need some advice

[becauseisaidso]

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Hi, I just joined this forum in hopes to find advice from veterinary students and other people in the veterinary field. I apologize if this isn't the right forum or right type of forum to post this is, but it seemed to be best I could find.

Here's my situation. I've been out of high school for a little over a year now. I've always had dreams of entering the veterinary field. Currently in the city I'm living in, the local colleges have no veterinary technician programs. The community college has pre-veterinary program, however I've heard it isn't too spectacular.
Most veterinary offices around here do not require licenses for their technicians or to be certified. So, until I can gather enough funds to move to another city with veterinary programs, I'd like to gain work experience in the veterinary field. However, I just can't seem to get any experience.

I am intelligent. I graduated from my high school with a 3.88 GPA (which, could be better, but it shows I am not an idiot.). I volunteer at our Humane Society. I have had 3 interviews since graduation, but no jobs (well, one interview was last night, so I'm still waiting on that).

What would be the best way to land a job at a veterinary office (be it a paying job, or convincing them to allow me to volunteer or shadow)? Are there any specific tips for interviews that I may not be remembering?

Thank you in advance, I know this was a rather long post.

 

[rileyroo]

hi!

check out these threads, they may help you with information for gaining experience:

"how did you get your experience?"

gaining experience

 

[twelvetigers]

Here are a couple of threads about getting your foot in the door...

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=643959
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=633108

Keep in mind that this is a pre-vet forum and is not aimed at those wanting to become veterinary technicians, so that's why there's stuff on those threads about the importance of animal vs. veterinary experience, VMCAS applications, etc. Also, there is an assumption that shadowing first is a possibility, since most pre-vet students just need the hours. However, there is also some good advice about getting an employer to take you seriously.

ETA: DUDE WE JUST POSTED THE SAME THREADS. WEIRD. Lol.

 

[rileyroo]

Here are a couple of threads about getting your foot in the door...

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=643959
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=633108

Keep in mind that this is a pre-vet forum and is not aimed at those wanting to become veterinary technicians, so that's why there's stuff on those threads about the importance of animal vs. veterinary experience, VMCAS applications, etc. Also, there is an assumption that shadowing first is a possibility, since most pre-vet students just need the hours. However, there is also some good advice about getting an employer to take you seriously.

ETA: DUDE WE JUST POSTED THE SAME THREADS. WEIRD. Lol.

hahaha that's awesome. i thought you would come along and post all the threads i left out.

 

[twelvetigers]

Eh, these two seem pretty good to me. Nice work! 😉

 

[Nexx]

You could also look into online vet tech programs such as that offered by St. Petersburg College in Tampa--which wouldn't require you to relocate 🙂

On that note you could also talk to your potential bosses about their continuing education allowances. One of my friends (out in Seattle) works for a clinic that paid for her schooling on the condition that she worked for them at least a couple years after she finished her degree and became licensed. Just something else to think about.

 

[dgm]

So just to clarify - you don't have aspirations of becoming a veterinarian, you are just interested in becoming a vet tech, right?

But as far as volunteering/shadowing, I think a lot of times it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time! I'm sure the threads rileyroo & twelvetigers posted probably have some good info.

 

[becauseisaidso]

So just to clarify - you don't have aspirations of becoming a veterinarian, you are just interested in becoming a vet tech, right?

But as far as volunteering/shadowing, I think a lot of times it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time! I'm sure the threads rileyroo & twelvetigers posted probably have some good info.

Well, I was hoping to become a tech first and then later continue my education to become a veterinarian.

Thank you everyone.

 

[twelvetigers]

Maybe it's annoying when I post old threads like this, but hey, these are relevant!

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=645239
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=604039

These two talk about it a bit...

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=621503

And this is exactly your situation, more or less - someone wanting to do vet tech first.

Good luck!

 

[bunnity]

Just be aware that becoming a licensed tech is a two year degree, and then becoming a vet would probably be another eight years on top of that. In other words, tech school doesn't give you much of a head start on pre-vet or vet school.

Another option is to work as an unlicensed tech or assistant. Different states have different laws about what an unlicensed tech can do; here in PA they can legally do pretty much the same stuff as licensed techs, but in other states the laws are much more strict and so being licensed is a bigger advantage when finding a job. There are plenty of ways to get veterinary experience and employment without being an LVT. Not saying that it's bad to be an LVT, just saying it might be more of a detour than a step forward on the path to becoming a veterinarian.

 

[ckgilabert]

i just wanted to say that you can easily start taking the required english, math, bio, physics classes at your community college. if you're family is helping you out (like free rent)....just start taking all the required classes for vet school.


***i also dont want you to think that being a tech will give you a leg up on getting into veterinary school.

and you can definitely work at a vets office while taking all your required classes...you dont need to be a vet tech.


and with what i've done, im glad i didnt become a tech first because i think it would've taken me longer to get to my goal.


BUT......i also think it's AWESOME to watch how these vet techs know SOOO much. and i'm soo sure it helps them in their clinical years in vet school.


good luck!!!!