Vet student considering switch??

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

Kilbae

New Member
5+ Year Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2017
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Hi all! I'll try to keep this short. Wasn't very sure where to post but figured it was a fairly non-traditional question.

I've searched for similar threads but couldn't really find anything that mirrors my experience. I'm a first-year vet student in the UK and I love my course, but my specific interests lie more in oncology and even pre-applications I was very torn between human and veterinary but was already committed work-ex wise to vet med. So here I am, now finding that I'm actually mostly interested in oncology, particularly pediatrics. And I guess I need some advice. My school offers a dual degree - years 1-3 gets you a vet science degree, 4-5 vet med. I have choices:
1) Finish vet school, be a vet and relish anything cancerous that wanders in. I'm a small animal person.
2) After year 3, begin looking at applying to study human medicine as a graduate.

I'm starting to feel a little uncertain that I'll find fulfillment in vet med given how passionate/interested I am in fields that don't have the same scope in animal medicine. I'm just a bit worried I've made the wrong choices, really, and I'm wondering if anyone can help me. I love animals and generally, just medicine and I reckon I'll be happy enough either way. Thanks!
 
I don't know about the UK, but you can specialize in oncology in the states. There are even radiation onco and surgical onco fellowships for those who are interested (I'm pursuing the latter).

There's a lot of oncology research in vet med, and much of it is translational to human med as well.

If you're interested in human med, then pursue that - the debt:income ratio is certainly better - but don't toss out the idea of onco just because you think there aren't any opportunities in vet med. There are.
 
Last edited:
Almost exclusively Americans here. I think there are a few Canucks too. US system is very different.
 
Last edited:
Top