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?
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!
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