Terrified No Matter What Happens

[Loolical]

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I have to admit, I'm about as scared of getting into vet school as I am of not getting in. I hear about how much work it is, and how difficult the courses are, and I'm terrified that I'll get in, only to find that I can't cut it and hate every moment of it.

Does anybody else have doubts about their abilities?

 

[cowgirla]

I have to admit, I'm about as scared of getting into vet school as I am of not getting in. I hear about how much work it is, and how difficult the courses are, and I'm terrified that I'll get in, only to find that I can't cut it and hate every moment of it.

Does anybody else have doubts about their abilities?

Yes, in a way.
But whenever I start doubting my abilities, I talk to the vets I work for.
One applied 6 times before he was accepted.
The other swears that vet school was the best four years of her life.
The other, a less than stellar student, tells me that undergrad is completely different from DVM, because all of the DVM classes are interesting and relevant to what you love.

I felt just as nervous going into my undergrad, and every time I start a new job, I worry I won't match up to expectations.
just sit back, relax, and enjoy the next few months. Worry about the work when you have to, not before!

 

[BlacKAT33]

that is ALL ive been thinking about recently! well, in addition to whether or not i get in. I keep telling myself that once i'm in and my dream becomes reality ill be more willing to study 24/7 to get good grades, or at least pass lol. I would feel like such a failure if I got in and wasn't able to handle the work 🙁

 

[PrimalMU]

Remember, once you get in you only have to get C's. 😉

 

[BlacKAT33]

Remember, once you get in you only have to get C's. 😉

I really like your quotes in your profile! Most people (especially non-vet) dont know the diff between animal rights and welfare. Some are even surprised to find out that i dont support PETA. I try to educate anyone who brings this topic up about how peta is not the best way to support the treatment of animals and reasons why.

anyway, sry to stray from the topic OP

 

[OtakuVet]

>>; Can I say that I would prefer to not to get Cs in Vet school. I know thats all you need but I think everyone should try to the best of their abilities.
Im not being mean or anything thats just me being hard on myself me.

 

[eventualeventer]

I haven't even gotten to the point of convincing myself that I'll flunk out and be zillions of dollars in debt (that comes later). I'm still having nightmares that involve me being out in the middle of the country on some back road (with no map) trying to find my way to the vet school, I have a full car and a pissed off cat, and my cell phone is dead. I guess it's because I've never lived more than 50 miles from where I grew up, and even though I welcome change and starting a new chapter of my life it secretly terrifies me.

 

[Crazy Hippos]

Yes!!! I was actually talking to my boyfriend about this the other day. I'm busting my butt right now so I can't even begin to imagine how much harder I'll need to work in vet school. Plus, I have the tendency to get sick of things really easily and I'm afraid I'll end up hating veterinary medicine. I think it's just last minute jitters though. I didn't feel this way until I submitted all my supplementals. 🙄
Btw, does anyone know which schools are Pass/Fail and which give letter grades?

 

[Minnerbelle]

I'm terrified that I won't make any friends and will end up a loner in a class of 80-100 happy people. This is very sad.

I don't think i'll have any pets either... so I have a feeling I'll be jealous of everyone else who can cuddle up with their buddies once they're home, while I only have my anatomy books to comfort me.

I'm 99% sure I won't be staying in my current relationship so I'm also terrified of being alone for the first time in a LONG time... and I have a feeling I'll never meet anyone outside of class (of course is 80% female, not that I think it'd be a good idea anyway to date someone in such small quarters (?)) so I'll be single for the next 5 years. So much for starting a family while I'm still fertile.

sigh... am I just super pathetic???

 

[Shanomong]

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[BlacKAT33]

I'm terrified that I won't make any friends and will end up a loner in a class of 80-100 happy people. This is very sad.

I don't think i'll have any pets either... so I have a feeling I'll be jealous of everyone else who can cuddle up with their buddies once they're home, while I only have my anatomy books to comfort me.

I'm 99% sure I won't be staying in my current relationship so I'm also terrified of being alone for the first time in a LONG time... and I have a feeling I'll never meet anyone outside of class (of course is 80% female, not that I think it'd be a good idea anyway to date someone in such small quarters (?)) so I'll be single for the next 5 years. So much for starting a family while I'm still fertile.

sigh... am I just super pathetic???

Def not pathetic! I hate the feeling of being alone and i also think about this but maybe different reasons. Im not a complete tomboy, but for some reason i just get along with boys better. Im not the girly girl type and sometimes that can really annoy me. I could barely stand to live with my old girl roomies because we completely clashed and now im afraid i may not get along with a class of 75% girls 🙁 Also, since im in a serious relationship i will probably be living with my bf in our own place. So im afraid everyone else will be living with their study buddies and because of this do better in every class/lab!

Do you plan on living with roomies? thats a great way to start friendships

 

[psjlg2]

If you want to get into any competitive internships or residencies for board-certification in surgery, I would not get any C's.

A really great DVM I work with said she got a few B's and was told at Madison that it just wasn't going to cut the mustard and she couldn't do this really competitive surgical residency she wanted to do.

However, if you get C's I don't think it necessarily means that you aren't going to be a fantastic veterinarian. Memorization is all a part of school in any capacity, and it really isn't that feasible with so much information being crammed down your throat. If you want to get your C's, just make sure you learn WHERE to look something up and you will probably do fantastic.🙄

 

[ImaJerseyGirl]

I have to admit, I'm about as scared of getting into vet school as I am of not getting in. I hear about how much work it is, and how difficult the courses are, and I'm terrified that I'll get in, only to find that I can't cut it and hate every moment of it.

Does anybody else have doubts about their abilities?

Absolutely- you're not the only one! My life is whittled down to test scores and a few applications. There is this huge "unknown" in my life until April, and I don't like it. The suspense is killing me!

 

[sofficat]

Anything unknown is scary. Once you are in it, you just do it. You make time and you study and you take breaks and have fun too. You try really hard and you will break down and freak out every once in a while. You may even cry because you can't find your pen, or end up with a bald spot because you have a nervous twitch of twirling your hair, or cry in the middle of class because you just have so much to do (all true, not all me though).

But even sitting through the most awful class, knowing you have no food at home and have to study for 2 exams and 2 surgeries next week.... I still love it. Even the worst times I stop and think "man, I am living out my dream (or nightmare depending on my mood...)" but I still love it!

You will do it, along with 100 other classmates who all struggle through it with you. Please do NOT waste your time worrying about this. It will happen and you will live minute to minute, day to day and it will fly by.

And, by the way, vet school is some of the 'best days of my life' or whatever they all say. You have so many close friends who all know what you are going through. We try to get together for dinner every other week or so to chill and hang out. I can't imagine life without them... and thinking about leaving them in less than 2 years makes me really sad. We will be all over the country and who knows when we will ever be together again!!

Again, don't worry. Please. Oh- and not ALL the classes are super interesting and relevant. Some are straight up boring and torturous, but most are super cool. And it sucks when you get a really brilliant pathologist for a teacher when they obviously aren't a teacher...

 

[OtakuVet]

Don't worry, this thread circulates every year. I think I may have started it last year 😉. No point in fearing it now, you'll figure out how to deal with it once you're in.

And yes, vet school is way harder... and getting C's will be a reality for some people (got my first one yesterday....). I don't think people aim for them, nobody's really trying to do the whole "C=VMD" (or DVM...) thing.... but it's information overload and I think a lot of the beginning is just figuring out how and what you should be studying. But if you get in, and you get to the point where you feel like it's overwhelming and you can't do it... just remember that you worked really hard to get there, you deserve to be there, and even if you do end up with some c's they will get you to your ultimate goal, which is really what it's all about 🙂.

And there are lots of fun parts, fantastic people (about 100 of your closest friends going through the same thing you are 😛), and I really recommend joining clubs, attending social events, and just taking advantage of everything that's available to you! It's not all about the grades anymore... it's about your future career 🙂



ETA: Penn and UF both have letter grades... those are the only ones I know. And Minnerbelle, you'll make some fantastic friends I promise! I bet a few of them will even come from SDN 🙂. But I do still recommend getting a pet, because the have-nots are totally jealous of those of us who have 😉

Speaking about extra curriculars, Do you guys have time to participate in things like fraternities or groups like that? Not necessary social scenes but more like community service and helping people and stuff? =D Im in a community service frat and would love to continue.

 

[Lechatnoir]

Def not pathetic! I hate the feeling of being alone and i also think about this but maybe different reasons. Im not a complete tomboy, but for some reason i just get along with boys better. Im not the girly girl type and sometimes that can really annoy me. I could barely stand to live with my old girl roomies because we completely clashed and now im afraid i may not get along with a class of 75% girls 🙁 Also, since im in a serious relationship i will probably be living with my bf in our own place. So im afraid everyone else will be living with their study buddies and because of this do better in every class/lab!

Do you plan on living with roomies? thats a great way to start friendships

This sounds exactly like me blackat and ironically we have almost the same user name (le chat noir means black cat in french lol). I will be living with my bf as well and do not get along well with girls. However, I have worked at a clinic for a year in a half now with ALL women and it has been great. I have met some great friends and while there is some drama, you can stay out of it if you choose to.

Love this thread. It is good to know I am not the only one freaking out about not being able to handle it before I even have any sort of idea as to whether or not I'm accepted.

and thanks sofficat that was a very encouraging and uplifting post.

 

[rugbychick16]

If you want to get your C's, just make sure you learn WHERE to look something up and you will probably do fantastic.🙄

You probably don't want to get Cs, but it happens along the way as you're trying to get As and Bs. I don't think anyone starts vet school aiming for all Cs, and yet very few people graduate as DVMs/VMDs with straight As. I don't have any Cs (yet), but I'm just saying. Someone with C grades may be the best in your class at people skills or animal handling skills, and may actually be a better practitioner than you. Don't let what you're going to get as grades worry you until you're into vet school.

 

[sunshinevet]

Guys, your much better off to get C's your entire DVM and have a life, than get straight A's for the four years and burn out first year out. Something they actually drill into you in vet school (or atleast mine) is that your grades generally don't matter.

That said, I wouldn't worry about vet school. If you get in, enjoy the feeling. They would not have let you in, if they didn't think you could cut the mustard. So just have faith in yourself! 😀

 

[BlacKAT33]

This sounds exactly like me blackat and ironically we have almost the same user name (le chat noir means black cat in french lol). I will be living with my bf as well and do not get along well with girls. However, I have worked at a clinic for a year in a half now with ALL women and it has been great. I have met some great friends and while there is some drama, you can stay out of it if you choose to.
.

so ironic! lol yea i took french in high school and i have the famous poster for it. i think my obsession with black cats started from my first cat (who i miss dearly) and i will keep this name (also my aim) until im an old crazy cat lady haha I hope i meet girls like you if i get in!! i love drama-free 😀

 

[Lechatnoir]

so ironic! lol yea i took french in high school and i have the famous poster for it. i think my obsession with black cats started from my first cat (who i miss dearly) and i will keep this name (also my aim) until im an old crazy cat lady haha I hope i meet girls like you if i get in!! i love drama-free 😀

LOVE THAT POSTER! My pic is of my 14 year old cat that I rescued when I was 8 😀. Are you applying to IL by chance?? That is my IS/#1.

 

[sofficat]

Guys, your much better off to get C's your entire DVM and have a life, than get straight A's for the four years and burn out first year out. Something they actually drill into you in vet school (or atleast mine) is that your grades generally don't matter.

That said, I wouldn't worry about vet school. If you get in, enjoy the feeling. They would not have let you in, if they didn't think you could cut the mustard. So just have faith in yourself! 😀

Um... I'm not sure how to cut mustard... smear it, yeah, but cut it? I don't know. 😉

And yes, our vet school too says not to worry about grades. "the B and C students generally do better in clinics than the A students" and "I remember my first respiratory test, I got a D. See? It doesn't matter as long as you pass the class!" and "Clients won't be asking what grade you got in GI when they bring their pet in for diarrhea" etc etc etc. And now, junior year, I find myself happy with anything C and above. B's are nice, and A's are super fun. And, I still manage to get all three! 🙂

 

[Shanomong]

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[ckd816]

I'm scared too, and I haven't even applied yet. I feel like I can relate to every worry on this thread...

I don't get along with girls either! That said, I still have some really good friends who are also girls who don't get along with most girls... haha. Girl roommates really aren't an option. However, I just got out of a fairly serious three year relationship... That means I'll probably be living alone. I've lived alone before, but I've also never lived more than 10 minutes from where I was BORN. This scares the crap out of me since I have no IS and I will have to move one day. Being alone now is actually awesome since the relationship I was in really got dragged out when it was going nowhere, but I worry about meeting someone while in vet school. I picture myself getting married after school since I'll be 27 when I graduate if I get in the first time... and I'd like to have children before my eggs crap out. 😳

Recently I've been feeling like I've really tricked everyone up until now, and any minute people are going to start catching onto the fact that I'm not as smart as they thought and that I'm going to lose all of my current and future opportunities!

And money... need I say more?

 

[Loolical]

Recently I've been feeling like I've really tricked everyone up until now, and any minute people are going to start catching onto the fact that I'm not as smart as they thought and that I'm going to lose all of my current and future opportunities!

Holy crap, this is exactly what I've been thinking. Good to know it's not just me panicking prematurely.

 

[sofficat]

"Recently I've been feeling like I've really tricked everyone up until now, and any minute people are going to start catching onto the fact that I'm not as smart as they thought and that I'm going to lose all of my current and future opportunities!"

Holy crap, this is exactly what I've been thinking. Good to know it's not just me panicking prematurely.

haha! I don't think that really ends. So many people say how smart you have to be in vet school and I'm just like 'well, good thing people don't know the truth about me!' I don't think you ever feel really smart in life... because you are just who you are and it's weird when people say 'Oh I could never do what you do- you must be so smart!'
As one of my classmates would say "Gah! I'm super stupid" (love her!)

 

[shortnsweet]

I'm terrified that I won't make any friends and will end up a loner in a class of 80-100 happy people. This is very sad.

I don't think i'll have any pets either... so I have a feeling I'll be jealous of everyone else who can cuddle up with their buddies once they're home, while I only have my anatomy books to comfort me.

I'm 99% sure I won't be staying in my current relationship so I'm also terrified of being alone for the first time in a LONG time... and I have a feeling I'll never meet anyone outside of class (of course is 80% female, not that I think it'd be a good idea anyway to date someone in such small quarters (?)) so I'll be single for the next 5 years. So much for starting a family while I'm still fertile.

sigh... am I just super pathetic???

Not pathetic at all Minnerbelle. My relationship just ended due to long distance, and the first thing I felt was alone..and it scared me to death. I am in a new country, a new culture, with new people, and trying to not fail out of vet school. Losing that support system is scary!!! BUT you really are not alone. Even in the 5 weeks I have been here, I have made the most amazing friends who have helped pick me up, and get me focused on me again. You can and you will meet people outside of your class, albeit hard. but those friends you do meet in your class are amazing and can relate better than anyone else can to the situations you are going through. And no giving up on the family just yet!! I'm sure you have quite a few years left to start a family!!! Try to focus on making yourself happy right now, and the rest will fall into place 🙂

 

[nyanko]

haha! I don't think that really ends. So many people say how smart you have to be in vet school and I'm just like 'well, good thing people don't know the truth about me!' I don't think you ever feel really smart in life... because you are just who you are and it's weird when people say 'Oh I could never do what you do- you must be so smart!'
As one of my classmates would say "Gah! I'm super stupid" (love her!)

I think every single graduate and professional student (except those arrogant MD students 😉) feels the same way.

"Any moment now I'm going to be exposed as a fraud who knows nothing....aaaaaaaaaany moment....."

 

[Angelo84]

Def not pathetic! I hate the feeling of being alone and i also think about this but maybe different reasons. Im not a complete tomboy, but for some reason i just get along with boys better. Im not the girly girl type and sometimes that can really annoy me. I could barely stand to live with my old girl roomies because we completely clashed and now im afraid i may not get along with a class of 75% girls 🙁 Also, since im in a serious relationship i will probably be living with my bf in our own place. So im afraid everyone else will be living with their study buddies and because of this do better in every class/lab!

Do you plan on living with roomies? thats a great way to start friendships

I would recommend living with someone in the class ahead of you. While you may get along great with your classmates you will be seeing them all day everyday. So it is nice to come home and spend some time with someone you haven't already seen all day. And sometimes they can give helpful advice when you are stuck on a concept or trying to figure out what you really need to know.

 

[BlacKAT33]

I would recommend living with someone in the class ahead of you. While you may get along great with your classmates you will be seeing them all day everyday. So it is nice to come home and spend some time with someone you haven't already seen all day. And sometimes they can give helpful advice when you are stuck on a concept or trying to figure out what you really need to know.

Thats a great idea! I never thought of that. I guess i assumed all older classmates would be keeping their same roomies from their class lol but now i can see that being too perfectly planned, im sure some rooms have people rotating in and out diff years. thanks for the advice!

 

[BlacKAT33]

LOVE THAT POSTER! My pic is of my 14 year old cat that I rescued when I was 8 😀. Are you applying to IL by chance?? That is my IS/#1.

I am applying!!! i used to live in the midwest and i really liked it so i applied to illinois and missouri 😀 I doubt my stats are good enough to get in lol but if so, it would be awesome to meet!

14 years is old 🙁 hopefully she has another good 6 years in her lol my cat died only after 9 years!!! stupid vet misdiagnosed cancer for "a cold" (that lasted 6 months in the summer) and then it was too late. took me 3 years to get over him (sylvester) i think it was harder because it was completely unexpected, like a car accident. also, im an only child so he was kinda like a sibling. anywho... this is sad lol

but ya, i checked my IL status page and it creeped me out knowing ill see my accept or rejection there some day haha

 

[sumstorm]

I think every single graduate and professional student (except those arrogant MD students 😉) feels the same way.

"Any moment now I'm going to be exposed as a fraud who knows nothing....aaaaaaaaaany moment....."

I think that is typical for most over achievers in nearly every field! I expressed this to a couple of mentors in undergrad who just laughed and told me to get use to it...that the nervous energy of that fear is what keeps us on the edge of achieving knowledge and excellent performance. I certainly hope they are right!

There are some really sweet moments too! I was volunteering in emergency rounds and had the amazing experience of running ultrasound on an enlarged heart....and everything I had just learned in anatomy, all the time learning circulation, and valve structure and pectinate vs papillary muscles, or feeling the sensation of a urinary catheter sliding in after frustrating experiences of attempting the same on cadavers. Or coming home and taking my cat to the vet with primary complaint of urinating outside of the litter box but believing it was back pain and having the vet instantly agree and run rads. Every morning when I grab my white coat and stethoscope, which now hang by the door with my keys and purse, I get a little charge of energy.

I admit, I don't LOVE all of my classes...not because the material is uninteresting, but because the presentation is problematic for me, or I have spent too many hours without activitiy, or I am too worried about the 3.5 hour exam in the afternoon. There are also days when I feel like I would do anything to lay longer in bed, listening to the rain hitting the windows and cuddling with my dogs....but even on the worst days, I still get up and go to class, or drag myself back into the anatomy lab for an evening study session (I was there the evening after I spent the morning in the emergency room due to bee sting anaphylaxis.)

 

[primatevetjess]

I have to admit, I'm about as scared of getting into vet school as I am of not getting in. I hear about how much work it is, and how difficult the courses are, and I'm terrified that I'll get in, only to find that I can't cut it and hate every moment of it.

Does anybody else have doubts about their abilities?

Trust me, WHEN you get accepted, you'll be fine!! I know that because you sound exactly like I did about a year ago. I'm almost two months into vet school and doing really well but still feel like that sometimes. I still frequently feel like I'm not smart enough and will ultimately fail everything. I also think that I did a great job at fooling everyone and will be found out any day now. Despite that, I am still absolutely loving vet school!

Even though I don't listen, I'll tell you what others have told me. The admissions committees have been doing this for a looooong time. They know what they are doing. They have years of experience separating those who can cut it from those who can't. An acceptance means that they have gone over your application very seriously and thoroughly and know that you are totally capable 🙂

 

[DVMorBust]

I think everyone gets terrified. Heading to orientation, I was convinced that my whole class wouldn't like me, that it would be filled with 22-year-old fresh-out-of-UG students who wouldn't have common ground with me, that I was too much of a nerd...

Now I absolutely love my class. There isn't 'a person in it that I can't sit down and have a conversation with at the least, and I've got a great group of friends that feel like they've been my friends forever. Getting thrown into a situation like vet school does that for you.

I also failed (not just got a D, but hard-core FAILED) my first exam ever last week. Normally I would be mortified to admit this on a public forum - but I thought the experience was enough to share. My reaction was totally different than what I expected - in UG, I probably would have had a panic attack, been terrified that I wasn't getting into vet school, and worked myself into a frenzy. Instead, I looked at it for a minute, acknowledged that I had completely overestimated my ability on the subject, realized that my sorely lacking study skills need some help, and am doing much better in the following unit.

Vet school is challenging in a way that UG never was, but I find that it's a good sort of challenging - at least for me. For the first time, I'm paying for mistakes (not gonna pull off an A just by good test-taking skills!), and actually adapting.

Sure, no one wants to do the baseline to get through, but just having the realization that you're in and they're not going to kick you to the curb for one test - or even a class - takes a LOT of the pressure for strict academics off.

 

[Shanomong]

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[VAgirl]

I think every single graduate and professional student (except those arrogant MD students 😉) feels the same way.

"Any moment now I'm going to be exposed as a fraud who knows nothing....aaaaaaaaaany moment....."

It's called the imposter complex and it's very interesting stuff. I have some articles I've been reading on it lately (this past summer) that I will try to link at some point.

 

[david594]

It's called the imposter complex and it's very interesting stuff. I have some articles I've been reading on it lately (this past summer) that I will try to link at some point.

They actually talked abotu the Imposter Complex during our orientation and how we probably all feel that way and tried to reassure us not to worry. Blah blah blah, they had made no mistakes and they are confident in who they picked and that we all had the abilities to succeed. Then shortly there after the dean gave us a dose of reality that we need to work hard and that she has never seen a class where 100% of the students move on to second year.

 

[Shanomong]

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[dgm]

I'd definitely be interested in reading them if you don't mind posting 🙂, I felt it again today while studying biochem with people who knew more than me....

You cheated on us? We thought you were leaving to go to CGC class, not to study with other people! Or maybe you fit a study session in earlier in the day.

And btw, it's a little scary to know that everyone else apparently feels as incompetent as I do on a daily basis.

 

[Shanomong]

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[Shanomong]

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[squibby]

I'm pretty sure that finding out about the "impostor syndrome" just changed my life. Thanks!

 

[chris03333]

>>; Can I say that I would prefer to not to get Cs in Vet school. I know thats all you need but I think everyone should try to the best of their abilities.
Im not being mean or anything thats just me being hard on myself me.

Just be preparred to be okay if you work to your best abilities and still ge a C (or 2 or 3)...😉

 

[jpeterman13]

Courtesy of wikipedia.... pretty spot on except I"m not feeling exceptionally "successful" at the moment... but I guess that's all relative 😛

The Impostor Syndrome, sometimes called Impostor Phenomenon or Fraud Syndrome, is a syndrome where sufferers are unable to internalize their accomplishments. It is not an officially recognized psychological disorder but has been the subject of numerous books and articles by psychologists and educators.
Regardless of what level of success they may have achieved in their chosen field of work or study or what external proof they may have of their competence, those with the syndrome remain convinced internally they do not deserve the success they have achieved and are actually frauds. Proof of success is dismissed as luck, timing, or as a result of deceiving others into thinking they were more intelligent and competent than they believe themselves to be.
This syndrome was thought to be particularly common among women who are successful in their given careers, but has since been shown to occur for an equal number of men.[1] It is typically associated with academics and is widely found amongst graduate students.

So I'm just going to say that I have a really strange feeling after reading this because it sums up EXACTLY how I've been feeling for the last two years. It explains it better than I ever could.