Saturday, February 01, 2020

BECOMING A VETERINARIAN: Questions Answered by Dr. Brian Chen


What prerequisites during college did you focus on?
                
All veterinary schools require a strong foundation in the sciences (chemistry, biology, microbiology, etc) and some also require other classes related to economics and/or business management. I majored in Biotechnology, but you can major in anything you want as long as you complete the prerequisite courses prior to applying to veterinary school.

Did you gain any experience prior to applying to vet school?
                
I worked for a year as a veterinary assistant prior to attending vet school. Most applicants have 2-3 years of full time work experience prior to applying. Most programs only technically require a few hundred hours, but you really need 2-3,000 hours to be competitive.

Did you pursue further training?  Can you elaborate on what jobs are available in veterinary medicine for vet school graduates?
                
I personally did not pursue further training after veterinary school. There is the option to apply for an internship and residency, but admission to these programs is EXTREMELY competitive. There are still a wide range of careers available for those of us that do not choose to specialize. Most veterinarians tend to go into general practice after graduation, but there are also options in academia, government, and industry.

How did you begin your veterinary career?
                
I started my veterinary career working for a corporate owned practice. I stayed with this practice for about 5 years before transitioning to Hatton. My goal is to eventually become a practice owner.

What have you learned in your veterinary journey?

The relationship between clients and their pets is a very special bond and one that I am happy to help reinforce by keeping pets healthy. Each pet is an individual and requires individual care; there is rarely a ‘one size fits all’ way to treat pets and their illnesses.

What is this career like?
                
As a general practice doctor, every day is different. You never know what may walk through the door. Some days are very routine and mundane while others are extremely hectic. There is hardly ever a ‘boring’ day.

What skills are needed?
                
The most important skills that help me in day to day practice are empathy towards pets and their owners, an ability to multi-task, and critical thinking. For example: not everyone is able to afford thousands of dollars of care for their pets, and so I always try to offer a plan B and plan C if plan A is unrealistic.
  
What is the pay?
                
Despite popular opinion, veterinarians are one of the lowest paid professions in the medical field. Starting pay for a new graduate in small animal general practice in California is typically $60-80k a year. Most employers seem to offer benefits as well including PTO, health insurance, 401k, continuing education stipend.

What is the career outlook?
                
It seems that the career outlook in veterinary medicine is good. One source I read anticipated that there will be 18% job growth over the next 10 years.

What education is required?
                
A degree from a 4 year university as well as GRE scores. A GPA of at least 3.6 or higher to be competitive for admission. Veterinary school is another 4 years; the first 3 years are book work and labs while the last year is clinical (working with residents and clinicians in the hospital). Students must pass the national licensing exam (NAVLE), and some will also need to pass a state licensing exam (California included) prior to obtaining their veterinary license.
The cost of school varies, but most students have $150-300k in student loan debt when they graduate.

How do I know veterinary medicine in the right career for me?
                
I think the best way to answer this question would be to volunteer/work in a veterinary hospital/environment and see if you feel that this is something you could do for the rest of your life.

Can I apply to vet schools outside the United States?
                
There are veterinary schools in the Caribbean and New Zealand that you can apply to (without having to take any extra exams for licensing). Some will also apply to schools in Canada and Europe.

How competitive is vet school?
                
It can be as competitive as you make it. If you are trying to pursue an internship +/- residency then you’ll have to be at the top of your class (at least a 3.7 GPA!) and thus school may seem much more competitive to you than to someone who is planning on going into general practice.

Want to learn more about the veterinary application process, click the link below!