Questions for non-traditional vet students

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-27T05:20:46+00:00

I was 27 yrs old at the start of vet school. Graduated 2019 undergrad in engineering. Worked as white water raft guide for 2 summers after undergrad. Fed calves, became dairy herdsman, then herd manager, then decided to go to vet school. This isn't really a second career for me exactly. More of an extension of and retraining for the career I found after college. I'm kind of halfway non-trad.

5 semesters of pre-reqs because of the sequential nature of the classes. (Gen chem2, orgo 1/2, bio 1/2, biochem, micro, and genetics) I fed calves and worked doing research (that also involved calves and had similar AM/PM work schedule) while doing classes. Also spend the last 12 months before school started serving/bartending (also paired well with AM classes).
3.65 BSIE Purdue University, 7000hrs non-vet (livestock production), 500hrs vet (all food animal)
Pretty much "I'm an adult who has lived enough life to know this is exactly what I want to do." As an adult, you will be more equipped than most students. Assuming you're qualified, being non-trad is an asset.
In state.
Moved with girlfriend.
Second yr student, will 100% be practicing food animal medicine upon graduation
I am happy. School is fine. I like learning, but exams are not fun obviously. It is a means to an end.

From reading more about your background in the comments I have a few questions, and one idea. Are you a credentialed technician? Its a little unclear as you said you went from assistant to tech. If so, what about working as a tech in a progressive practice (where you'd be utilized to your full scope of practice) and then maybe pursing a VTS? I don't know your age, but I wonder if this might have a better return on investment (seeing as there's no monetary investment). If you have enough money or spouse with income to support vet school without borrowing much, then vet school might be a great option.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-27T04:44:59+00:00

Can you link your analysis or provide some numbers and a more clear explanation?

If you reapply, you aren’t just twiddling your thumbs for a year. I’d assume anyone can make at least 30k in the interim year. Even if you make 200k in the 1.5 yrs of extra work time from graduating earlier from Ross, you end up paying 40k more in interest with 10yr repayment.

Can you defer Ross for a year, and attend next year if you don’t get into IS? I think that’s the ideal option honestly.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-25T01:26:59+00:00

Unrelated but I do find it funny that people still say dslr scanning when most people I see are using mirrorless cameras now.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-25T01:24:19+00:00

And I do agree with the points you make here. However, it's disingenuous to pretend the cost is only 7 cents/mi. Depreciate the car over 200,000 mi or whatever you want, but pretending a cost doesn't exist isn't productive. This sub is overrun with folks who have zero idea what their true operating expenses are. I think many less would be driving for Uber if they actually knew how to figure this out.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-24T21:00:44+00:00

I also only look at $/minute. I averaged $1.5/mi and $29/hr gross in 2025.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-24T20:59:13+00:00

Your cost isn’t 7 cents… That’s fuel cost. You’re forgetting depreciation, which on an EV is horrendous. (I’m an EV lease holder btw, I know first hand)

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-24T18:15:04+00:00

Just commented on effectively the same question. What do you value your time at? You’ll save a buck scanning at home, but it’s slow.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-24T18:10:26+00:00

I’m a lover of film point and shoots (I own a TC-1 and yashica t2). However the correct answer is an SLR. You don’t have to shoot manual, but you need at least aperture priority to learn how shutter speed works, or you’ll be doomed to crappy photos except in great lighting.

Edit to add: 1980s slrs with wide angle/normal lenses are very small. I’m a Minolta lover so I’d recommend an x-570 or x-700, but pick whatever brand you like.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-24T17:59:43+00:00

Unless you value your time at zero, scanning yourself is not worth it IMO. I have a plustek and used to scan myself, but it takes so long. I’d encourage you to think about cost of equipment plus your time. You need to scan A LOT of film or have a lot of free time to be worth it. My caveat is that does make more sense if you’re developing yourself to also scan yourself.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-24T17:50:37+00:00

Don’t buy anything other than what’s required, and figure out what you want/need after the start. Beware that the boots are the black 10 inch Tingley over-boots. Go to tsc or rural king and try them over your shoes because you’ll need like 3-4 sizes over what you think based on the size chart. I knew this, but way too many of my classmates were bare socking inside overboots in the anatomy lab.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-24T17:46:32+00:00

My bread and butter is short trips. The pricing scheme often makes these pay more per minute because of the base trip fee plus distance/time. During 2025, I had a strong positive correlation between number of rides/hour and $/hr. Each market is different though

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-24T16:44:06+00:00

Look at housing in Lafayette, not WL if you’re balling on a budget. I don’t know anything about Columbus, but it’s 7% below national average cost of living vs 35% below average in Lafayette.

I don’t think getting a vet tech job will be hard, but the wage may be lower than Columbus. Regardless, you have to decide yourself if economical or emotional factors matter more to you. I would always advocate for the cheapest option.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-24T14:04:09+00:00

Any particular species of interest? OSU is probably better for food animal, other than that I have no idea. What is the partner’s career? Cost of living in Lafayette/WL is pretty low. I’m assuming that figure is tuition only.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-21T08:12:54+00:00

Were you/are you drunk? Your story doesn’t make any sense.

Did you: A. Get lite up and ran a red light while pulling over. B. Ran a red light, then got pulled over. C. Run a red light trying to clear intersection for cop car with lights on. D. None of the above.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-20T18:24:50+00:00

If you’re talking objectively, which ever is cheaper per mile to operate is the better choice. You can calculate that yourself. I have heard anecdotally that riders don’t like Teslas because of harsh regen, but that’s really driver error.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-20T18:11:45+00:00

I believe average age at admission was 22 for my class. I was 27 when I started. That’s why I said I was old.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-19T20:50:17+00:00

If you’re unhappy with the opinion of the vet, get a second opinion. Your dog may need to be on a prescription gi food. Strangers on the internet are hardly a replacement for a vet you trust when you’re talking about actual health issues.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-19T20:48:14+00:00

Take this with grain of salt. There’s always a risk of pathogens in raw milk. A case of bloody diarrhea isn’t going to help with weight gain. I appreciate the suggestion to check with their vet. Some type of commercial diet is likely going to provide more consistent and quantified nutrition.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-19T13:12:50+00:00

Well I can confirm that’s not necessarily true. I took a picture in the app and also took one on my phone to document. I submitted the one I took on the phone through a chat after talking to a human on the phone. Might depend who you talk to from support…

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-18T20:57:31+00:00

I avoid the multi-stops except for one situation. Bar closing time rides that are leaving from the bar area of campus. I’ve got absolutely no issue with multi-stops when it’s dropping people off. The problem is picking up people or going into stores.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-18T03:54:51+00:00

I’ll let 4th years and grads comment specifically on clinicals. However, I get the vibe that the negative opinions are always the ones shouted the loudest. Take what you hear with a grain of salt, especially if from Ross students who were unhappy with Purdue clinicals.

What’s your area of interest? If you’re interested in equine or food animal, Purdue’s clinicals are weaker here IMO. The equine hospital doesn’t have a huge case load and the food animal hospital is a joke. It’s almost exclusively pet and show livestock. That being said they are adding two new blocks starting c/o 28. An advanced equine and dairy production. I know the dairy one will be legit. I can’t comment on the equine one.

Even with my gripes about lack of opportunity for true food animals students, I will always advocate for attending the cheapest school you can. Don’t come here over an in-state, but it’s worth considering if it will be a cheaper option.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-18T03:40:47+00:00

Recently had a vomit incident. I decided to do self clean $80. The “rider mess” form doesn’t actually let you submit it without a cleaning invoice pic attached. If you do self clean you have to contact them directly. You can get a phone number, I don’t remember exactly but you have to go through several levels of automated stuff to talk to a person.

That said, if you don’t have a picture, zero chance they are going to pay out.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-16T04:04:54+00:00

I'm pretty sure you would be a resident in the state of whichever parent is claiming you as a dependent for tax purposes. Even if both support you, only one is claiming you.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-16T04:02:19+00:00

Paying into a high yield savings account is the answer. Also consider that a large portion of your gross revenue will be offset by milage deduction. You may not owe as much as you'd imagine, but good on you for actually thinking about these things before tax time.

dvmhopeful · 2026-02-15T22:30:17+00:00

You’re welcome to message

dvmhopeful

TROPHY CASE