What would you tell a 13 year old who wants to be a vet?

[fromthebox]

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I know I should probably search for a similar thread, but I'm looking for advice from current applicants, fellow successful applicants/students and the grads who hang around here.

My BF has a friend, she's kinda my acquaintance (I don't make close friends that easily but she's been very good to me.) this friend is a single mom and has a 13 year old daughter who is in her freshman year of HS, I think. They are not well off but have two horses that they board. The daughter rides and does 4H and has expressed interest in becoming a vet. She has no experience with clinics or anything and is a pretty good student.

I have been volunteered to have a chat with her about what getting to vet school and being a vet entails. I plan to be pretty honest and up front about the admissions process and the need to do well in undergrad, have the experience, etc along with suggesting she experience it to make sure it is what she wants to do. I also want to talk about the career prospects being a little grim but she's so far away from practicing (not that I expect things to improve that much but still).

What else would you discuss with someone like this girl? Any gems or nuggets? She is in Southern California.

 

[gugoodoll]

EDIT

Sorry I realize I'm not being very helpful at all. I'm feeling a bit snarky at the moment. I retract my statement 🙂

 

[TooLove]

Honestly, I wouldn't go that far in depth. This girl is a freshman in high school. She's 6 to 8 years from even applying to vet schools. I bet most clinics wouldn't even take on someone that young as a shadow.

I would emphasize the importance of getting good grades. Talk a little bit about what the job entails, and squash any beliefs about getting rich while playing with puppies and kittens. Then talk about good grades some more.

A lot can change between now and when she would be potentially applying to schools, in the job market, the application process, and her own decisions about a career. Keep it simple and light, and reconvene in a few years. Just my two cents. 🙂

 

[Lupin21]

I know that in my small town the HS juniors have a career week where they choose 3 professions to shadow for a couple of days apiece. We had a girl come to the vet clinic and watch some surgeries and just get an overall feel for day to day of GP. I told her everything I went through to get into vet school along as far as schooling and experience and that was about it. It was pretty clear that she just had the thought it might be a neat job, but wasn't going to pursue it after her time with us. I agree that since she is so young, just telling her to keep up her grades and do a shadow day would be all you need to do for now. She can reevaluate her thoughts as she gets nearer to college and even into college.

 

[WelshCob]

I would tell her to focus on getting in to a good college and let her teachers and advisers deal with the rest. Interests change so much in high school.

 

[fromthebox]

I definitely want her to shadow, but if she does decide this is THE career, I want her to get experience now and not be me. I decided to pursue vet school after graduating college, and had no hours of experience and no way to get enough while supporting myself. She likely will not be able to afford leaving CA so that leaves Davis as her primary choice and they didn't give me the time of day.

Tell me what you wish you'd known about vet med at 13.

 

[dyachei]

I have this happen a few times a week when I am working. I always say that it's great and that if they are really interested, they need to do well in school but make sure to do extracurriculars. I also tell them to start volunteering at shelters if they can. A lot of times, the shelters in my areas will allow kids to walk dogs/clean kennels and it may help her get a foot in the door later. She can also start inquiring about shadowing.

I am always realistic about what it entails with them. If they don't like science, it may not be the right field for them. Also make sure she knows the process - pre-reqs and 4 years of vet school + internship/residency if desired.

 

[lailanni]

I'd ask her if she really loves science as much as she loves animals.

I'd tell her how much school she'd need (a LOT of science), how she has to get very good grades, and eventually (she's too young) she'd need to help a veterinarian at a clinic for a while. I'd tell her that there are fun, cool things to do, but also very sad things. I'd tell her that people doctors make more money, lots more.

Then I'd tell her about the other jobs vets can do. Research, wildlife, working in meat/milk industry, that sort of thing. Then I'd also tell her about all the other ways you can help animals - being a tech, volunteering, fostering, etc. You can still work with animals plenty and not be a vet.

At her age she can do volunteering with a shelter, maybe shadow a vet for a day if she's lucky, and sign up for all the science classes at school. AP chem and bio when she can.

I've seen some "junior veterinary camps" where kids get to do some fun and vaguely vet related activities and talk to a veterinarian. She might enjoy that as well.

 

[Lupin21]

I really don't think I could have comprehended that the people you deal with could be so draining and that the business and politics, whether you own or work for someone, are not to be overlooked as a major aspect of the job. I wanted to go into vet med because I love science, animals and even the clients that are wonderful, but we forget sometimes to take into account that the job also entails the ability to deal with these other aspects as well.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I definitely want her to shadow, but if she does decide this is THE career, I want her to get experience now and not be me. I decided to pursue vet school after graduating college, and had no hours of experience and no way to get enough while supporting myself. She likely will not be able to afford leaving CA so that leaves Davis as her primary choice and they didn't give me the time of day.

Tell me what you wish you'd known about vet med at 13.

I wish I'd known that vets can specialize. I didn't even know there were such things as veterinary cardiologists, radiologists, theriogenologists, etc. until college (I was a latecomer to vet med, didn't even consider it until college). I dunno if that is something that would spark her interest more but might be some fun facts to get her brain going.

 

[bunnity]

I would just let her ask questions, let her guide the conversation to the depth and level of detail that she is looking for right now. Tell her to do well in school, but to enjoy being with her friends and family as well. Other than that, I feel like some of the advice above is more geared for someone finishing up high school.

 

[Lab Vet]

I'd tell her that it's never too early to start banging on doors for experience. I got my first job, working 'under the table' at a boarding kennel, at age 14. I worked for this same establishment throughout high school. It was a wonderful experience- not only from an animal handling perspective, but also from a working perspective. I can't tell you, in the many positions I've held throughout life thus far, how many 'kids' I've encountered who can't sweep floors and take pride in the job while doing so. A career, be it vet med or otherwise, entails much more than the technical aspects of the job. Learn that lesson early, and you're golden. From where I sit, it's never too early to start actively (and aggressively) seeking opportunities for animal and veterinary experience- no matter how humble these may seem at the outset. I likewise agree with what others have mentioned regarding the importance of academic performance. It is very difficult to overcome poor academic performance in the veterinary school admissions game. Establish a record of solid academic performance early, and you're in a much better position to compete for admission than an applicant who fights an uphill battle to 'repair' less than stellar grades. Yes, it can be done- many, many people on this board have proved this (props to you, gang!). Why make life more difficult than it needs to be, though? Also, to borrow the phrase from the great scholar of world mythology Joseph Campbell, 'Follow Your Bliss.' If veterinary medicine is truly the career that this individual desires, by all means pursue it. Explore every nook and cranny of it, to the point that such is feasible prior to application. Yes, there is sacrifice involved- significant sacrifice. That shouldn't dissuade an individual from following their dreams. Welcome to the path, young one. Many others who have walked it previously are more than happy to assist you on your way. Ask questions, show up, work hard, be willing to get dirty, admit your mistakes, and you'd be surprised how far you can go in this life.

 

[Minnerbelle]

I feel like middle schoolers are at the age where they should be able to dream whatever the hell they want to. Reality will set them straight with whatever they were meant to/able to do later in life. If they're curious, I'd happily engage them in a conversation about vet med and answer any and all questions about it. But at that age, I wouldn't be telling them what they should or shouldn't be doing to get a head start. It's enough to be under enormous pressure for 2-6 years once you've set your mind on becoming a vet. I can't imagine a better way to burn out early in high school or college

 

[DVMDream]

I don't think you need to get into the great details of debt/money/etc, a 13 year old is not at the point where they can understand that concept. I was one of those who wanted to be a vet since I was young (around 7) and I did do the research, I knew the costs, courses, etc at 13/14 years old... but I didn't understand it then like I do now.

I think it would be good to mention to her that she does need to keep good grades, but one statement of "good grades are important" is more than enough.

Also, it is never too early to start gaining experience... shelter work is great and really is what got my "foot in the door" for getting a job at a vet clinic. It is so hard to get vet experience now, that starting early, even just walking dogs at a shelter, is a good idea. Just mention to her, that it would be good for her to volunteer at an animal shelter during the summer or something, just to start getting a small amount of experience. It can make all the difference for getting vet experience later on. She doesn't have to jump into doing anything extreme or banging on doors for vet experience at this point. But a day or two a week at the local animal shelter during summer break can really help. When she gets to be about 16, then I would suggest looking for the more vet experiences, but right now at 13, volunteering with animals is fine.

Also a good idea to mention to her that the job is people-oriented. Especially if she is in the "kittens and puppies" type of mind set. But, again, this is something that is hard to realize/comprehend until you are actually in a vet clinic dealing with clients.

I probably wouldn't dive into too much detail to be honest. Mention that she needs good grades, mention that she could/should probably start volunteering, then let her guide the conversation from there. There is just a lot of things that a 13 year old will not be able to understand about the career, no matter how you tell them or how much you tell them. I did research on vet med from the time I was about 8/9 years old all the way through high school... I knew a lot of things at a young age, courses that needed to be taken, tuition, how long school was, etc... but I still didn't understand what that really meant back in middle school/high school. (And tuition was cheaper when I started researching and the economy wasn't complete crap, so things can change by the time she gets around to applying.)

 

[Jamr0ckin]

I started volunteering at a vet hospital when I was 13. I was constantly told by the vets there how much math and science were important, and how I should do well in school. Not only that, but they stressed the importance of keeping good company in terms of friends, so that I stayed out of trouble. That was a really big part of me distancing myself from a bad crowd where intense drug use and teenage pregnancy was a common thing in that group by 15... luckily I had moved on to a better group of friends.

So...
1. You must like science, and do well in science and math.
2. You must be dedicated to the field, and the dirty parts (poop, vomit, etc)
3. You need to stay out of trouble, for that can ruin everything!
4. You should not be afraid to ask questions about vetmed and volunteer opportunities.


Hope this helps.

 

[cbarne01]

This:

1. You must like science, and do well in science and math.
2. You must be dedicated to the field, and the dirty parts (poop, vomit, etc)
3. You need to stay out of trouble, for that can ruin everything!
4. You should not be afraid to ask questions about vetmed and volunteer opportunities.

Plus, considering what she can do in the next few years, my biggest suggestion is to try EVERYTHING she's interested in. There is huge value in knowing what you don't want.
- take classes that sound interesting in HS - drama, music, technology, typing - everything is valuable
- take at least one cooperative credit, try for a clinic but consider a shelter, also consider any other career she might be interested in
- do your best in every class, develop study habits
- don't let teachers convince you that the easier course is just fine unless you really are having trouble with the content. In Ontario there are (U)niversity and (C)ollege level credits ("college" is a 2 year program) and if you change your mind @ the C level program (in any subject), you waste time upgrading, plus there is less of a push to do well as a student
- find hobbies you like

There is plenty of time later to tell her about UG, etc.

 

[that redhead]

Honestly, I'd suggest she call up their equine vet and ask to shadow - that was my own personal first experience and I was a sophomore in high school at the time. As for the other details...I think the most I'd say is to make sure she remembers to do well in school. More than that and I think it'd go over her head, no matter how sharp of a 13 year old she is.

 

[lailanni]

I feel like middle schoolers are at the age where they should be able to dream whatever the hell they want to. Reality will set them straight with whatever they were meant to/able to do later in life. If they're curious, I'd happily engage them in a conversation about vet med and answer any and all questions about it. But at that age, I wouldn't be telling them what they should or shouldn't be doing to get a head start. It's enough to be under enormous pressure for 2-6 years once you've set your mind on becoming a vet. I can't imagine a better way to burn out early in high school or college

When I was 14 I was working on building my college application, volunteering at a people hospital (I was thinking human medicine at that time), doing all the clubs/activities/volunteering possible, and getting tutored in science. I was relatively burnt out by the end of high school, but as a result of all that work I was valedictorian and got my undergrad at a strong school paid for with scholarships. My sister also followed a similar path of early college prep and got a full college scholarship.

My family had a heavy emphasis on education and they were high pressure about grades/college prep. I'm not sure it was good for me in a holistic sense, but I learned some life lessons and got free college.

So I think a 13 year old can potentially comprehend more than "get good grades", but that will definitely depend on the kid. I was probably unusually mature for my age back then.

 

[fromthebox]

Thank you to everyone who replied to this thread. The responses have been really enlightening and helpful to me. I spoke with the girl in question last night and I think it went well.
She is pretty darn focused on being a vet. I gave her the numbers of the local mixed practice and the card for the small animal surgical practice I shadowed at. I told her about science and she said she loves science and is ok with math (algebra 1) right now. She wants to focus on 4H and isn't thrilled about art or languages, (though she hasn't had experience with either) I worried that she might be a little too focused on it. She is interested in a military career with loan repayment but also wants to do large animal/equine only.
I waved the flag and said "go shadow, and maybe look at this outline of classes and write down hours spent at 4h etc and GRADES."