Plan B

[deleted498041]

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I'm thinking we probably work for the same place lol. We also hire lots of complete newbies. There are just not as many LVTs in my area. And those that do apply are used to making several dollars more than what the company will offer them so they turn the job down. Leaving lots of positions open for prospective vet students lol

Haha maybe! What you stated about the money definitely seems to be common here. One of the RVTs I work with has gone back to school just because she's not going to make the money she thought she would. Clinics here don't usually have a reason to pay them that much either, with so many prevet students willing to take their place.

 

[pirateyoho]

To everyone who's said things like "I got a job at a clinic" or as a vet tech...how? What do you do at your job, and what initial qualifications did you have?

I've done a few important upper level biology classes, and I have a couple hundred hours of volunteer experience with a vet, but I feel completely unqualified for a paid job in a clinic. I would love to get one, but I just don't know enough to feel comfortable sucking up so many resources as an employee.

It boils down to timing and patience, too. The only experience I had prior to applying to work at local clinics was a month's worth of shadowing the vet my family took our pets to. I applied to several, got a couple of interviews, but never any job offers. Then one day, months later, out of the blue, one of the clinics contacted me because they were desperate to fill a spot that unexpectedly opened up. I know that's kind of an unusual circumstance, but still...my advice is to just stay optimistic even if/when you don't hear back immediately.

 

[WelshCob]

Wow, thank you all for the great advice! I live in Florida too! I will definitely give things another shot once the semester ends and I don't have four night labs.

I really did not expect so many people to hire people without any clinical experience, and to train them too. That's awesome. Man, this network is incredible!

Are you around the University of Florida?

 

[Naturalist]

Are you around the University of Florida?

It's about 2 hours away.

 

[gumtree]

I'm not totally set on my Plan B, but as I see it I have a few options. First, I need to finish up the two pre-requisite courses I'm currently taking (I graduated with a degree in biology last spring, but hadn't taken a few classes I still needed for vet school applications).

I just got a job at a big corporate vet clinic as a veterinary assistant. I'm a little bit surprised since I don't have a TON of small animal experience, but I'm really excited to learn as much as I can! There's only one or two CVTs at the clinic and the rest are all vet assistants, so I think we get to do everything the CVTs do there. I'm also excited about this job because I think my application was lacking SA hours.

I plan on working at the clinic part time this spring (I have another part time job unrelated to vet med) and then switching to full time once classes are finished. But I'm not sure if I should pursue one of the following options:

1. Apply for one of several internship or post-bacc programs through the NIH to complete this summer or starting this fall.
2. Enroll in a MPH program since I want to do DVM/MPH anyways.

If I did an internship with the NIH I'd want to be involved in infectious disease or zoonoses research. I'm not sure how being enrolled in an MPH program would affect my chances of getting into vet school since they usually take two years to complete. And I'm also not sure if it's worth it to throw more money into my education at this point--I really would like to try and save up a little money if possible..

 

[WelshCob]

It's about 2 hours away.

Ohh I was gonna point you to some places around UF.

 

[Naturalist]

Ohh I was gonna point you to some places around UF.

If it's really worth it, as in, I do like 10-12 hour days, I might consider it. Thank you either way!

 

[krh696]

Right now I currently work as a kennel person/technician in training at a small animal hospital. All of my hours are at this one hospital, but I see many people who have hours at more than one hospital. one of my coworkers and good friend started working at another hospital a few months ago and i have visited so I am familiar with the people who work there, would it be better if I shadowed there a couple days too just to get hours at a different hospital as well and see how different hospitals run and how different doctors work?

 

[XiLove]

Hello my friends. I need some help! Being that I am on 3 waitlists, I am looking at plan B options. The first option is to get a Master's Degree in a year (which would mean getting an apartment for another year, tuition costs), or living at home while (hopefully) working for a vet and retaking one class each semester. WHAT DO I DOOOOO?

 

[Frozenshades]

Hello my friends. I need some help! Being that I am on 3 waitlists, I am looking at plan B options. The first option is to get a Master's Degree in a year (which would mean getting an apartment for another year, tuition costs), or living at home while (hopefully) working for a vet and retaking one class each semester. WHAT DO I DOOOOO?

I would only go for an MS if it's something you want to do anyway, not just as filler time. If you need to boost grades retake or take more undergrad courses, but otherwise, work. More vet experience and some extra moolah before you start vet school.