Your 2nd choice - if vet school wasn't a possibility?

[lailanni]

So I was thinking to myself for fun, what would I be doing if vet school wasn't a possibility for me?

If there was no chance that I'd be going after a DVM, what would I be doing in this alternate universe?

My second choice: Pastry Chef. Yes, Pastry Chef.

I'd still do a lot of volunteer work with animals and shelters, but I wouldn't want to be a tech or assistant for my whole life. My second great love is baked goods! Becoming a vet is of couse my first choice, but if that never panned out I'd be quite happy opening my own bakery.

How about you guys? Your second choice? Is there anything outside of vet med you could be happy doing?

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[VetDJ]

haha yea i have another profession that I could be happy doing the rest of my life

professional trance DJ/producer

 

[heyday]

Interior decorator. I love love love watching design shows on HGTV.

 

[VetMed555]

PhD in Pharmacology/Toxicology. I'd put this chemistry degree of mine to a good use and do drug development. Possibly would've found a cure for cancer, but now we'll never know...

 

[Cheska]

Professional photographer- what the heck, I may still go that route for retirement!
It is funny, the entire side of my mom's family are artists and I am the only one who is going against that as my main profession. The reason I got interested in vet med was because of the goat farm that my family had on the side that made the real income. My family was quite surprised that I went in a different direction, fortunately I love vet med and it provides a little more stability when it comes to income.

 

[ccrose3]

Oh gosh, that's a hard one. I can't come up with anything. I better hope I get in!

Maybe I could work for shelters in some capacity, and also get more involved in policy reform and educational programs.

 

[smoknjoe44]

pornstar

or maybe a cop...

 

[FelineFanatic]

Definitely a chef! But not in a high stress, fast-paced restaurant. I'd love to cook in a laid-back environment where I could sip on a glass of wine and cook at my own pace. Oh wait, that sounds like home!

 

[carrbear21]

Personal Trainer & Group Fitness Instructore... and it's not all it's cracked up to be!

 

[wi girl]

I'd probably get a graduate degree in history, or work in publishing -- i LOVE LOVE LOVE to read, and think that being a reader (reads manuscripts sent in to decide if publisher should publish) would be a great job. not well paying, but .... that seems to be the case in any of my career choices.

 

[bovine]

I think that I would have perused a PhD in weed science or agronomy. I am not exactly sure what I would have done with the degree though...

 

[AuburnPreVet]

Open a cute coffee shop or two. Still hope to do this someday...in my "free time" ... haha.

 

[pupsforseeing]

i'd open a little bookstore with a sandwich shop attached. i am a sucker for cute little bookstores.

realistically? probably get a phd in anatomy and be a professor.

 

[twelvetigers]

LOL pornstar... that's great.

I think I'd like to be an ER tech or something like that... fast paced decision making sort of thing. Of course I can't say for sure as I've never actually tried it... hm. I'd probably like to eventualy be in a position of telling people what to do. I'm uh, kinda bossy.

 

[NittanyKitty]

If vet school didn't pan out, I would immediately turn to human medicine. I need a "service" profession, and I love medicine and interacting with lots of different people. Maybe a pediatrician or neonatologist.

 

[greenie53]

Yay for foodies!! I'd love to be a chef too, except if it were professional, it kinda stinks that you have to give up all the best nights of the week for your career

Or- I was pretty close to doing human medicine (MD or PA..hadn't really decided on the commitment level) and could still see myself doing it... But I'm in vet school now and I swear I won't flip flop back and forth anymore!!

 

[rachroo]

I'd love to be a world traveler.

But since that's a job that costs money, I'd be a writer. Well, actually that is still plausible while pursuing vet med, since I'm writing a novel right now for fun!!

 

[nyanko]

Well, I guess I'd get my PhD and be a geneticist and professor. Like I plan on doing after I DO go to vet school. Only I'd not get to do the fun clinical side of it too.

 

[Orthonut]

Ahhh. So hard.

Vet School is acutally my second choice. I broke my ankle one time too many and the last time I broke it when it healed it did so in a way that I can no longer pass a flight physical no more UH60s for me

In case you don't know what an UH60is

I guess I'd go back to training horses and work toward teaching Ag classes. It might not be glamorous, but we need Ag teachers, and I always was a good hand with the horses.

 

[david594]

Paramedic.

 

[IvyLynx]

haha yea i have another profession that I could be happy doing the rest of my life

professional trance DJ/producer

OMG! I love trance

I'd probably apply to med. school or just get my PhD. Wouldn't mind being a neuroendocrinologist. Or a forensic scientist.....or sing/dance on Broadway!

 

[stick91]

I don't think I could ever give up science entirely...so maybe PhD in molecular bio?

Always wished I had the skills and opportunity to be a wildlife photographer, I drool over fancy cameras ; )

And, I would love love love to be involved with equine rescue, which I'm hoping to be able to do anyways

 

[twelvetigers]

Orthonut - Army? Navy? AF? Just wondering. Vet school is a cool backup plan, I think.

 

[DVMorBust]

I'm with Rachroo on the writer front. Luckily, it's something that CAN be done on the side - which is great, because I'd never give it up. Dreams of being published remain.

However, since it's not something terrifically lucrative, I'd probably see about doing something like going to grad school for Linguistics or Chemistry, and figure out profession after that.

 

[TractorKid]

If there was no chance that I'd be going after a DVM, what would I be doing in this alternate universe?

If it is truly an alternate universe, I would be a dolphin trainer. Always wished I could do that....

 

[rustysmom]

I also couldn't give up science entirely (says the girl who barely passed high school biology and FAILED high school chemistry ) so I would have applied to medical school (orthopedic surgeon maybe) or gone into forsenic science

 

[OSJ]

Grand Prix Jumper rider!! Growing up I always wanted to be both a vet and a grand prix jumper/ trainer. One thing that actually makes me really sad is that my riding has taken a back seat all through school and I really miss it! I have 2 horses so I get my horse fix, but I'd love to be competing all week long instead of working! I have hardly even had much time to ride for the past 5 years. One day when my life slows down a tad, I want to really get back into it.
My other option would be to be an MD, although I'd still use the extra money I make to buy expensive horses and I'd show on the side.

 

[Mylez]

Animal trainer or work at a zoo.

 

[LVT2DVM]

Interesting thread..I have lots of fun things I would like to try.

Anatomical Illustrator (the artists that draw the pictures in textbooks and such)
Biology professor (too much schooling though)
Search and Rescue dog trainer/handler
And I too like to whip up some good eats.

My DH says I should go into IT because I am very handy with computers and such but cant see that as much more than a hobby.

 

[adOggy07]

<-- sushi chef.

that way I could gorge myself with all the deliciousness that is sushi!!!

 

[bunnyslippers]

definitely interior design or try and open a gourmet cupcake bakery. if i couldn't spend my life with animals the next best options would of course include comfy couches and food!

 

[PAThbrd]

Thoroughbred broodmare manager. What I originally looked at colleges for before deciding on vet med.

I like teaching, too. Although I don't like kids so that would have been a problem

 

[Electrophile]

-a dog behaviorist and trainer, though I currently am
-a medical illustrator (like LVT2DVM mentioned). That's about the only thing I really enjoyed about anatomy is it made me a better artist. Anatomy is beautiful, but it just sucks being tested over. For our final yesterday, on one section, I got a 56% on it. Which somehow miraculously beat the class average.
-an AP biology high school or a college biology professor doing mostly teaching
-go back and get masters or PhD in religious studies, particularly looking at the interface in today's society of science and religion
-a desperate housewife? Nah...

 

[NoleDevil]

Meteorologist! Although I wanted to be a vet since I was a kid, I thought about pursuing meteorology in high school/undergrad. Then, however, I found out about all of the complex math involved with the field, and so vet med it was!

 

[BartonVet87]

I would have loved to teach! Maybe it's just because I've had really great, inspiring professors during my undergrad, though

The only sad thing about getting into vet school and not going for my masters is the fact that I can't be a TA now... vet school definitely over-rules teaching students how to do gram-stains, however!!!

 

[Ben and Me]

Either an A show groom (not sure how long I'd last at that though--too many egos!) or a history teacher.

 

[Hollycozza]

I would like to be a journalist! But I hope I can do some veterinary journalism anyway!

I reckon law would be interesting too, well, aspects of it at least!!!

 

[athenaparthenos]

- Young adult science fiction/fantasy writer (Still hope to do this on the side!)
- Gotta third medical illustrating. That or bird field guide illustrating. <3
- Wildlife photographer
- Research biologist working with Madagascar hissing cockroaches or birds of some kind
- Medical doctor, possibly in pediatrics, gynecology (w00t women's health!), or sports medicine (what, injuries are fun! in that not-so-fun way)
- Zoo/museum educator working with animals and educating people (did this in high school/college, it would just be cool to be able to do this for 3 or 4 times what I made then, lol)

 

[handh02]

I would have to say one of two things:

Teacher, probably high school science, because I'm teaching now and loving it! I may still teach in a veterinary setting after vet school.

Or Zookeeper, because I did behind the scenes shadowing of zookeepers for a while in college and loved it!

Really I can envision myself doing lots of things, including helping my husband out with his videography.

But I'd probably never stray far, for long, from the science/animal part of me.

 

[philomycus]

Doing it now....college prof/teacher.

BTW, BartonVet...I your avatar! That's great!

 

[PlantersPunch]

Both of these have been said, but I would love to open a bakery (as long as I could pay people to clean up after me) This was actually discussed in my interview! And definitely love to be a grand prix rider/trainer although I would like to train the hunters and have eq kids too.

 

[kekemapa04]

This question actually came up in my WSU interview and I was not prepared for it, but I am very happy with the answer I gave! I would love to go back and coach gymnastics! I love having an impact on children and it is so rewarding to see them gain the self esteem that will help them throughout life! Every time I go home my old coach/boss tries to get me to come back and it is always so hard to say no...I wish I had the time to even do it part-time!

 

[Catnapper]

I'd look into starting a senior cat hospice.
...or be a drummer in an angry girl band.

 

[LVT2DVM]

I'd look into starting a senior cat hospice.
...or be a drummer in an angry girl band.

Hey catnapper I wanna be the lead singer in your angry girl bad. Already have a name...The Emasculators!

 

[cozycleo]

I have been thinking about this, even though I just got started on my road to (hopefully) vet school. When I was a kid I wanted to be a dolphin trainer or a police dog trainer. I ended up working in law, but on the desk end of it.

I may look into working for the DNR or something else. I spent so many years on my feet wanting a desk job. Now that I have one I want to be back on my feet!

 

[Electrophile]

Hey catnapper I wanna be the lead singer in your angry girl bad. Already have a name...The Emasculators!

Speaking of great band names, I thought of a couple...The Valsalva Maneuver or The Gubernaculum. But I like Emasculators for the angry girl band.

anthenaparthenos and LVT2DVM, do you guys have any medical illustrations you all have done? I'd love to see them! Our class is having an art exhibition of sorts in June, so I'll probably draw a couple out and post them if I have time (or maybe not if they don't turn out).

 

[RazorDoc2010]

-NASA engineer (which I almost did)
-MD
-high school chem/calculus/physics teacher
-research specimen for scientists who want to study sleep

I thought about music, but that's mine and I'm not sharing.

 

[Catnapper]

Oh, the album covers we would have...

 

[Orthonut]

Orthonut - Army? Navy? AF? Just wondering. Vet school is a cool backup plan, I think.

I did Navy ROTC in undergrad and afterwards I moved back home (that was after two broken ankles in a row) and joined the Army NG. I ended up at the same base as my dad-he was in our HHC company and I was in the Med Evac Bn, broke my ankle AGAIN and then had to call it quits.

I am a total pro at crutches, casts, surgeries, and those silly little boot things.

 

[loo]

Definitely:
-dentist
-be an owner/operator of a bike (as in bicycles) shop.

Fantasy:
-run motorcycle tours in foreign countries for super-rich tourists
-race motorcycles
-be a surf/kiteboard instructor in any tropical locale