Greetings to all! I'm a newbie around here, but all of the things i've read on here thus far have been very informative. I'm a little torn between 2 professions, here's a little background info...I graduated from college in the spring of 2008 with a B.S. in Animal Science. Since i've graduated, i've had 2 good jobs in the animal reasearch field in which i've learned alot of useful things. My passion is animals and the well being of them. Since i've graduated, i've gotten married and moved back home(Houston). As of late, my dreams of becoming a Vet are diminishing. Reasons being is because 1.) my wife has a good job in Houston...2.) I have to have income generating in my home...3.) The nearest vet school is in College Station(Texas A&M). I've always had an interes in medicine, science, and helping others. I've also been looking into the process of med. school, the MCAT, and careers in the medical field. They all are something i can see myself accomplishing in my life. As of late, there has been a spark that has gone off in me in becoming a M.D. I want a prestigious/promising career in which i can challenge myself, learn, and help others i which i can do as a M.D. Getting accepted at UT HOUSTON med school would def be a favor for me and is my goal @ applying to. Do I try to still pursue my passion with animals and take a chance @ vet school or do I take a leap of faith @ med school in which i won't stop until i pursue that goal. Thanks in advance for all the comments!
M.D. or D.V.M????
- Thread starter jwaldrup
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only you can decide this question really.....do you want to be a MD or DVM?
Sounds like DVM but it does not fit your new life now!! and you are trying to convince yourself about medicine.....
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Like J DUB said, it looks like you have already kind of made up your mind. In your post, you list reasons why your "dreams of becoming a Vet are diminishing," but you do not say that your dreams of becoming a doctor are diminishing. Go for the MD (or D.O., not trying to start 'one of those' threads) if that is what you truly want 👍 Good Luck
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Are you sure you want to be a human doctor to be a human doctor or just because vet seems a little too hard right now? It honestly sounds like you've been right on track to apply to vet school, but just recently become disheartened because its so far away and doesnt make as much money, and so you've decided to "settle". I actually think going for MD would be the "safe" option for you right now, because its kind of the easiest - but you are the only person who can make that judgement. I would strongly suggest shadowing human doctors, volunteering etc before making your choice though - it would suck if you got to 3rd year of MD and then realise you wish your patients couldnt talk! 😛
Also, I think adcoms will like a really good explaination of why MD and not vet. The only thing you listed there thats exclusive to MD over vet is the money, and telling an adcom you chose your career because it earns double the salary of the alternative won't go down well... I don't think.
I think two good questions to ask yourself are:
Why have I wanted to be a vet for so long?
Why haven't I wanted to be a human doctor before now?
But then, there's always pediatrics, anesthesiology, and pathology as human medicine specialties to get around this.
Follow your heart and do what will make you happiest. If vet school is it, you'll find a way to make it happen. Including commuting back to Houston on weekends, or relocating your wife's job, if need be.
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peds, they cry!!!
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Do both.
If I were rich I'd make a few donations and do both. 😉 That'd be my life's hobby, lol.
If I were rich I'd make a few donations and do both. 😉 That'd be my life's hobby, lol.
lol...wish I had enuff time to do both, I would prolly lose all my hair trying to do both lol
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It sounds like location is kind of the one thing holding you back. College Station really isn't that far from Houston...I know it wouldn't be ideal but you could probably tough it out through 4 years if that's truly what you want. And UT Houston isn't an easy school to get into by any means...if you really want an MD, applying to only that school is a horrible idea.
Obviously I don't know any of your stats and ECs though. If you're a ridiculously strong applicant that changes things a little.
Obviously I don't know any of your stats and ECs though. If you're a ridiculously strong applicant that changes things a little.
Wow....everything you said is very true! I guess I will re-evaluate my overall decision, great advise! Are u in med school or have already completed it?
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lol I understand completely.
And puppies don't?
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They do....I was just pointing out that peds did not belong in that list since they do talk...🙂
Anes, Rads, Path 👍
Yea ur right, location is the key thing that's holding me back because of my lifestyle....why isn't ut houston as easy to get into? Just curious? I don't really want to apply to that one location, but it is very ideal of a location...thanks
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I'm not saying it's impossible to get into, and there are no "easy" schools to get into either. UTH just tends to be a lot of people's number one choice...it's a huge city so its easy for spouses and significant others to find jobs, it's at the TMC which is a premed's dream place, it's a great school and their staff is amazing. San Antonio was my first choice but Houston was a very very close second even though I went into the interview day thinking "I hate this city, I'd never go here." I'm not trying to discourage you from applying there but I'm just saying if that's the absolute only place you'll go to med school at, you better have an amazing application. Basically, it's a bad idea to only apply to one school cause you just never know what will happen.
Your right....now that I think about it, I won't just apply to that one school, I guess I'll broaden my choices, I do want to stay as close to houston as I can though but we'll see how that works...thanks!
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For him in this situation, it is, he pretty much said it himself. It would be so much easier to stay where he is with his wife and try and do human med, then have to move/commute to vet school.
I'm not saying human med is easier than vet med as a course, because medicine is medicine; I'm saying as his path right now, that is what appears "easier".
If you want to go to vet school, I wouldn't count on getting into the one closest either, and since there are way less vet schools than there are human med schools, you'll probably have to move further.
I just feel that if your passion is veterinary medicine and you end up in human medicine, you might feel really disenchanted.
As I said earlier, and the OP never answered:
Why vet med for so long?
Why human med now?
And OP, to answer your question, im in vet school now 🙂. Its awesome awesome awesome.
I really didn't think of the idea of what if i couldnt get into A&M, considering it is the only vet school in Texas...thats walking on a thin line then. Med would be harder to get into IMO, but at least there are more than one, as far as distance from Houston. Too answer your 2 thoughtful questons 👍....Why have i wanted to pursue vet for so long is beacuse i've always liked to be around animals, animals cheer me up and make me feel better when im not in a good mood and learning about different species of animals is always interesting to me as well. I've always had dogs throughout my life, but quickly discovered as i had gotten older that i've carried along a desire for helping animals as if my own life depended on it, which lead me to believe that i would be a good vet.😎 Question #2..Why Human Med now. Since i've been working at my current job now, i've been doing alot of contemplating on becoming a M.D. I work in the animal research field and actually thought about the fact that all the research occuring, is for the well being of humans...cures,diseases, treatments...are all on these animals to benefit humans, which is the bigger piture in this all, which made me believe i could succeed in being a M.D. Eventhough i'm not directly working with humans/patients, but just knowing who this is all for, is a good thing. I also enjoy helping others, especially finding ways to cure someone or put a smile on someone's face. If i can pursue this, kids would defenitely be the direction i would be going as far as a med. career. I want that prestigious life-long career where i can push myself, challenge myself, and know that i can change someones life any and every given day! Wow, feel like i just gave an academy award winning speech lol
