I have been a tech for 5 years mostly in emergency medicine and have though very long and hard several times about vet school. My vets are always telling me I need to go. I guess I am "Chicken" as I am worried about how to make ends meet, and care for my two young kids at the same time. my husband is very supportive but...... Any thoughts and experiences you have would be very appreciated.
2007-07-31 04:47:51 · 6 answers · asked by babyblueslvt 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
i was a tech for a few years before going to vet school. I think that teching before entering vet school give you a HUGE advantage--things will make sense to you in a way that people who haven't worked in a clinical setting won't get. I think that you will get more out of your education out of teching first. That said, however it will still be difficult.
First of all to even apply to vet school you have to have prerequisites met (such as biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics ect). Most schools want these courses taken within the last 7 years.
There are only a few vet schools in the country so unless you already live near one you will have to move (check out the education link at avma.org for a list). If your state has a vet school then it will be easiest to get into that one. If your state does not then it is more difficult.
As far as financial matters-You should be able to take out loans for the amount of the cost of education . The school determines how much it should cost someone to attend for tutition, fees, books, transportation, housing and food. Some school are good about loaning out the entire amount needed through stafford loans and health professions loans. Some schools however don't loan out the whole amount (who knows why). But some banks have student loan programs where you should be able to get the rest (such as bank of america)> So you should be able to find money to cover the education plus a little more for living expenses.
I don't know what your husband does, but obviously he will need to be making some money-cost of attendance loans won;t cover care for 2 children and a husband. Also time will probally be a problem. Most vet schools are in class from 7:30 am to 4:00pm. Then there are lots of extracirricular activities that you may want to participate in that are great learning expereinces that take place after school. When you go home, you are not done for the day. Plan on doing nothing but studying. You husband will have to be able to entertain/care for the kids in the evening. Seriously i took a pretty have course load in undergrad, then did graduate work and nothing compares to the enormas amount of studying that has to be done for vet school. Some studying needs to be done at the school (such as anatomy). Also come clinical years-who knows what your hours will be.
So, vet school-both getting in and finishing will be very challanging. but if you are motivated and this is what you want then go for it. It is only 4 years (by the way-unlike undergrad, it needs to be done in 4 years, you don't get to pick and choose what classes you want, there are electives , but for the most part the schedule is set and you sit with the same people in the same classes all day long). I personally can't imagine doing anything else. I am still in vet school. I am aware of the huge debt i will have when i graduate, I hardly get to see my husband, and i have no social life. But it is so worth it.
I do know of people who are going through vet school and who have graduated and have children. It can be done. So good luck.
Websites of interest:
avma.org
aavmc.org
2007-08-06 16:39:00 · answer #1 · answered by ALM 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am a tech. Or was.... I worked in a vet clinic for several years before I decided it wasn't for me. I have been around animals my entire life and show horses as well as compete in schutzhund with my dog. So I really thought this was what I wanted to do with my life. Wrong. The pay sucks. I can make more money than that as a waitress (which I did for a short time to get me through school yet again for a career change) I absolutely hated all of the suffering I saw and irresponsible uneducated animal owners that had no business having an animal. It was so depressing. Not to mention, I never saw the light of day as I was in the back of the clinic doing treatments and assisting in surgeries. It was not what I expected.
2016-03-16 03:53:24 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you should go for it. Granted it will be hard to study and take care of your family at the same time, and you will have to make financial sacrifices if you quit work to go to school full time. It seems your best solution is to see if you can adjust your work schedule around class schedule, and just take a couple of classes each semester. Perhaps you could take some of them at night? It will take longer this way, but less financial hardship on your family. I know you are saying to yourself, but I'll be "X" years older by the time I finish school. BUT--How old would you be in "X" years if you didn't go to school? The clock is always ticking. Don't put it off. If you start sooner, you will finish sooner. You should still have plenty of years after your children are older to pursue a career. Don't look back later on and say, "Woulda, shoulda, coulda."
2007-08-05 09:25:53 · answer #3 · answered by soupkitty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do it! Try researching scholarships and or student loans.
All the Vets I have worked for are paying off their loans.
It will be hard finding family time, but since you've worked in the industry for a long time, you already know that.
Good Luck -
2007-08-06 06:09:42 · answer #4 · answered by Nan74 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
l think you should do it, part-time it will probably take longer but it will be worth it for you for career, do while your children are still little.... Great opportunity for you
2007-07-31 09:30:48 · answer #5 · answered by rettlee3 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
just do it.
2007-07-31 04:54:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋