Plan B...need help...

[bumble]

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Hey All...
I know there are more threads about plan B's but I thought maybe someone could give some insight to my situation...
I'm in Canada and have one more chance at applying to vet school and getting in.
I was wondering how many of you were planning on being a vet tech if you couldn't get into vet school and being happy with the decision.
I have an MSc and I feel like after 5 years of university, going to college (which the two are different here in Canada) would be kind of a slap in the face (I don't mean this to be rude in any way because I know you can still get a good education at college, but it's just a different atmosphere and having 2 degrees from a University and then going to college I think i would feel more like a failure), plus if I went back for a vet tech, I'd be with 17 and 18 year olds and I'm late 20's now.
I've tried and tried again to think of something else I'd be happy doing, but I can't see myself in any field except vet medicine. Though I feel like if I was a tech, I would either be mad or jealous of the vets I worked with and I don't know if I'd be truly happy doing that.

One other field that I've given some thought to is animal behaviour, so looking at becoming a behaviourist, but I don't know how much of a living you can make doing that at this point. It's not something that's big in my area right now, and until you get enough clients, you still need something else in the meantime to make some money. Plus I'd have to take a few more courses for this route as well (but I'd be okay with that).

Other than those, I really can't come up with anything. If I don't get in and I have to settle with a job then I would like to make a decent living out of it. I'm thinking of the next time I apply to vet school, just applying to a bunch of different programs at the same time, and then at least I'll have some options to think about if I didn't get in.

Can anyone offer some help at all?

 

[Escalla]

Whereabouts in Canada are you? I've thought about my options if I never get in too, but generally I have looked to other medical fields that aren't animal related (physical therapy, chiropractic work (which you can turn into veterinary chiropractic), etc.). I do agree with you that it would be hard to attend college after earning a master's and I don't think I would be satisfied with that either, which is why I would look at other professional programs that are health-related that I have the qualifications to go into. Would you consider that an option? You could continue along the research route and get a PhD too if you really enjoyed research.

Just some ideas. 🙂

 

[bumble]

I'm in Ontario.

If I do look at other programs, it has to be something that doesn't require physics because I never took that since the vet school didn't require it.
The only thing that I worry if I applied to another professional program, is that they would see that most of my activities revolove around animals and vet med, so wouldn't they wonder why I just switched all of a sudden. And if I got an interview, would I say I just changed my mind all of a sudden?

 

[KCgophervet]

Not really my story, and we're not Canadian, but my coworker has her Masters degree and was hoping to break into the nursing field after realizing she wasn't getting anywhere in research. She applied to a Master of Nursing program and was unfortunately rejected. Now she's planning on just getting an associates degree. She said originally she would never have considered going back to school to get a 2 year degree after already having a bachelor's and a masters, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do in order to get the career you want. She's also in her 30's, so it was that much more difficult for her to talk herself into doing it, but I think she's happy having found a way to break out of a career she wasn't happy in, even if it meant going back to community college to get a lower degree.

Honestly, I think it all depends on you and what you're willing to do to stay connected to the field.

 

[Escalla]

I'm in Ontario.

If I do look at other programs, it has to be something that doesn't require physics because I never took that since the vet school didn't require it.
The only thing that I worry if I applied to another professional program, is that they would see that most of my activities revolove around animals and vet med, so wouldn't they wonder why I just switched all of a sudden. And if I got an interview, would I say I just changed my mind all of a sudden?

How many times have you applied to vet school? You will have to ask yourself why are you wanting to quit trying to get in. You will have to explain why you no longer want to pursue vet med and why you are interested in that field. That's something I can't tell you as it's something personal that has to come from you. If I never got into vet school and decided to pursue chiropractic school I would say that I have decided to pursue something that I am equally passionate about and go into explaining why chiropractics is fascinating to me and why I would love to be a chiropractor without dwelling on this being a plan B.

 

[bumble]

Believe me I wouldn't quit trying if I didn't have to but they cap the amount of times you can apply at 4 times.
And going states side or overseas really isn't an option for me...

It just sucks because I don't really feel passionate towards doing anything else.

 

[Escalla]

Believe me I wouldn't quit trying if I didn't have to but they cap the amount of times you can apply at 4 times.
And going states side or overseas really isn't an option for me...

It just sucks because I don't really feel passionate towards doing anything else.

Seriously??? 😱 Wow...I can't believe they cap it.... 🙁

Your other option is moving east or west and trying at AVC or WCVM/UCVM. 👍

 

[cbarne01]

I'm also in Ontario. Considering vet tech, (human) lab tech, radiology tech... you get the idea. Many people are taking college courses to learn the hands on that a degree doesn't often include. There should be at least a few course equivalencies that you can work out.

 

[gonzchicdj]

bumble, did you apply through only the undergraduate cohort? Or have you tried the graduate cohort as well at OVC?

 

[bumble]

bumble, did you apply through only the undergraduate cohort? Or have you tried the graduate cohort as well at OVC?

undergrad, but was going to try in the grad cohort this time around.

 

[abackx]

Maybe you can consider looking into the programs offered at Michener in Toronto. They offer quite a range of technical programs, and many require an undergraduate degree. So, I wouldn't consider their program to be a "step down" in any way. I know someone who graduated with distinction from Genetics at UWO and didn't get into their genetic counselling program there. So, I believe it is fairly competitive. It's also located right next to Princess Margaret, Mt. Sinai, Sick Kids, and Toronto General Hospitals. So, I believe there would be good opportunity for networking.

Another thing to consider is moving out west/east to gain residency status and apply to AVC or one of the prairie school (I would go to Sask over Calgary). I was born in Calgary, so technically have residency out there too, but I only applied to OVC.

Was your grad program course based? You mentioned you have 5 years of Uni... usually that means you only have one year as a grad. Maybe you should consider doing a research based MSc and ensure that you get some good publications before you apply to OVC again (in the grad pool). You'll make money while in school, and you may actually find an area you really enjoy.
Unless I misunderstood, and you already have a research based MSc... then my apologies.

 

[ducktoller]

hi bumble! i feel exactly the same. If i became a vet tech i think it would be something that i'd regret for the rest of my life. have you considered the science of animal welfare research? it's definitely an area that is rapidly expanding and i myself have found a profound interest in. You've got so many topics available: food animal welfare (dairy cow, beef cow, broiler chicken, layer chicken, pig), shelter animal welfare, lab animal welfare just to name a few. Crazy amount of potential for research that you can feel good about, cause you're ultimately improving the lives of animals which is what you would be doing as a vet too!!! 🙂 The similar goals for the two occupations make me really resonate through me, so I hope you consider it!

But if you are set on the vet path,
I agree with escalla in saying you should probably try WCVM while gaining residency in saskatchewan. Last year saskatchewan only had about 57? applicants and they take 20 so that's not too bad of a statistic. You can also try as many times as you want.