Needing Advice!

[Kuumelon]

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Hey guys, I have been lurkin' for a while but I'm needing advice.

Before I lay down any background information, I need advice about staying a bio major to become a vet. Due to my circumstances as I will lay out, keep in mind is it realistic to even become a vet.

Goal: Graduate college with BS. in biology, go to vet school, graduate, do residency to become a vet surgeon at a hospital.

I am currently a sophomore in college, double majoring in art and biology (not declared yet). I know they are two separate things but I got a big art scholarship, and I want to become a veterinarian (it has always been my dream).

In high school, I had a 4.00 and for 2 years was president of NHS. I had an A in bio, but a B- in Chem, and my math was not good. I really disliked chem because of my teacher, but I loved biology!

For my freshmen year of college, I struggled with time management and I always struggled with test anxiety, it got so bad that I would have a mini panic attack's at the beginning of the exam and would blank out everything. This resulted in poor test results.
I got a C in gen bio both semesters, which I am very disappointed in because I loved the material and the class was exam oriented.

This year, I am taking gen chem which I'm getting a C in, not because I don't understand the material, I find it really fun to solve the problems and I actually understand it, but because the exams are short and I'm freaking out to get it done in time which causes careless errors.
I am also taking advanced physiology, which is one of the best classes I have ever taken because we do live surgery's and this is my dream. Problem is, I am failing my exams, and the reports are very stressful and I feel like the stress is overwhelming and I can't do it.
To lay ontop of all this school work, my dad has been missing for 5 months and the possibility of him being dead is high and he is my everything. It is just starting to hit me and I find myself crying every day. I am also getting tested for ADHD because I cant concentrate worth crap and sometimes I am bouncing off the walls and my mind just wont shut up.

I have always been gung ho and pushing through all the crap and keeping my chin high because I can't see myself not being a veterinarian. Recently, it is starting to hit me that I am being unrealistic and I should stick to something I am good at (art).
My family tells me I can do anything and nothing is going to come easily in life. I totally understand that but I'm tired of failing and feeling inadequate.

I feel hopeless. Should I quite my dream,which I may kick myself in the future for not pursuing?
I don't want pity I want realistic answers, but please be nice! Thanks!

 

[futurehealervet]

First of all, I am so sorry about your father. It is amazing that you are going to school at all. In regards to your questions:
I'd say find some way to treat your anxiety problems. If you understand the material and this is what is causing your poor performance, I'd say not to give up. You need to be honest with yourself about the reasons for your grades at this point. Vet schools have an explanation statement on the application for poor grades, and it sounds like this is a rough time for you. You are still pretty early in college, so if you prove yourself in upper level science classes, that could certainly help. I hope your father is found soon, my heart goes out to you and your family.

 

[PetPony]

Maybe you can also talk to your professors about the anxiety. I talked to mine after I dropped his class and I really wish I had done it before. He was upset he didn't know because he said he would've have worked something out with me to make me feel better about taking the tests. Don't hesitate to talk to them.

I really hope the best for your family regarding your day.

 

[bunnity]

I think you need to take a step back from worrying too much about the future and take care of yourself, and get some help for your test anxiety (and I don't mean that in a bad way - I'm sure I'm diagnosable with an anxiety disorder along with most of my classmates). You will take a million tests in vet school and you will need to be ready for that, but more importantly you need to do this for yourself and your own mental health. There are a million paths to vet school, so don't stress too much about your major right now - just focus on doing well in the classes you're taking and on taking care of yourself. If the test anxiety is completely crippling your GPA, it might be best to take some time off or hold off on your vet school pre-req's to avoid further damage to your GPA. At this point it's totally salvageable but the more credits you have, the harder it is to improve your GPA.

I would really encourage you to see a counselor at school. Most schools have free counseling available. You have a lot going on (that's so scary about your dad - I'm really sorry) plus they know all about test anxiety at university mental health centers.

 

[EngrSC]

I don't think you should give up your dream ... You'll kick yourself later if you do! You're only in your 2nd year of school so you have plenty of time to improve!

Addressing the possible ADHD is definitely a step in the right direction. Through my undergrad years I had severe anxiety that progressively got worse. I didn't get help for it until after I graduated ... If I could go back and do it again I would've gotten help much sooner. My anxiety was very different from yours but I can tell you (from the recovering side) that you absolutely don't have to live with it and the sooner you get help for it the easier it will be to overcome. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to discuss more.

Sorry to hear about your dad, I can't even imagine. Good thoughts and prayers being sent your way ...

 

[Kuumelon]

Thanks guys for the responses, I talked to one teacher because I didn't understand a concept and I told him about it. So I am getting tested for academic disabilities and maybe through the counseling I could have them help me out with arranging with my teacher. I am now trying to use the resources around me (such as super smart chem major friends) to help me understand my hw and concepts which has been working, all my problem is now is memorizing the material for advanced phys. It's like bio but with a lot more detail then a normal bio class and the horrible research experiment reports.

Any study advice??

 

[wolfspeaker]

Something else to consider: You don't have to major in Biology(or Chemistry or Animal Science) to get into Vet School. I know you probably have to major in Art to keep your scholarship. You could just do that and then the science pre-reqs you would need for any schools you are applying to. I don't know if it saves you any credits(aka Time) or not, but in case you are feeling too pressured to double major. You don't need to, if you don't want to.

 

[MonkeyResrcher]

I have test anxiety and when I went back to school to take pre-reqs that I did not complete when I finished my dual BA before I knew I wanted to become a vet, a TA I had noticed my issues and lead me to the school's academic disabilities office.

It has been a huge help having extra time and a low-distraction testing area (where I can't compare myself to everyone else in the room taking the test thinking "They finished already?! I must be dumb, I can't finsih this in time!!" etc. etc.

I know how it feels to push so much for something and feel like you are failing in return, even had extreme added family problems although mine were much different and I can't imagine the uncertainty and worry you must face everyday.

I know its hard to consider, but maybe if you can't savage the classes you are doing poorly in, you should drop and re-take or take an incomplete and finish during the summer. I know to me it never felt like an option because I thought I'd "get behind" because I often feel like I am behind my peers and like life is a race but I think it'd help you in the end simply because a good GPA is easy to screw up, hard to fix.

Anywho, I can understand the internal battle that is probably in your head about striving forward even when you are having issues and if you need any help or need to vent to a stranger, feel free to PM me as well.

<3 Amanda

 

[Hotfillyky]

Thanks guys for the responses, I talked to one teacher because I didn't understand a concept and I told him about it. So I am getting tested for academic disabilities and maybe through the counseling I could have them help me out with arranging with my teacher. I am now trying to use the resources around me (such as super smart chem major friends) to help me understand my hw and concepts which has been working, all my problem is now is memorizing the material for advanced phys. It's like bio but with a lot more detail then a normal bio class and the horrible research experiment reports.

Any study advice??

It sounds as though you have a LOT on your plate right now. I have been there myself. Both my kids have ADHD and trying to be a good mom and take care of their needs made it hard for me as a student at times. You should definitely go through the academic disabilities office and get your self evaluated. You should also sit down with each of your professors and talk frankly about your school work with them. Ask their opinion about study suggestions, survivability and as a last resort, dropping classes. As a sophomore, you have time. While I have never been diagnosed with a learning challenge, 3 brothers and 2 children, indicate a likelihood. I have used mini recorders, take notes as fast as I can, and made LOTS of index cards. Maybe try acronyms?!

You can always find support here......that is one of the best things about SDN.🙂 You never get more than you can handle...at least, that is what I'm always told. I am sorry to hear about your dad, I hope you find out something soon

 

[that redhead]

I think you need to take a step back from worrying too much about the future and take care of yourself, and get some help for your test anxiety (and I don't mean that in a bad way - I'm sure I'm diagnosable with an anxiety disorder along with most of my classmates). You will take a million tests in vet school and you will need to be ready for that, but more importantly you need to do this for yourself and your own mental health. There are a million paths to vet school, so don't stress too much about your major right now - just focus on doing well in the classes you're taking and on taking care of yourself. If the test anxiety is completely crippling your GPA, it might be best to take some time off or hold off on your vet school pre-req's to avoid further damage to your GPA. At this point it's totally salvageable but the more credits you have, the harder it is to improve your GPA.

I would really encourage you to see a counselor at school. Most schools have free counseling available. You have a lot going on (that's so scary about your dad - I'm really sorry) plus they know all about test anxiety at university mental health centers.

👍👍

I wouldn't say give up on your dream, but it may be realistic to post-pone it until you can get things sorted out. C's in gen bio won't totally kill your application, but the further you go along your academic career, the harder it is to pull GPA up. I think admissions at vet schools would rather see that you took time off and then returned to your classes when you were ready to handle them again.

 

[Kuumelon]

I really appreciate everyone's response. I was told I could take my exams in a separate room alone with unlimited time, which would help a lot with test anxiety because I really get distracted and I just feel like I'm going to fail, and things go down hill from there.
I would take a year off, but I feel like if I'm home working I would become depressed. School is a good distraction, but sometimes it is really hard.

 

[Trematode]

I would take a year off, but I feel like if I'm home working I would become depressed. School is a good distraction, but sometimes it is really hard.

I am taking time off school now. I refused to live with my parents while I work because I know it will take a toll on me mentally. I had no choice but to move away for undergrad, which makes it a little easier to live away from home and work.

The upside to not taking time off school is that you don't risk losing the study habits that you're learning in school. Some people have a difficult time if they have taken a year off during undergrad or a gap year between high school and university. Other people make out just fine though.

The downside is that vet med is your dream, the more courses you take that you don't do well in, the harder it becomes to bounce back. It's easier to make up for a couple of low grades in introductory classes than it is to make up for low grades in intro and upper level classes. Also, the more courses you have, the more you have to take in order to make even a little dent in your GPA.

If you take a gap year, you could use that time to study for the GRE or take a few distance courses. If you get a vet-related job, it will make your application a lot stronger.

These are just a few thoughts I am having. I'm having a hard time bouncing back from poor grades in intro chem and physics. I am too poor to just keep going to school. Also, over the last couple of years, I have noticed changes that make it difficult for me to concentrate in school. I'm going to talk to a doctor next week about it.

Everyone is different though!