Thinking about dropping out

[lavenderearlgrey]

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Hi all. I know at the end of the day I'm the only one who can make this decision, but I just really need to talk it through and get some outside perspective. So here's my situation.

I'm a non-trad student, background in public health, really interested in working as a zoonosis control vet or other population health stuff or parasitology. Finished year one, did fine, and just feel an incredible sense of doom about finances, time, and not that sure anymore that I want to be a vet. I was hoping to qualify for PSLF and I know that hasn't changed much yet, but I just don't feel I can hope for any loan forgiveness in the US anymore. Not to mention all the jobs I wanted to have are being cut or defunded.

I guess I feel like I could have a similar job to what I want without vet school and all the debt, and I find myself wishing I had done a PhD program instead, despite all of those jobs probably getting defunded as well anyway. I'm jealous of my friends who went to human medical school even though I don't want to be an MD. I feel like being in vet school has been so confusing as far as what I thought I would find fulfilling, determining my personal values and ethics, and honestly I just feel so lost. I'm worried about blowing up my life by dropping out (and my former career path not really hiring atm) but I'm also worried about getting myself deeper into debt and then hating my job and career path anyway.

I guess this is just a rant, advice welcome.

 

[JaynaAli]

Would your school let you take a leave of absence? If it’s not for medical reasons they may not let you defer, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Worst case they say no and you’re in the same position you are now, but if they agreed to it, it might leave the door open in case you change your mind and give you time to find a plan B and figure out what you want to do.

If you think you can do the job you want without the degree, then dropping out now seems to make sense before you have even more debt. But make sure it’s not just general burnout and apathy and all that causing you to make a decision you may regret. But ultimately there’s no shame in changing plans and leaving school if it’s no longer what you want.

 

[lavenderearlgrey]

Would your school let you take a leave of absence? If it’s not for medical reasons they may not let you defer, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Worst case they say no and you’re in the same position you are now, but if they agreed to it, it might leave the door open in case you change your mind and give you time to find a plan B and figure out what you want to do.

If you think you can do the job you want without the degree, then dropping out now seems to make sense before you have even more debt. But make sure it’s not just general burnout and apathy and all that causing you to make a decision you may regret. But ultimately there’s no shame in changing plans and leaving school if it’s no longer what you want.

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply, I appreciate it. My concern with taking a leave of absence is that I am already a bit older and I don't really want to delay starting my career (and a family) by yet another year. My partner also moved cross-country with me when I started school and the logistics of figuring out what both of us would do are more complicated, plus it's a lot of sacrifice for them to potentially get a different job for a year and have to move multiple times, or stay where we are for an extra year.

But you're right, it is an option and can't hurt to ask and at least see/think through what that might look like for me. You're also right about burnout being something to consider. I am thinking as well about giving it one more semester (yes, more debt, but also more of the classes like parasitology that I'm really invested in) and switching my part-time job to something that aligns better with my career goals to see if that makes a difference. So those are all options.