Changing careers and going back to school

[GLC1968]

SlowbutSteady - thanks so much for your input. I knew that we had to have at least one practicing vet here at TE!

I definitely appreciate how unusual it might look to some that my career is constantly changing. But I should point out that I haven't exactly been flighty. I got my first degree in the traditional 4 years and started working in retail management right away. It was 7 years before I left to go back to school in order to make a change and branch out.

Then it took me 5 years to finish a second bachelors and a masters in EE. I had a job and had started working before I'd even defended my master's thesis. I've been working in the same field for 8 years now and it'll probably be closer to 10 before I actually apply to vet school.

I think that my track record shows that I make a commitment and I follow through.

And of course, no one dreams of being a retail manager or a product engineer when they are a kid. I did dream of being a vet...so it's a safe bet that this path is going to be a good one for me.

[crazycanuck]

GLC, I didn't get to listen to http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters...11/3118363.htm when it was on this morning but thought it might help you reaffirm your choice to change careers.

[GLC1968]

Thanks, CC! I downloaded it and I'll listen to it tonight.

At lunch today, I'm going to visit the animal hospital that is right around the corner from my office to see if they have need for volunteers.

Time to get this party started!

[badger]

I haven't seen jesvetmed in a long time. she's also a practising DVM in the pacific northwest and she became a vet later in life, in her 30's, I believe. She'd be really good to talk to, if she's still around!

[SlowButSteady]

Here's a link that you may find helpful: http://www.aavmc.org/index.html

[OakLeaf]

More large animal vets needed (but fewer women ):

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content...k.html?sid=101

[GLC1968]

Interesting, Oak! And not surprizing based on my limited experience. Part of the reason I originally thought about vet school again was the severe lack of vets who will treat small ruminants in my area. There are none in our entire county and only one if you also count the next county over (both of which are predomantly rural communities). That just blew my mind! It may be that large animal/small ruminant vets don't make much money, but I'm not doing this for the cash anyway.

While I do believe there are a good number of typical large animal vets in our area (horses)...they won't treat goats, sheep or in some cases, even cattle (all the food animals). I figure that as the small farm makes a necessary comeback (when transporting food hundreds of miles becomes too expensive), there is going to be a growing need for vets to handle these types of animals.

Plus, I find these animals fascinating!