Wondering if vet med is for me...

I have thought I wanted to be a vet since I was around 5, like many potential vets, but over the past few years I have begun to wonder if it's right. One of the reasons is that I don't know how interested I am in science because I have only ever had poor teachers, leading to me having to teach myself out of a textbook. My natural talent lies with humanities as far as I can tell, but I think I would be capable at science too. Also, I have felt generally down for this time as well, which has meant that I have lost part of the huge interest and passion I have had for animals my whole life - although I really hope this will return. However, there are some aspects which make me think I should still go for it. I have just done my GCSEs, which have told me there should be no problems with grades. I really need to make my decision soon so I have a goal in mind when doing my A Levels, so have some questions I would be very grateful to get some answers to.
Firstly, to any vets or vet students: what made you decide to become a vet? Do you regret your decision? Do you feel that you spend much of your time away from animals? Has it made you less sensitive/lose any of your passion?

Also, to anyone who plans to go to vet school: why do you want to be a vet?

If anyone has any other advice or career options that you think might be worth considering, I would hugely appreciate it.

Whatever career I choose, I am not doing it solely to pay the bills. I have a genuine desire to help in the world and hope that my career will be satisfying and rewarding and I am prepared to put all my efforts into achieving whatever it takes to get there.
Thank you in advance for anything you can offer - even if it's just in answer to one of my questions, or even just sharing your own experience.

I have thought I wanted to be a vet since I was around 5, like many potential vets, but over the past few years I have begun to wonder if it's right. One of the reasons is that I don't know how interested I am in science because I have only ever had poor teachers, leading to me having to teach myself out of a textbook. My natural talent lies with humanities as far as I can tell, but I think I would be capable at science too. Also, I have felt generally down for this time as well, which has meant that I have lost part of the huge interest and passion I have had for animals my whole life - although I really hope this will return. However, there are some aspects which make me think I should still go for it. I have just done my GCSEs, which have told me there should be no problems with grades. I really need to make my decision soon so I have a goal in mind when doing my A Levels, so have some questions I would be very grateful to get some answers to.
Firstly, to any vets or vet students: what made you decide to become a vet? Do you regret your decision? Do you feel that you spend much of your time away from animals? Has it made you less sensitive/lose any of your passion?

Also, to anyone who plans to go to vet school: why do you want to be a vet?

If anyone has any other advice or career options that you think might be worth considering, I would hugely appreciate it.

Whatever career I choose, I am not doing it solely to pay the bills. I have a genuine desire to help in the world and hope that my career will be satisfying and rewarding and I am prepared to put all my efforts into achieving whatever it takes to get there.
Thank you in advance for anything you can offer - even if it's just in answer to one of my questions, or even just sharing your own experience.

Firstly, to any vets or vet students: what made you decide to become a vet? Do you regret your decision? Do you feel that you spend much of your time away from animals? Has it made you less sensitive/lose any of your passion?

Really, the most important thing to discover if you really want to become a vet is to gain work experience in veterinary clinic. In that way, you can observe their lifestyle and decide if it is the right one for you. If it is okay, politely ask the vets questions of how they find their job etc.

I have a plan to study Bioveterinary Science and possibly advanced into the veterinary medicine, if I haven't found my potentially career plan during the time of study.
I had wanted to become a vet because I wanted to give the animal a good quality of life, and to use my problem solving methods to solve the issues and illnesses that the animal had been diagnosed with.

I think veterinary medicine is such a rewarding experience, but it wouldn't be satisfying to those who don't find a joy in it.

Since you said you are interested in humanistic, have you considered Psychology or become a Counsellor? Since psychology is related to science but also to humans (and little to animals due to research etc).

Hope this helps!

Passion for animals doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea to become a vet. But I'm sure you know that. I'm glad you want to do something your passionate about (sorry I'm not terribly much help) good luck with working out what you want to do xx

I don't mean to gloss over the rest of your concerns but you have a year before you apply and the most vital thing to do just now regardless of whether you will apply is to get work experience (as riddledemort has said). You'll never find out if you're suited for the vet environment otherwise, because as a vet student, or when you're applying, or even as a vet, you will get moments of doubt when you wonder if its not for you. I hope you manage to put things into focus, but remember to make the decision for you and not your family or advisor

Well done on a decent set of GCSE results. If you are choosing A Level subjects of course choose those that will suit your vet school application but also choose subjects you enjoy and want to study; I chose Maths and Physics, hated them and failed, took up Business Studies which I really enjoyed and got an A.

It's a tough question and one many students and vets hate but for me, there's no other job I can see myself doing and enjoying. I love the practical problem solving side of it, the challenge of working up a new case, I'm always amazed at what modern medicine can achieve and I love the flexibility and doors that the degree opens.
There will always be routine work but that's the same in any job. I think you have to be enthusiastic about your work and good at communicating with your team and clients.

I didn't choose the conventional route, I did an Animal Science degree then worked for a year and now study abroad. It's not easy but I wouldn't have it any other way. I think if I wasn't a vet I'd go back to the job I had my gap year which was customer service and escalated complaints for a corporate; completely different world but transferable soft skills and they thought I was pretty good at it.
I think I'd always be jealous and annoy the vets if I was a vet nurse

It's important to have other hobbies outside veterinary, be it sports, arts or something else. In my spare time I breed poultry and fly falconry birds but I have other hobbies too.
I wouldn't say I'm less sensitive but I think I definitely have a more pragmatic approach than some.

Basically I always wanted to work with animals and to be a vet. For me it's been a life long passion. I think you need to be pasisonate about it in order to get through the course as it's a lot of hard work! I enjoy working with animals, I'm very hands on, and I wanted to do a job that is varied, alongside my academic abilities.

I am now in my first month of my job. Sometimes I find it really rewarding - when an animal gets better, when you get a quick diagnosis, when you can alleviate suffering, when you get quicker at surgeries. Other times the public sometimes gets me down - I've been accused of profiting from pets suffering (when I really DO care and want to help but my hands are tied in reality), I've been yelled at by clients despite not doing anything wrong, and I've almost broke down when an owner did not want to alleviate their pet's suffering and I had to get the RSCPA involved. I also often don't finish work until 7pm and then don't get home until 7.30pm leaving me without much time for myself by the time I cook dinner! And compared to some I have quite cushy hours (no on call).

Beth, you are definitely not alone in considering whether vet medicine in the right choice for you, and I commend you on taking time to consider this in depth, as you clearly are. I think so many feel that because they have 'always wanted to be a vet' they don't actually stop and think about what that might mean now, over the next five years, and even in 20 years, or what the different options are within that career path - and it's really important...

Many vets consider leaving the profession, and many vet students regret taking the course (I'm actually going to start a thread on that now - I've been meaning to for a while as I think it's a really important topic for all of you).

I run ONCORE and we run a course on looking at options for vet medicine, a dissection of what vet med may mean to you, how to progress with application if you wish to, and more - and we are also offering a free webinar in September which will give you some useful advice and areas to consider, as well as more info on the course. You can sign up here if you would like to:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/ONCOREEPD1/FREEWebinarForPotentialVetStudents

I'd be really interested to see what others have to say on this - there is so much enthusiasm and determination to get into vet school and to succeed - but what are the other options??!

Jill