vet or human medicine

[jlala]

Hello everyone,
So : I am now in first year of medical school, but since childhood I had always wanted to vet because I loved animals, but in high school I also became really interested in human medicine. But now reviewing reports on veterinary universities, I'm not sure, I wonder if I will regret one day not doing veto because animals are my passion. I know that if it was just for the studies I'd have chosen vet school but after the studies you have the job itself and human medicine is also offering a lot of specialities . So here if I could have some stories of you to help me make my choice, I know that no one can choose for me but having some informations will enlighten me: How many hours do you do? what is your financial situation? Do you regret your choice? Is country vet a suitable job for a woman?
Thank you in advance for your answers

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[DVMDream]

If you are already in medical school, then stay there.

Loving animals is not enough to be a vet. Also the debt:income ratio for vets is horrible.

 

[jlala]

thanks for your reply , I know loving animals is not enough to be a vet but it's like for human medicine : loving humans is not enough^^ but I guess you can have a good life and a good salary as a vet and as a doctor, the thing is I don't want to have any regrets in the future , I want to be sure of my choice , and by the way are you a vet student or a medical student ? If yes do you like it ?

 

[DVMDream]

thanks for your reply , I know loving animals is not enough to be a vet but it's like for human medicine : loving humans is not enough^^ but I guess you can have a good life and a good salary as a vet and as a doctor, the thing is I don't want to have any regrets in the future , I want to be sure of my choice , and by the way are you a vet student or a medical student ? If yes do you like it ?

Depends on what you consider a "good" salary and a "good" life.

The average debt in vet med is over $150,000 now and if you attend an out of state school or a school out of the country you could easily balloon that to over $250,000.

Veterinary income varies based upon location and what you are doing. If you choose to do an internship/residency then you will make around $26-32K on average for 4-5 years of extra learning. During this time, it is difficult to impossible to pay on student loans, so expect the interest on those loans to continue to increase. That interest capitalizes and is added to the principal... so you can expect to add another few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars to your original loan principal. Fun, right? When that is all said and done you might have increased your earning potential from 50-70K to just at or barely above 100K, unless you get into something like surgery then you might be up to 150K, if you happen to be able to secure a job.

If you choose to skip on an internship/residency and go straight into practice, your income will vary based on where you live.

Choose to stick out west, AZ, TX, or FL.... I have seen starting salaries in those areas range from as low as 55K to as high as 90K. It really depends, but that is for private practice small animal work. Equine and food animal vets, tend to make less.

Choose to stick in the midwest... you are looking at a salary that can be in the 40K-60K (high end if you are lucky)range... again, food and equine vets make less.

I haven't looked much at posted salaries for the east coast, but it will vary and tends to increase/decrease in comparison with cost of living in that area.

Medical school has the same debt as does vet school. Internships and residencies aren't an option (for the majority) in human medicine. However, their internships and residencies make considerably more money. And when you are complete with your residency your earning potential is almost always above 100K, if not always above 150K.... doctors make considerably more money than vets do, easily double to triple.

Yes, I am in vet school. Do I like vet school? Meh, sometimes.

Are you actually in medical school? Or are you in undergrad? Your posts seem more like you are in undergrad and don't understand anything about either human or vet med debt and salary.

 

[jlala]

…I'm french and I'm in the first year of medical school in Poland (as I have polish origins) so it's not really the same situation speaking of debts (even if you have to pay quite a lot for each year of studies) and going to vet school is even cheaper than medical university but I know in America the debts are huge when you're going to universities and you have to think about it . I just wanted to have some informations from people who are working as vets or doctors to do the right choice because now I'm at the beginning of my studies and it's not too late to change but after it will be too late … Money is not everything even if it's something important to consider

 

[DVMDream]

…I'm french and I'm in the first year of medical school in Poland (as I have polish origins) so it's not really the same situation speaking of debts (even if you have to pay quite a lot for each year of studies) and going to vet school is even cheaper than medical university but I know in America the debts are huge when you're going to universities and you have to think about it . I just wanted to have some informations from people who are working as vets or doctors to do the right choice because now I'm at the beginning of my studies and it's not too late to change but after it will be too late … Money is not everything even if it's something important to consider

No money is not everything, but it is one of the most, if not the most important thing to consider. Money doesn't buy happiness, but it sure can make you more comfortable.

There aren't really many international students on SDN, unfortunately, so commenting on how medicine or vet med works for us, might not be an accurate representation of what happens in Poland.

I would suggest that you see if a vet there would allow you to shadow them to get an idea of what veterinary medicine is like.

Are you planning on working in Poland or elsewhere?

 

[jlala]

I'm planning to come back and work in France after my studies in Poland but I was maybe planning to come for one year or two in united states or Canada during or after my studies if it's possible .

I would suggest that you see if a vet there would allow you to shadow them to get an idea of what veterinary medicine is like.

Yes I've already done it in France but I'll do it in another clinic because each situation is different (depending on the location as you said before ) . Still I'm not sure about which career to choice and someone said once to me : Be careful not to mix passion(for animals) and work . Anyway thanks for your reply .

Yes, I am in vet school. Do I like vet school? Meh, sometimes.

What do you mean exactly ? Is it because of the debt ?

 

[DVMDream]

What do you mean exactly ? Is it because of the debt ?

It is school. I am interested in certain aspects and not interested in others, but I still have to learn about those things.

The amount of work to do and the sheer volume of information to learn really puts a lot of stress on people and once you have been at it for 3 years, your motivation wears thin.

Some days and weeks suck more than others and some weeks are great, it just depends.

It is just a long 4 years with a lot to learn and a lot of stress that doesn't let up often.

 

[jlala]

I think it's the same in every universities , but I guess you already had some apprenticeships in vet clinics , what were your impressions ? And how many years do you have left in vet school ?

 

[DVMDream]

I think it's the same in every universities , but I guess you already had some apprenticeships in vet clinics , what were your impressions ? And how many years do you have left in vet school ?

I am not sure what you mean by apprenticeships. Vet school is different in the US than it is in certain other countries, we don't go into vet school right after high school, most vet school applicants have a few years of college education and have obtained certain pre-reqs prior to getting into vet school. Also, vet schools here tend to require that applicants have obtained some experience with the veterinary industry prior to applying. So vet students will shadow vets, in shelters, help with research, etc prior to ever getting admitted to a veterinary program.

I had 7 years of work experience in small animal veterinary clinics prior to going into veterinary school. Now that is an extreme and is not a necessary need for applicants to get that much experience. I just happened to start working with a vet at 17 and it was a perfect way to combine getting experience with making money.

Since vet school, I have also done a 3 week externship at an animal shelter, I will have more externships in the next few months.

My impressions of vet med... well, my view is still mostly what I have seen in small animal private practice. I have seen a small amount of farm vet work and a very, very small amount of equine work. I lean towards small animal practice because that is what I enjoy and what I have most experience in. My view on small animal medicine is varied. I really enjoyed my time at the shelter, but it isn't going to be representative of every shelter either. I could very well see myself doing shelter medicine. I also enjoy general practice, yes it can be frustrating and sad times when clients get angry or pets can't be helped or clients don't want to pay to help their pets, but for the most part, I enjoy working with people and helping their pets.

I have just over a year left in vet school.

Again, you really need to talk with and get experience with vets over there. As much as you can. Because there are big differences between vet med in different countries. When I was in the UK for 2 years, most people had pet health insurance there and that impacted what they did with treating their pets, but hardly anyone has pet health insurance in the US. So you need to gain experiences and talk with vets in the country you want to practice in, that is going to be the most important for you.

Also you should do the same with medical doctors, because you can't compare how the job will be from one country to the next.

 

[DVMDream]

Still I'm not sure about which career to choice and someone said once to me : Be careful not to mix passion(for animals) and work .

And this is a good point. You can have a passion for something and making that something into your career can kind of turn you "away" from it. Maybe not in the sense that you hate it or anything, but just that you don't want to hear about it all the time anymore. Having a passion for saving animals is much different than actually having to save them or having to actually euthanize them because a pet owner can't afford to treat them. Sometimes what became a passion can then just become work. Talking to people about their pets can be fun, but once they figure out you are involved in the vet field it turns into a life story about their Fluffykins and asking if the ear infection she had 5 years ago is causing her to leak urine and trust me after spending 10 hours at the vet clinic for 6 days straight the LAST thing you want to be discussing with anyone is their pets ailments.

 

[IlDestriero]

I'm a pediatric specialist, that's kind of like veterinarian medicine, but on humans. And it pays really well.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Well played, sir

Well played.

 

[chickenlittle]

I'm a pediatric specialist, that's kind of like veterinarian medicine, but on humans. And it pays really well.

This guy beat me to the punch

I have several friends who are pediatricians and we have come to the conclusion that our jobs have A LOT in common- more similarities than differences. Similar appointment schedules to manage, similar scared and sometimes difficult-to-work-with patients, similar occasionally-difficult 'parents,' etc. The big advantages on their side are much larger incomes, more flexible schedules due to a wider variety of opportunities, not having to see their patients suffer because the 'parents' can't/won't pay for treatment, no economic euthanasias, and probably some other things that I'm forgetting. The big advantage on my side is less paperwork/bureaucracy.

I'd switch over to their side in a heartbeat, and use the increased income to support my animal-related passions in other non-DVM ways - have the income to support a hobby farm, or maybe practice medicine PT and volunteer with a humane society on the weekends, or maybe practice FT with the goal of retiring early and volunteering with animals, etc. Working as a veterinarian is mostly about working with the clients, not working with the animals.... so I'd rather get paid the big medicine money to work with the people and then find a 'side thing' that lets me REALLY work with animals.

 

[that redhead]

Hello everyone,
So : I am now in first year of medical school, but since childhood I had always wanted to vet because I loved animals, but in high school I also became really interested in human medicine. But now reviewing reports on veterinary universities, I'm not sure, I wonder if I will regret one day not doing veto because animals are my passion. I know that if it was just for the studies I'd have chosen vet school but after the studies you have the job itself and human medicine is also offering a lot of specialities . So here if I could have some stories of you to help me make my choice, I know that no one can choose for me but having some informations will enlighten me: How many hours do you do? what is your financial situation? Do you regret your choice? Is country vet a suitable job for a woman?
Thank you in advance for your answers

There are many ways to be involved with and help animals that do not require you to be a veterinarian and do not require the same time and monetary commitments. My advice is to stick it out with human medicine and once you're making good money, pursue your animal passion through fostering, volunteering at a local zoo or shelter, owning your own pets, pet sitting for friends, etc.

 

[jlala]

thank you everyone for your answers sorry I didn't answer before I had a busy week with exams I'll think about it

I'm a pediatric specialist, that's kind of like veterinarian medicine, but on humans. And it pays really well.

This guy beat me to the punch

I have several friends who are pediatricians and we have come to the conclusion that our jobs have A LOT in common- more similarities than differences. Similar appointment schedules to manage, similar scared and sometimes difficult-to-work-with patients, similar occasionally-difficult 'parents,' etc. The big advantages on their side are much larger incomes, more flexible schedules due to a wider variety of opportunities, not having to see their patients suffer because the 'parents' can't/won't pay for treatment, no economic euthanasias, and probably some other things that I'm forgetting. The big advantage on my side is less paperwork/bureaucracy.

I'd switch over to their side in a heartbeat, and use the increased income to support my animal-related passions in other non-DVM ways - have the income to support a hobby farm, or maybe practice medicine PT and volunteer with a humane society on the weekends, or maybe practice FT with the goal of retiring early and volunteering with animals, etc. Working as a veterinarian is mostly about working with the clients, not working with the animals.... so I'd rather get paid the big medicine money to work with the people and then find a 'side thing' that lets me REALLY work with animals.

Yes in a way a pediatrician has also patients who can't speak ….. I'll think about it and make my choice

 

[vetneuroperson]

Hello everyone,
So : I am now in first year of medical school, but since childhood I had always wanted to vet because I loved animals, but in high school I also became really interested in human medicine. But now reviewing reports on veterinary universities, I'm not sure, I wonder if I will regret one day not doing veto because animals are my passion. I know that if it was just for the studies I'd have chosen vet school but after the studies you have the job itself and human medicine is also offering a lot of specialities . So here if I could have some stories of you to help me make my choice, I know that no one can choose for me but having some informations will enlighten me: How many hours do you do? what is your financial situation? Do you regret your choice? Is country vet a suitable job for a woman?
Thank you in advance for your answers

Work in a lab. Boom problem solved.

But seriously, stay in medical school. You're at the start of a journey and career that people only dream about. Don't wreck that to chase a passion. I'm a vet, and both of my siblings are in medical school as well. Their resident salaries are equal to the average salary for a veterinarian out of school. I know money shouldn't be the reason to do some things, but horrible financial outcomes should DEFINITELY be a reason NOT to do some things.

 

[jlala]

Work in a lab. Boom problem solved.
But seriously, stay in medical school. You're at the start of a journey and career that people only dream about. Don't wreck that to chase a passion. I'm a vet, and both of my siblings are in medical school as well. Their resident salaries are equal to the average salary for a veterinarian out of school. I know money shouldn't be the reason to do some things, but horrible financial outcomes should DEFINITELY be a reason NOT to do some things.

Really thank you for your reply vetneuroperson , I'm still thinking about it because vet studies are really interesting (but of course studies are not all after this you have to work and it's not the same ) but I didn't realize that the financial situation was such a worry for vets after the studies . Because as a vet you can do a lot of things too : you can work in a lab , as a veterinary inspector …By the way what is the salary of a vet inspector or a vet working in a lab ?

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Really thank you for your reply vetneuroperson , I'm still thinking about it because vet studies are really interesting (but of course studies are not all after this you have to work and it's not the same ) but I didn't realize that the financial situation was such a worry for vets after the studies . Because as a vet you can do a lot of things too : you can work in a lab , as a veterinary inspector …By the way what is the salary of a vet inspector or a vet working in a lab ?

A vet will need an additional research degree (i.e. PhD) to work as a full-fledged independent researcher. Is that what you mean by working in a lab?

Veterinary Medical Officers (FDA and USDA employees, do inspection work etc) can earn anywhere from 70-90k depending on the expense of the area.

 

[lailanni]

Working as a veterinarian is mostly about working with the clients, not working with the animals.... so I'd rather get paid the big medicine money to work with the people and then find a 'side thing' that lets me REALLY work with animals.

THIS x 100. In small animal general practice, I feel like I'm mostly convincing owners to treat their animals - instead of actually hands on treating the animal. That's what the technicians and support staff do.

If you love working with animals but are going towards human medicine, stay there and volunteer with animal shelters on the side. You'll get a good income as a doctor and will still have the chance to hands on help animals.

 

[dyachei]

I just read a very depressing article that said your return on investment for vet school is worse than if you borrowed that amount of money and invested it in the stock market.

 

[vetneuroperson]

 

[jmo1012]

more wise advice: "It is best to make a reasonable amount of money and have hobbies than to turn a hobby into a job."

 

[jlala]

Thank you all of you for replying and for being honest ! But would you have done vet school again if the debt wasn't that high ?

 

[chickenlittle]

I have no debt and wouldn't do it again.

 

[jlala]

I have no debt and wouldn't do it again.

Why exactly chickenlittle ?

 

[chickenlittle]

Why exactly chickenlittle ?

I feel that the time and money that I invested in my education, I could be doing either A) something more financially rewarding (ie. human medicine) or B) something more personally fulfilling (ie. social work, ministry, etc). I feel that small animal medicine provides much of the same stress, headaches, etc as human medicine but without the financial rewards. I had expected the lack of financial gains to be made up for in personal fulfillment, but have not found that to be the case as small animal medicine as more about persuading owners to accept a treatment plan than actually using your medical skills for the benefit of the patient. Shelter work could, in theory, provide a greater sense of fulfillment... but most positions advertised in shelter medicine emphasize little more than spay/neuter.

 

[DVMDream]

I feel that the time and money that I invested in my education, I could be doing either A) something more financially rewarding (ie. human medicine) or B) something more personally fulfilling (ie. social work, ministry, etc). I feel that small animal medicine provides much of the same stress, headaches, etc as human medicine but without the financial rewards. I had expected the lack of financial gains to be made up for in personal fulfillment, but have not found that to be the case as small animal medicine as more about persuading owners to accept a treatment plan than actually using your medical skills for the benefit of the patient. Shelter work could, in theory, provide a greater sense of fulfillment... but most positions advertised in shelter medicine emphasize little more than spay/neuter.

I don't know where you work or if you are working for someone or have your own clinic or if this would even be possible. It was something I heard about today actually and I really like the idea. This vet works with the local shelter, offering x amount of money per month for assisting in treating animals that the shelter wouldn't otherwise be able to treat. That does mean money straight out of the clinics' pocket, but this allows both the vets and support staff to kind of treat an animal without regard to "cost" (depending on how much money you allocate). He has stated that this really helps to boost morale in the clinic and allows to get some of the fulfillment that you sometimes just can't get in private practice due to the lack of funds.

Obviously I have no idea if that is even feasible for you or where you work, but just an idea that I really thought was quite neat. Not only that, then you get the support of the animal shelter and it can help to bring more clients to the clinic.