Strategy to Get Into Vet School (1 Viewer)

[chet]

My 13yo daughter wants to be a vet. My wife was talking to our vet who said he went to community college for the pre-reqs and aced them all. The vet school didn't care where his undergrad was from and he was admitted easily. He contrasted other applicants who went to schools where organic chemistry etc was used to weed people out of science programs and thus getting good marks was much more difficult.

I know it's a little early for my daughter (she will be entering HS next year) but I wanted to get feedback on this strategy.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I had an engineering professor who had an undergrad in General Studies so I'm sure it can be done as long as she's willing to put in the work and study hard

I'd reccomend finding some potential schools she wants to go to and consult their Vet program to confirm the prerequisites

 

[Sinn Fein]

You get an F - for the poor cut and paste job.

 

[Fat Nick]

There are probably 20 vets who sit near me at work...I'll see if I can poll some for some tips. Might not be today b/c a lot of them work from home on Fridays, but I'll see what I can find.

 

[culdeus]

Vet school is more competitive than med school. More people going for less spots.

You just need to treat it like she's trying to get into a top med school, also she should try to get summer jobs at vet offices and shelters and horse centers to pad the resume. Other than that study hard and work hard and it's doable.

 

[sbonomo]

She needs to go to uc Davis - best vet school in the us.

 

[johnnycakes]

All I know about it is vet schools are almost as expensive as regular med schools but a vet makes a fraction of what a human doctor will make. It must be a field for those who love it, I suppose. Tufts University has a great veterinary program near where I live, fwiw.

 

[Joe Summer]

The best way to get into Vet School is to flunk out of Med School.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

The best way to get into Vet School is to flunk out of Med School.

I have two good friends who started in the Veterinary program at Wisconsin and both ended up as MDs. Much higher pay, but both seem miserable.

 

[culdeus]

The best way to get into Vet School is to flunk out of Med School.

Not at all true. Vets are basically doctors that work for free.

 

[Guest]

Vet school is more competitive than med school. More people going for less spots.

You just need to treat it like she's trying to get into a top med school, also she should try to get summer jobs at vet offices and shelters and horse centers to pad the resume. Other than that study hard and work hard and it's doable.

This is what my son did. Summers/evenings/weekends. Then he changed his mind late his Jr year of high school.

 

[sbonomo]

The best way to get into Vet School is to flunk out of Med School.

Not at all true. Vets are basically doctors that work for free.

not necessarily, I have financed several successful vet practices is ca. It really depends on your business savy and the area you operate in like pretty much every profession in the world. You are not going to be a billionaire but, she will inherit Chet's money at some point so who cares.

 

[Fat Nick]

There are probably 20 vets who sit near me at work...I'll see if I can poll some for some tips. Might not be today b/c a lot of them work from home on Fridays, but I'll see what I can find.

So one guy went to Tennessee A LONG time ago, and he said that he just did a general science undergrad degree at a local college (not community, but not big-name) and made sure he met most Vet school requirements, and then just focused on killing his VCAT. He also said that a lot of vet schools now use the general GRE or MCAT's as their entrance exams and he thinks the VCAT is no longer used, and that if a school uses the MCAT, the test is in general much much more focused on the science, and typically harder to succeed at without good undergrad prerequisite classes.

I think in short, he was saying, find out what entrance exam target schools use. If it's the GRE, you probably don't need a ton of heavy heavy science. If it's the MCAT, you'll have O-chem on that exam, so even if you take the O-chem "light" at a CC, you'll pay for it in the exam.

 

[Fat Nick]

The best way to get into Vet School is to flunk out of Med School.

I have two good friends who started in the Veterinary program at Wisconsin and both ended up as MDs. Much higher pay, but both seem miserable.

I'd never consider med school, but I'd reconsider vet school if I had a do-over. People get on my nerves, and people sue for the dumbest things. Animals are far less likely to do either of those...There are a lot of other things involved in the decision to be a vet.

 

[AcerFC]

Large endowment to vet school down?

 

[Brony]

There are probably 20 vets who sit near me at work...I'll see if I can poll some for some tips. Might not be today b/c a lot of them work from home on Fridays, but I'll see what I can find.

So one guy went to Tennessee A LONG time ago, and he said that he just did a general science undergrad degree at a local college (not community, but not big-name) and made sure he met most Vet school requirements, and then just focused on killing his VCAT. He also said that a lot of vet schools now use the general GRE or MCAT's as their entrance exams and he thinks the VCAT is no longer used, and that if a school uses the MCAT, the test is in general much much more focused on the science, and typically harder to succeed at without good undergrad prerequisite classes.

I think in short, he was saying, find out what entrance exam target schools use. If it's the GRE, you probably don't need a ton of heavy heavy science. If it's the MCAT, you'll have O-chem on that exam, so even if you take the O-chem "light" at a CC, you'll pay for it in the exam.

I'm sorry, but if you kill your VCAT, I don't think that veterinary is the right field for you.

 

[James Daulton]

How can vets not be stinking rich? They xray your pet on a machine they likely bought used for $10k or so and charge you $500. Pet need surgery? That will be $3k. Their overhead is almost non-existent and it's not like they have tons of highly paid professionals to pay, nor is their insurance an issue. Tell me again how all vets aren't rich?

Vets and Orthodontist, two professions that prey on our affections for either our kids or pets and charge us through the nose for their services.

I'm not bitter though.

 

[ffldrew]

Take her to Auburn during football season - take in an SEC game - tour the campus and visit the Vet school to get some questions answered - it is a heck of a family atmosphere. It is a good Vet school. Be careful she may get hooked on the place especially on a football Saturday.

 

[ffldrew]

2nd stop on your tour is Fort Collins Colorado and CSU - a good vet school also. A bit crazier to get into because - well it is in Colorado.

 

[(HULK)]

From what I hear, getting into a good vet program is extremely difficult.

 

[culdeus]

How can vets not be stinking rich? They xray your pet on a machine they likely bought used for $10k or so and charge you $500. Pet need surgery? That will be $3k. Their overhead is almost non-existent and it's not like they have tons of highly paid professionals to pay, nor is their insurance an issue. Tell me again how all vets aren't rich?

Vets and Orthodontist, two professions that prey on our affections for either our kids or pets and charge us through the nose for their services.

I'm not bitter though.

You are way off here. I know a ton of vets both family and friends of them. Even the ones that own their own practice say the absolute top end for urban small animal vet is in the 100k range on takehome. Staff DVM are in the 40-50k range.

Rural large animal vets can make in the 150k range mainly because they have less staff to pay, but they are in the car all day long grinding.

Their overhead is tremendous in urban settings and there is a limit to what people will pay before just putting the dog down. You would think there are people springing for the 3000 procedure all the time but it's really rare. It's not unheardof for the office staff in vet clinics to be making about as much as the net for the DVM.

Large animal is a different story, but that's a different lifestyle completely.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Step 1: Finish Jr. High/Middle School

Step 2: Graduate from High School

Step 3: We'll get back to that in a few years.

 

[MCguidance]

Step 1: Finish Jr. High/Middle School

Step 2: Graduate from High School

Step 3: We'll get back to that in a few years.

Good advice here if you want her behind the curve.

Does her school use Naviance, the career and college planning tool? Plenty of resources there for tracking and researching colleges and programs.

I would start here and here. It will provide a lot of information on the 30 or so schools that will meet your daughter's academic needs.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

From what I hear, getting into a good vet program is extremely difficult.

That's my understanding too. Getting into a program is very hard, it's expensive, and you don't make #### after graduation. It has to be the kind of thing you really want to do for it to be a logical academic decision.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

From what I hear, getting into a good vet program is extremely difficult.

That's my understanding too. Getting into a program is very hard, it's expensive, and you don't make #### after graduation. It has to be the kind of thing you really want to do for it to be a logical academic decision.

Well, she's 13 so I'm sure she's thought everything through very carefully.

 

[Dentist]

I certainly wouldn't use a community college under any circumstances.

A good vet school is probably like a good med or dental school, they want to see good grades in hard science classes from a good institution.

 

[Dentist]

From what I hear, getting into a good vet program is extremely difficult.

That's my understanding too. Getting into a program is very hard, it's expensive, and you don't make #### after graduation. It has to be the kind of thing you really want to do for it to be a logical academic decision.

if the average is 100k, that's not awesome by any means, but it's far from ####

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

From what I hear, getting into a good vet program is extremely difficult.

That's my understanding too. Getting into a program is very hard, it's expensive, and you don't make #### after graduation. It has to be the kind of thing you really want to do for it to be a logical academic decision.

Well, she's 13 so I'm sure she's thought everything through very carefully.

I wanted to be a vet when I was a kid...up until I was old enough to realize that it wasn't just playing with animals all day.

 

[(HULK)]

Do you really need to go to a GOOD vet school though? I've never once selected a vet based upon their credentials. Its always how close they are to my house that is the sole factor in that choice.

 

[Fat Nick]

How can vets not be stinking rich? They xray your pet on a machine they likely bought used for $10k or so and charge you $500. Pet need surgery? That will be $3k. Their overhead is almost non-existent and it's not like they have tons of highly paid professionals to pay, nor is their insurance an issue. Tell me again how all vets aren't rich?

Vets and Orthodontist, two professions that prey on our affections for either our kids or pets and charge us through the nose for their services.

I'm not bitter though.

You are way off here. I know a ton of vets both family and friends of them. Even the ones that own their own practice say the absolute top end for urban small animal vet is in the 100k range on takehome. Staff DVM are in the 40-50k range.

Rural large animal vets can make in the 150k range mainly because they have less staff to pay, but they are in the car all day long grinding.

Their overhead is tremendous in urban settings and there is a limit to what people will pay before just putting the dog down. You would think there are people springing for the 3000 procedure all the time but it's really rare. It's not unheardof for the office staff in vet clinics to be making about as much as the net for the DVM.

Large animal is a different story, but that's a different lifestyle completely.

So basically you'd make more money using your veterenary knowledge working for an Animal Health company than you would working as an actual vet...Makes sense. I work for an AH company (in finance), and the commercial folks are about 50% vets...they make bank. I'd bet their starting pay is above most established vets.

 

[Dentist]

Do you really need to go to a GOOD vet school though? I've never once selected a vet based upon their credentials. Its always how close they are to my house that is the sole factor in that choice.

Maybe not, but it could influence your confidence as a treatment provider for the length of your entire career.

It's hard to overcome a shoddy start.

I know that if, for instance, I hadn't come out of dental school confident enough to treat a wide range of cases and would have had to pick up all the missing knowledge from continuing education sources (which I've had to do plenty of anyway) it might have affected my income in a negative way, as well as what little enjoyment dentistry has to offer.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

Just buy the Vet school she wants to attend?

 

[sbonomo]

From what I hear, getting into a good vet program is extremely difficult.

That's my understanding too. Getting into a program is very hard, it's expensive, and you don't make #### after graduation. It has to be the kind of thing you really want to do for it to be a logical academic decision.

Well, she's 13 so I'm sure she's thought everything through very carefully.

I wanted to be a vet when I was a kid...up until I was old enough to realize that it wasn't just playing with animals all day.

Your are honestly just a miserable person. Life must suck.

 

[sbonomo]

How can vets not be stinking rich? They xray your pet on a machine they likely bought used for $10k or so and charge you $500. Pet need surgery? That will be $3k. Their overhead is almost non-existent and it's not like they have tons of highly paid professionals to pay, nor is their insurance an issue. Tell me again how all vets aren't rich?

Vets and Orthodontist, two professions that prey on our affections for either our kids or pets and charge us through the nose for their services.

I'm not bitter though.

You are way off here. I know a ton of vets both family and friends of them. Even the ones that own their own practice say the absolute top end for urban small animal vet is in the 100k range on takehome. Staff DVM are in the 40-50k range.

Rural large animal vets can make in the 150k range mainly because they have less staff to pay, but they are in the car all day long grinding.

Their overhead is tremendous in urban settings and there is a limit to what people will pay before just putting the dog down. You would think there are people springing for the 3000 procedure all the time but it's really rare. It's not unheardof for the office staff in vet clinics to be making about as much as the net for the DVM.

Large animal is a different story, but that's a different lifestyle completely.

So basically you'd make more money using your veterenary knowledge working for an Animal Health company than you would working as an actual vet...Makes sense. I work for an AH company (in finance), and the commercial folks are about 50% vets...they make bank. I'd bet their starting pay is above most established vets.

That is a great back up plan if a practice does not work out.

 

[Wingnut]

Good vets are like good mechanics - they're hard to find, but when you find a good one you can trust you stick with them for the long haul.

So tell her to be a good vet and she will bank.

 

[ffldrew]

Do you really need to go to a GOOD vet school though? I've never once selected a vet based upon their credentials. Its always how close they are to my house that is the sole factor in that choice.

Unless you own a thoroughbred race horse or some prize animal like a Westminster Kennel Dog Show finalist.

 

[Ilov80s]

Take Anatomy and as many AP science classes as possible in HS. See if Vet school is still the right option.

 

[grateful zed]

join the army?

 

[KarmaPolice]

I am married to a Vet, and i would advise to run from that profession. All the costs of med school with a fraction of the earnings.

 

[KarmaPolice]

How can vets not be stinking rich? They xray your pet on a machine they likely bought used for $10k or so and charge you $500. Pet need surgery? That will be $3k. Their overhead is almost non-existent and it's not like they have tons of highly paid professionals to pay, nor is their insurance an issue. Tell me again how all vets aren't rich?

Vets and Orthodontist, two professions that prey on our affections for either our kids or pets and charge us through the nose for their services.

I'm not bitter though.

This is the exact attitude that is on display daily at the clinic. People ##### about the cost all the time - "geez, my MD doesn't even charge this much". Yeah they do, doofus, you just have insurance and probably dont see the itemized bill.

As someone else said, these are highly trained and educated people, but because it is animals people expect the costs to be nil.

 

[msommer]

Study hard and get good grades appears to be down

 

[SoBeDad]

I certainly wouldn't use a community college under any circumstances.

A good vet school is probably like a good med or dental school, they want to see good grades in hard science classes from a good institution.

The hard science class are important, probably up to the same organic chemistry, biology and physics that pre-meds take. For the UF's most recent Vet admission class, biology (45 of 110) was the most common undergrad major followed by animal science (31 of 110). So, look into schools that offer animal science majors.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I am curious on the age of your Vet and where you live.

Told my wife about this thread and talked about your initial questions a bit:

She went to UW-Madison for both undergrad and vet school. She said the she didn't know one person in her class that went to community college, but a lot were from the UW satellites, ie UW-LaCrosse. That might be what your vet was talking about. The classes there would be smaller and maybe less competitive. She also mentioned that you do not need an undergrad degree to get into vet school, so that could shave costs if she knows that is what she wants. The vet school here was super competitive to get into, and i would assume that is the case across the country. Great grades, great score on entry test, great essay and recommendations, and previous work at a clinic would be musts. Her class was about 80, and had about 1000 applicants. Also, a lot harder out of state- she said only about 5 are accepted from out of state.

She said that if she had someone interested in the profession, she would have a frank discussion about:

1. Income/debt ratio. Said that tuition increased about 8% each year she was in school and that was 10 years ago. Still owes $100k+. Makes about $50k/year. Add to that most work at small clinics where the insurance/benefits are probably subpar or super expensive.

2. The main way to make decent money is to specialize.

3. It is getting harder to make a living with a lot of discount shops in pet stores offering neuters/spays, etc on the cheap. Plus it adds to myth that services for pets should always be dirt cheap.

4. Vets are statistically more likely to suffer from depression and take their own life. I believe she said suicide rate was 4x. Combination of financial reasons, owner expectations and attitudes (see Daultons post above), and the fact that euthanasia is a part of their life and they have access to the tools to do so painlessly.

Hope some or all of this helped, and feel free to ask any specific questions. Good luck.

 

[Das Boot]

I hear there's a veterinarian job opening in Texas.

 

[Mr. Retukes]

Take Archery classes.

 

[James Daulton]

I am curious on the age of your Vet and where you live.

Told my wife about this thread and talked about your initial questions a bit:

She went to UW-Madison for both undergrad and vet school. She said the she didn't know one person in her class that went to community college, but a lot were from the UW satellites, ie UW-LaCrosse. That might be what your vet was talking about. The classes there would be smaller and maybe less competitive. She also mentioned that you do not need an undergrad degree to get into vet school, so that could shave costs if she knows that is what she wants. The vet school here was super competitive to get into, and i would assume that is the case across the country. Great grades, great score on entry test, great essay and recommendations, and previous work at a clinic would be musts. Her class was about 80, and had about 1000 applicants. Also, a lot harder out of state- she said only about 5 are accepted from out of state.

She said that if she had someone interested in the profession, she would have a frank discussion about:

1. Income/debt ratio. Said that tuition increased about 8% each year she was in school and that was 10 years ago. Still owes $100k+. Makes about $50k/year. Add to that most work at small clinics where the insurance/benefits are probably subpar or super expensive.

2. The main way to make decent money is to specialize.

3. It is getting harder to make a living with a lot of discount shops in pet stores offering neuters/spays, etc on the cheap. Plus it adds to myth that services for pets should always be dirt cheap.

4. Vets are statistically more likely to suffer from depression and take their own life. I believe she said suicide rate was 4x. Combination of financial reasons, owner expectations and attitudes (see Daultons post above), and the fact that euthanasia is a part of their life and they have access to the tools to do so painlessly.

Hope some or all of this helped, and feel free to ask any specific questions. Good luck.

She works full time and makes only $50k? My experience is obviously with my local vets only, but their waiting rooms are crowded, regular check-ups with shots are always > $100. Xrays are at least $150+ not to mention more demanding procedures. And their office staff is minimal, don't make a lot themselves, and rent can't be that much. I'm legit curious, besides school debt what am I missing? I always assumed Vets made similar money to Dentist.

 

[James Daulton]

And if Vets aren't gauging folks to earn crazy $, I will remove them from my list of disliked professions.

 

[Christo]

My 13yo daughter wants to be a vet. My wife was talking to our vet who said he went to community college for the pre-reqs and aced them all. The vet school didn't care where his undergrad was from and he was admitted easily. He contrasted other applicants who went to schools where organic chemistry etc was used to weed people out of science programs and thus getting good marks was much more difficult.

I know it's a little early for my daughter (she will be entering HS next year) but I wanted to get feedback on this strategy.

Buy the vet school a new building?

 

[James Daulton]

My 13yo daughter wants to be a vet. My wife was talking to our vet who said he went to community college for the pre-reqs and aced them all. The vet school didn't care where his undergrad was from and he was admitted easily. He contrasted other applicants who went to schools where organic chemistry etc was used to weed people out of science programs and thus getting good marks was much more difficult.

I know it's a little early for my daughter (she will be entering HS next year) but I wanted to get feedback on this strategy.

Buy the vet school a new building?

This.

 

[Christo]

Do you really need to go to a GOOD vet school though? I've never once selected a vet based upon their credentials. Its always how close they are to my house that is the sole factor in that choice.

Maybe not, but it could influence your confidence as a treatment provider for the length of your entire career.

It's hard to overcome a shoddy start.

I know that if, for instance, I hadn't come out of dental school confident enough to treat a wide range of cases and would have had to pick up all the missing knowledge from continuing education sources (which I've had to do plenty of anyway) it might have affected my income in a negative way, as well as what little enjoyment dentistry has to offer.

Is there such a thing as a shoddy dental, medical, vet school in the US?