What about veterinary studies as a hobby?

[evenstar7139]

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Okay this probably sounds REALLY dumb but in hopes somebody doesn't think it's dumb here goes...

Okay, I go back and forth, back and forth, on the answers to the "Could I do vet school? Are the rewards worth the sacrifice?" questions. Sometimes it's "Yes!" sometimes it's "I'm not so sure..."

When I was in one of my more doubtful moods tonight I started thinking to myself "You know if I pick a career completely outside of LVT/DVM, I'm going to be upset that my veterinary knowledge isn't being used for anything." Well I thought up what, at the time, sounded like an amazing answer "Hey...who says that just because it's not my job that I have to stop learning about anatomy, diseases, treatments, and whatnot? That's my hobby! Nothing is telling me I can't have a hobby!"

Am I weird? Is there anybody else here that has done something like memorize virtually every tendon, ligament, muscle, and bone in the horse's foreleg...and then gone on to read about lamenesses in the foreleg...JUST FOR FUN?!

When I sit back to do recreational reading my nose is usually stuck in a book like Saunder's Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary (yes, I read the dictionary...), Horse Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, Lameness: Recognizing and Treating the Horse's Most Common Ailment, etc.

I don't think my friends understand me =\

 

[luplodw]

Well I think all the more power to ya!! As long as you do something with your life that makes you happy. But if you had that as a hobby and just learned about all of that stuff....wouldn't that still be letting your veterinary knowledge go to waste? Maybe you can find a way to put that knowledge to use!! Maybe you can volunteer for some sort of rehab center or shelter or something.

 

[evenstar7139]

I guess it helps me take better care of my animals but I dunno. I told ya it was dumb 😛

 

[that70sfan11]

Not dumb at all! I've always had several things I've loved in life that will become my hobbies... for example, I'm obsessed with learning French. However, after doing some serious thinking, I did not want a major in French or in French education. Instead, I plan on learning it for fun once I graduate from vet school.

Same with meteorology... I love severe weather, but after touring our meteorology school and doing research I realized that was not what I wanted to do, but I still like to storm chase 😀

I also used to think my love of animals was a hobby.... as in, I could just own pets etc. but after careful evaluation (you can see a theme now) I've decided I want animals as a part of my career.

so just decide if you will be happy using vet knowledge just for a hobby and better yet, see if there is a career choice you like better than vet medicine. take your time to decide though! don't follow any rash choices or else you will waste a semester like I did doing international business 😛

 

[HopefulAg]

I don't see why not. Quantum mechanics and Astrophysics are kind of 'hobbies' of mine. I don't delve into the mathematics of it all but the overall theories involved are interesting.

 

[evenstar7139]

Not dumb at all! I've always had several things I've loved in life that will become my hobbies... for example, I'm obsessed with learning French. However, after doing some serious thinking, I did not want a major in French or in French education. Instead, I plan on learning it for fun once I graduate from vet school.

Same with meteorology... I love severe weather, but after touring our meteorology school and doing research I realized that was not what I wanted to do, but I still like to storm chase 😀

I also used to think my love of animals was a hobby.... as in, I could just own pets etc. but after careful evaluation (you can see a theme now) I've decided I want animals as a part of my career.

so just decide if you will be happy using vet knowledge just for a hobby and better yet, see if there is a career choice you like better than vet medicine. take your time to decide though! don't follow any rash choices or else you will waste a semester like I did doing international business 😛

You love a foreign language? Me too! I love Korean. Until I got lazy about it I did quite a bit of studying. The guy I love is Korean so that should explain my obsession with them xD

You know I met a Korean vet once...THAT WAS AWESOME!!!

수의사 (su-oie-sa) is veterinarian in Korean 🙂

Edit: Lol my dog/horse art obsessed friends are trying to convince me my learning of anatomy wasn't a waste of time. Haha bless their heart x) You KNOW it has made me understand why a horse's foreleg looks the way it does, now that I know what's underneath o.0

 

[katryn]

I don't think their is anything wrong with studying animal stuff as a hobby. I think the only reason anyone might want to kill you for it is if you went through vet school knowing that was all you were going to do with it. But somehow I think you're smart enough to not waste that kind of money. 😀

I'm going to second the take your time and think about it notion. It can make a wonderful hobby or a wonderful career.

 

[Crazy Hippos]

Are you talking about studying out of a veterinary textbook or attending veterinary school as a hobby? If the latter applies, keep in mind that vet school is very expensive (not to mention the money you will spend in undergrad preparing for it). During those 4 years, most people don't have the time to get a job that pays well enough to offset the costs of school.

However, if you're okay with having a really expensive hobby, go for it!

 

[Minnerbelle]

as long as you don't become one of those people who starts walking around telling people that "they know just as much vets because they've studied everything that a vet does" and either won't shut up about it (esp when pestering workers/volunteers at shelters or clinics) or starts trying to apply those things to actual animals instead of actually seeking a veterinarian, I don't see anything wrong with it.

 

[evenstar7139]

Are you talking about studying out of a veterinary textbook or attending veterinary school as a hobby? If the latter applies, keep in mind that vet school is very expensive (not to mention the money you will spend in undergrad preparing for it).

LMAO HECK NO! I'm not that dumb 😉 Breathe a big sigh of relief!

as long as you don't become one of those people who starts walking around telling people that "they know just as much vets because they've studied everything that a vet does" and either won't shut up about it (esp when pestering workers/volunteers at shelters or clinics) or starts trying to apply those things to actual animals instead of actually seeking a veterinarian, I don't see anything wrong with it.

Nah...it just makes me worship veterinarians even more 😛

 

[DLY303]

I don't think questioning whether or not vet school is right for you is dumb at all. I do that daily. I am still not sure if I will apply to vet school even though working with animals has been the primary focus of my life, including my professional life.

I sometimes question whether I can hack it (although I have a 4.0 in undergrad, the science classes are still quite a struggle). Even more than that, I worry about the future earning potential. I simply have to get into a career where I make a good income because I have a mountain of medical bills. I constantly am contemplating if I can be happy just working with animals in my personal life.

 

[Myotis]

I think just about everyone on the veterinary track doubts whether or not it's right once in a while. It is perfectly ok to have veterinary medicine as you hobby, but only if you don't regret not going all the way. If vet med is your passion, I would go for it. Do you have any ideas as to what you will do if not vet med?

As for random hobbies that I have, I love criminal psychology, english, ecology, and religious studies 🙂