Should I work as a vet assistant?

[Rosekiki]

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Hi Pre-vets,

I need your opinion on something: I recently heard about a job opportunity through the pre-vet club on campus. The position is a receptionist/assistant at a local vet clinic. I'm not sure how many hours the clinic is asking, but I just wanted to see if you think I should apply for a job that potentially could take up to 20 hours a week.

I have currently taking 3 upper division science classes, one seminar, and spend anywhere from 5-15 hours a week at a lab participating in cardiovascular research and mice colony management. When the two new projects in rats and mice take off, I might need to spend around 15-20 in the lab.

If you were me, and intend to get all As this year, would you apply for the clinic position?

THANK YOU for reading this! I'm looking forward to see your replies!

 

[twelvetigers]

I think that pretty much all of us here have worked 15-40 hours a week while taking lots of classes. If you think you could handle it, go for it. If you don't, it might be worth trying to cut back elsewhere if you don't have much veterinary experience. Do you have vet experience yet, besides the mouse stuff? If you already have lots of hours at a SA clinic, you might be better off looking for LA, wildlife, or zoo experience, especially if you can shadow (and don't need a paid position).

The mouse research sounds pretty cool. 🙂

 

[New Foundland]

If it were me, I wouldn't take it..
If you need the money desperately, then certainly consider it..
But if you don't need the money, and just want the experience, volunteer instead.
That way you can cut back the hours when you need to focus on schoolwork, and pump lots of hours when you are in the clear.
Then again, when I am taking classes, I am aiming for 90+ marks in certain courses, not just 4.00's on the GPA, since my "IS" school ranks it based on average and not GPA.

 

[Rosekiki]

I think that pretty much all of us here have worked 15-40 hours a week while taking lots of classes. If you think you could handle it, go for it. If you don't, it might be worth trying to cut back elsewhere if you don't have much veterinary experience. Do you have vet experience yet, besides the mouse stuff? If you already have lots of hours at a SA clinic, you might be better off looking for LA, wildlife, or zoo experience, especially if you can shadow (and don't need a paid position).

The mouse research sounds pretty cool. 🙂

Thank you for replying =) One of the reasons why davis rejected me last year was because I didn't have enough vet experience. I have shadowed a whole bunch at an emergency clinic, and my lab happens to do cardio. research with dogs, so we have a vet on staff, and when we do surgeries and procedures, I get to learn and do some stuff. but yea... in terms of the technical stuff, I dont have any real extended experience (I still don't know how to place a catheter right...)

so you guys think I should give it a shot?

 

[twelvetigers]

It's really up to you to decide if you have the time for it. It could be a valuable experience. OR, it could be a major pain in the rear. NF has a point - with volunteering, you can choose your hours according to your workload for the week. No one expects you to know how to place a catheter in order to get into vet school - it's nice, sure, but not necessary.

Also, if you apply for the job, it's not 100% that you'll get it. Just in case you're alreeady transferring eggs from one basket to another, you know. 😉

 

[david594]

If you think your plan is to do small animal medicine then I would definitely do it if its feasible and your grades won't suffer as a result.

 

[Rosekiki]

that's true. you both have a point, and the flexibility of time is actually precisely why I haven't gotten a clinic job yet. thanks guys =) I e-mailed the clinic about my situation, and asked if I could volunteer. we'll see what happens =)