Contemplating huge life change: calling all vets and veterinary related professionals

I’ve been batting this around with family for the last year at least. My “career” as it were is nonexistent. I have a decent paying desk job. But future prospects are not great for many professional and academic reasons.

The idea of becoming a vet goes back 15 years, but was dismissed as just thought. Well, I have an opportunity to take a shot at it. I need to make up about 3-9 undergraduate prerequisite classes that I lack in order to apply for vet school (the prerequisite deficit varies depending on the school I would apply to), which posed logistic and financial impediments.

I’ve found ways around these impediments and will start taking the prereqs this spring. It’s no guaranty I’ll get into vet school, even after I get these classes. It’ll take 2 years at least to complete these classes so I have time to contemplate if this is even the right thing to do.

Hence I turn to everyone here. I’m a 35 year old with a masters degree looking to do a HUGE mid life career change into a field requiring education topping $160k in additional debt. I would love any up to date perspectives from anyone in the veterinary field (vets, vet technicians, vet technologists) on If this is just a bad idea.

Lurkers, active posters, public here or in private message - whichever you’re comfortable with -, Id love to get any professionals feedback on the current state of veterinary education and midlife career transitions into the field.

Thanks in advance!

I graduated from Iowa State with an intent to become a veterinarian -- instead I got my Bachelor's with a major in Animal Science and a Minor in Biology. It's a very difficult program to get into and get through, I've heard. You have to be extremely smart, a good studier, good under pressure and of course willing to fork up the money for school. Only a small percentage of the undergrads that intended to go into vet school would get in, so it is quite competitive.

I didn't like the idea of having to put animals down....vets have to do a lot of hard stuff like that and I just didn't feel super passionate about it to a point I thought I would get into the program. I don't think I could trust myself with such important surgeries. I went partially blind at age 23 though so there's that too. It just didn't work out for me. Breeding birds, now that's something I enjoy a lot.

If you are truly passionate about it, can handle the studying and can get into the program, you could absolutely succeed at it.

Please note: please don’t think me rude here, : I do say it a few times above, but want to highlight specifically thatI really am only looking for input from those with actual experience in the field.

All tea and a little shade: We all know how a lot of people here, as with any forum - and I used to be one of them until I taught myself better, so I’m shading myself here a bit - can’t help but loooooove to be authorities on things you have no experience with.

Ok, that may a little rude, but not untrue. Definitely Not looking for that sort of help on this vital-to-me topic.

I understand I may not get much response and that’s ok. I have a few advisory avenues I’m exploring, this forum is just one of them. And I have a couple years before any decision has to be made.

Itzjbean - our messages crossed, my message was not in response to you, I promise!

Yeah, that’s pretty much how I understand it to be. I’d go into obtaining the outstanding prerequisites understanding the chances are slim - 4% of vet students were over the age of 30 a few years ago (though likely as reflective of simply the pool of applicants and not so much skills/abilities). I have to believe that as someone with a masters degree I’d have a reasonably elevated chance, but not by much.

I have an advising appointment tomorrow at the university of Maryland with the lady running the evening science courses for people like me - career transferors into the sciences who have course gaps to make up, focusing on pre-vet, pre-mes, and pre-dental - because there are some outstanding questions that could still tank this run. Chief among them: the possibility that vet schools won’t accept any courses older than 5 years. Dental schools have had that limit for years, And med schools are just starting to adopt this as well but wasn’t clear on vet schools.

And, I'm being rude in the other direction.
I am not speaking for the Forum, but have been around long enough to know that there is a handful of (and I'm suggesting a very small hand) of the individuals that you are attempting to contact here on a regular basics. Maybe one?
And, to continue being rude; your position eliminates a vast knowledge base that has insight resulting from their contact with the professionals, educational links and clinics with in that profession.
No mid-life career change is simple. Success is limited even more so by limiting your knowledge base.
I wish you great success in this life transition...

AND, Yes our responses are likely crossing each other also, Good Friend.

Steven, I don’t think I follow what you’re saying here about contacting one or two people specifically? I’m clear it’s anyone with the experience I’m looking for. I’m also clear there may not be much here.

As far as broad knowledge base, I’m open to hearing what you think I’m eliminating here. If someone such as yourself is in constant contact with the field, that would in fact be first hand knowledge I’m seeking. I appreciated Itzjbeans experience as she was working towards it and changed course. Gives a valuable first hand account of the experience of working towards becoming a vet.

chris-md said:

Steven, I don’t think I follow what you’re saying here about contacting one or two people specifically?

As far as broad knowledge base, I’m open to hearing what you think I’m eliminating here. If someone such as yourself is in constant contact with the field, that would in fact be first hand knowledge I’m seeking.

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From my (limited) time here, I have seen a total of four Vets and several more CAVTs become members. At present, we are down to maybe one CAVT that is semi-active. Hope that helps on the number of infield professionals.

When one includes individuals with first hand knowledge based of their contact /interaction with the Profession that ups your active member contact to 10 and possible a few more I'm missing in a quick count.

I'm staved for time at the moment, but will come back and share my insight. A Quick Short and Sweet: It will be very helpful to have a second income in your household.

I knew the pot was small, vets are kinda busy and not likely to be hanging out here. but I’m also not restricting to CAVs here - I don’t know what kind of vet I’d be so certainly wouldn’t limit the KIND of professional I’d love to hear from.

Also, lurkers and all. Those were just the numbers who were at one point active, no?

Just a quick thought Chris- have you talked to Parker’s vet or the vet you take tour dogs to yet? That’s where I would start if looking to do what you’re contemplating.

Hi April - yes, and even further discussions to come. I got some perspective from Parker’s vet at his last wellness exam about the state of the industry (exotic vets are a dime a dozen apparently). Vet schools want to see experience with animals in a professional setting so at his next wellness exam in December-ish, I’m going to ask about the possibility of job shadowing for a day and an opportunity to pick her brain further not just as a vet but as a practice owner. Kill two birds with one stone!

Sasha’s vet - hadn’t gotten that far yet, I have never seen the same person twice there so it’s not at all an intimate relationship where I know anyone there to speak to. Also not due to get back there until April/May (I’m working a bit organically right now). But yes, a little further in the future when I’m ready to make some cold calls, absolutely!

There are many ways to get vet school paid for, or helped with. USDA used to and might still pay your way for your commitment to work in the industry for a set amount of years, as does the Army ( you would work with their trained dogs and horses, and staff pets, Navy, their Dolphins and staff pets . .. sone of the big research labs like Eli Lilly, perhaps CDC...
https://www.aavmc.org/additional-pages/funding-a-veterinary-medical-education.aspx

chris-md said:

I knew the pot was small, vets are kinda busy and not likely to be hanging out here. but I’m also not restricting to CAVs here - I don’t know what kind of vet I’d be so certainly wouldn’t limit the KIND of professional I’d love to hear from.

Also, lurkers and all. Those were just the numbers who were at one point active, no?

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Yup, that's correct!

Laurasea said:

There are many ways to get vet school paid for, or helped with. USDA used to and might still pay your way for your commitment to work in the industry for a set amount of years, as does the Army ( you would work with their trained dogs and horses, and staff pets, Navy, their Dolphins and staff pets . .. sone of the big research labs like Eli Lilly, perhaps CDC...
https://www.aavmc.org/additional-pages/funding-a-veterinary-medical-education.aspx

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This is exactly how my CAV made it happen. She ended up with guess who: Eli Lilly for several years.

Laura thank you for that link, incredibly helpful! The idea of doing the army for 3 years and get 2/3 of the debt off my back that quickly is a fully tempting, especially proving hope for one big concern I have, which is the lost retirement savings opportunity for several years. That terrifies me.

chris-md said:

Laura thank you for that link, incredibly helpful! The idea of doing the army for 3 years and get 2/3 of the debt off my back that quickly is a fully tempting, especially proving hope for one big concern I have, which is the lost retirement savings opportunity for several years. That terrifies me.

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May also want to consider the probability that summers will be spent in basic training and other OCS type activities to prepare you for your daily life as an officer, no idea how it works in the Medical side, but things likeBasic, Airborne, and of course other officer/leadership related classes are probable

18WheelsOfSteel said:

chris-md said:

Laura thank you for that link, incredibly helpful! The idea of doing the army for 3 years and get 2/3 of the debt off my back that quickly is a fully tempting, especially proving hope for one big concern I have, which is the lost retirement savings opportunity for several years. That terrifies me.

Click to expand...

May also want to consider the probability that summers will be spent in basic training and other OCS type activities to prepare you for your daily life as an officer, no idea how it works in the Medical side, but things likeBasic, Airborne, and of course other officer/leadership related classes are probable

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But you also have a job right off the bat! And that added experience helps you go into your next job at a higher salary, and be more competitive. There have been years when new vet grads flood the market , and makes them harder by months to find a job and start lowere pay. It's always best to get in the door at the highest paycheck than to hope for raises.
Most people get into the animals business for the love of it, as it's not always the best paying... Unless you specializes

Laurasea said:

18WheelsOfSteel said:

chris-md said:

Laura thank you for that link, incredibly helpful! The idea of doing the army for 3 years and get 2/3 of the debt off my back that quickly is a fully tempting, especially proving hope for one big concern I have, which is the lost retirement savings opportunity for several years. That terrifies me.

Click to expand...

May also want to consider the probability that summers will be spent in basic training and other OCS type activities to prepare you for your daily life as an officer, no idea how it works in the Medical side, but things likeBasic, Airborne, and of course other officer/leadership related classes are probable

Click to expand...

But you also have a job right off the bat! And that added experience helps you go into your next job at a higher salary, and be more competitive. There have been years when new vet grads flood the market , and makes them harder by months to find a job and start lowere pay. It's always best to get in the door at the highest paycheck than to hope for raises.
Most people get into the animals business for the love of it, as it's not always the best paying... Unless you specializes

Click to expand...

Without a doubt you get som unique advantages, but also understand, family sacrifices are extreme with military service of any form. You are being given these gifts in exchange for being worldwide deployable at a moment's notice, sometimes for years at a time being separated from loved ones. I am not trying to make it out to be horrible or anything, but for those with a family it is a big thing to talk about and if everyone isn't on board 100% it can tear a family apart

Chris, you are a bit older and likely more emotionally stable, but consider the veterinary occupational hazard of suicide. Articles delineate the causal factors:
https://www.npr.org/2019/09/07/7578...s-an-online-group-is-there-to-listen-and-help
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p1220-veterinarians-suicide.html

Scott said:

Chris, you are a bit older and likely more emotionally stable, but consider the veterinary occupational hazard of suicide. Articles delineate the causal factors:
https://www.npr.org/2019/09/07/7578...s-an-online-group-is-there-to-listen-and-help
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p1220-veterinarians-suicide.html

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WOW! Thanks for the links Scott. I had NO IDEA!


Jim

Nothing to add here insofar as veterinary experience is concerned, my friend - as I have none. I just want to say it's important to be in a job that brings you happiness. One that speaks to your passions. Not all of us gets those opportunities, but it adds significantly to quality of life.

If this is what you know you want, just know that, for whatever it's worth, I'm wishing the very best for you. You're an intelligent guy, with an analytical and scientific approach that would put you in good stead insofar as a career in medicine is concerned. And I personally think you'd make a wonderful vet... in my completely layman's opinion, of course. Lol!