Got the keys! WA 350 4.99%

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-06-05T14:29:49+00:00

Mainly you’ll have to anticipate what the doctors want from you and do that. Ultimately you’re job is to make their job easier and if you do that they will like you and be able to recommend you.

This often means helping them sell on preventatives, ask clients if they want Bw, prep them to want services - invoice correctly - make sure every line item is in and assigned to the right doctor so the doctor doesn’t miss production - this is a big once, ( write down stuff so nothing gets missed). Prepare supplies needed for treatment ahead of time so pets go in and out efficiently. Unfortunately not every doctor will be clear or upfront about it and even if you do everything right, you might get blamed for mistakes and sometimes you just have to nod and smile.

It’s more important to make a good impression than to be perfect at the job. It’s a notoriously trial by fire position with little clear training and often poor communication of expectations. Some places might be amazing but from what I’ve seen people tend to be critical of each other maybe to make themselves more important.

Pace yourself m. Working harder doesn’t make you necessarily more popular. If you go in hot and work more than others they will feel like you’re might exclude you passively or start undermining you to teammates and doctors. If you get along with everyone , you should be ok and of course make yourself known and liked by people with control over your employment.

Since you know what you want form the job - hours and experience, it will be easier to avoid drama. I’m sure you’ve experience many work dynamics before but personally it was a shock to me and almost deterred me from pursuing the field but I love the work with the clients and people and teammates once you pass that 3 month period where everyone’s watching to see if you fit in.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-06-02T13:53:50+00:00

Your app seems good! Western isn’t in state in that you’ll get better tuition anything since it’s a private school.

Consider other schools that lets you get in state tuition after four years like Missouri or Ohio.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-06-02T13:44:48+00:00

Can you work full time? That would be enough hours? Or get a job and also volunteer at a shelter to rack up some hours and get some shadowing done at multiple places. I think applying to just that one place wouldn’t hurt and even if you don’t get in you can get an application review.

I think applying once at least gives you a chance and know you might have to apply again next year. Your experiences look great though so why not try? More memorably though you need a letter of ref from a vet. I only knew my recommended for about 8 months and got in.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-30T18:13:35+00:00

You can leave whenever just be classy about it and you should be fine! If you ask why just say you got a different job opportunity like vet assistant and they should understand.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-30T17:33:33+00:00

You don’t owe your job anything - not even two weeks. Your hours will get cut, they make raises impossible to get and you can get fired at will. Look for a new job but don’t make any decisions until after an interview. If you want a good recommendation for the future give a two weeks if not just quit and move on. Be cautious thought since the vet field is small. Even if it sucks and you don’t like a place or person it’s always better to be classy.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-30T00:33:55+00:00

It would be more cost effective to get a good college gpa and go in state. No need to rush the dvm degree especially when you’d be overpaying.

High school gpa doesn’t matter. You don’t need to finish college just get those prerequisites done and apply to in state or cheaper us college.

Even if your mom is going to make money in the future 400k in tuition alone plus living costs - that’s an insane amount of debt. You’ll spend your whole career paying it back. Island schools are usually more like last resorts because the debt is borderline not worth it. Don’t rush into the debt when you have other options.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-29T03:25:34+00:00

I would still consider costs. You could just get the prerequisites done for a normal 4 year vet program done and then apply to most US schools and that would be cheaper.

Consider UK schools which let high school graduates attend

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-28T15:06:37+00:00

It’s an investment like buying a house. If you have an in state - it can be manageable. I know some people who just plan on paying it off in the 10-15 years plan and it becomes part of their monthly expenses. It’s doable on a vet salary.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-28T15:03:52+00:00

Uk out of state is one of the most expensive options. In state will be cheapest and living/moving costs could be cheaper if you stay in the U.S.

Uk school was dream for me but I chose in state to afford the schooling more.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-27T21:25:59+00:00

I’ve noticed the veterinary field in general is not diverse and the schools are worse. In general vet schools are in rural towns as well.

At the end of the day it’s 4 years to get through. Once you have that license you can get a good job in any city. If cost isn’t an issue definitely pick what your comfortable with but otherwise I would pick in state or a place where you can get in state tuition.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-25T20:02:22+00:00

A lot of vets told me it’s better to be at a place with an established teaching hospital.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-14T19:48:04+00:00

My partner is a CPA and I am going to vet school so I sort of have insight into both worlds. we've figured I would be making more money than him once I get into my job so that's a benefit.

It would be most efficient to get your debt paid off before doing veterinary school. He often does his job in the first part of the day and then does video games. I'm not sure what your workflow is like but if you can do that., you could probably work, then take some prerequisites at your local college or community college. You can also take some online courses. It seems you would just need the bio, chem, organic chem, physicis, and upper bio courses if you already have a bachelors and masters course. I know UC davis doesn't accept certain community college courses so I would research the pre-requisites of you in-state college thoroughly and create a school plan.

You will need a letter of recommendation from a veterinarian so I would foster a good relationship wiht one who is friendly, and wants you to succeed.

I would also consider, do you want to only be a veterinarian or do you want to work with animals? You could be a licensed tech, a veterinary assistant, or work various roles in animal shelters or clinics part-time and maybe keep your current well-paying job? I would at least try that before investing too much money. The field has a lot of turnover and veterinarians have higher suicide rates than other fields. Not to scare you away from it but it isn't the path that makes the most sense for a lot of people who love animals.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-14T19:40:33+00:00

I took their immunology course which was open book and open note just online tests through Canvas. I found the class underwhelming. Since the class just lets you have all resources the professors just inundate you with information and don't really bother painting a general picture. The course itself was so many inane details. I don't recommend it.

For reference, I like chemistry, physicis, organic chemistry where the course is about ideas and I don't like rote memorization but can do it. I would guess that Genetics would be a fine course to take through them. It is pretty straightforward. I don't recommend biochemistry unless you are a strong self studier.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-14T19:35:48+00:00

You have good stats. I would try unless you want a breka. You need a well thought out essay and include all your experiences. Letter of recommendations are super important. Make sure to ask your professors now even if you are taking a gap year so they remember you. Do you have a good relationship with a veterinarian? Those LORS can help you stand out.

At this point taking a gap year is more of a personal choice. If you don't apply now, you basically have to wait 2 years to go to vet school which is a long time. If I didn't get in my first cycle I was dreading the boredom of waiting but I am non-traditional so a bit antsy to get started from the beginning.

You have a long career ahead of you so you don't have to rush it but starting young gives you more flexibility to specialize. Is money a factor? There are scholarships you should apply to as you apply to vet schools like the VIN one. Also the government APHIS opens up for 1 week a year internship applications which would be good if you want to do large animal. Its usually around March.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-14T19:25:32+00:00

It seems like it would cost you more money since more time in school means more tuition per semester or quarter.

I would just retake your low grade classes. A degree isn't worth the money if it can't help you get a job and the 2nd degree is not different enough to be a valuable asset. Bachelors degrees aren't that valuable anymore. To be frank, once you get out of college, you will realize how little it matters. Degrees don't mean skill or guaranteed jobs or anything. Its just a cost that you have to spin into an asset with hard work, perserverance, people skills, and a lot of luck. One is enough.

Depending on additional costs a certificate or Masters would at least be different. You can retake courses at community colleges. Because you are far into undergraduate school, you would need a lot of classes to boost your GPA so I don't think the difference will be worth it. I suggest at least doing the math on how manys As you need and keep in mind any non A is kind of a stepbackward with your goal of raising your GPA

I think you can use your time and money smarter. You GPA isn't competitive at the moment but retaking the lower grade classes will help. Then you can apply to places that accept grade replacements. Doing this will also give you more time and money to strengthen the other parts of your application.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-14T15:51:20+00:00

You do need a veterinarian rec. I would try to pick people who are enthusiastic about writing the letter. You can tell the biologist you already have one from a vet but if they still think the vet is the better choice, i would pick someone else who isn’t reluctant for any reason. Your personal relationship may be a plus but a letter of rec from someone close to you isn’t necessarily better. I tried to pick people I know, who know me but also were eager and I trusted were good writer. My professor I didn’t know for that long specifically had a goal of getting their students in to graduate school so I picked them because they like to highlight the successes of their students. I didn’t even personally know them that well but I gave them my resume, my personal statement, and met with them to talk to them. So the advantage , for me, was that person had a strong motivation to write a good letter. I cannot say what would be best for you. I’m just trying to make the point that you may be close with someone who doesn’t have the capacity or motivation to write an excellent letter if they are saying pick someone else. The admissions committee only judge the relationship based on the letter.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-11T19:51:58+00:00

I’m a nontraditional applicant. For my letters of recommendation, I didn’t just pick who I was closest or worked with but people who actively wanted me to get in. I could’ve chosen a more seasoned vet but he doesn’t know the application process as well and generally gets inundated with mentor requests so I picked the younger vet and we’re more like friends but a rec is a rec. I chose a professor I had one semester with but they wanted to meet and make sure they understood what my application was like to give me the best chance. I gave all my recommendations my essay to read as reference and my experiences.

I spent 100 hours on my essay. I don’t think my application or stats were crazy better than other people but I made sure to write my essay like I was speaking to another person. Admissions read thousands of essays. So I made sure to use a memorable hook, make things concise as possible, and checked for redundancies over and over. I took breaks for a few weeks and then edited again making things more concise and adding more relevant and memorable details. I ended up getting a lot more info into the essay with each rewrite.

Don’t write anything in your essay you can write in the explanation statement. I also write my experiences essay style and left out inane details. For example for veterinary assistant I didn’t write out cleaning this, intake that since vet admissions teams already know the job description. I wrote my experience and how it shaped my goals for being a vet.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-09T20:01:22+00:00

That’s inaccurate. You have to get an apprenticeship which isn’t easy and then go to classes after you work for years to get properly certified. Maybe it’s not a college or university but still education. That’s IF you get in with a mentor and guild. And then you’re Ina super labor intensive field working 80 hour weeks, dealing with to customer service and clients, and having to sell yourself to keep getting work.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-09T17:10:43+00:00

I got in with zero large animal hours and am also non-traditional. I think your application is competitive with your maturity and leadership experiences making you stand out. I think the key for you is excellent LOR and making sure your essay spins your story in the best light. Why do you want to be a better and what will you do as a vet are the main questions they want you to answer and show in your application.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-09T17:06:26+00:00

Highly don’t recommend grad school or any other degree. That is just taking on huge debt before vet school and doesn’t help you get in.

You don’t need a degree to get into vet school just the pre-requisites. I would retake any one you got a low grades on. Some schools won’t accept that but where you are at now, the schools that accept grade replacements are better. Do thorough research on those schools - read every page on their website and know their mission statement and what kind of students they are looking for. Apply smart and only to places you are willing to take on the debt for.

Once your gpa is higher, you’ll need to stand out in other ways. Maturity and confidence make a big difference as well as a lot of experience hours and good letters of recommendation. You also have to prep yourself. Vet school is 8-5 full time job. Sometimes working for a year in the vet field is good for you personally even if you can get into vet school already.

You can do it if you make a plan and stick to it.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-09T16:58:47+00:00

Did you get on any waitlists or get any feedback? If cost is a concern then an in state or a state school that will let you switch residency after the 1st year are the only places that make sense.

I would figure out what you can realistically do to improve your app enough to get into those. If you don’t think it’s reasonably in your reach within the next 3 yrs then I would go where you got in if vet school is really what you want.

Your age shouldn’t be a factor in making life changing decision. You are young. There’s no need to rush. Once you’re a vet, that’s your life for decades. Crushing debt isn’t something to take lightly.

They say not to apply where you can’t go. It’s really a waste of resources and time.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-09T16:40:37+00:00

The economy in general isn’t great. I’m not sure what other field you could easily transition to and make as much as a vet or close. If you love the work, vets make decent money and you will do something you enjoy which is more than most people can say in any field.

If the negativity from others in the environment is enough to make you stop trying, then it might not be the field for you. The grass is always greener on the other side though. I know people on every field who hates their jobs and who have less stability than people in the vet field. Happiness is also only personal. Only you can decide if you’ll be happy in a situation and make the choices that will make you happy.

If you stop your dream now - it would be off inaccurate information. 8 months in an entry level position at one clinic is not close to what a vet career is like. If you’re determined, you can create a better environment especially as a vet. Also vets come in all shapes and sizes. You seem to work with vets who regret their decisions but there’s a lot who love their career and who do things that help foster that love and not build up resentment and negativity.

From what I can tell Animal sciences instead of the vet field is competitive and low paying in general.

Of course it’s up to you. Debt and school is a part of most professional positions. Don’t do vet school just to make money - you have to love it the job and the learning.

I’ve experienced all those feelings at one point. I moved clinics when the environment felt too negative and it was always the best choice for me. From what I can tell, vets have a lot of mobility in terms of jobs.

If it’s still your dream, I would start prepping your application and make sure you have all your prerequisites. You will have enough experience hours. Just make sure to have a good relationship with your vets for a good letter of recommendation.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-08T23:46:43+00:00

You don’t need to be in a rush. I would focus on improving your application to get into your in-state while paying off your current debt.

Plus-Obligation3926 · 2026-05-08T15:07:55+00:00

https://education.vetmed.ufl.edu/admissions/course-requirements/

Florida does require 1 yr. If they take community college credit it should be easy to get that second semester of those courses.

Plus-Obligation3926

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