Panic Attack?!

[zeebra44]

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Is anyone having a last minute panic attack about starting vet school in the fall? I'm just going through my budget, and I hope I don't regret taking out this much in loans 20 years down the line. This could either be the best decision I've ever made for myself, or complete and utter financial suicide. I know that there's nothing else I would rather be doing with my life career choice wise, but I also want to be able to live comfortably (especially when I decide to have children). Anyone else having these feelings? Do you think it's worth it in the end? Misery loves company..

 

[stephi08]

I know it is scary but unfortunately, almost everyone in vet school has to take out extreme amounts of loans. It sucks but you should be okay. If you are really worried about it, maybe call the vet school and ask for the contact information for vet school financial aid person. Good Luck...Mizzou is great!

 

[flipflopper]

I am definitely feeling the same way. It is really overwhelming when looking at the amount of student loans, interest rates etc. Especially considering how little vets make compared to human medical doctors who also graduate with a similar amt of debt.

This is definitely the career I want to have and everyone always says it is important to love your job. But, it is also important to have a job that enables you to enjoy your home life and gives you time to spend with family and to make a family etc. I do wonder sometimes if putting myself in this situation financially will have negative repercussions later on when I want to settle down and have a family but financially can't afford to pay for childcare or pay for a mortgage etc.

It is hard to know what to do but I think we are too far into this to turn back now. We are so lucky that we got accepted into schools. Everything has to work out eventually right? Hopefully this career is all that we anticipate it to be...

 

[RunTheWorld]

I'm sooo panicking! And just looking at my classes now is overwhelming me. I keep thinking that I might fail, and then I'll have wasted so much money and I'll have no dream job.

 

[DogTyred]

I'm sooo panicking! And just looking at my classes now is overwhelming me. I keep thinking that I might fail, and then I'll have wasted so much money and I'll have no dream job.

I've felt this way so many times but we just have to remember we had the stuff to get in and we'll have the stuff to make it through. Remember, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

 

[lalzi22]

I too have been bugging out about loans, failing out, all the tests...just everything. Its natural to be scared, but I know I am doing what I really want to do in life. Its just SO SCARY to get your way.

 

[rustysmom]

Yes, it is scary - you're going into the unknown!!! But, you will adapt and you will make it.

Money - take everything you can get first semester and then figure out if you truly needed it or not. You should be able to give back part of your loans for later semesters if you found that you had extra money at the end of your first semster. You may also find that you can work very part-time at the library, as a tutor, or in your school's hospital. Don't expect to do that right away - give yourself time to get adjusted to vet school.

School - the pace will be much quicker than undergrad (it really is like drinking from a fire hose 🙂). Give yourself a chance to adjust. Study more than you think you need to for your first couple of exam blocks - you can back down then. Much easier to back down than ramp up (personal experience talking 😉). It's a marathon, not a sprint so pace yourself and study every day. Also, do something nice for yourself every day even if it's only for 10-15 minutes.

Sorry to hijack your thread - I just wanted to share some things that have helped me. Good luck!

 

[zeebra44]

Yes, it is scary - you're going into the unknown!!! But, you will adapt and you will make it.

Money - take everything you can get first semester and then figure out if you truly needed it or not. You should be able to give back part of your loans for later semesters if you found that you had extra money at the end of your first semster. You may also find that you can work very part-time at the library, as a tutor, or in your school's hospital. Don't expect to do that right away - give yourself time to get adjusted to vet school.

School - the pace will be much quicker than undergrad (it really is like drinking from a fire hose 🙂). Give yourself a chance to adjust. Study more than you think you need to for your first couple of exam blocks - you can back down then. Much easier to back down than ramp up (personal experience talking 😉). It's a marathon, not a sprint so pace yourself and study every day. Also, do something nice for yourself every day even if it's only for 10-15 minutes.

Sorry to hijack your thread - I just wanted to share some things that have helped me. Good luck!

You didn't hijack! Thank you for your advice! 🙂

 

[rileyroo]

I'm sooo panicking! And just looking at my classes now is overwhelming me. I keep thinking that I might fail, and then I'll have wasted so much money and I'll have no dream job.

this is what i've been obsessing over...how terrified i am of failing.

Yes, it is scary - you're going into the unknown!!! But, you will adapt and you will make it.

School - the pace will be much quicker than undergrad (it really is like drinking from a fire hose 🙂). Give yourself a chance to adjust. Study more than you think you need to for your first couple of exam blocks - you can back down then. Much easier to back down than ramp up (personal experience talking 😉). It's a marathon, not a sprint so pace yourself and study every day. Also, do something nice for yourself every day even if it's only for 10-15 minutes.

thank you so much for this advice. it's always nice to hear from those who have been through it already. 🙂

 

[rustysmom]

You're all welcome. 🙂

Fear of failure - good side and bad side. Good side - keeps you motivated to study. Bad side (for me) - keeps me awake at night - that's what a nice glass of wine before bed is for (the doing something nice for yourself 😀)

If you feel like you're struggling in a class, get help immediately - don't wait! Talk to your professors; talk to upperclassmen. If your school offers tutoring, take advantage! You may find study groups are awesome for some classes and not so helpful for others.

Your undergrad study habits can work in vet school but with a few tweaks. For me, it's going over PowerPoints multiple times and talking out difficult concepts - even if I'm just talking to my dog 😛. I was a big flashcard person in undergrad, but there's no way I could keep up with flashcards in vet school. I wasn't much of a picture drawer in undergrad but drawing processes out was invaluable in physiology.

I'm happy to help with unsolicited advice. 😀 Seriously, though, if you have questions/concerns about starting school, feel free to PM me if you want.

 

[Angelo84]

I second rustymom. Overall vet school can be done you have proof in the upperclassman. That said you are much better off being slightly over prepared for the first few exams. So stay on top of things studying test to test is an option but you will be much less stressed if you can learn things as you go. And get help from classmates/instructors/upperclassman when you start to feel behind or are just confused on something. Don't wait until two days before the test.

Also don't stress out too much about grades A, B and Cs are all fair game in vet school. Depending on your school a limited number of Ds may be allowed as well. So if you don't do very well on your first anatomy exam don't panic

Almost always you will be better served by going to bed than studying that extra few hours.

 

[natalieises]

I don't even believe I really am going to school on a DAILY BASIS. I think because I'm so terrified of failing so I can't even admit to myself it's real yet.

 

[RunTheWorld]

Remember, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

But this elephant is sooooo big!!!

School - the pace will be much quicker than undergrad (it really is like drinking from a fire hose 🙂).

This analogy is terrifying! But thank you so much for the advice rustysmom and Angelo84. I love hearing from upperclassmen!

Angelo84 -- Are there any 1st semester Tufts classes I should be particularly worried about and study extra hard for? Phys chem looks pretty nasty.

 

[Angelo84]

But this elephant is sooooo big!!!



This analogy is terrifying! But thank you so much for the advice rustysmom and Angelo84. I love hearing from upperclassmen!

Angelo84 -- Are there any 1st semester Tufts classes I should be particularly worried about and study extra hard for? Phys chem looks pretty nasty.

P-chem can be intense. The key is to stay on top of the material. The system I found worked really well is to go back through all the the material we covered that week (for all classes) on friday or saturday morning just to make sure I wasn't confused about anything. If I was confused I clarified at that point. It made it a lot easier to untangle things as I went as opposed to the week before the exam. Also make sure you read the questions carefully that professor is fond of negative questions (ie which of the following is false etc) Also sometimes there are double negatives so that can be a bit confusing. The best trick for me for all MC exams in vet school is to read the question, write down what I think the answer is and then look at the options. This keeps you from being drawn into a foil. Also don't change your answers and trust the little voice in your head!

 

[RunTheWorld]

P-chem can be intense. The key is to stay on top of the material. The system I found worked really well is to go back through all the the material we covered that week (for all classes) on friday or saturday morning just to make sure I wasn't confused about anything. If I was confused I clarified at that point. It made it a lot easier to untangle things as I went as opposed to the week before the exam. Also make sure you read the questions carefully that professor is fond of negative questions (ie which of the following is false etc) Also sometimes there are double negatives so that can be a bit confusing. The best trick for me for all MC exams in vet school is to read the question, write down what I think the answer is and then look at the options. This keeps you from being drawn into a foil. Also don't change your answers and trust the little voice in your head!

Double negatives! Such tricksters, haha! Thanks so much for the advice, I'll definitely listen!

 

[lei325]

I too have been bugging out about loans, failing out, all the tests...just everything. Its natural to be scared, but I know I am doing what I really want to do in life. Its just SO SCARY to get your way.

This. Times a million.

I basically conditioned myself into thinking about other options because I was so sure I would not get in. Now that I am...I'm still just in shock that I get to do what I've dreamed of doing since forever.