Income Issues while in PostBacc

[maybull]

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I am considering a postbacc program after 10 years working full time in international relations. I have a BA in International Studies with very few prerequisites completed. In order to be considered as an applicant to veterinary school, I have at least 6 classes to complete, plus the GREs.

So PostBacc seems like the best way to start here, right?

Like many, I was not motivated at age 22 and lacked the discipline to attend medical school. Sadly, I put aside any hopes of veterinary school early on in high school. From there, I followed a path of languages and government work. I am looking at retirement 35+ years away. As crazy as it seems to me, I may want to tackle starting over again. I have made more money than I needed in the past 10 years (no, no a lot, I just don't require a lot to make me happy) and I realized that I want to work at something that makes me happy, not wealthy.

My question is: If do I decide to pursue this change in career paths, will I have time to work at all while in a postbacc program? Is the norm 3 classes at a time? I can’t imagine working more than part time, plus getting some experience in animal care.

I have saved about $80k to begin school (I know, not nearly enough). However, I need about 20 hours/week to devote to working at my husband’s business; otherwise school is pretty much out of the question.

What have most older (32 in my case) postbacc students done and has it worked out?

 

[mshheaddoc]

Ok a few questions:

Do you mean work while IN vet school or just during post-bacc? Post-bacc I could see it doable if you take 2-3 science classes at a time. I know people that worked full-time during their undergrad years. You just have to balance your time well. If you are in a "post-bacc" program it might be alittle more time intensive than possibly doing it just on your own which might work out well for you.

I know nothing about the competitiveness of vet schools so I would possible go and post something in the vet forum about non-traditional applicants. I believe there were a few over there who might be able to help.

Saving that much should be fine but you will have to obviously change your spending habits over the next few years and probably expect to take out loans of some sort unless your husband will also be supporting you.

 

[maybull]

Thanks msh....I meant during postbacc, not med school. The reason I was considering a structured postbacc was because I was so unfamiliar with the process. Coming from a liberal arts background, I need some guidance. I was able to save some money because of my husband's business, so without that (and my help with the business), we would soon enough go broke. If I can work 20/hrs in postbaccc, I can quit my day job and devote the time to classes & study. I will post in the pre-vet form and look for answer about time issues. 😳

 

[mshheaddoc]

well the post-bacc can be answered here but I thought you meant workign while in vet school, which I thought was a little out there.

I'm not familiar with the pre-vet requirements but I assume they are similar to pre-med. You can also search the pre-vet and non-traditional forums on here and search for pre-vet students who might be in your situation with prereqs.

 

[Lshapley]

Hey,

I am a 32-year old career changer working part time and attending the post bacc program at Penn.

Currently I am taking two science classes and planning to take three in the Spring. Your plan seems sound to me. During this term I have an assortment of part time jobs (totalling almost 40-hours a week) in addition to my classes at Penn. While this stretches my time a bit thin, I am on track to get A's in both classes. I also find time to volunteer 4/hours a week. Next term, I will only be working about 24 hours a week as I take on the larger course load. I don't anticipate any problems bases on what I know about the courses.

My advice for you is to chose your courses carefully. You said that you have to take most (but not all?) of the pre-reqs. My experience at Penn is that the pre-req courses are more challenging than the advanced level courses. Seems silly, but they definitely seem to require more time and effort. Keep in mind that these courses usually have a lab component as well. If you are planning on working 20 hours a week and take bio, chem and physics all with their lab components, and I wouldn't be optimistic about your chances. But, two of these at a time is workable or a combination of the right upper level sciences with a basic science will work as well.

Finally, your finances seem pretty good to me. But, income is relative. I am used to living poor, so being spartan is nothing new to me. The real problems I would anticipate for you would be in Vet school, not during the post-bacc years. I don't know how many students though go into this whole endevour with much of a savings though.

Good luck and send me a message if you have any specific questions.

lee

 

[maybull]

Lee, thanks for the insight. you must have lots of energy! i do, too, so it is good to hear rthat someone can balance some part time work with these courses.

what do you plan to do when you enter med school? no time for part time work?

 

[Gooble]

What do you think of Penn's post-bac program? It seems great, but also risky as hell because of the curve. What do you think overall, or don't you have any grades yet?

 

[Lshapley]

Lee, thanks for the insight. you must have lots of energy! i do, too, so it is good to hear rthat someone can balance some part time work with these courses.

what do you plan to do when you enter med school? no time for part time work?

Med School is going to be loan time, I think. I am sure that I will work during the summers, but I am a little torn about that. Right now I have a part time job doing graphic design that is extremly flexible and pays about $30/hour. It is really great and laid back, I even get to study when I have downtime! But, when I go to med school there will be the opportunity to work in healthcare, but for $10/hour 🙁 So, all I know is that I won't work while the semester is happening. I might do some freelance graphics work for a couple of bucks here and there, but that would be it!

lee

 

[Lshapley]

What do you think of Penn's post-bac program? It seems great, but also risky as hell because of the curve. What do you think overall, or don't you have any grades yet?

Hey Gooble,

Penn is pretty tough. The classes are post-bacc students only, with almost no undergrads, and when they are graded on a curve it can be rough. Right now I have an A- average (I believe...) in both of my classes, general chem and cell biology.

The cell is an upper level class and much easier than the gen chem actually. Class average in cell seems to be around a B+ with no curve (the upper levels don't seem to be curved).

I had taken gen chem about 12 years ago, but got a B-/B so I decided to retake and this is much, much more difficult and competitive. It looks like you really have to have an A on the tests in chem to get an A, looking at the grade distributions, but there are a number of students who are not even sniffing a natural B on the tests. Problem is that there are a number of students who have recently taken general chem and are now taking it again mixed in with the newbies. I think the concentration is too high and it isn't fair to the new students. It makes it almost impossible to get an A if you never had this material before.

I think Penn is good for someone like me who has taken the pre-reqs ages ago or someone who needs to just brush up their grades (you need to at least have a 3.0 to get in, I think). It is a mixed experience so far though.

lee