What to choose...

[dee vee emm]

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Hey All....

So this year I applied to vet school and for a one year MSc by coursework in Animal Behaviour and Welfare...
Didn't get into the vet school (booo to that! 👎), but at least I got into the Master's program.
But now I find out I have to choose which stream of animal welfare I'd like to focus on... and I really have no idea.
There's food, laboratory, companion and zoo animal welfare that I think I can choose from.
I plan on still applying to vet school again for next year...but say I was to start working in a career with animal behaviour and welfare... what would you think was the best choice or the one there is a higher demand for...

I'm not sure what a career like this would pay, but I mean if one path pays more then the other one... I might as well pick the one I'd make more at right?

Anywho, if any of you have any suggestions, I would gladly appreciate them.
Thanks! 😎
-Dee

 

[cRose]

I will forewarn that I really know next to nothing about animal behavior. But, if I had to guess, I'd say companion. People are always looking for animal behaviorists for Fido's separation anxiety, jumping, barking, etc, etc. I would imagine, though, that there is a need for all types of animal behaviorists, and that my perception is skewed due to the majority of my experience being in SA. Sounds like a cool program, whichever aspect you choose to go with!

I can also relate to having a master's as a backup, since I did the same thing when I didn't get accepted anywhere 2 years ago. Had I found one similar to yours, I totally would have taken it! Hope it's as fun and interesting as it sounds.

 

[OtakuVet]

I dont know if you have checked out this website yet: www.[B]animalbehavior[/B].org But its the animal behavior society website. They have alot of internships and externships available. Its also very helpful in learning about the profession. But as for actual money involvements, the jobs are varied and depends on what setting you will work in. I love the field of animal behavior it tells us so much about instinct.

 

[dee vee emm]

Thanks for the help...
I think animal behaviour is a really interesting field too, but I think this course is more focused on the animal welfare aspect.

Maybe I'll try and do some more research about that...

 

[sumstorm]

If you are just looking at money, I would think Lab animal would be the best route. Followed by food animal (industry is changing), then companion animal (competition from dog trainers without degrees/loans/etc), and then zoo (there aren't very many zoos with behaviorists and the positions are tough to get.) However, I would go with what you are most interested in. Much easier to make a career in what you are interested in.