New Here, non-trad, need a boost..

[KittyPaws]

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Hey y'all. I have been a lurker here for a couple of years, since 2009 I guess. I have taken the bumpy road through life, not only that but I have also taken a lot of wrong turns and stopped to see a lot of roadside attractions 😳 But that is the journey that brought me here: I'm 29, I have been to a total of 4 colleges totaling 4.5 years of post-secondary education (it will be a total of 7 schools and 11 years by the time I'm a vet!) Am I nuts?! I ask that question, but I really don't think I am. I have wanted to be a vet since I was about 7 or 8 but over the years doubts started creeping in. I felt like I wasn't smart enough, didn't start early enough, couldn't afford it, etc.

But the dream wouldn't go away so here I am. I live in the Bay Area, CA and I am getting ready to apply to UC Santa Cruz to finish up my Bio degree. I won't be able to start at UCSC until Fall 2012 so I'm planning to take some lower division/pre-req classes at a local community college in the meantime. So this means I will be 31-32 by the time I am going to vet school. I need to hear that I'm not crazy, that this is doable, that other people are doing it all the time.

 

[CatPartay]

Hi Kittypaws!
I have almost the exact same story.. I went back to school at 29 to finally get my pre-reqs to apply to vet school. Like you, I know I always wanted to do be a vet but something (being not smart enough or could not afford it) always stopped me. I am 31 now and taking my last 2 pre-reqs. Finally going to apply this cycle. Like you I will be 32 if I actually get in. I will be honest it was really hard at times,financially, emotionally, mentally and physically! I am sure it will get worse in vet school but this is my dream. I know I wont be happy doing anything else or I would have said forget it 2 weeks back in school.
So yes you are crazy! lol jk. You just have to stay motivated and look ahead at the big goal. BTW I dont feel much older now then I did at 29.
GOOD LUCK!🙂
P.S -I have my days that I still dont feel like I am smart enough, especially now taking organic chem.. but I just keep digging. I am still broke but just accepted the fact I will be paying loans for school till I die. 😀

 

[gone2dogs]

Someone will probably suggest more threads, but for starters, lots of inspiration here:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=779524

But yes, you may be crazy, but no, you are not alone! I am right there with you! And so are a bunch of other people too! When I applied, I had to submit transcripts from 11 (eleven!) colleges/universities and will be starting school this year at age 35.

I think you are making a great decision to take general ed and lower division classes at a community college while waiting to transfer to UCSC (I even spent a year there... count that as 1 of my transcripts! Love Santa Cruz!)). Just start picking away at the classes and before you know it you will have them all!

I'm not a great one to be giving advice on gathering veterinary experience, except to know that you should be considering how you are going to gain some in the next few years! But you said you have been lurking for a while now, so you probably already know that 🙂!

 

[KittyPaws]

Thank you both so much!! So nice to immediately hear from others with similar stories! CatPartay we're even so alike our usernames are both about cats!!

Someone will probably suggest more threads, but for starters, lots of inspiration here:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=779524

G2G, thank you for the link, I spent about an hour on that thread, each post I read gave me a bigger smile and made me feel warm and cuddly inside 😀

So glad I decided to come in out of the shadows 🙂

 

[Psorophoraferox]

If you're crazy, I'm crazy too, because your story sounds a lot like mine! It seems there are a lot of us non-trad nuts around. 😉

Welcome to non-lurker status, btw. 🙂

 

[Dsmoody23]

I'm 32.

I'll be 37 when I get done, under ideal circumstances.

Instead of feeling old, focus on the advantages that your age and experience will give you. We old folks have an extra 10 years in the work force, a portfolio of references and employment experience, and the added maturity that makes school that much easier.

Glass half full, dude.

 

[KittyPaws]

I'm 32.

I'll be 37 when I get done, under ideal circumstances.

Instead of feeling old, focus on the advantages that your age and experience will give you. We old folks have an extra 10 years in the work force, a portfolio of references and employment experience, and the added maturity that makes school that much easier.

Glass half full, dude.

👍

 

[socalrvt]

Count me in on the crazy. Decided I couldn't do it for various reasons first time around--anything less than overacheiving wouldn't cut it, right?? Got English and journalism degrees, worked at a couple of newspapers, then found myself volunteering for an animal rescue. Then on the board. Then with a paid position in a shelter. Then working in my vet's office. Eventually got my RVT license and everything. Then the husband left and I had 4 kids to support. So now, I'm getting ready to go to St. George's next month, with 30 days' notice at the age of 42. And you know what? I'm ready!

It will be a tough road, but you can do it!!

 

[CatPartay]

Count me in on the crazy. Decided I couldn't do it for various reasons first time around--anything less than overacheiving wouldn't cut it, right?? Got English and journalism degrees, worked at a couple of newspapers, then found myself volunteering for an animal rescue. Then on the board. Then with a paid position in a shelter. Then working in my vet's office. Eventually got my RVT license and everything. Then the husband left and I had 4 kids to support. So now, I'm getting ready to go to St. George's next month, with 30 days' notice at the age of 42. And you know what? I'm ready!

It will be a tough road, but you can do it!!

Wow congrats Socalrvt!! 🙂

 

[LetItSnow]

Count me in on the crazy. Decided I couldn't do it for various reasons first time around--anything less than overacheiving wouldn't cut it, right?? Got English and journalism degrees, worked at a couple of newspapers, then found myself volunteering for an animal rescue. Then on the board. Then with a paid position in a shelter. Then working in my vet's office. Eventually got my RVT license and everything. Then the husband left and I had 4 kids to support. So now, I'm getting ready to go to St. George's next month, with 30 days' notice at the age of 42. And you know what? I'm ready!

*drive-by pat on the back* G'luck at St. George's; that sounds exciting. How are you handling the kids, if I can ask?

(I'm 42, starting in a couple months, and also worked as a newspaper writer/editor/photographer many years back, though only for a few years. And I have 3 kids. Still have the wife, though; she hasn't thrown me out yet.)