What's your backup plan?

[thereservoirdog]

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I was wondering what I would do if I didn't get into vet school. I wouldn't be able to do much with a BS in biology. I guess I'd keep applying, then if that doesn't work go to grad school. But what the heck would I do in grad school....

What would you do if you couldn't get in??

 

[pressmom]

My backup plan was to get a masters in Animal Nutrition and work in food sciences for a major company. A long time ago I wanted to go to school for food science, so that seemed natural for me. My uncle works at Purina formulating dog food, and the family joke was that I'd take his job because he's about to retire.

PS Be prepared at your interviews with a good backup...preferably related to the veterinary field. It'll help a lot.

 

[NurseIsilmae]

My back-up plan is to fall back into the nursing profession. I'm working on the ASN-RN as I type this and I'm hoping that I can finish the degree and get the RN license before Sept 2009. I'll have to work while in school (for the BS) and I can earn a lot better pay as an RN (rather than LPN). I don't look forward to a lifetime of nursing...I'll go insane doing that, but it is one option.

I was also thinking about going to grad school if I don't get into Vet school after a couple tries. I'm interested in research in the biochem field. I would go on for a PhD.

I'm just hoping and praying that I can get into a vet school so I don't have to fall back on anything! Lots of to everyone!

~ Kelly

 

[VeterinaryLover]

My Back-up plan is to become a Vet. Tech.

 

[jeeney]

my backup is to apply until my fingers can't type anymore..and if that doesn't work, i'd go to a school in the caribbeans..

 

[Pigsfoot]

is to apply all these classes i've been taking to get a second degree, a B.S. in biology, get ALAT certified, possibly even LAT, and keep on working with lab animals in research. til i get in.

 

[Pigsfoot]

there are a lot of things you can do with a BS in biology. you can get an entry level gig at any kind of laboratory, you can get a job with a veterinary pharmaceutical company or medical instrument company and make lots of money, you can work towards a graduate level degree in science, you can teach at the elementary school level......the list goes on. i think its a good thing to have a plan B, always with the knowledge that you will try again next year, of course.....

 

[rexosaurus]

If I don't get in this time, my plan is similar to Pigsfoot. I will move to establish residency in a state that I want to go to school in, gain large animal experience, keep working in animal research (hopefully my location will permit), get my LAT/LATG, pretty much do anything under the sun to get in. I guess that means I don't exactly have a "plan B". I will go to vet school eventually.

 

[sofficat]

rexosaurus- that's right baby! that was my plan and I got in on the first try! I also told the committee that was my plan (just keep on applying) and apparently it wasn't that bad to say. good luck everyone. i start vet school tomorrow!!!

 

[ShelterGirl]

If I don't make it this year, I'm going to apply to a Caribbean school or two. If that fails, well, I don't have a plan C other than to improve on weak points and apply again. I want to be a vet - period! 😀

 

[soxbox]

is to apply all these classes i've been taking to get a second degree, a B.S. in biology, get ALAT certified, possibly even LAT, and keep on working with lab animals in research. til i get in.

little off the thread topic, but I highly recommend getting at least your ALAT if you are interested in lab animal... I got my LAT last summer (went straight for that one, skipped ALAT)... and was told by the admissions of 2 schools I applied to that if you are interested in lab animal and expressed that in your application, that having your LAT (ALAT or LATG) shows that you are serious and actually have some knowledge behind what you are saying....

The test is not bad at all... definitely need to study for it. but dont have to go crazy.. I did for about a week... I got the study manual and CD from AALAS... read pretty much all of it and took some practice tests... some of the practice questions are on the real exam as well... lots of memorization of gestation periods 🙂 the only thing that is annoying is that they do not release your actual score... you only find out if you passed or failed... oh well 🙂
I had also taken the national board exam to be a certified vet tech (in Mass before they made the rule that you must have gone to a vet tech school to take it) a couple years ago and a lot of the stuff on that exam was also on the LAT exam...
so I think getting your (A)LAT(G) can only strengthen your vet school application... and its not *that* expensive... I think around $200... and I was able to have my work reimburse me, so even better 🙂

good luck!!

 

[jeeney]

sorry for being offtopic, but i didn't know there were so many of you that are going for the ALAT, LAT and LATG..i just got mine in May and its cool to know there are a lot of us 🙂 hehe

 

[Pennvet]

My back up plan is to start a GWAR cover band.

 

[Emio]

My back up plan is to start a GWAR cover band.

i didn't see this before... lol, let me know if you ever do that!

a BS in biology isn't that difficult to get a job with, i don't think. i have several friends who are going on to teach after not getting into to med school, others going into research and i think others are going into hospital administration?

when forced to think about it, my back up plan would have been to take an anesthesiology course and try to get an interesting tech job until i applied again.

good luck to all those applying again this fall!

 

[VelcroSky]

My back up plan is to start a GWAR cover band.

Oo, can I be in your band? I wanna be Balsac the Jaws of Death...

 

[smhrd]

Well, I'm a teacher now. So I guess that will be my back-up plan as well, although after taking all of the prerequisites, I'll be darned close to a biology or broadfield science endorsement. So I'll be a more employable teacher. 😀

 

[jfitzpatri8]

My plan "B" changed quite a bit over the time it took me to get from JC to UC to the DVM program. First I was going to go for a Master's in Animal Behavior. Then I learned that Animal Behavior sucked (no offense- just my personal opinion... I had visions of camping in Yellowstone watching wolves for 6 months at a time. Come to find out it is mostly tying moths to wires and letting bats at them.) So then my plan went to going back into teching. I was good at it, I liked it, flexible schedule, etc... But then I decided to go into teaching HS AP Bio or Chem. I was pretty psyched for it- took a job tutoring, extra classes to be eligible for an "emergency credential" in CA...

Then I got into vet school. Couldn't believe it. Directly from undergrad to DVM. Crazy. It can happen to you, too.

I do know lots of people in vet school who did have to do their plan B for a while in order to boost their app. That just leaves them better prepared for the rigors of DVM student life, in my never-to-be-humble-opinion.

J

 

[ckgilabert]

I was told about a girl who got her bachelors in animal science, didnt get into vet school, went for her masters and one of the advisors kept telling her to work in the pharmaceutical industry....so she finally does it after not getting in again to vet school. i think it was with Merck...she makes over $150,000/yr, gets a company car, clothing allowance and gets to travel. anyway...that wouldn't be my backup...but just some more useful info to share. 🙂

 

[philomycus]

I'll continue to teach at the high school and college level and train future squirrels for that secret undercover plan the goverment has overseas. 😉

 

[NurseIsilmae]

My back-up plan is to fall back into the nursing profession. I'm working on the ASN-RN as I type this and I'm hoping that I can finish the degree and get the RN license before Sept 2009....

~ Kelly

After consulting with another nurse the other day and getting totally fed up with my job, I am changing my backup plan. I am so disgusted with the nursing profession that I am just counting down the days until I can get out. If I don't get into vet school I might apply to Pharmacy school. I'm interested in pharmaceutical research...well veterinary research also. I'm still hoping for vet school above all else.

~Kelly

 

[alliecat44]

Friend of a friend had a band for a couple of years after college, then decided he wanted to be a vet.

During his interview, he was asked, "So, what's your backup plan if you don't get in this year?"

Completely sincere, he replied, "Dude, I was in a ROCK BAND. This IS my backup plan."

He got in, first try. 🙂 (VA-MD) How funny is that??

 

[ylrebmik]

I was told about a girl who got her bachelors in animal science, didnt get into vet school, went for her masters and one of the advisors kept telling her to work in the pharmaceutical industry....so she finally does it after not getting in again to vet school. i think it was with Merck...she makes over $150,000/yr, gets a company car, clothing allowance and gets to travel. anyway...that wouldn't be my backup...but just some more useful info to share. 🙂

yeah i know someone who's going into that. Lots of money there. wouldn't do it myself just cuz im not interested in it. 😛

Friend of a friend had a band for a couple of years after college, then decided he wanted to be a vet.

During his interview, he was asked, "So, what's your backup plan if you don't get in this year?"

Completely sincere, he replied, "Dude, I was in a ROCK BAND. This IS my backup plan."

He got in, first try. 🙂 (VA-MD) How funny is that??

lol that is funny. Yeah I have no idea at this point what I would say for mine.