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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
   
Location: Montana | I've decided I would like to go to school to become a veterinarian, but my parents would like for me to get a job in a vet's office part time before going into that field. I am fine with that idea, but am having a hard time finding a part time job at a vet's office. They either want full time or don't have any openings, and I already have a job I don't want to quit to go full time. I'm trying to figure out what to do, if I should go ahead and try to start coursework in that direction in the coming spring semester or continue to wait until I can get more hands on experience at a vet's office? Any opinions would be appreciated!
I've been around and had animals forever (dogs, horses, cats, birds, fish) so I'm familiar with animals and their care, but not to the extent of what a vet does. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 512
| mtcanchazer - 2015-09-05 9:08 PM
I've decided I would like to go to school to become a veterinarian, but my parents would like for me to get a job in a vet's office part time before going into that field. I am fine with that idea, but am having a hard time finding a part time job at a vet's office. They either want full time or don't have any openings, and I already have a job I don't want to quit to go full time. I'm trying to figure out what to do, if I should go ahead and try to start coursework in that direction in the coming spring semester or continue to wait until I can get more hands on experience at a vet's office? Any opinions would be appreciated!
I've been around and had animals forever (dogs, horses, cats, birds, fish) so I'm familiar with animals and their care, but not to the extent of what a vet does.
I think that is very wise advice! The vet office I worked at allowed students to shadow, and also allowed some students to do some short term internships! | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Blueridgedreaming - 2015-09-05 8:25 PM
mtcanchazer - 2015-09-05 9:08 PM
I've decided I would like to go to school to become a veterinarian, but my parents would like for me to get a job in a vet's office part time before going into that field. I am fine with that idea, but am having a hard time finding a part time job at a vet's office. They either want full time or don't have any openings, and I already have a job I don't want to quit to go full time. I'm trying to figure out what to do, if I should go ahead and try to start coursework in that direction in the coming spring semester or continue to wait until I can get more hands on experience at a vet's office? Any opinions would be appreciated!
I've been around and had animals forever (dogs, horses, cats, birds, fish) so I'm familiar with animals and their care, but not to the extent of what a vet does.
I think that is very wise advice! The vet office I worked at allowed students to shadow, and also allowed some students to do some short term internships!
I agree, it is very good advice my parents gave me, I'm just not sure if I should wait and get a job working for a vet before going on with school, or if I should go ahead and start school and hope a job or something comes along that will get me more experience. Thanks! | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| I had an honest re-think of my entire idea of becoming a vet when I shadowed. People are truly awful, and it is a heartbreaking job. You really have to love animals and have a good head on your shoulders to handle some of these people. The job is exhausting, heartwrenching, and makes you question every ounce of humanity in some people, but then those people, who are truly doing what is best regardless of the money, come in, and it makes you remember why you chose the profession.
And that is why I am still majoring in Pre-Vet, because it really is worth it if you can get past the people. It isn't for everyone, and a lot of my classmates are figuring that out during their shadows. I, luckily, did mine before starting school. My other classmates, however, some have wasted years on school, then shadowed and realized they couldn't handle it. Don't be like them. | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Thanks very much for the replies. I know how terrible humanity can be in regards to animals, and anything else. I used to ride by some extremely underfed horse (skin and bones) and I would call them in. The owners did nothing, the livestock department did nothing, and the sheriff's department did nothing each claiming it was someone else's job. We used to live next door to people who had the animal control remove 14 (total) dogs and cats from their home. Our dog came from a situation where people don't understand his breed and thought the way to get him to do what they wanted him to do was to kick or hit him. I treat my animals like if they were humans and worry about and protect them like if they are my children. When a stray dog is running around, I want to help it because I don't want it to get run over. I'm also aware of the type of people who turn an animal loose because they don't want to care for it anymore. I'm not trying to make a case for myself and what I want to do, I'm just saying I understand what you are talking about with humanity.
The reason I want to become a vet is because I truly love animals and want to help them. I've had an opportunity to meet some really awesome vets too. One is the vet for my horse (and at times horses) that is also the track vet locally...one of the biggest kudos I can give her was from the track this year and a horse had heat stroke and collapsed, and she was wise enough to figure it out and make the horse okay right on the spot. The other is our dog and cat vet, and he truly is a good person too and has helped us so much.
Thanks for the advice, and I'll continue to try to find a part time job so I can get some more hands on experience.
BTW, komet, I don't have a FB account, but thanks for the contact. | |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | You have vets that you already admire I would go talk to them and let them know what is going on and they might make room for you. | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Nevertooold - 2015-09-06 11:36 AM You have vets that you already admire I would go talk to them and let them know what is going on and they might make room for you.
Thanks, I agree with you NTO, and we have put a call into our dog and cat vet as he is a friend of our's besides being our vet, but he hasn't called back with any openings yet. My horse vet I don't know well other than on a vet/patient/owner level, but she may be willing to make room.
I got to say, I love the Bostons in your profile pics, NTO. | |
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 "Hottie"
Posts: 1373
Location: Okemah,OK | One VERY important thing to also consider is your academics. Your first four years will be overloaded with math and science. Tons of chemistry, biochem, physics, algebra, statistics, etc. Sure, you'll take some ag electives but they don't count for a drop in the bucket of what is considered to get into vet school. You will have to be able to get no less than a B (but an A most of the time) in those core classes. Also, I know you love animals but there are a lot of times that your heart cannot be involved in vet care. I'm not trying to discourage you, just giving you a glimpse of the reality of becoming a vet. | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | I haven't read the responses yet so I apologize if I repeat anything anyone has said
I apply to vet school next year and have been in the field for 8, going on 9 years.
I managed to find a vet that gave me a chance and paid me minimum wage to learn how to be a tech - now I live on the higher end of the vet tech scale by chance even though Im not a registered tech. I work for a specialty hospital that has oncology, internal medicine, ER/CC (emergency which is where Im in) and a specialized surgeon that can do anything and everything.
My clinic does take on pre-vet students cause they are specifically a teaching hospital (they take interns and do residencies as well for vets school grads which is what I plan to do) and makes them vet assistants first and then moves them up to be a tech. You can't become a vet without having veterinary experience.
What I would do is avoid general practice. They generally don't take pre-vet students. Don't ask me why cause I think it's BS. GP docs are so full of themselves half the time it's not even funny. And I'd say a good percentage of them suck or are crazy based on my personal experiences.
A lot of pre-vets will volunteer at the animal shelters and sometimes these shelters have their own clinic areas that you can volunteer in or move up to volunteering in them. There's your started experience. I know tons of people who worked at the shelter and later got hired on in clinics. Then move to GP (general practice) and learn all your basic stuff there and THEN move on to a specialty type (Emergency/Critical Care hospital).
Now you are a well-rounded candidate because you were exposed to so much.
Heck, last night even though we are a dog/cat hospital we had 2 snakes and a guinea pig and we've also had coyotes and a mountain lion once. So that was cool.
Yes, work on your school stuff. Undergrad is all your basic stuff anyways
Math - up to calculus and you need statistics
*A lot of the vet schools don't necessarily need calculus, but sometimes other classes you will take want it is a pre or co-requisite such as physics
Chem - Your 2 semesters of general chem + Organic Chemistry
Bio - Microbiology, your 2 semesters of general bio
Physics - Yup you need this - both semesters
English - You need your 2 semesters of this as well
Biochemistry, Physiology, Anatomy, & humanities as well
Anatomy - a lot of schools don't have animal science programs so human anatomy and physiology works. Most likely you will be given the run down in vet school anyways, but they like to see you have a basic understanding of how the body works and names of the things inside of us.
And don't forget the GRE!
So me:
I'm not applying with a bachelors. I am applying with just pre-reqs. I have a 3.9 GPA and like I said 8 years experience right now, it will be 9 when I apply next year. I've gotten tons of feed back that I'll be good to go, but I'm 26 and don't want to be 28 when I apply lol. I'll already be 31 when I finish and 32 after I finish an internship and then if I want to do a residency... Eek!
Grades aren't everything, but they sure help. I ask all the externs I know that do rotations through our hospital what their grades or GRE scores were and I hear a lot of 3.4 and 3.2 GPAs and some had bombed the GRE... I don't recommend chancing it if you can avoid it lol. There are tools to help you study for the GRE which is math up to college algebra, english and reading.
Something that the dean of Midwestern University in AZ said to me
There's not one way to get into vet school.
This is just my story and what I did and my recommendations based on how I've done it.
Good luck! | |
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Veteran
Posts: 180
| I planned on going to vet school all growing up. My sophomore year of college I realized I was in love with the knowledge vets had, not necessarily the career itself. I wanted to have my own barn full of nice horses and I knew it would be a decade or two before I could afford NICE horseflesh. All the vets I shadowed were great! So helpful and informative, however when I asked if they would do it all over again they said they would choose to be a doctor or a different career instead. Two said the they were married to their jobs and it put strain on their marriages and family. Not trying to discourage you just telling you my experience. Kudos OP! Hope you can shadow some great vets! | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | gypsykalgirl - 2015-09-06 4:53 PM I planned on going to vet school all growing up. My sophomore year of college I realized I was in love with the knowledge vets had, not necessarily the career itself. I wanted to have my own barn full of nice horses and I knew it would be a decade or two before I could afford NICE horseflesh. All the vets I shadowed were great! So helpful and informative, however when I asked if they would do it all over again they said they would choose to be a doctor or a different career instead. Two said the they were married to their jobs and it put strain on their marriages and family. Not trying to discourage you just telling you my experience. Kudos OP! Hope you can shadow some great vets!
This^^^
It is a high percentage of vet. school grads that continue as a vet. In the long run, you will make more money as a certified vet. tech than a vet. if you want to stay in the animal care field. Honestly, with the cost of college. going to Medical School makes more sense to me.
I know we all complain about the high cost of vet. expenses but it is only the speciality vets that are making a living. That and a lot of people will spend every penny they have on some "treatment" to try and keep their horse sound or their pet alive.
I have worked as a vet. tech for many vets, most wished they had chose a different career.
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Wow, some very insightful responses and I am very grateful for them. Thank you so much! They are the answers I want...the good, the bad, and the ugly, so to speak. I don't want people to tell my it is all going to be sunshine and rainbows, as I know it is not and it is a field I will have to work very hard to get into. But I'm not afraid to work, and work hard, for what I want.
As far as vets to work for around here, we aren't really a very big town so my choices are slightly limited, but there are enough out there I think I could find a job at one of them eventually. I agree, experience is a big thing and the best teacher.
I have also considered the possibilty that vet school and being a vet may not work for me in the long run, so I was going to try to get a degree in biology that could either transfer to biology teaching courses or medical courses or perhaps pharmacy courses, so that has crossed my mind.
The one vet I asked if she would do it again (my horse vet) when she was out on a farm call, she said she would and she had wanted to be a vet since she was little. But I also understand no two people are alike and it may not be a job for everyone. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | mtcanchazer - 2015-09-06 10:22 PM
Wow, some very insightful responses and I am very grateful for them. Thank you so much! They are the answers I want...the good, the bad, and the ugly, so to speak. I don't want people to tell my it is all going to be sunshine and rainbows, as I know it is not and it is a field I will have to work very hard to get into. But I'm not afraid to work, and work hard, for what I want.
As far as vets to work for around here, we aren't really a very big town so my choices are slightly limited, but there are enough out there I think I could find a job at one of them eventually. I agree, experience is a big thing and the best teacher.
I have also considered the possibilty that vet school and being a vet may not work for me in the long run, so I was going to try to get a degree in biology that could either transfer to biology teaching courses or medical courses or perhaps pharmacy courses, so that has crossed my mind.
The one vet I asked if she would do it again (my horse vet) when she was out on a farm call, she said she would and she had wanted to be a vet since she was little. But I also understand no two people are alike and it may not be a job for everyone.
I didn't realize that you were this young. I would like to recommend some light reading. If you have not already read them, there are some books written by a British veterinarian named James Herriot. Good stuff!!! | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | gypsykalgirl - 2015-09-06 4:53 PM
I planned on going to vet school all growing up. My sophomore year of college I realized I was in love with the knowledge vets had, not necessarily the career itself. I wanted to have my own barn full of nice horses and I knew it would be a decade or two before I could afford NICE horseflesh. All the vets I shadowed were great! So helpful and informative, however when I asked if they would do it all over again they said they would choose to be a doctor or a different career instead. Two said the they were married to their jobs and it put strain on their marriages and family. Not trying to discourage you just telling you my experience. Kudos OP! Hope you can shadow some great vets!
I have known some vets that wouldn't do this again. Those are the crazy ones or the ones who are mean to their techs cause they are projecting their anger at themselves.
But you have to really want it, for sure. And I feel that I hear less and less that people want to be vets. I went to a preview day at Western and there was only a handful of us - everyone else was for the human side of things and yet I read the statistics every year that only half of the applications they get are accepted for interviews then only a quarter of those are accepted, but all the vet forums on student doctor are kinda dying. Idk where I'm going with this haha!
My husband is a human doctor and I have zero interest in human medicine - not because I don't like working with people. I don't mind clients and love being in rooms with them talking about our pets, but I just love the medicine aspect of animal medicine it is vastly different and whenever human nurses or doctors come in with their pets trying to self-diagnose or treat I just want to shake them sometimes lol... I digress
Maybe it's because I understand it (animal medicine)? Or maybe because I just get it? I have this need to understand more and more of it. Every time we have a difficult case I want to understand it. How did they get the diagnostics? What is the treatment and the recovery rate, what is the physiology and pharmacology aspect of the case and what are the possible ways the body can respond.
And even human doctors can be married to their jobs - especially in residency. My husband is a 2nd year resident and I've seen him twice in the last 2 weeks cause he is working 30 hour shifts. I work my own crazy shifts plus I have school full time. You definitely will have to have someone that understands the craziness of your field. My husband and I never complain about each others hours cause we get it. And the time we do have together we usually hang at home and recover with sleep lol.
But when all is said and done it will be worth it. When Kyle is done if he gets into the PICU fellowship like he wants, ultimately, he will work 2 weeks out of a month.
I'm strongly debating what I want to do with my own career. On one hand I want to get into equine reproduction and have my own breeding facility and do ET and AI's and ICSO's, but at the same time I absolutely love emergency medicine and the strange cases you wouldn't normally see in a GP. Our facility is loaded with the best of the best - state of the art ultrasound, CT/MRI imaging and of course the specialty practices I mentioned before. This completely excites me and even though I am drained by the end of my week I can't wait to go back in for another 4 days of chaos! :P
Plus, since we are a 24/7 practice I get to bond with the hospitalized patients.
There is one that I absolutely love who is known for being a snappy breed - a dachshund (I love them!). And one of her discs popped out and despite being super painful she has never once complained, tried to bite or anything. She had her sx and that is definitely usually the time that the patients try to bite us cause they are super painful, but nope, not her. She just cries every time she sees me cause she wants me to hold her. She has only eaten for me and I constantly hang out with her every free moment I get. And I've made it very known to her parents that I absolutely adore her :)
So I guess in this long-winded reply, my case in point is, you not have to just want it, after you get your experience you have to love it.
I've been doing this 8 going on 9 years and I have yet to feel true burn out. I want more and more. And that is how I Know vet school is my thing. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | Also, it's good to have a back up plan like a degree in biology. That's originally what my major was and then I moved to CA and they have an animal science program which I apply for in October to finish out my pre-reqs. If I don't get into Western with just my pre-reqs I will finish my animal science degree.
My back up plan if I didn't get into vet school was to get a masters in genetics and become a geneticist because genetics is also my thing. It is just secondary to animal medicine! | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | komet. - 2015-09-06 9:47 PM mtcanchazer - 2015-09-06 10:22 PM Wow, some very insightful responses and I am very grateful for them. Thank you so much! They are the answers I want...the good, the bad, and the ugly, so to speak. I don't want people to tell my it is all going to be sunshine and rainbows, as I know it is not and it is a field I will have to work very hard to get into. But I'm not afraid to work, and work hard, for what I want.
As far as vets to work for around here, we aren't really a very big town so my choices are slightly limited, but there are enough out there I think I could find a job at one of them eventually. I agree, experience is a big thing and the best teacher.
I have also considered the possibilty that vet school and being a vet may not work for me in the long run, so I was going to try to get a degree in biology that could either transfer to biology teaching courses or medical courses or perhaps pharmacy courses, so that has crossed my mind.
The one vet I asked if she would do it again (my horse vet) when she was out on a farm call, she said she would and she had wanted to be a vet since she was little. But I also understand no two people are alike and it may not be a job for everyone. I didn't realize that you were this young. I would like to recommend some light reading. If you have not already read them, there are some books written by a British veterinarian named James Herriot. Good stuff!!!
Phx: Don't worry about being long, your ideas are awesome. I'm not really into human medicine either. I also, to what knowledge I have of it as of now, understand animal medicine and enjoy it. I like making things feel better. It is kind of like I am with the mechanical things on cars...I understand it (because I grew up with it) however I don't want to be a mechanic or work on it nor can I do it, but I understand the process and the way it works. But, off track there, don't digress, the information you have given is very helpful and much welcome!
Edited by mtcanchazer 2015-09-07 1:26 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | Lol. I'm 26 myself so it's okay to get a late start :P
When I moved to CA half my credits didn't transfer or I'd be done with undergrad - hence my decision to apply with pre-reqs...
At the same time I don't think I could have handled vet school at 22/23... No way! Lol.
And feel free to PM me anytime for advice or what to say when talking to vets. I'm very good at talking the talk. There's not a single job I haven't gotten in an interview lol.
Edited by Phxbarrel 2015-09-07 3:19 AM
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | If you haven't completed your pre-req's you still have time to start school and then find somewhere to work. A lot of the vet pre-req's are the same as ones you will need for the medical field. I had always wanted to be a vet but the thought of being on call and the fear of getting bit/stepped on/kicked by everyone else's animals and not loving my own as much convinced me that I should go into human nursing instead. I can work around my barrel racing schedule for the most part and I enjoy my animals that much more :) | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | You guys have been so helpful, thanks!
Phx: Thanks for the offer of me PMing you...you will probably be hearing from me and I'm glad to have someone I can talk to. I've talked to Casualdust07 some already as she is currently in vet school.
Brlracerchick: That's what I was thinking, about going ahead with pre-reqs and hoping something would come along later. My only slight division on that is I have a job that I've been at a long time and will give me the flexibility to go to school and work, and I am not sure I could handle a job, another job, and schooling later on (maybe in the summer months). But I feel things will work out in due time if it is meant to be. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 139
Location: Abbotsford B.C. Canada | I would not wait for a part time job at the vets as it sounds like you have enough practical experience. Get after any course work you can and start down the road to vet school now. Initially as a vet helper you would not really get any more out of it than starting course work related to becoming a vet.
For example you can take the Equine Certificate Program from the U of Guelph or a similar program in the USA . Conatct U of Ky and see if they have extension programs you can take on line , not sure about Montana State U .
Take some animal helath course or agricultural extension course on line etc.My niece got an ag degree before going to vet school and graduating there a few years ago. The vet school really liked the idea that she had farm experience and a broad back ground in large animal agriculture, not just dog and cat and horse experience.
If you have a good job now , I would not risk leaving it for a part time job at a vets office, I would use the fanacial stability to access on line courses at various universities etc. Check around at the universities with strong equine programs and see what is available. Look at Texas A & M, Colorado State U, Rutgers University, U C Davis, N.M. State U , U of Wyo.
I think you can get some good home study courses that would help you as much as working at a vet's office for peanuts!!!
Just my thoughts.
FYI
Coastal Rider
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 To the Left
Posts: 1865
Location: Florida | I was in my 4th year of college when I shadowed a vet. Went ahead and got my biology degree but didn't even apply to vet school. I hated dealing with the people. No thanks, new career plan forming.
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Make sure you work in a clinic. I also planned on becoming a vet until I saw the realities of the profession.
Personally, I would advise against getting a biology degree unless you are going to pursue your Phd.... JMHO
Finding jobs with an animal science degree is also quite difficult, unless you are willing to move.
If you do decide to pursue a BS in biology, know that you will likely need grad school to move above a tech level. Med tech programs are a good option, but you will have wonky hours. Feel free to PM me. I am a cytogenetic technologist.
Research can be interesting, but finding a job is competitive, and right now, even more so as NIH funding has been cut in recent years.
I guess what I am saying is that before deciding on any particular program, research the jobs and salaries that you would qualify for with that degree. I wish someone had given me that advice when I was in college. I like my job and field, but I got lucky.... most places are not as flexible as my employer. | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 239
| I would suggest going to your equine (if you're interested in equine practice) vet and offering to volunteer, not ask for a job. Many practices just can't afford to take on someone with little experience and pay them......not doubting you at all - just telling you how it is. When I was a kid thinking about going to vet school I volunteered - did everything for free - and that will give you a very good idea of how the life is. The only time I got paid for working at a vet clinic before I graduated was in the summer between 3rd and 4th year vet school, but our province subsidizes some of the costs to the clinic as well.
One thing about it is if you don't have your pre-reqs yet, you have a lot of time, and a lot of those pre-reqs should be transferable to other degrees should you change your mind.
The other thing to consider is that with your DVM you aren't limited to private practice only. I was in a mixed animal practice for 2 years (and I don't believe I am crazy, as somebody mentioned above, LOL), equine specialist for 8 months and am now working for the government. I love it as I get my weekends and evenings off, which means I get to devote time to my own ponies.
There are jobs with feed companies, pharmaceutical companies, other specialities, consultation, military even.
Feel free to PM me if you have more questions as well - some stuff may vary between the States and up here in the great white north but should be able to give you a general idea - good luck!  | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Thanks for the ideas and advice. I don't mind volunteering either. :)
What would be an ideal bachelor's degree to get before pursuing vet school that could easily transfer to another vocation? I thought Biology would be the easiest to transfer whether to vet school, a medical degree such as technology or something else, teaching biology or in pharmaceuticals or something?
I can see myself possibly going into a human medical field as well if becoming a vet doesn't work out because pharamceuticals, bone structure, the way things work fascinate me and I love to learn about it and understand it. I'm very interested in your opinions. I have my heart kind of set on becoming a vet, but I'm also keeping my mind open as I know things don't always work out as planned. | |
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Perhaps you can give me some advice?