In it for the long haul?

[MickeysPet]

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I recently spoke to a vet who estimated that 10-15% of her graduating class had left the profession after getting married and having children (she graduated about 10 years ago). I understand that life's not simple and priorities change, but this seemed like a pretty high number, and the comment made me quite angry. So many of us have worked so hard to get to this anxiety-ridden state, and the idea of getting in and getting through school-just to give it up (not just switch to part-time, but quit altogether) years later-drives me up the wall. Any thoughts?

 

[david594]

I graduated from engineering school and my freshman year they told us the stat was that >50% of us wouldn't be doing what our degree was in 10 years after we graduate.

10-15% doesn't sound that extreme. Look at it this way, the more people who leave, the better the job market will be for you.

 

[runnerDC]

This sounds pretty normal to me. I'm sure you'd find similar statistics if you looked at people who left other fields for that reason or for other reasons. As a career-changer myself, I can understand shifts in priorities and needs over time. I say more power to 'em if they figured out what they really wanted and went after it, whatever it might be. Isn't that what we're all doing?

I recently spoke to a vet who estimated that 10-15% of her graduating class had left the profession after getting married and having children (she graduated about 10 years ago). I understand that life's not simple and priorities change, but this seemed like a pretty high number, and the comment made me quite angry. So many of us have worked so hard to get to this anxiety-ridden state, and the idea of getting in and getting through school-just to give it up (not just switch to part-time, but quit altogether) years later-drives me up the wall. Any thoughts?

 

[dyachei]

did they leave the profession completely? Or will they go back to it after some time? Because some women would rather devote time to their families and raising children (some men, too) rather than to a career. But sometimes these people return to the field (not always in practice, too).

 

[rexosaurus]

I wouldn't necessarily be offended unless the the vet you were talking to insinuated that you, specifically, would give up your profession to have kids. I don't think I would personally give it up, either, and that would offend me if somebody questioned my ability or willingness to keep my profession. But, other than that, I don't think you should be offended 😉

 

[lailanni]

Well, 1 in 10 isn't too bad. I suppose that translates to one or two doctors in a medium/large clinic.

I know a few vets who have taken 6 months off for maternity leave, then come back part time, then eventually full time.

I was reading an article somewhere a while back -- it's been increasingly popular for 2 women vets to take 1 full time position so they have the extra time to be with their kids. I thought that was kind of neat.

 

[MickeysPet]

I don't think that this vet was telling me this because she questioned my dedication to the profession; I think she was most likely just making small talk since she herself was pregnant and planned on coming back only a few weeks after delivery (which she did). Thanks to everyone for putting this in perspective, though...

 

[zpinkpanther]

One of the vets I work with told me that for his class, the percentage that aren't practicing anymore is more like 40-50%. The other vet I work with, the one who owns the practice, kept asking me before I applied, "are you sure you want to do this?" and "why would you want to do this?" He's told me several times that he wishes he'd gone into his father's business, like his father wanted him to. He's still supportive and everything, but it's baffling to me to see someone doing my dream job and saying that they don't like it. *shrug* To each his own, I guess.

 

[pika8]

uh, so their husbands/wives are paying off the 200,000 dollar debt?

sweeeeeeeet.

 

[pupsforseeing]

One of the vets I work with told me that for his class, the percentage that aren't practicing anymore is more like 40-50%. The other vet I work with, the one who owns the practice, kept asking me before I applied, "are you sure you want to do this?" and "why would you want to do this?" He's told me several times that he wishes he'd gone into his father's business, like his father wanted him to. He's still supportive and everything, but it's baffling to me to see someone doing my dream job and saying that they don't like it. *shrug* To each his own, I guess.

The GP I worked for during my year off between high school and college always told me "why don't you go into human medicine or research?" and, while being supportive of me making my own decision, definitely made it clear that he would not have made the same decision to go into vet med again (he's been out of school for 25+ years). At the specialty hospital where I work over breaks, there seems to be a much more positive view of the profession/support for going into it by the doctors that work there, although the vets doing their internships are always saying, when they're 20 hours into a "12 hour" shift, "Are you SURE you want to subject yourself to this?!" But then once they've had a nap and are back for the next day's shift, they remind me how much they love it and wouldn't want to be doing anything else 🙂

 

[carrbear21]

I am married and we plan on having kids while I'm in vet school (he wanted them before he hit 30 but oops! Too late for that!). For me, personally, I won't give up my dream but I also don't want someone else raising kids when we have them. I guess it's something you handle when it happens. Whatever decision a woman (and her husband/bf/gf whatever) make is their personal choice and should not be questioned by anyone 🙂

 

[nyanko]

I am married and we plan on having kids while I'm in vet school

That sounds like it would be very hard, good luck!

 

[SweeTeaPie]

For me, personally, I won't give up my dream but I also don't want someone else raising kids when we have them. I guess it's something you handle when it happens. Whatever decision a woman (and her husband/bf/gf whatever) make is their personal choice and should not be questioned by anyone 🙂

I feel the same way. It's actually part of the reason why I put off going to Vet School initially right out of college. I was engaged at the time and thinking that I didn't want to go through a rigerous 4 years of school to then put it off to have children and struggle to get back into the field. I'm single again, so now I'm free to go for it... but I can't imagine giving birth and going back to work a few weeks later. That's just something I would never want to do personally, but to each his own. And you never know how you're going to feel about working once you actually have a child. It's too hard to plan for things like that before they happen.

Although this thread should not end up in an argument about child-raising issues, I think that it's terrible that a spouse would complain about helping to pay for student loans when they and their partner have a child together. That should be thought about BEFORE having children and if money is that tight, then don't have a child. Either that, or put it off until you are more finacially stable.

I think it's great that female vets are working part-time in pairs and I think that is an awesome solution that will hopefully continue to get more popular.

Of course, like I said, everyone has a right to their own opinion...

 

[anxwaiting]

I have a 1 year old daughter...I have spoken to 2 moms that are in vet school at (Penn), they are super supportive (and realistic). It is totally doable if you set your priorities. I already don't have cable so I can spend more quality time with my daughter.

I think it is sometimes unfair to think that women are the only ones to take off from their job. Her dad didn't work for 6 months to take care of her when she was first born (he is a lawyer) while I went back to work 6 weeks later!

Having a kid is a lot of work. Vet school is a lot of work. But, if it is your passion and what you feel like you were put here to do....then do it!

 

[Truth74]

Gee,
I did it backwards.
I took that time off to do the kids thing, before applying to vet school, so....
pheh...

TRUTH74

 

[carrbear21]

That sounds like it would be very hard, good luck!

LOL Thanks! That's the plan for now and hopefully I get the chance to do it in the NEAR FUTURE (as in starting next year)!!!!!!!!!