specialty vs private practice

[Sassafrass997]

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What would be the cons of going into private practice right out of veterinary school but then coming back to do an internship and residency?

I'm in my third year, about to enter clinics, and currently torn between thinking I want to go into mixed animal general practice or try to pursue an internship/SA surgery residency. I'm sure I will figure out what I'm more interested in over the next year and a half, but my current question is why does it seem that you must make your specialty vs private practice decision at senior year match time - speak now or forever hold your peace style? Is my impression just wrong, based off too few people? If I were to wait a few years post graduation to try to specialize in a crazy competitive field, would I no longer be competitive?

 

[CalliopeDVM]

I don't know about the competition, but I suspect many decide not to go back for financial and lifestyle reasons.......giving up the income, going back to the life of a student (especially as an overworked intern), likely needing to move (which might mean moving a spouse or family too).

 

[Minnerbelle]

It also depends on the specialty. Some are much more amenable to people who have gone out to practice and came back. Surgery doesn't strike me as one of those... I'm pretty sure it's been talked about specifically with surgery previously that it's better to go straight into a rotating internship then often times a surgery internship prior to getting a residency.

 

[rdc]

If you want a surgery residency, going into general practice (or mixed practice) is like career death...

Well not exactly, but it definitely makes your life exponentially more difficult.

 

[SocialStigma]

Surgical residency committees prefer applicants who went straight from vet school->rotating internship (+/- surgical internship)->surgical residency. They don't like to take people who have been in general practice, because they want someone highly teachable and not someone who has already been doing surgeries their own way for several years out in general practice. You would definitely be less competitive imo if you went into GP first before pursuing internship/residency training.

 

[Trilt]

I also can't even imagine how frustrating it would be to go into GP, do lots of surgery because it's your interest, and then go back to an intern's role. ugh.

 

[Sassafrass997]

Very informative...thanks guys!

 

[orangecountyvet]

Very informative...thanks guys!

While on clinics, we had several interns/residents that started out in general practice and then went back to pursue surgery/medicine/oncology/large animal med/sx specialty. After working with them and getting to know them a bit, it seemed like they had a specific interest and grew tired of the uninteresting parts of practice. I found these "non-traditional" interns/residents better to work with/under because of their experience and understanding what we future GP's would be facing out there. Even though it is much easier to decide on a specialty path while in vet school, you will have opportunities even after school. Just make good contacts at your school and possibly do a few rotations at schools you would consider if you were to ever pursue specialty.