What is your Plan B?

Veterinary Science Graduate Programs from U. of I.
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cozycleo

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I know we had a thread like this a long time ago, but I'm starting a new one anyway.

What will you do if (heaven forbid) you never get in? What's your plan?

I'm pretty sure I will pursue either animal nutrition or an MPH if I never get in, but I'm exploring other areas as well. Actually if I do get in, I'm still strongly considering a dual DVM/MPH anyway. It's just an interesting area for me.

So what is your backup plan?
 
Plan B? What is that?

My Plan B is to get bummed out then come up with a Plan B.
 
I'l keep applying. But between application cycles I will continue working at my current job. I am pretty low down on the totem poll and still have tons I can learn, so there is great potential for me at the job. If I don't get in after the 3rd round (i'm still on my first, so kind of a newbie to all this stuff), then i will consider going to tech school and becoming a CVT.

we'll see, but i hope that i can improve my application enough so that i can get accepted. Otherwise, like you, i will probably go the nutrition route.
 
Unless an adcom comes up with a feasible suggestion on how to improve my application over the next year, I will explore some other animal/research fields. I will apply again next year (but I don't see my explorations leading to signficant improvements to my app because my breadth of experience is pretty solid) but also apply to some PhD programs. meanwhile, I have some other jobs apps out. I do not desire to be a CVT (never really have) so I won't continue in my current job.

If I am not admitted this cycle or next, but get into a masters program or a phd program, I might apply again to vet school on completion. hard to say, as that is more than a few years down the road.
 
Don't get in first cycle: work, perhaps travel or do research, take classes, do whatever I have to in order to improve my application, try not to freak out.

Never: BWWWAAAAA!!!!! Specifically, I just don't know. I know that I want to continue my education, so at least a master's, more likely a PhD (perhaps in pharmacology or toxicology? I'm also somewhat interested in vaccine research).
 
Thankfully this isn't an issue for me anymore, but I did have a plan mapped out, and there's not a 100% guarantee that I'll get through vet school even though I've been admitted (not planning to drop/fail out, but s*** happens; I'm sure you get what I'm saying).

Anyway, if I hadn't been admitted, I would have done a file review with all my schools to see what they had to say. I thought my GPA was going to be an issue, so I looked into a few 1 year master's programs, but a 4.0 last semester kinda helped a little, and my GPA is competitive. If I felt that I had a fighting chance without some GPA assistance, I would go work somewhere. A smart move for me would be to get some food animal and/or exotics experience, but realistically I'd probably end up back at the small animal hospital I work at. I like small animal medicine, and I love my job, so if I could get by doing that and having it enhance my application, that'd be a best case scenario after getting rejected. The next cycle I'd probably have applied to international schools as well.

If it was panning out that this career was never going to happen for me, I would of course be crushed, but I'd eventually have to start paying bills, and I don't know that I could be a vet tech forever. I'd most likely be a teacher. Most of my employed relatives are teachers, and I've done some substitute teaching and am pretty good at it. I wouldn't be as happy being a teacher as I will be as a vet, but I don't think I'd have to actively avoid sharp objects.

I'm not sure at what point I'd throw in the towel and stop applying. That would be a really hard decision for me, but if it was pretty evident it wasn't going to happen, that's where I'd be.
 
Marine Mammal Trainer 😀 Very interested in beluga whales.
Honestly, I never thought I'd be interested in anything other than veterinary medicine..but right now after a second year of rejection letters...and another year ahead of me before possibly being accepted to vet school..I'm starting to ask myself that question...What if I NEVER get in? I mean, I AM getting older, I SHOULD get my own place, I NEED a new/reliable car...I REALLY should be working 40 hrs/week...but I am re-taking classes...and working just part-time...sometimes I wonder...Am I wasting my time?

Not only do the rejection letters get me down but I think I am getting burnt out from the small animal hospital I work at... We cut alot of our staffs hours and a few employees were cut as well...So, there's not enough workers...so the workers left are overworked..When I come home I pass out on the bed right away...I'm also tired of the repetition..routine exams/vaccinations...I never thought I'd say it...but I now am really thinking about getting into zoo or aquatic animal veterinary medicine...I mean yes, I know I will be making MUCH LESS perhaps 10-20K less than a small animal vet, but hey, I don't think there would be anything more interesting and exciting to me than operating on a tiger!

Perhaps rejection this year was something positive...I know have another year to really explore my passions and decide what I REALLY want to do
 
Probably become a paramedic and become a perpetual part-time student.
 
If I don't get into vet school, I am buying a farm and getting horses and all sorts of animals, start a sanctuary!!! LOL...in the ideal world!!!

I'd continue my 12 hour shifts as an ICU nurse 🙁
 
Go on to get my PhD in Genetics and either try again at the end of that or just try to start getting good postdocs at veterinary schools and become a professor without a DVM. It'd take the clinical work aspect of what I want to do out of it, but I think it'd still be mostly fulfilling. 🙂
 
If I don't get in this cycle 🙂xf::xf::xf:), I'll work on the suggestions the administrations give me, get a job at a clinic for the next year, and apply again.

If I could NEVER go to vet school, that's a more difficult question. I would probably get a Ph.D. doing AIDS research with cats if I had my say. Still, I'd rather go to vet school! 😀
 
nyanko said:
Go on to get my PhD in Genetics and either try again at the end of that or just try to start getting good postdocs at veterinary schools and become a professor without a DVM. It'd take the clinical work aspect of what I want to do out of it, but I think it'd still be mostly fulfilling. 🙂
Click to expand...
Genetics!!!🙂
My plan B - go for Master's in genetics. Actually I will apply to both at the same time since both programs want a GRE😀
 
I'll be applying in the next cycle for the first time, and if I don't get in, I will definitely reapply. I'd also add in med school applications (after taking the MCAT :scared:), since medicine is definitely where I want to be. Veterinary work is my first choice, but human medicine has always been a very close second. Pediatrics or oncology are both interests.
 
I am already on to Plan B (I think things happen for a reason)....

I plan on applying again next year definitely (this was my first time around.) I plan on attempting to move to a state that HAS a vet school where I would have better chances of getting in. But I also planned on getting married within the year also, which may not have happened if I went to vet school this year. If I move, I would also probably try to find a vet tech job at a small animal hospital or with a large animal. If I don't get in the next time or two, I may just end up starting a family!
 
Bah! No plan B for me.

If I don't get in this year, I will extend my masters program into a PhD. Thats not a plan B though, thats a "was going to get one of those PhD things anyways" plan. Ha!
 
(hi, I'm new)

I'm waiting to hear back from Michigan State right now...

but my plan B is pretty much covered. I applied to several Toxicology MS programs and have already been accepted (with full tuition/stipend at one of them!).

After master's degree, I can either re-apply to vet school as a more competitive applicant, stay and finish a PhD, or be looking for a job with better credentials and hopefully in a better market.

I work in a lab with someone who didn't get in to medical school the first time and has been trying to get more experience--he's pretty bitter and told me "I could be half-way through a master's right now", instead of having wasted a year at a job he's not that into, and getting rejected again from med school...

I'm so glad I applied to MS programs at the same time. I'd be scrambling to come up with a job right now otherwise, and instead I can do something really neat for the next two years AND really boost my app for the next time.
 
In the short term, I'd work in my current thesis lab as a full time tech while reapplying. My mentor is putting off hiring someone until I find out if I've been accepted this year or not.

In the long term... I really don't like to think about the "If it doesn't work out..." possibility! I'd want to stay involved in wildlife research, so that would mean a PhD.
 
Plan B= cry 🙁 Plan C= Bang my head against a wall :bang: Plan D= try again.:xf:
 
My plan B: Develop an anti-addiction program for people who cannot give up the ambition of going to veterinary school. Perhaps this is my calling. 😎
 
Well....are ya'll ready to read my plan B because it rocks!!! Here goes... If I do not get in this year, I am going dress up in my nice suit...get in my car and drive to town...I will then proceed to park my car at ol' B-K and ask for an application...I will then pray and pray everyday...and make sure I keep my phone on me so that if they want me to be a burger flipper...then I will be a send button away from saying heck yes to the job!! If I am rejected at the B-K, then I will try to get a lifetime job as a circus junkie..don't be jealous if I get this job....You will just be mad because you will want teeth like I will have....black and rotten!! hey...I will be around animals.....picking up crap....and hey...showers are overrated!!:bullcrap:😀

No no no!! I am just joshing ya! I will get a job...and give up my volunteer job!!! I will apply again next year...and if I don't get in again...I will go to grad. school...and still apply..and apply...and apply..annnnnndd.............apply!!
 
if I never get in, I will more than likely go for a PhD in genetics. It is so interesting, but not as great as being a vet for horses😉
 
Tech school, followed by emergency and critical care certification. I'd probably return to the nonprofit world (which was my first career after undergrad) when my body couldn't handle the pounding anymore.
 
Probably still working at the A. I might get a masters in toxicology, or go the reproductive biology route.
 
I'm non-trad and this is my 2nd app cycle; don't think I have the time or most imp money to apply again for next cycle. I'm waiting on one more school but if that doesn't work out...i'm heading to Ross!
 
I've been thinking more and more about my plan B lately... maybe because of this thread? Or more likely because of the rejection.🙁

I think that I've concluded that I will apply to vet school for the second time next year (or is it this year now?). If I still don't get in, then I will apply again the year after, but also apply to go back to grad school and finish my PhD in chemistry... switching advisors and working on a project that my heart is more into (cancer research?). If I do go back to grad school, my hope is that I could finish the PhD in 4 years or less (I spent 3 years in the program already... the research will have to be all new but hopefully some of my coursework and other hoops could still count for something!?!).

THEN, I will apply to vet school again! I have a possible interest in the academia side of veterinary medicine, and a definite interest in research, so at least my plan B will sort of align with my ultimate goals!
 
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(haven't seen this one used yet, lol....they need a bump smiley)

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That's an REU, not a masters program. It's more like a summer internship. They're really good experiences that will get you a good idea of what research might be like, a good rec letter and some cash for the summer, but you won't get a degree or anything at the end of it. I have a lot of friends who did them in CS and really got a lot out of them.
 
nyanko said:
That's an REU, not a masters program. It's more like a summer internship. They're really good experiences that will get you a good idea of what research might be like, a good rec letter and some cash for the summer, but you won't get a degree or anything at the end of it. I have a lot of friends who did them in CS and really got a lot out of them.
Click to expand...

Ah yes def not a master's, thanks for the clarification nyanko!
 
If I don't get off one of the two waitlists I am now on, I've been thinking about getting a MAg from the Animal Science dept. at Oregon State. I think raising my GPA is what would make the difference between waitlisted and accepted outright, so this would hopefully help with that. I'd also hopefully gain some more LA experience through this program. LA (other than equine) is the one area I'm missing in regards to experience. I've got equine, SA (via volunteering at my local animal shelter), zoo, lab animal, and research experience. I'd also try and get some SA experience at a local clinic. But, I'm still hoping I'll make it off a waitlist this cycle.:xf:
 
ditto Robeezy08 - non-trad undergrad, 2nd app (rejected), and feeling discouraged at the time and money involved....people who don't know the vet world completely don't understand. they keep saying "it's not hard to apply, it doesn't take that much time, and that's not much money at all!" PSHHHHH

but I will keep trying...
 
UPenn Groupie said:
ditto Robeezy08 - non-trad undergrad, 2nd app (rejected), and feeling discouraged at the time and money involved....people who don't know the vet world completely don't understand. they keep saying "it's not hard to apply, it doesn't take that much time, and that's not much money at all!" PSHHHHH

but I will keep trying...
Click to expand...

I hear ya! I was trying to stay in the US (family) and within AVMA accredited schools (trying to avoid PAVE/EFVCG exam) but if this 2nd cycle didn't work out for me, was going to bite the bullet and go to Ross. I think it's something to consider especially since you'll graduate much sooner than most b/c you're in class winter, spring and summer, which = you'll be a vet making money sooner rather than later.😀
 
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