Second thoughts about vet med !!! HELP!
I've wanted to be a vet since a small child but now I'm the summer of my finally year I've lost the drive you could say. I'm really not sure if it's for me anymore or if I'm just scared ! I've done loads of work experience ect but a part of me is saying apply for history another love of mine ! I went on a vet summer school last week and it kind of freaked me out. They said you work 12+ hour days with a very low income and that there's really no time to socialise! Also if I was to be a vet I would like to specialise but 9 years is daunting and then what happens when I want kids ( I would like to be a stay at home mum !) . Sorry for the rant but just want to see does anyone else feel this way or have advice ? Thanks
Original post by Clodagh 555
I've wanted to be a vet since a small child but now I'm the summer of my finally year I've lost the drive you could say. I'm really not sure if it's for me anymore or if I'm just scared ! I've done loads of work experience ect but a part of me is saying apply for history another love of mine ! I went on a vet summer school last week and it kind of freaked me out. They said you work 12+ hour days with a very low income and that there's really no time to socialise! Also if I was to be a vet I would like to specialise but 9 years is daunting and then what happens when I want kids ( I would like to be a stay at home mum !) . Sorry for the rant but just want to see does anyone else feel this way or have advice ? Thanks
They tell you the honest truth/try to scare you because they want only the most passionate people to go into veterinary medicine. I wouldn't be too put off though because if it's really want you want to do.
Bear in mind Veterinary Medicine is a lot more than just working in practice. You can work in academia, labs, government institutions etc. The possibilities are endless.
And I believe finding a job with a degree in history would be a lot more difficult especially if you don't have any ideas as to what you'd like to do after graduating.
Working hours also depend on a particular practice. Some vets work part-time.
Not all practices do 12hr shifts and OOH's and I know plenty of vets with families.
Think back to your work experience. Think about how you felt, did you enjoy it etc.
Maybe do some work experience in history related professions.
See how it compares.
The most important thing is that you choose to study something you feel passionate about.
Whether it's VetMed or History make sure you're happy with your choice
Nothing worse than spending 3-5 years studying something you don't enjoy.
Good Luck
And I believe finding a job with a degree in history would be a lot more difficult especially if you don't have any ideas as to what you'd like to do after graduating.
Working hours also depend on a particular practice. Some vets work part-time.
Not all practices do 12hr shifts and OOH's and I know plenty of vets with families.
Think back to your work experience. Think about how you felt, did you enjoy it etc.
Maybe do some work experience in history related professions.
See how it compares.
The most important thing is that you choose to study something you feel passionate about.
Whether it's VetMed or History make sure you're happy with your choice
Nothing worse than spending 3-5 years studying something you don't enjoy.
Good Luck
Spoiler
Original post by Clodagh 555
I've wanted to be a vet since a small child but now I'm the summer of my finally year I've lost the drive you could say. I'm really not sure if it's for me anymore or if I'm just scared ! I've done loads of work experience ect but a part of me is saying apply for history another love of mine ! I went on a vet summer school last week and it kind of freaked me out. They said you work 12+ hour days with a very low income and that there's really no time to socialise! Also if I was to be a vet I would like to specialise but 9 years is daunting and then what happens when I want kids ( I would like to be a stay at home mum !) . Sorry for the rant but just want to see does anyone else feel this way or have advice ? Thanks
Hi there,
Nessie has made some very good points already.
I have recently qualified from vet school and due to start work next month. I won't be working 12 hrs shift and won't do any bank holidays or out of hours (small animal practice - mixed/farm/equine often still do their own OOH). So it's not all THAT bad depending on what you want to do and it still leaves me time to socialise. Starting salaries and the salaries for jobs that I applied for ranged from 20-30k outside of London. The 20k job I applied for offered me a car and housing so the entire package was worth 30k in the end so that is something that needs consideration. The salary of an exeprienced vet is not as good as the salary of a doctor, for a similar amount of training, stress and grades required. Whether you think it is a poor salary depends on what you're comparing it too. My friend who has a masters degree in history, for example, has never had a job that pays as much as 30k and indeed is struggling to find work related to her degree (she doesn't want to teach which makes things more difficult).
Also, I know vets who do office hours - in pet food companies, labs and pharmaceutical companies.
There is nothing to stop you having a family and specialising later - although financially it may be more difficult. Or putting off family until later. I used to think that I wanted to specialise but at the moment I don't like the idea of doing an internship/residency for crap pay/hours and perhaps I will consider doing a certificate alongside work instead.
One thing I'd consider if not only what you enjoy at uni but also to have an idea where the degree can take you. My other passion is art and my work has been used as examples for students studying art at uni - but I know I could never make a living out of it sadly so for me it's more of a hobbie now.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by SilverstarDJ
Hi there,
Nessie has made some very good points already.
I have recently qualified from vet school and due to start work next month. I won't be working 12 hrs shift and won't do any bank holidays or out of hours (small animal practice - mixed/farm/equine often still do their own OOH). So it's not all THAT bad depending on what you want to do and it still leaves me time to socialise. Starting salaries and the salaries for jobs that I applied for ranged from 20-30k outside of London. The 20k job I applied for offered me a car and housing so the entire package was worth 30k in the end so that is something that needs consideration. The salary of an exeprienced vet is not as good as the salary of a doctor, for a similar amount of training, stress and grades required. Whether you think it is a poor salary depends on what you're comparing it too. My friend who has a masters degree in history, for example, has never had a job that pays as much as 30k and indeed is struggling to find work related to her degree (she doesn't want to teach which makes things more difficult).
Also, I know vets who do office hours - in pet food companies, labs and pharmaceutical companies.
There is nothing to stop you having a family and specialising later - although financially it may be more difficult. Or putting off family until later. I used to think that I wanted to specialise but at the moment I don't like the idea of doing an internship/residency for crap pay/hours and perhaps I will consider doing a certificate alongside work instead.
One thing I'd consider if not only what you enjoy at uni but also to have an idea where the degree can take you. My other passion is art and my work has been used as examples for students studying art at uni - but I know I could never make a living out of it sadly so for me it's more of a hobbie now.
Nessie has made some very good points already.
I have recently qualified from vet school and due to start work next month. I won't be working 12 hrs shift and won't do any bank holidays or out of hours (small animal practice - mixed/farm/equine often still do their own OOH). So it's not all THAT bad depending on what you want to do and it still leaves me time to socialise. Starting salaries and the salaries for jobs that I applied for ranged from 20-30k outside of London. The 20k job I applied for offered me a car and housing so the entire package was worth 30k in the end so that is something that needs consideration. The salary of an exeprienced vet is not as good as the salary of a doctor, for a similar amount of training, stress and grades required. Whether you think it is a poor salary depends on what you're comparing it too. My friend who has a masters degree in history, for example, has never had a job that pays as much as 30k and indeed is struggling to find work related to her degree (she doesn't want to teach which makes things more difficult).
Also, I know vets who do office hours - in pet food companies, labs and pharmaceutical companies.
There is nothing to stop you having a family and specialising later - although financially it may be more difficult. Or putting off family until later. I used to think that I wanted to specialise but at the moment I don't like the idea of doing an internship/residency for crap pay/hours and perhaps I will consider doing a certificate alongside work instead.
One thing I'd consider if not only what you enjoy at uni but also to have an idea where the degree can take you. My other passion is art and my work has been used as examples for students studying art at uni - but I know I could never make a living out of it sadly so for me it's more of a hobbie now.
Thanks so much , I suppose I was comparing it to the high flying job my brother is going to get after just graduating from Cambridge and it scared me !!!!!!!! But what you said really settle my nerves and I realise I can go so far ( across the world even ) with a vet degree and it won't be boring !! Thanks so much ! 🤗
Original post by Nessie162
Bear in mind Veterinary Medicine is a lot more than just working in practice. You can work in academia, labs, government institutions etc. The possibilities are endless.
And I believe finding a job with a degree in history would be a lot more difficult especially if you don't have any ideas as to what you'd like to do after graduating.
Working hours also depend on a particular practice. Some vets work part-time.
Not all practices do 12hr shifts and OOH's and I know plenty of vets with families.
Think back to your work experience. Think about how you felt, did you enjoy it etc.
Maybe do some work experience in history related professions.
See how it compares.
The most important thing is that you choose to study something you feel passionate about.
Whether it's VetMed or History make sure you're happy with your choice
Nothing worse than spending 3-5 years studying something you don't enjoy.
Good Luck
And I believe finding a job with a degree in history would be a lot more difficult especially if you don't have any ideas as to what you'd like to do after graduating.
Working hours also depend on a particular practice. Some vets work part-time.
Not all practices do 12hr shifts and OOH's and I know plenty of vets with families.
Think back to your work experience. Think about how you felt, did you enjoy it etc.
Maybe do some work experience in history related professions.
See how it compares.
The most important thing is that you choose to study something you feel passionate about.
Whether it's VetMed or History make sure you're happy with your choice
Nothing worse than spending 3-5 years studying something you don't enjoy.
Good Luck
Spoiler
Hi Nessie , thanks so much for the advice you really helped put things into perspective ! I think now I'm again set on ved med as a result 🤗🤗🤗🤗
I can't add much to what the others have said. Other than doing OOH is the norm. There's a growing list of exceptions in small animal practice, but the majority do, do OOH.
If you're not sure about being a vet, I would not apply, a decent propotion of people drop out because they don't REALLY want to be a vet once they realise what the course is like (9-5, 5 days a week) and that the rewards for the end aren't great financially.
If you're not sure about being a vet, I would not apply, a decent propotion of people drop out because they don't REALLY want to be a vet once they realise what the course is like (9-5, 5 days a week) and that the rewards for the end aren't great financially.
i want a job that has something to do with animals but ones that i like the look of (VET, VETINARY TECHNICIAN) are quite low salaries and aren't at all rewarding enough for the amount of studying and time put in to become one. Not sure what i'd like to be after reading this because everything i think of doing all comes back to animals. HELP!!!
Original post by bessg81
i want a job that has something to do with animals but ones that i like the look of (VET, VETINARY TECHNICIAN) are quite low salaries and aren't at all rewarding enough for the amount of studying and time put in to become one. Not sure what i'd like to be after reading this because everything i think of doing all comes back to animals. HELP!!!
Unfortunately, by and large jobs with animals do tend to be very poorly paid. An experienced vet is probably going to have the highest salary going of anyone working with animals, but as you say it will never be comparable with someone with similar education and expereience working in a human field.
My only suggestion would really be vet nursing (veterinary technicians aren't really a thing in the UK, at least nowhere near to the extent that they are elsewhere, and they can do much less). Vet nurses study for less time than vets, but again the reasonably low salary is something to bear in mind.
Original post by Angry cucumber
I can't add much to what the others have said. Other than doing OOH is the norm. There's a growing list of exceptions in small animal practice, but the majority do, do OOH.
If you're not sure about being a vet, I would not apply, a decent propotion of people drop out because they don't REALLY want to be a vet once they realise what the course is like (9-5, 5 days a week) and that the rewards for the end aren't great financially.
If you're not sure about being a vet, I would not apply, a decent propotion of people drop out because they don't REALLY want to be a vet once they realise what the course is like (9-5, 5 days a week) and that the rewards for the end aren't great financially.
Are you saying they drop out because it is 9-5, 5 days a week, or because it isn't, but that is the expectation?
I think with Veterinary Medicine, it should be something you are passionate about.
If you are, keep going.
At the ripe age of 32 I've experienced a career earning £80k a year, however the money did not bring me any happiness because my heart is set on working with animals.
I left a career behind to study again.
In total it'll be 6 years of study with little money after having a fair bit of disposable income for a while.
Money used to be a motivator but as long as you have a comfortable wage and you are doing something you love it massively outweighs everything else.
Also it is worth considering a lot of high paying careers are demanding in hours and highly stressful too.
I know vets on different working schedules, some are part time even.
There is some flexibility there and the angle you wish to go for
If you are, keep going.
At the ripe age of 32 I've experienced a career earning £80k a year, however the money did not bring me any happiness because my heart is set on working with animals.
I left a career behind to study again.
In total it'll be 6 years of study with little money after having a fair bit of disposable income for a while.
Money used to be a motivator but as long as you have a comfortable wage and you are doing something you love it massively outweighs everything else.
Also it is worth considering a lot of high paying careers are demanding in hours and highly stressful too.
I know vets on different working schedules, some are part time even.
There is some flexibility there and the angle you wish to go for
(edited 7 years ago)
I honestly don't think the pay of a vet is terrible - for years I wanted to go into wildlife conservation, and the majority of the time the starting salary of a vet was close to the highest paid salaries of a conservationist/warden.
It depends on what you compare it to.
Also, veterinary isn't really a career, (call me cheesy) but its a lifestyle/vocation. You are a vet and thats who you are, no one can make you be a vet, and you can't be a vet if your hearts not in it, because its honestly not worth it - you'd be wasting your time and taking the space of someone who wants to be a vet.
If in doubt your work experience should tell you the answer! Did you have the adrenalin pumping through your veins, the dying need to know more, wanting to be hands on? Or were you/are you more into the idea of vet, but when actually being in a practice you didn't enjoy it.
Honestly I knew straight away when I was on work experience that it is what I wanted to do and I haven't wavered once. You just know.
Also some vets I know NEVER do OOH because its not in there contracts, and those that are alternate between them. It can be slightly antisocial I suppose, but you just have to work around that.
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It depends on what you compare it to.
Also, veterinary isn't really a career, (call me cheesy) but its a lifestyle/vocation. You are a vet and thats who you are, no one can make you be a vet, and you can't be a vet if your hearts not in it, because its honestly not worth it - you'd be wasting your time and taking the space of someone who wants to be a vet.
If in doubt your work experience should tell you the answer! Did you have the adrenalin pumping through your veins, the dying need to know more, wanting to be hands on? Or were you/are you more into the idea of vet, but when actually being in a practice you didn't enjoy it.
Honestly I knew straight away when I was on work experience that it is what I wanted to do and I haven't wavered once. You just know.
Also some vets I know NEVER do OOH because its not in there contracts, and those that are alternate between them. It can be slightly antisocial I suppose, but you just have to work around that.
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