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"Veterinarian" is one of those "maybe-somedays" I've had in the back of my head for a long time -- probably ever since I've considered changing careers out of high tech, and that's been well over a decade.
It will take an awful lot of work to get there. Students admitted to the veterinary medicine program in Fort Collins have at least 1000 hours of working with animals in a veterinary setting and at least 1000 more hours of working with animals in some other setting (humane society, perhaps?). That adds up to a full-time year of work right there. They've got excellent foundations in chemistry and biology; I'd probably be looking at two years to beef up my science background (and not so incidentally my GPA). Then the vet program itself is four years and not exactly a cakewalk.
It's now or never. The oldest student ever admitted there was 45. If we don't move from here for at least a year I'll be a minimum of 44 when I attempt to apply. Admission to these programs is very competitive and schools would be completely reasonable to want to give the slot to someone who will likely be in practice for longer. In fact, after those three years of prep, it's quite possible I won't get admitted at all, and I don't have years to re-apply.
Am I trading one high-stress job for another? At least for the first seven years, probably I am. The academic workload will be a lot of buckling down and not much time to relax or goof off. Is it worth that much time spent, now that I'm middle-aged and a little spoiled? What about afterward? How stressful IS the job? Will I be able to go home and forget, or will I pour too much of my heart into it? Will I constantly want to stay late because it might make the difference for THIS one? Will there always be another THIS one?
Could I handle all of it emotionally? Would it rip me up to perform euthanasia when the options are running out? (Actually, probably not; I'd dislike it, but I've been there with my own and I do believe in quality of life.) How often will I face giving only the care a family can afford to an animal they honestly don't have the money to keep healthy?
Would I just start to hate neglectful pet owners? Just as some teachers will say the worst thing about their job is the parents, some veterinarians out there must be saying the worst thing about the job is the owners. Can I patch up some dog or cat One More Time and let him go home with the family that will only let him get hurt again or eat chocolate again? Would it rip me up to perform euthanasia when the family just doesn't feel like keeping the pet any more? Can I, God forgive me, do a declawing operation -- even the one I'd maybe need to do in my third year in surgery class just so I'd seen one?
Am I doing it for the right reasons? The first thing that always, always, always comes to mind is the number of animals at shelters who can't get good care because it's costly. I could volunteer for low-cost spay and neuter programs. I could work with animals the shelter feels could be adoptable with just a little bit of medical attention. These are great motives. (But, tellingly, I haven't been down there to volunteer in years. I've been insanely busy and haven't made time for it. What IS my motivation level here?) I've also always been fascinated by medical schtuff. That's a fine thing and a great indicator that maybe this is a good fit for me. But am I also doing it for approval? Do I fear losing whatever social status or family approval comes with my current salary? Does my ego want to hear someone say "Doctor CJ"? Am I scared of being the receptionist in a family of lawyers... or even in a clinic where everyone else outranks me? Am I doing this because when I was in high school I thought I wanted to be a doctor (for humans) and got intimidated and turned away from the idea?
Lots to think about.
I think it's time to take a local vet to lunch.
It will take an awful lot of work to get there. Students admitted to the veterinary medicine program in Fort Collins have at least 1000 hours of working with animals in a veterinary setting and at least 1000 more hours of working with animals in some other setting (humane society, perhaps?). That adds up to a full-time year of work right there. They've got excellent foundations in chemistry and biology; I'd probably be looking at two years to beef up my science background (and not so incidentally my GPA). Then the vet program itself is four years and not exactly a cakewalk.
It's now or never. The oldest student ever admitted there was 45. If we don't move from here for at least a year I'll be a minimum of 44 when I attempt to apply. Admission to these programs is very competitive and schools would be completely reasonable to want to give the slot to someone who will likely be in practice for longer. In fact, after those three years of prep, it's quite possible I won't get admitted at all, and I don't have years to re-apply.
Am I trading one high-stress job for another? At least for the first seven years, probably I am. The academic workload will be a lot of buckling down and not much time to relax or goof off. Is it worth that much time spent, now that I'm middle-aged and a little spoiled? What about afterward? How stressful IS the job? Will I be able to go home and forget, or will I pour too much of my heart into it? Will I constantly want to stay late because it might make the difference for THIS one? Will there always be another THIS one?
Could I handle all of it emotionally? Would it rip me up to perform euthanasia when the options are running out? (Actually, probably not; I'd dislike it, but I've been there with my own and I do believe in quality of life.) How often will I face giving only the care a family can afford to an animal they honestly don't have the money to keep healthy?
Would I just start to hate neglectful pet owners? Just as some teachers will say the worst thing about their job is the parents, some veterinarians out there must be saying the worst thing about the job is the owners. Can I patch up some dog or cat One More Time and let him go home with the family that will only let him get hurt again or eat chocolate again? Would it rip me up to perform euthanasia when the family just doesn't feel like keeping the pet any more? Can I, God forgive me, do a declawing operation -- even the one I'd maybe need to do in my third year in surgery class just so I'd seen one?
Am I doing it for the right reasons? The first thing that always, always, always comes to mind is the number of animals at shelters who can't get good care because it's costly. I could volunteer for low-cost spay and neuter programs. I could work with animals the shelter feels could be adoptable with just a little bit of medical attention. These are great motives. (But, tellingly, I haven't been down there to volunteer in years. I've been insanely busy and haven't made time for it. What IS my motivation level here?) I've also always been fascinated by medical schtuff. That's a fine thing and a great indicator that maybe this is a good fit for me. But am I also doing it for approval? Do I fear losing whatever social status or family approval comes with my current salary? Does my ego want to hear someone say "Doctor CJ"? Am I scared of being the receptionist in a family of lawyers... or even in a clinic where everyone else outranks me? Am I doing this because when I was in high school I thought I wanted to be a doctor (for humans) and got intimidated and turned away from the idea?
Lots to think about.
I think it's time to take a local vet to lunch.
good luck...
Do you have any science (biology, chemistry, animal science, medical, anatomy, etc) classes in your academic background? Even if you do, if having been out of school for too long, they may make you take all that over again... something to think about. Vet school is incredibly hard and even more incredibly competitive, but I know that if you make it, there are good possibilities at universities who need vets all the time, (we do at Georgetown University) to comply with the federal regulations regarding using animals in research. I think your approach in the exploratory questions is an excellent one, and the input from all the LJ buddies here is invaluable for you to make your decision, but be aware... you may feel more wrung out than you do now and as you approach the magic age of 50, really may wonder what you've done. (eek). I tend to agree with Allan H. - if it's not a burning passion but more of a "maybe someday" interest, it may be harder than you anticipate to make this switch. Is it possible to apply any of your computer wizardry to the field of vet/animal care, without going through the rigors of vet school, internships, vet practice, etc? Like Allan says, we support you in whatever you decide to do... but know it might be a long haul. Good LUCK and keep us posted.
ps, this is a picture of my cat, Gypsy Bear, as she sat in one of my crinolines of years past! I had to have her put down in 2000, right after Crack the Crab convention, and it was SO TOUGH to hand her over to the vet. gosh. Your postings just remind me of all that, and how vets have to steel themselves against not only the sick animals, but also the owners. I know you've been there, done that. Ett
Re: good luck...
I have very little of the right kind of science, and my GPA was never stellar either, so part of the prep work I listed in the original post is about two years' worth of chem, bio, and the like. I'd need that before even applying to the veterinary school.
Then, of course, four years of veterinary school isn't exactly easy for even the twentysomethings. One of the biggest questions for me in all this is whether I can handle the rigorous training and the intense course load for that length of time. That's a big big hill to climb. One point in my favor in all this is that I tend to have a lot of energy compared to people around me. That might help. Another entry on the positive side is that I'm a bit more mature and willing to work hard than I was when I was younger. A third bit is that I have a level of intelligence that has got to at least help. Still, it's a really good question.
I like the idea of somehow melding computer stuff and working with animals. That's probably a far easier path and worth some creative thought.
I feel for you about Gypsy Bear. It's so, so hard, even when we know it's time. My tiny Princess trusted me implicitly, and she leaned up against me, and she let me pick her up and put her on that table, and I killed her. It's really awful. The one redeeming thing was that I knew I could save her some short time in blinding pain. At least I had that knowledge as solace.