If you don't get in, what do you want to do?

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Anyway... I'm planning on getting my BSc with honours. If I don't get into vet school, I honestly don't know what I would like to do. I planned on doing some research during Christmas break and I have no idea where to start. I honestly don't know if I want to get a masters or do a completely different program (lab tech in a hospital sounds kind of cool...) I don't even know where to start!

Those of you in the same boat as me, what would you like to do when you graduate if you don't get into vet school?

I'd like to hear some of your plans 🙂
 
i want to work full time for the large animal vet i work with right now, enjoy a year of not being in school, rescue a black lab, and apply again next year. 😀
 
I will be working at an equine emergency clinic, a small animal clinic and an exotic clinic just racking up the hours...
 
If you can locate one of our many non-trad threads (or perhaps 12'givers will be kind enough to link it) - you can get some ideas of what to do if you don't get in.

First off - Are you giving up, and asking what to do with your life? If so, I guess I can link MonsterJobs.com or something.

if you are instead asking for ways to increase your chances next year, pad the ole CV, while making some $$ - then there are dozens of options.

A few of us taught (HS and whatnot)
Some worked as techs to get more experience.
Some went for more undergrad classes (if your GPA is a little low)
Some went for graduate work (MS and PhD)
Others just realized that it was bad luck, there application was stellar, but the stars where not in their favor - and reapplied the next year without making any major changes.

12, give this guy a non-trad thread! 😉
 
I will finish my MBA and get more large animal experience, then apply again next year.
 
I'm gonna work at Best Buy and get a sweet discount on a 52" plasma screen tv! *crickets chirp* In all honesty though, I'll probably head to graduate school for an MPH.
 
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Those who did go for their master or PhD, I'm pretty curious to see what kind of work they've done or what people are planning on doing.

Or if they're planning on working, what kind of jobs they are interrested in getting.

Right now, if I don't get accepted, it looks like I'll be taking a year off and trying for a decent paying job in my hometown so I can start getting rid of some of my debt 😛 And then I'd like to go back to school and do something that's going to get me a job that is going to make me happy... or get me one step closer to getting accepted to vet school... I just have no sweet clue what that is.

Lol, I thought that non-trad ment students who decided to be a vet later in life, or are just finishing school and want to go back and get their pre-reqs... stuff like that.
 
If I don't get in this go around, I'll continue working at the small animal hospital I'm at and keep trying to gain some large animal or research experience. I have a little bit of large animal but none of it is veterinary. Reapply next year of course, I want this and I'm not going to give up on it. After a couple of denials (if that happens) I'll go back to school to get my masters and possibly teach while I continue to apply. I don't plan on ever losing hope.
 
I haven't decided what I am going to do yet. I think I will go for the file reviews to find out what will strengthen my application. I have a feeling I will either take a year off and get more diverse experience or I will go for a masters program. But, I have not quite yet decided.
 
If go around number three doesn't succeed for me, I'm probably going to have a serious sit down with a career councilor. Not that I really want to give up on vet school mind you, but I'm not going to be someone's non licenced tech forever if I don't get in. 😀 Probably try out a few other fields in various health sectors to get an idea if anything else would fit, and show those ad coms that I'm not a mindless pre-vet drone! :laugh:
 
Considering the debt you will be in vs the measly income you'll make as a vet, rejection from vet school could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

If vet school is your dream though, you could apply a few more times while pursuing jobs that interest you (and who knows, maybe you'll accidentally find your passion without going to vet school). In short, don't worry too much about it.
 
Eggs n Coffee said:
Considering the debt you will be in vs the measly income you'll make as a vet, rejection from vet school could be the best thing that ever happened to you.
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Are you kidding? Why don't you just get over yourself? Just because you care more about the money than making a difference doesn't mean that's all we care about. Or am I just too dumb to realize how little money I make?

It's bad enough you come in here all "oh, look at me, I'm a poor little underrepresented Asian and that makes me better than you." No one here cares about you, your race, or how much of a self-proclaimed slacker you are. WE are all equals-- we are future veterinary students who want to make a difference in the lives of people and animals. None of us look at skin color, or who's the tallest, or who has the biggest nose.

We're all here for a reason--we're willing to WORK to reach our goals, and push ourselves to be the best we can be. Funny, I don't think you can say the same thing, if your first post here is looking for the "easy" way in.
It's not all about "the numbers" even if you supposedly don't have to work for them. Believe me, AdComs are quite about weeding out fakers like you, assuming you even make it that far.
 
Eggs n Coffee said:
Considering the debt you will be in vs the measly income you'll make as a vet, rejection from vet school could be the best thing that ever happened to you.
Click to expand...

Why would you want to base a career choice off of money? I want to do something I'd actually like for the rest of my life. I don't know about you....

I think I might go for a masters if I don't get in this year. If not, then I'll try to get some kick butt experience for next round.
 
Eggs n Coffee said:
Considering the debt you will be in vs the measly income you'll make as a vet, rejection from vet school could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

If vet school is your dream though, you could apply a few more times while pursuing jobs that interest you (and who knows, maybe you'll accidentally find your passion without going to vet school). In short, don't worry too much about it.
Click to expand...

I actually hate you. Just because you don't like what you're doing doesn't mean you need to come here annoying other people just for the fun of it. Are you trying to lash out for some repressed anger because you were beat up as a kid for being a loser or something? Get a LIFE
 
Is the vet forum just where everyone goes when they get bored? What's the deal?

Guess we're just that cool; everyone wants to hang out with us.
 
My plan B is to get a job as a lab tech and maybe take a few classes. I'd also take the time to bring my GRE up--my scores were fine, but without a full load of other things to study for, I know I can bring the Verbal section up and will try desperately to improve my writing--although that would be harder. I did not apply to any grad programs this year--but I will next year along with vet schools. I'm thinking a MS in Parasitology or a MPH--something that will enhance my vet school application.

However, this may go all out the window after file reviews.
 
twelvetigers said:
ETA: Here's a neat thread about what your 2nd choice career would be:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=520852
Click to expand...

Hehe, that's awesome! Thanks.

A couple of weeks ago, I had an interview for a research position and I was asked what my long term career goals were. I told her that if I didn't get into vet school, I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do and that I just wanted a job that made me happy. I also mentioned that I thought about taking the vet tech program because I think I would love to work in a clinical setting, but I really didn't want to go to school for 6 years and come out only making minimum wage. It would take me forever to get out of debt and it would be a while until I could afford to do things I really like, like traveling for example.

If money wasn't an issue, vet tech or starting a shelter or rescue would be AWESOME. Now that I think about it, a while ago, I was thinking it would be cool to own my own aquarium hobby store that stresses the importance of proper fishkeeping 😛 Other than that, I don't know... recently I was thinking human medicine, but you apparently need hospital experience to apply and the hospitial here only has volunteer orientations on Tuesday mornings, when I have a lab that can't be missed. At the beginning of the year, my pre-med buddy had plans to go to the orientation during the first week of classes when there was no labs, but they cancelled on him at the last minute and he hasn't been able to go 😡 Then someone was telling me about being a hospital lab tech! I'm just finishing microbiology now though and it's actually really boring. The biochemical tests are kind of neat, but knowing how it all works is kinda boring.
 
What I did was start on a Masters in Reproductive Physiology. Probably the dumbest thing I ever did. I reapplied, got interviewed and put on the alternate list. Unfortunately, it was not sustainable. I ran out of money, began eating very poorly (McDonald's had $.15 hamburgers on Wed. I would buy 15 and eat them from Wed thru Fri.), and got burned out in my studies. Everything took its toll and I decided to move on. Worked at a few minimum wage jobs for a while until I got hired at the local jail. Did that for a while then joined the Army just prior to 11 SEP 01. I've been doing that ever since. If I don't get accepted, I'll stay in my current field until I retire in 12 years. I'll have to figure out something after that. I could stay in the same field (IT) and make a lot of money, but it bores the hell out of me. I would probably have to get a degree in something to do with IT because I don't know of too many companies that will hire someone with a BS in Animal Science to oversee their networks. That in itself would be torture.
 
the non-trad thread *is* regarding people who decided to apply to vet school later in life, but that also means they did things between undergrad and vet school. In all honesty, its good to realize that the world doesn't end if you don't get into vet school right away, and there's a lot you can do as a working person after undergrad. Yes, I'm non-trad and was a working designer for years before starting my vet school prep classes, and when I finally applied I was waitlisted and never got off the waitlist. That gave me the opportunity to get more work experience, and even better research experience, so I'm really glad for that opportunity, even if I will be significantly older than most of my peers. There are so many opportunities for new graduates, just appreciate the freedom.
 
Just thought I would chime in here as I have spent 5 years post undergrad in the "real" world. I graduated with the intention of applying to vet school but was burned out and missing some classes.

I went home and after a few random jobs ended up spending 2 years working at a general contractor company working in condominium finishes. Basically I would help people pick out carpet, cabinets, granite countertops, lighting etc. Super random but it wasn't all bad, paid the bills and there were some nice perks along the way.

Decided I needed to get back to science and found an amazing job in an addiction lab where I have been able to super hands on with rodent research and work on designing and conducting large complicated experiments.

In short the last 5 years were in no way wasted and if I get into Vet school now FANTASTIC (that would be the ultimate dream) if not I am also applying to a grad program this winter. I would like to say I am prepared to spend the next 3-5 years constantly reapplying to vet school but I am getting too old for that and need to get into a job where I can make more $ so I can own my little farm someday (my other life dream).

In short working after college and not going directly to professional school is not the end of the world, been there done that, got the t shirt and its a pretty nice one.
 
I will apply for a masters in a science but something that is general so it could be applied to both veterinarian medicine or other research, incase i need to find a biotech job later.

I have also thought about running my own animal day care. My parents keep saying that i would be amazing running my own business and i would love being around animals all the time. I have worked at Best Friends Pet Resort and i know the pros/cons about it. Honestly, i dont bring my pets there because i know the one near my house doesn't hire all animal loving people. Not to start another topic... they are still a great place!

Shelters are another option.

As long as i'm happy thats all i care about 😀 Hippie at heart, and i plan on staying that way.

**ArmyMutt**- i really admire the path that you've taken. I know a lot of my guy friends who get sucked into their IT jobs because they make 90k and get spoiled by the money then think they cant live without it. at the same time, i hear stories every day about how much they hate it. the work is boring and the people are boring. they also have very little interaction with females so they whine about that. Its great that you are following your passion and letting go of the fancy pay checks you could be getting now to follow your dream and hopefully be getting paid the same amt later! 😀
 
scarcelyheard said:
Those who did go for their master or PhD, I'm pretty curious to see what kind of work they've done or what people are planning on doing.

Or if they're planning on working, what kind of jobs they are interrested in getting.

Right now, if I don't get accepted, it looks like I'll be taking a year off and trying for a decent paying job in my hometown so I can start getting rid of some of my debt 😛 And then I'd like to go back to school and do something that's going to get me a job that is going to make me happy... or get me one step closer to getting accepted to vet school... I just have no sweet clue what that is.

Lol, I thought that non-trad ment students who decided to be a vet later in life, or are just finishing school and want to go back and get their pre-reqs... stuff like that.
Click to expand...

Well I'm finishing up my PhD right now in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. Vet school was something I wanted to do after college, but my grades were not fantastic and when I became involved in research as an undergrad I really liked that so I decided to give up on vetmed and go for my PhD. In the past few years however I've realized I still want to be a vet, so this is my first year applying. In some ways I've been really lucky. All of my research, both undergrad and graduate, has in some ways involved animal health...as an undergraduate I worked on Bordetella avium infections in turkeys, I got to continue that work with a fellowship at a Vet School in the UK where I worked on B.avium, B.parapertussis, and B.bronchiseptica as well as some work on strangles in horses. Now my dissertation is on antibiotic resistance in bacteria which is also applicable.

If I don't get in this year I'll probably try to get a post-doc and continue expanding my shadowing/veterinary experience and get ready to apply again next cycle.
 
I'm just starting my pre-reqs and the like, but if vetmed doesn't pan through after three or four applying rounds, I'd evaluate, see what I'm doing wrong, keep trying to make a stronger application, etc, and probably apply to a bachelor's in nursing program and take some sciences on the side to keep my GPA up. I don't know if I'd completely give up on vetmed, though - I'd probably send another round of apps in.
 
BlacKAT33 said:
**ArmyMutt**- i really admire the path that you've taken. I know a lot of my guy friends who get sucked into their IT jobs because they make 90k and get spoiled by the money then think they cant live without it. at the same time, i hear stories every day about how much they hate it. the work is boring and the people are boring. they also have very little interaction with females so they whine about that. Its great that you are following your passion and letting go of the fancy pay checks you could be getting now to follow your dream and hopefully be getting paid the same amt later! 😀
Click to expand...

Not to hijack, but thanks. It's weird how life works and what can cause a spark to rekindle an old flame. Even a year ago, I reaffirmed to my wife that I did not want to try vet school again. Just too much of a painful memory. If it weren't for the vet here on Al Asad being connected to one of my switches, I never would have reconsidered (well, maybe). I'm just hoping that I'm still competitive or at least the work I need to do to become competitive is doable while still working.
 
My day job is in refugee resettlement services. I love it, but this vet med bug came out of my childhood fantasies and bit me. Hard. I logged my 1500+ hours of veterinary experience on weekends and at night after work.

I would love to keep working with refugees, but I'm afraid that this might be something that keeps me out of vet school. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like adcoms really love people who have like, no other interests. I might have to quit and get a full-time job in a clinic (depending on the file review).
 
Eggs n Coffee said:
Considering the debt you will be in vs the measly income you'll make as a vet, rejection from vet school could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

If vet school is your dream though, you could apply a few more times while pursuing jobs that interest you (and who knows, maybe you'll accidentally find your passion without going to vet school). In short, don't worry too much about it.
Click to expand...

👎
 
If I knew that I never to go to vet school for whatever reason, I'd probably teach H.S. Social Sciences.

However, since there would still be a chance, I'd probably go to grad school. There are several fields I'd like to study some more such as cancer biology, herpetology, toxicology, and obviously history.
 
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elliepants said:
My day job is in refugee resettlement services. I love it, but this vet med bug came out of my childhood fantasies and bit me. Hard. I logged my 1500+ hours of veterinary experience on weekends and at night after work.

I would love to keep working with refugees, but I'm afraid that this might be something that keeps me out of vet school. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like adcoms really love people who have like, no other interests. I might have to quit and get a full-time job in a clinic (depending on the file review).
Click to expand...

I would suggest spending sometime explaining how you think refugee work and vet work could interact, how it could provide you with a hobby (odd for a hobby but hey, it works), or really just how you feel about both interest. I know at least 4 people who went into vet interviews fully admitting that they would gladly pursue a different road if vet school didn't pan out but were still able to express a passion for vet. It's really all in how you say it.
 
If I didn't get into vet school..and I never saw a way I could get in...I would get a PhD and do research in ecology. Maybe I could be one of those people you see on Animal Planet who is a specialist in a specific species.

This is Dr. Oilidigigoat-She is the world's expert on ____.

or Be a curator at a zoo....or Make wine 🙂

But even so I think I would still be unsatisfied that I didn't do what I felt like I really wanted to do in life. Which I have realized that most people don't have a strong passion for their field of work like most of the people here on this forum have for vet med.

After being an engineer for sometime I know how painful it is for me to sit at a desk just to collect a paycheck.
 
I will keep working in my current position. My employer is (always!) in a state of transition and we are growing/improving/building a better organization every day. I play an integral role, and so there is plenty to keep me busy and motivated by, even if it can be rough at times!

Long term? Who knows! I have re-invented myself a few times. I'll see what life brings. 😀
 
I'll keep working at the small animal clinic I'm working at now to get more experience and enjoy having another year with no school. I'll also apply to volunteer at the zoo (it won't be animal experience since you can't, unfortunately) since I'd like to be a wild animal vet. They require at least a year commitment, which is why I can't apply for that this January, in case I do get into school. If I can find a way to afford it, I'd like to take riding lessons. (I wanted to as a kid, but it was way too expensive and I'm from a baseball family, so I played softball instead.)
 
When I get that last rejected letter, the first thing I'll do is cry, mope, and probably eat some Chinese food. the second thing is call ALL of my schools and ask how I can improve my application. Then I'll do whatever they tell me and apply again next year. So, basically, I have no solid plan! it will probably fall into delaying graduation and getting minors in chemistry, microbiology, and equine studies, continuing my current undergrad research as a grad student, or milking cows or working at a vets. Everything will involve getting more animal/veterinary experience.
 
Get app reviews to see how to improve. Get my MS in Animal Science and apply one more time. If I don't get in, probably do something animal science related or maybe teach.
 
Thanks for the advice, Katryn. I see a million ways that my skills from refugee work relate to vet med, but I'm not sure an adcom would...
 
oilidigigoat said:
If I didn't get into vet school..and I never saw a way I could get in...I would get a PhD and do research in ecology. Maybe I could be one of those people you see on Animal Planet who is a specialist in a specific species.

This is Dr. Oilidigigoat-She is the world's expert on ____.
Click to expand...

That takes just as much hard work and luck to get into as vet school! :laugh:

(my PI is often on the shows that feature cats on AP, Nat Geo, Discovery, etc..)
 
If I didn't get in, planning to apply in the next cycle, I would of course take into consideration feedback from the adcoms, but besides that I think I would do a few different things. I would work for my large animal vet during his busy season (so he might be able to actually pay me). I think I might do some low-pay volunteer work somewhere like Heifer International which involves livestock care (goats, sheep, pigs, cows, chickens, etc). Or try and do an internship somewhere I can learn to train dolphins. And maybe bartend. Or I could just try and find a one-year lab tech position and make more money than I would as a volunteer/intern but have less fun.
 
nyanko said:
That takes just as much hard work and luck to get into as vet school! :laugh:

(my PI is often on the shows that feature cats on AP, Nat Geo, Discovery, etc..)
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Geez dream killer. 😉

Ok so seriously I got my first rejection on Saturday. I am out of state for all my school so I wasn't expecting much but it's disappointing to open a rejection letter. So now I am seriously formulating a plan for next year so that in the event I get rejected from all my schools, which I may...I am ready for next cycle. I think I am going to continue to take classes to get my GPA up, and continue to do reseach.

How is anyone else dealing with rejection letters?
 
oilidigigoat said:
How is anyone else dealing with rejection letters?
Click to expand...

ive gotten 1 rejection so far (waiting for 6 more schools to respond). i kind of just ignored it. i guess i haven't fully accepted it and i am kind of bitter (just like the rest of SDN that applied to MO). I dont know what the real truth is about MO (from MO thread), but it is shady that people heard about interviews only a couple weeks after the supplementals were due. I spent a lot of time on those 5 essays and i feel like a fool applying there now. There is no way they actually read everyone's essays. I also dont think that "high rate of applicants" is acceptable. They could have taken 2-3 months like other schools to fully look over each applicant and give them the time they deserve (since we had to pay the app fee) sighhh... waiting for CO next week, i know my chances are slim for that one
 
Yeah I have 6 more schools too. I'm sorry to hear about your Mo application. Its hard to accept that they don't review all the applications after you spend so much time and money on it.
 
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