Hey there,
I feel this is the best place to post, as I do plan on being a vet, and am concerned with two options I have presented to me. My overall goal is to be a vet and I was told vet school is competitive to get into.
Option A is to go to a local community college that works alongside several of the cities major universities. One is the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, which I like. I was recommended to apply and, before enrolling in classes, try to contact their undergrad counselor who can help guide me on classes to take to fulfill their pre vet admissions requirements. Apparently they have someone who works with the CC and assists students who want to get into the universities programs and, while doing that, keep in contact with the transfer admissions lady I’ve been talking to just in case.
Option B was going to Argosy University and completing their vet tech program, working for a bit to gain experience (and some money back) and then going back to school for the entire thing. I don’t remember which one but I know the admissions person I talked to the other day said that Argosy is in contact with the University of Wisconsin (I don’t remember which) for vet tech graduates interested in going straight into vet school. He had said the credits transfer over and the course will be shorter overall.
The issue with option A is I feel it isn’t enough. I know I’ll be working but I feel it won’t be enough real world experience to aide me and my application will fall flat and look unimpressive.
The issue with option B is I feel my education will be holding me back and all I have is my performance at Argosy to help my case. I was also told, by the U of M admissions person, that the credits most likely won’t transfer, or a big bulk at least.
Overall, I’m worried about my chances and want to take the route that will be the best for me. I may sound paranoid, but I’m also low income and can’t fathom the thought of blowing thousands only to realize it was all for nothing.
If it helps my case, I am currently volunteering at a wildlife center. That’s really all I currently have going for me considering my high school grades are not going to help me or be of much use…
I would go with option A. Sounds like the best route to vet school. While there and during the summers shadow a vet or work in a vet clinic. Start as soon as you can. Your volunteering at a wildlife center is great. Keep that up. It gives you animal hours. Write down every hour you spend with animals! You need vet hours. A vet tech gets that but so does shadowing a vet. If your wildlife center works with vets contact them and ask if you can shadow them. Any hour you spend with the vet counts as vet hours. Then most importantly get good grades!! Your high school grades won’t matter anymore. Your college grades will. You can look impressive if you have good grades, get involved in any pre-vet activities you can, and get as many experience hours as possible. Research is also a good thing to do. Good luck!
Option C is for high schoolers with great grades and a literal chance at a 4yr OR kids whos parents have connections and are making bank and can afford to throw their kid into any four year they so choose.
Option C is nonexistent for a 21yo like myself. So your question to my question is pretty useless, as you’d know based on what I had written…
To momocarly, that makes sense and I hadn’t thought to ask to shadow the vets that work on site so thanks greatly for the suggestion! I’ll make sure to ask soon, we start on Tuesday since the center finally started admitting the animals I can work with. Unfortunately that’s only squirrels, since they’re low-risk of rabies and you MUST have the vaccine to work with higher risk animals, but it’s something.
Just wanted to add that if you want to be a vet complete pre-reqs and then apply to vet school. Only go to vet tech school if you want to be a tech. If you wanted to be a human doctor would you first go to nursing school?
Also, I would HIGHLY encourage you to shadow veterinarians in private practice to get a true feel of the profession. Most of vet med is spent communicating with clients, dealing with people and not actually with the animal.
In addition, vet school is becoming ridiculously expensive. Average student loan debt was $167,000 for the class of 2016. Starting salary was only $67,000.
I don’t mean to be discouraging, I just want to inform you on the realities of the profession that many (myself included) are unaware of beforehand.
Like others have suggested , get in as many hours as possible with even working as a kennel attendant at a vet. You can work your way up. Ask to shadow a vet.
As for your options, either are good, just keep your GPA up:)
Good luck!