Too old for Vet school?

[lyndaelyzoo]

I am 38 years old and considering applying to vet school. I have a BS in zoology and will have an MS in Forensic Science by the end of this year. I have been teaching forensic science in a public high school for almost ten years and am very interested in a career change and becoming an equine veterinarian. I am interested in UF's large animal medicine program, but looked at the applicant acceptance rate and it is about 10% :eek: Any veterinary students or veterinarians that can provide any suggestions or insight into the application process or recommended schools would be appreciated. Has anyone changed careers and decided to study vet medicine?? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[McVillesMom]

I have! I am 35 years old and currently in my second year of vet school. I graduated with my BA in 1995 (in Theatre, no less!), worked a few office and retail jobs that I hated, and then got a job as a small animal tech. After I had been there 2 years, I decided I wanted to go back and go to vet school. I had a LOT of pre-reqs to do, so I did those part-time while still working full-time. It took 4 years to get all of them done. I applied only to my in-state school, and got in on my first try (I also had excellent grades in my pre-reqs and a kick-a$$ GRE score).

There are quite a few people in my class who are non-trads - it's relatively common. There were 999 applicants for 140 seats in my class, and I think most schools are probably similar. You may want to check that all of your undergrad classes are still good - sometimes schools want them to be within the last 8 years, but not sure since you already have a Bio degree. Additionally, you may need to take things like O-chem if you didn't do that before. If you have to take prerequisites, be sure you do REALLY well in them, and do well on your GRE. Lots of veterinary experience is also good (some is required for admission, but the more you have and the more varied it is, the better.) This can include volunteering.

A good place to visit is SDN Forums (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=163%5B/URL). There are frequently threads about non-traditional students as well as questions about admission, etc.

Good luck - it's a long road, but it will be worth it!

[lyndaelyzoo]

Thanks Nancy. Do any schools use the VCAT anymore? It seems that most of them just want the GRE scores.

[deltawave]

I'm 43 and am always sorely tempted. :)

There was a lady in my medical school class who was 45 when we started.

[dgm]

I'm "only" 28, but I'm giving it a shot. Application went in in October... now I just wait and pray for an interview!

My undergrad is in mechanical engineering, and I've been doing avionics systems engineering for five years now. I didn't pursue vet school the first time around because I let people's warnings about how hard it is to get in and how much it costs scare me off. Had to learn the hard way about doing something you love.

And to keep this horse-related - I have already had my horse up for sale for several months now, because you never know how long it will take and there are no guarantees that if I waited till I am accepted, he'd actually sell by September. And no way can I afford vet school AND the horse...

[horsetales]

Definitely go in and talk with an advisor and look into it. I have always wanted to go on to vet school and at 37 went in and talked with an advisor and went to the orientation. Because of my family circumstances (would have had to live away from my SO as school was too far to commute and a job change for him was not a smart move) and the realization of how much in debt I would be in my 40s made me opt not move forward. I have a friend who just graduated as a vet within the past 2 years and her debt is >120K :eek: Best of luck

[FootPerfect]

You are never to old to pursue what you love.

Good luck!

[ManyDogs]

And as a FYI-I believe there is a vet school on St. Kitts in the Caribbean. (formal island name is St. Christophers). Not really sure of the school's reputation, but worth a look? St. Kitts is a British island about a 20 minute flight from St. Maarten.

[exvet]

There were handful of classmates of mine who started vet school in their late 30's early 40's coming from other careers. I've kept up with a couple of them (since we graduated 20 years ago) and they're still happy doin' what they're doin' "practicing medicine". However, and this is a big however, none of us graduated with the debt load seen today. There are a few schools who waive tuition or a significant part of it if you graduate and go into rural - ie, large animal or food animal medicine for a minimum number of years. For many "that" is not an option because of family obligations and limitations of job openings for SO's, etc. It is something you may want to look into though if debt load upon graduation is a concern for you. I am not aware of any such programs for those who declare 100% equine though you may want to check into what incentives are available through AAEP.

I will say too that I work in a very large small animal practice. We are laying off close to 10 doctors out of our 50. Unfortunately many of those doctors have low production numbers and very, very high debt loads which include new home purchases coupled with their enormous financial loans for/from vet school. Some schools have much lower tuitions than others and still have a pretty decent large animal caseload but to take advantage of the lower tuition you must establish state residency - another thing to consider in your choice of schools.

Also some vet schools still accept MCATs. Honestly I took all 3 back in the day - VCATS, MCATs & GRE - I guess I'm a good test taker 'cause to me they were pretty much a walk in the park, especially now looking back after adding a few more degrees to the mix ;)

[hedmbl]

I am 38 years old and considering applying to vet school. I have a BS in zoology and will have an MS in Forensic Science by the end of this year. I have been teaching forensic science in a public high school for almost ten years and am very interested in a career change and becoming an equine veterinarian. I am interested in UF's large animal medicine program, but looked at the applicant acceptance rate and it is about 10% :eek: Any veterinary students or veterinarians that can provide any suggestions or insight into the application process or recommended schools would be appreciated. Has anyone changed careers and decided to study vet medicine?? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

From a 20 year old currently going through the app process you probably have a BETTER shot of getting in then kids my age. They highly value 'real world experience'. As long as you meet the reqs and have good GRE or MCAT scores I would go for it. (The schools I applied to preferred the GRE over the MCAT according to their admissions advisors but accept both and since the MCAT is harder (for me anyway...darn you ochem!) I would think a good score on that would say something). I don't know anyone that took the VCAT so I can't be of help there. Good luck!

[LD1129]

I say that if you are financially able to go for it you are never too old to go back to school. :D:D:D

[deltawave]

Don't forget the military as an option for paying for school--I know they do use vets in some areas (food inspection, public health, etc.) and it might be worth looking into. That's how I paid for medical school--graduated debt-free, (other than a small leftover college loan) and got to ride A LOT when I was on Active Duty repaying my commitment. First and only time I ever had 30 days of paid vacation, all major holidays off and a 40-hour work week! ;)

[JSwan]

As Ghandi said, "If you don't ask, you don't get".

In your case - if you don't try, you'll never know.

Go for it. We'll cheer you all the way.

rah rah rah!!!!!:)

My father in law went back to school in his 50's and went in a completely different direction after that. He died a few weeks ago, many years after graduating. One of the things he was most proud of was his advanced degree, and found that he got more out of the experience than he did as a youth. Part of the celebration of his life was references, pictures and examples of his work from that period of his life. I hope that if you get into vet school, you have as enriching an experience as he did. :sadsmile:

[cowgirljenn]

I'm 35 and recently looked into it. After getting a MS and PhD, though, I don't think I can stomach any more school. :) (I was thinking of vet school because I would like to go into lameness research).

Anyway, what I found - you may have to retake some of your science classes if its been more than 10 years since you took them. Go in and talk to an admissions counselor.

And there is a vet school at St. Kitts - I know someone getting ready to go there and have heard good things about it.

[In The Gate]

I have multiple classmates who are in their late 30's and early 40's. They're all doing well, and have no regrets about their choice to start veterinary school later in life.

If it's what you want, and you can afford it financially, there is no reason not to!

P.S. -- The VCAT doesn't exist anymore; you'll need to take the GRE.

[FatPalomino]

The school on St Kitts is called Ross University and is the most established Caribbean vet school. You can get US-backed government loans (huge plus) but you do have to jump through some extra hoops to get your license. The Caribbean schools are known to be a last resort, for people who do not get in the US schools. Some people pick the Caribbean schools because they are easy to get into, have 3 start dates a year, and usually run an accelerated program. For example, Ross goes year round so you spend 28 months 'on the island' and 12 months at a US school. So, you can get in sooner and get done sooner.
Ross and other Caribbean schools have a much higher drop out rate than US schools. The reasons are complicated, and they are not always as clear cut as the student didn't do what was expected of them. On average at Ross, 60-80% of the class fail at least one semester, and a few transfers back to a US school. PM me if you want info on the school on St Kitts.

I worked for vets for years before deciding to go to vet school. Vet school is very tough. To get into most US schools, your need an outrageous application. Perfect grades and GRE scores, diversified, intense veterinary expereince... and even then, many qualified applicants don't get in.

It is also a huge financial commitment. Vets are one of the lowest paid careers for the amount of education they have. Equine vets are known to work very long hours for relatively little pay. The debt is enormous., if you rely on financial aid. I will be over $200K in debt. I have 2 friends at 2 different vet schools and they are also incurring the same amount of debt. Literally, our loan payments will be like paying a second mortgage every month.

I am currently finishing up my first year of vet school. One person who is older (34) is doing very well in my class. Two non-trad's (40 ish female and 32ish male) withdrew halfway through the first semester. They said they didn't know how difficult it was going to be.

Vet school will consume almost every waking breathing moment of your life for 4 years. One of the things that stops me from getting burnt out is the fact that I worked for so many vets, and I *know* this is what I want to do. I know I will be good.

I do not plan on going into equine medicine unless I am offered an amazing oppurtunity. Honestly, I won't be able to pay back my loans as an equine vet. I imagine for the first few years I'll be working swing shift at a small animal emergency practice.

Good luck with your decision. It's a big one.

[Pookah]

Go for it if you have your heart set on it, but do consider your return on investment as one of the factors. If you're okay with taking on a lot of loans and this is what will make you happy and satisfied with your life, go for it. It sounds like you would certainly have a good background to give you a good shot at being one of the 10%. Just make sure that financially it makes sense for you, because there are probably other degrees that would give you a quicker return on your investment, at any rate.

[FatPalomino]

but do consider your return on investment as one of the factors.

Doing the numbers is a very wise idea. I know exactly how much my loan payments will be, etc. My good friend figured out, at worst, one week of every month will go straight to loans. He had a better way to phrase it
"One week of every month you will be paying to do what you love."

[Abberlaze]

Consider looking at Massey or Murdoch Vet schools if your pre-requisite courses have expired. There are several in Europe, as well as these two (Australia and New Zealand I think?) where it takes an extra semester or year to graduate but the entrance requirements are much more lenient and if you don't have current pre-requisites it may even be easier to do it this way. They are accredited by AAVMC which means that a degree from one of them is regarded as equivalent to one from a US school, as opposed to the Caribbean ones where you may face more discrimination.

http://www.aavmc.org/students_admissions/vet_schools.htm

[deltawave]

Vet school will consume almost every waking breathing moment of your life for 4 years.

This is kind of how medical school was. I was single at the time and had no horse of my own, so it was much, MUCH easier for me than for people who had families and lots of other commitments. In fact, I don't know how anyone with a family, particularly young kids, could possibly make it happen. They do, and my hat's off to them, but wow--I don't think I could have.

[BlueEyedSorrel]

This is kind of how medical school was. I was single at the time and had no horse of my own, so it was much, MUCH easier for me than for people who had families and lots of other commitments. In fact, I don't know how anyone with a family, particularly young kids, could possibly make it happen. They do, and my hat's off to them, but wow--I don't think I could have.

Ditto. While there are things about being single I don't like, not having to justify the time spent on school and studying to anyone else is a definite plus.

If you are married, be sure that your spouse is 100% behind you, not just in a "whatever makes you happy, dear" sense but in a willingness to pitch in with domestic duties WITHOUT COMPLAINING.

I am not married but I have seen how this plays out. In my med school class (entering class of 2003, so not the dinosaur days by any stretch) there was a woman whose husband was incredibly non-supportive. She had been out of college for several years, working a 9-5 job that left lots of time for a personal life. The husband did not adjust well AT ALL when this changed. During the pre-clinical years he griped about the amount of time spent studying and even suggested that if she failed, they could go back to a "normal life." The clinical years were much, much worse--she'd come home late after a long day in the hospital and he'd complain that the laundry wasn't done, there was nothing in the fridge for dinner and by the way, didn't you say you'd be home early this time. They are still together but I have no idea how. Many thought they were headed for splitsville.

I'm not trying to scare the OP off, just saying that anyone considering this path should know all the realities.

BES

[flypony74]

I'm 34 and have been strongly considering going back to law school, which was my original intention when I graduated from college (but got married instead....what was I thinking?!). I feel like I'd be nuts to go back at this age but maybe I just need to suck it up and do it.

If you are passionate about vet school, it can't hurt to apply. I have a close friend in vet school, and she manages to ride almost every day (even went to the AECs this year), but she lives a half-mile from her barn and is very diligent with time management.

[eyesontheground]

I actually know several "mature" ;) students at UF's vet school. I also know a person waiting to hear about next year that is hoping to make this her second career. Most of the people I know had to go back to undergrad to pick up pre-reqs or fulfill classes that they had taken many years before. I am trying to find the email addy of one of the people I know and will PM you when I find it. They will be able to answer lots of your questions about the process. I would recommend going to talk to someone in admissions at the vet school as well.

[saddleup]

I have a brother who went to med school at 40, with 7 kids. He retired from the Air Force and then followed his dream. It was an incredible sacrifice, but he did it. He did say that the funny thing was everyone always assumed he was the senior physician in the room, and would turn to him for his opinion, and he'd point to the very young looking doctor by his side and say "he's in charge".

[Kementari]

My mom graduated from law school at age 51 (the day before I graduated undergrad, no less! :D). She had an AB in English and an MA in cultural geography, so no legal background - but she did really well on the LSATs, and professional schools of all sorts look well on students with "life experience." :yes:

She hasn't regretted it for one second, but she won't be retiring at 65, either - her loans won't even be paid off by then. So, as others have said, make sure you run the numbers - and are comfortable with them! - before you go for it.

Good luck! :cool:

[JanM]

OK-if you put four years into vet school you'll graduate at 42 with a job you love. If you don't go to vet school in four years you'll be 42 and not liking your job. If you really want to do it then go for it.

Considering the financial crisis you should see if you qualify for the amount of loans you will need before you go any further, I've heard that things have tightened up considerably.

[KarenC]

My husband graduated from vet school (MSU) in May at age 39. He worked for 8 years in corporate banking prior to entering vet school. He was always interested, but one day a co-worker was mentioning how long it would be until he reached mandatory retirement age...and it hit MrC that he could stay in a job he hated for another almost 30 years or go back to school and do something he loved for 20-25 years after he graduated.

Speaking as the spouse, I will reiterate that it can be very hard on your significant other; not only are there the financial strains, but certain times in vet school require all-consuming commitment and the spouse just has to take a back seat for a while. Of course, as I am finding, it prepares you well for when they actually start their vet career. :lol:

We do have quite a bit of student loans, but since I was working full time, our loans are only for his schooling costs and not for his living costs. I have them automatically deducted from our account so I don't actually have to see the bills every month. :eek:

He is a different person than he was before. He loves his job. He does equine work only, and he said he doesn't care what specific work he is doing - he's just as happy doing an MRI as injecting hocks or standing there up to his armpit in horse poo working on a colic. His eight years in banking have served him very well; he understands the business side of running a clinic and more importantly, is exceptionally good at developing and maintaining client relationships. I think many people don't consider the human side of veterinary medicine and how important it is. He was also in the military and the discpline he learned there helped him get through school as well.


But, he was very, very clear for a long time that this was something he wanted to do. I would not recommend it for someone who was on the fence about it. FYI, his BS was in Biology so he only had two prerequisite courses he had to take.

[deltawave]

everyone always assumed he was the senior physician in the room, and would turn to him for his opinion, and he'd point to the very young looking doctor by his side and say "he's in charge".

That's funny! Everyone STILL assumes I'm the nurse and asks me to get them some ice water or a bedpan. :sigh: ;)