was growing up........in fact, I didn't even want to be a clinical vet when I entered vet school. I saw a DVM as being a potential path to a lot of options and my interests all lead to those various directions. It wasn't until second or maybe even third year that I started thinking that I'd enjoy being a clinical vet in private practice. However, since veterinary medicine is a second career for me and I'm Canadian and went to school in Canada, I am not faced with $200,000 in debt. I'm not sure I would have started down this path if I knew that amount of debt would be piling up and that it would significantly impact the next 25 or 30 years of my life. I think a lot of people don't really think about the effect of paying $1500 a month for 25 years will have on a person's quality of life.

I think the idea that "if you can see yourself doing anything else, don't go to vet school" is really only applicable if you'll be taking extensive loans and building extensive debt to become a vet. If you've got an inheritance or a second income without dependents (for instance), things weigh out a little differently.

 

[Cracker.Jack.]

That was the impression I got from reading this forum, if anyone can remember me from my previous thread.

This question is mainly directed at current vet students or working vets:

Is it true that this is the only profession you could ever see yourself doing?
Have you always wanted to become a vet?

I have just given up my place in vet school and the regret is starting swallow me.

Although I have never wanted to be a veterinary surgeon, I felt like this was a profession I would be able to grow into and learn to love. I still have no idea what I'm going to do with my life, any ideas?

`~`~`~Farvel, Ciao, Goodbye vet school~`~`~`

To answer the questions in bold simply, I would say No. I'm sure that I'm the odd one out here, but vet med is really something I just kind of stumbled into. I was a "career cowboy(girl)" before I went to school and honestly I thought that's what I would be doing for the rest of my life. So yes, I knew I would always be working with large animals as a career, but never imagined I'd become a vet. As a little girl growing up on a ranch I had thought about it briefly, but I'm pretty sure every girl that grows up with animals thinks about it at some point. Before I went to university, my job was identifying and treating sick feedlot and pasture cattle and I really enjoyed it and eventually realized that I was incredibly interested in infectious diseases, how treatments worked, behaviour associated with each illness, etc. However, the amount that I could learn and experience from my work was really not enough to satiate my curiosity and interest. So, with that I decided to go and fill the pre-vet requirements to see how it went. I really didn't have high expectations but I just figured I'd try my best and see where that got me. Now, two years later, here I am starting vet school in September! But if it hadn't worked out I would have just went back to my old job and continued to relentlessly pick the brains of all the vets I worked with 😉

 

[HorsesRLife]

While in undergrad i was planning on pursuing a doctorate in bovine nutrition. After graduation I followed my husband to another state and worked as a purchasing agent at an animal health distribution company while my husband worked as a manager at a feedyard and quickly realized I hated the location that job prospect put me near. I would probably be happy with the job and make quite a bit more money, but location was a huge factor for me. I also worked at the corporate office of a livestock feed manufacturer and it instilled further my distaste for sitting at a desk all day. I've also thought about being a drug company rep, but decided on vet school instead.

 

[Beetlejay]

I think your decision took courage and I am really happy for you. Trust me, I wish I listened to my heart a bit more prior to vet school and chose a different path! All the best!

 

[CanHardlyWait]

I seriously considered going to beauty school before beginning my long, non trad path to vet school. Sometimes, during particularly exam laden weeks perhaps or maybe when signing my OOS loan paperwork, I still wish I had. Not as intellectually stimulating sure, but I could have paid cash for the classes and I would have been done 6 years ago...just saying.
But in reality, vet med is my passion. I actually experience real joy and a life affirming sense of purpose when I am working in a vet clinic. So while I certainly could do other (and significantly more fiscally responsible) things as a career, I simply don't want to. Life is too short to eat bad food, drink cheap wine or to work in a career that doesn't feed your soul. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Maddiegirl]

At one point I was thinking about pediatric oncology.... but that didn't last long. I can't do people medicine.

I have wanted to be a vet since I was 7. I hate history, I don't care for English (as in literature or being a teacher doing that), I suck at the arts, don't really care to do anything in human medicine, math would be ok but not something I would enjoy, don't want to be sitting in a cubicle, my mind is highly science oriented and I have always wanted to do something involving science/medicine. It just fits me. I have thought of a few different types of jobs, but could not actually see myself doing them or being happy with them. The vet clinic and working in a vet clinic makes me happy but I also didn't want to be a tech, I wanted to do the diagnostics, surgery, etc.

In short, I can't really see myself doing anything else that would make me as happy as vet med.

You've described me perfectly!! Since coming back to vet medicine, I have found myself. I am so happy now. My only regret is not following my dream earlier, but at least I know for sure now!

 

[ivory11]

I personally was one who always thought vet school would be the only option. As my time in undergraduate work went on, some of the required courses made me think twice. At one point I decided to try nursing, which I decided against pretty quickly. I went back on track to trying for vet school and finished most of the pre-reqs. At that time I was graduated with my bachelors and had a minor in art, but couldn't see myself doing anything art related for a living. Then I went on to grad school for education, thinking maybe teaching would be a good path for several different reasons. I did a year in grad school, had no issues with the work, but realized I did not see myself doing that the rest of my life and being happy. I also worked as a substitute teacher during grad school, which helped solidify that it was not the job for me. I also had a job at one time in a quality assurance lab, and liked it but still couldn't see myself doing it forever. After that I went and worked on a ranch for a few months out west. Loved working with the horses, but again, the job also entailed many other duties I couldn't see myself doing for a living. In the end I finished my pre-reqs for vet school and was blessed to get in my first attempt. I can't wait for the journey of school, and know that it is my passion, as I have had the opportunities to explore many other areas and never have been as happy as I am when doing vet med 🙂

I think its ok to be doubtful, especially when the cost of veterinary school is so high. I even questioned to myself recently, is this really what I want?? And I can confidently say yes. Don't ever be afraid to take a few different jobs to explore other interests. Vet med will always be there if you decided for sure that is the path you want to take 🙂