So I'm in that awkward stage of deciding what to do with my life, and I thought I would put out some feelers in a community of animal lovers for ideas. I have been around animals my whole life- I've had horses since I was a kid and was raised by a falconer. I always liked the idea of being a vet, but have always been turned off by the fierce competition of getting into and succeeding in vet school. I got a BS in Biology and when I still didn't know exactly what I wanted to do I decided to just work for a bit and figure it out. I have a job as a lab tech in a medical research center- its a decent job that pays the bills, but I hate it. In order to keep sane and get my animal care fix I also work part time at a horse farm where we break horses for the track, and I volunteer at the zoo. I love the hands on, outdoors physical labor of both jobs.
I have considered applying to vet school. My grades are only average (3.3 GPA) but I do have a lot of animal experience and my current lab job helps. However, my equine vet has told me that with the cost of vet school and the starting salary it's not worth it. She's worried that she won't be able to sell her practice when she wants to retire because the younger generation of vets will not be able to afford it. It's quite a financial commitment and it scares the **** out of me.
I thought about taking the extra classes I would need to become a vet tech, but I know the vet tech salary is not much to speak of, so I'm weighing whether the extra cost is worth it. I also would not be happy working inside in a small animal clinic. I'm worried that zoo and equine vet tech jobs are fewer and farther between.
Another option is that I will probably eventually be offered a job at the zoo, which I would love. However, the pay is probably even less than I make at my current job with no real room to move up.
I would love to get some advice from people who have looked for or found jobs in these areas. How do you feel about the prospects of being an equine or zoo vet tech? Does it make any sense to become a vet tech and then go back for a vet degree? Is the cost of vet school worth the salary of an equine or zoo vet? What about other careers in zoos?
Thank you![/SIZE][/SIZE]
I have considered applying to vet school. My grades are only average (3.3 GPA) but I do have a lot of animal experience and my current lab job helps. However, my equine vet has told me that with the cost of vet school and the starting salary it's not worth it. She's worried that she won't be able to sell her practice when she wants to retire because the younger generation of vets will not be able to afford it. It's quite a financial commitment and it scares the **** out of me.
I thought about taking the extra classes I would need to become a vet tech, but I know the vet tech salary is not much to speak of, so I'm weighing whether the extra cost is worth it. I also would not be happy working inside in a small animal clinic. I'm worried that zoo and equine vet tech jobs are fewer and farther between.
Another option is that I will probably eventually be offered a job at the zoo, which I would love. However, the pay is probably even less than I make at my current job with no real room to move up.
I would love to get some advice from people who have looked for or found jobs in these areas. How do you feel about the prospects of being an equine or zoo vet tech? Does it make any sense to become a vet tech and then go back for a vet degree? Is the cost of vet school worth the salary of an equine or zoo vet? What about other careers in zoos?
Thank you![/SIZE][/SIZE]
