Not sure if I wanna go to med school or vet school?

Question

the question sounds very childesh. Here's the thing, I'm about to go to college to major in something I like while taking medicine prereq courses, and the problem is that I'm not very sure whether I want to go tomed or vet school after I graduate. I always loved animals, but I don't think I like to study animals anatomy and such stuff. I always liked human biology and I'm very curious about how our body works and all kinds of diseases and conditions. But I think I would like to work with animals more than humans. I'm now so confused, I don't know whether to take medicine prerequisites or veterinary prereqs. What do you think I should do so that I could decide?

Answer 1

As far as studying animal anatomy, really there is not much difference between an human and dog body. We both have pretty much the same things. As far as taking physiology, both animals and humans are pretty similar. They both have the same requiremetns. Medical school is easier to get into just because there are so many. There are only around 25 vet schools.

I can tell you my reasons for not wanting to go to vet school:
I don't want to touch people (how would you feed doing a prostate or gynecologic exam)?
Do you want to risk getting pricked with and HIV or Hepatitis needle?
Do you want to have patients die on you because insurance doesn't want to pay, or they don't have insurance?
Do you want to tell a parent that their child is going to die?
Do you want to treat gunshot and stab wounds regullary if you are and ER doc in the city?
Do you want to see child abuse?
Yes you make alot more money, but it still isn't worth it for me.

I chose vet school because you get to learn about many species and wanted to learn medicien with out dealing with people as my patients.
Being a vet is still a very people oriented profession. Even though you work on animals, you still have to have good social and communication skills.
You have many options available (just like MDs).
Not every vet goes into practice, you can sit at a desk doing regulatory work, you can go into research ect.
Vets don't normally work on all species. You can choose your favorites. Small animal (dog and cat), Production animal (cattle, pigs),Equine, Zoo medicine.
Working with animals does have it's physical risks aside from disease transmisiion there are bite, scratches, kicks, crushes ect.
If you are a general practitioner you will be allowed to do basic surgeries.
In veterinary medicine you are allowed to euthanize your patients that are suffering and have no chance at recovery.

P.S. if you are going to be a clinical vet, it is very dirty. (Anal glands, poop, infections, vomit, and very bad odors)

So I can't tell you what is right for you, but vet school was the perfect choise for me.

Answer 2

High school has nothing to do with vet school-stay where you are. Then you need a bachelors degree then you apply to vet school (so you are 6+ years away from that). And you will apply to more than one vet school anyway, as the vast majority of people do not get accepted. At that level (post grad) tuition is going to be the same in state or out (and in state does not really have a significant edge) & its going to be a lot. You will have to take out loans. But for now, finish high school where you are; get into a decent university that will not break the bank & see how you do taking all the pre-vet classes.

Answer 3

The prerequisites are pretty much the same -- though if you want to go to Vet school, you should work with a veterinarian part time.

You should know that there are only 27 Vet schools in the US. Most of them have residency requirements -- which means that if you live in a given state, there are really only one or two Vet schools that you have a chance to get into. So -- even if you are a great student -- you may not have a choice. I know people who became medical doctors because they couldn't get into Vet school.

Answer 4

Aren't most of the pre-reqs the same?

Here is a way to find out.
1) If a human was dying in front of you and was bleeding profusely, what would you do?
2) If an animal was dying in front of you and was blleding profusely, what would you do?

Whichever answer hs the most noble answer is what you should do.

Here is another tip. If you don't get into med-school or vet-school, what good will a pre-med or a pre-vet major do for you? Get the pre-reqs you need, and get a real major. I know a lot of engineers that went to med-school and got in with more ease than pre-med's, because the med schools knew that he could think.

Answer 5

i don't know what to tell you if you cant work with people dont get into medicine theirs too many doctors that can't work with people i'm a student nurse so know first hand. i would say if you would like to work with animals go for that but just think you'll be working with all sorts of animals e.g snakes, rats, pulling lambs calves if you can handle that go for it. anatomy is anatomy you'll be learning about organs and systems anyways in either job. but in the end it's up to you no one can decide for you and it's for the rest of your life so choose carefully try getting work experience in them for few weeks.

Answer 6

think about the dollars & cents. as an MD you'll have expensive malpractice insurance, plus you get to fight with insurance companies over every dime you bill a patient & hope you get paid inside of 6 months.

as a vet, there's no insurance to hassle with & you merely collect cash, credit, or check for your services.

go with being a vet.

Answer 7

Most of the pre-reqs are the same. Take both, decide once you actually get acceptance. You're liable to change your mind before you even apply.

Answer 8

doctors are paid more in general and its less messy, you wont be swimming in poo helping a cow give birth.