What's behind door number two?

[cjsmith]

If I don't try for veterinary medicine, what will I do instead?

I'd like to work with animals, but I've done a few salary searches in some target locations and even vet tech won't pay the bills. Pet sitter or dog groomer won't make it either. If I'm not a veterinarian, working with animals might be volunteer work on my own time while I support myself some other way.

I could likely get a high-tech job in Boulder or thereabouts, and maaaaaybe Micron might hire me in Boise (though that's a long shot -- they're doing layoffs). But that kind of defeats the whole purpose.

Basically, I have no marketable skills except the ability to write software. A job requiring no specialized knowledge or training won't pay the bills. I'll have to acquire some skills.

Comments

[composerjk.livejournal.com]

Though they also don't pay well, have you consider working in a zoo? Of course, that could still be the veterinary medicine side. Good luck figuring out what you do next and hopefully something that excites you.

[mithriltabby]

If you can write software, you should be able to make the transition to system administration easily enough, but that’s probably still in the “defeats the whole purpose” category.

[rfrench.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with acquiring a new skill. Not all skills require a four+ year degree.

[ckd]

Why do you hate her so much as to want her to become a sysadmin? What did she ever do to you?

[abqdan.livejournal.com]

What about writing some software to do with animals? Maybe a partnership with a vet or a zoo? I know nothing about vet software, but medical software can be very lucrative. This would mean starting your own business though, so that may not work either; and it would still mean software, not direct work with animals.

[layer.livejournal.com]

perhaps dog training?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

True enough. Even those requiring a four year degree might take some of my existing degree into account.

And honestly, if veterinarian is the best answer, I'm willing to spin my savings down to zero to do it. I just want to be sure.

[plymouth.livejournal.com]

A job requiring no specialized knowledge or training won't pay the bills.

I gotta say, it is a really sad commentary on our society that this is true.

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

Yahoo! and Qualcomm are setting up shop here since I last teased you. I think you should swing by. 1 airport. 1 airfield. 1 veterinary hospital. Nice area not far from major metropolitan areas. :)

But I'm just pesting :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Or on my extravagant lifestyle!

[lrc.livejournal.com]

Is there some sort of pet, or veterinary related software or product that you could develop?

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

likely it wouldn't take the full four years, like you said. you'll have all the (what we called) General College Program classes of the degree (the pe, the english comp, etc) covered... so... not so bad...

good luck

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I don't know, but that's worth some thought.

[lrc.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read "King Solomon's Ring" by Konrad Lorenz?

When I was a kid we had all sorts of animals, from iguanas to a pet otter. I was fascinated by studying animal behavior and communication. Sometime during high school, I decided that rather than getting a PhD in nuclear physics and doing subatomic research, I wanted to go into ethology and study animal behavior.

My parents convinced me that I should go into vet med instead. Which, in short, is how I ended up being an engineer.

Anysays, as tough as it is to get into vet school, with the mediocre pay of a vetrinarian, you may get as much, or more satisfaction out of going the academic route and studying animal behavior.

By the way, do you know farmount? Nightshade is a DVM.