So I have an idea

[Jay_Bunny]

I've wanted to be a veterinarian since I was 6 years old. The only thing stopping me is myself. I'm 21 and not currently in college. I basically failed out of college. My gpa is about 1.0. Now, I really would like to start going to classes and actually doing my work. I know the material, I just don't apply myself, which is my own darn fault and I'm slowly realizing this. So today while thinking about where I am in life, I realized that I still want to be a veterinarian, one who specializes in small mammals, birds, reptiles, and other exotics. So I think to myself, "Jay, what does this city need in a veterinarian?" "Why, we need a good emergency vet."

And then began my amazing idea. Well maybe not amazing to you, but when you finally realize what you want to do in life, its amazing. I want to be a veterinarian, specializing in small mammals, birds, reptiles, and other exotics, and on top of that, it will be based right in my home. The veterinary clinic will be inside my home, letting me stay at home with my kids and animals but also have a career. Basically patients would come to my house and the clinic would take up a spare space like a basement or the downstairs of the house, while living quarters were elsewhere. We would have normal hours just like any other vet, but instead of closing our doors to everyone at a specific time, emergencies would be taken in 24hrs a day. (It would suck, I know, but its kind of like the old farm veterinarian who makes house calls on those old movies). We have the situation here in this area that if your dog gets hit by a car at 2am, you have to rush him downtown to an emergency vet on Cary St. Then you get charged out the a** for the care. Not to mention, your animal is being seen by someone who has probably never seen your animal before and doesn't know his history. Why not your normal vet? And that's what I could do.

I know this kind of thing has drawbacks (lack of sleep, calls in the middle of the night, and many more that I probably don't even realize yet) but this could be something that could really help people. What do you think? Bad idea, good idea?

[Kaorte]

It would probably take a long time to get something like this up and running (what with education, permits, the usual business stuff, equiptment). If you are dedicated, I would say go for it. Do what you love and what makes you happy.

[Jay_Bunny]

Oh yeah. Its going to take years. I'm expecting somewhere around 10 years of education, maybe more with specialization. And a whole bunch of other stuff. But its something I'm aiming for. Might not get exactly what I want, but I can try.

[edie]

Its going to take a longgggg time but you're never too old to start! 21 is nothing, I'm currently attending college and am in the veterinary technology program - ages range from 19-50, granted, the vet tech degree is only a 2 year degree (not counting the 1 year of prerequisites), but we have one pre-vet student in the class that looks like he is 20-22.

I think I would just worry about one thing at a time though, education, then gaining experience outside of required internships, then having your own clinic.

[mainbutter]

I voted bad idea. Here's a couple of things why:

1) A professional veterinarian should not run a business out of the home, ESPECIALLY emergency veterinary care, which will commonly require surgery.

2) Cost of education. It's ridiculous, and unless you have scholarships(which since you failed out of college, I assume you don't) on a vet's salary you will be paying off student loans until you're 40 or older. That's a long time before you actually start making money to put towards retirement.

3) Vet school is both more difficult to pass and more difficult to get into than med school. Are you smart enough, able to apply yourself enough, etc. to get an undergraduate degree with a 3.8+ GPA from a state university? A little lower GPA from an ivy league or similarly difficult/highly regarded school? Having graduated from a liberal arts school that is nationally ranked in the top 5 regularly, I spent enough time around pre-med and pre-dental and pre-vet students to know just how difficult of a time they have, not only in passing the classes and tests(MCAT/vet aptitude, GRE), but then getting rejection letter after rejection letter.

If you want it, do it. But don't just "try". Go back to college. Get As in EVERY class, an A- CAN'T be acceptable. Do multiple internships where you get actual hands on experience helping animals(the biggest mistake people make is working in a research lab, and unless you're going into research, schools don't care about that) Consider running your vet service somewhere other than out of your house. I wouldn't take my pet to someone's basement to get treated, and I bet many other people feel the same way.

Just know what you're getting yourself into

[wolfy-hound]

Unless you're going to really push yourself, don't bother. Vet school is hard to get picked for. It's a long long push, with really hard classes. They pick the cream of the studants to take, and since you already failed out once, you'll have a huge hurdle to overcome.
The idea of a home based emergency vet is a bad one, unless you're going to have a HUGE home, with zoning that allows it, able to pass inspections, with a dedicated set of rooms. Then you'll also have to keep all of that cleaned and set up, while seeing patients, while dealing with the public, and "spending time with family and pets"? Not if you're doing the job. If you do it all yourself, you'll probably fail, because there's just too muchw ork for one person to run a clinic properly. If you hire someone, will you have them 24/7? What will you do when you need a second set of trained hands at 3am? How about when a drunk shows up on your doorstep at 2am with a mutt demanding you give it it's vaccines? Remember that's your house too.
You can make it happen... if you really apply yourself to not more than JUST this idea. But everything else in your life will have to be put aside. You'll probably have to end up with a clinic, and a house behind it. You'll have no life other than that clinic, unless you want emergencies to happen only when you're not on vacation, or not out to eat, or during your kid's birthday party.. etc.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

anyone who knows anyhting about becoming a vet will tell you that it just isn't going to happen.

[broadude]

I have seen high school dropouts with kids, go on to become Valedictorian of their University. BUT..they had amazing support systems (family, friends) and did get financial help.

It can be done, and you are young enough to do it. Simply be realistic and work towards that goal, go to a community college..take courses that will help you towards the goal..in other words be realistic. Focus on the small steps to get there and not the possible end result.

Whatever you decide to do, Good luck!

[Muze]

You have a very selfless vision, and I applaud it. And I'm sure it is possible (although you may regret the heck out of it later). But it would be an incredible amount of work that would never end. You may be read for this, I don't know. But you should just really think about all of the cons associated with this idea, as well as the pros.

Have you thought about going back to school to be a vet tech? The pay will probably amount to the same as what you are looking into doing, and you would be working with animals (which you love), and getting paid to do so. It's only two years, I believe. You can even take some distance courses for this degree while working as an intern in a vet clinic.

[Jay_Bunny]

There are no vet tech programs around here, so if I'm going to have to move anywhere to go to school, I'd rather it be for something more.

I know it is going to be a lot of hard work, but there are people out there who were told their ideas were bad because of all the cons but they did it anyway. I don't care how much money I make or don't make. My passion is with animals. Maybe a clinic with the house behind it is a better idea but I would still want it to be close to my house so that emergency care can be available.

And maybe this won't happen but its my goal. If I fall short and just become a vet tech or a vet with a clinic like any other vet, then at least I tried and became something. It may not be the ideal, but I tried. And that's all I can do. I know vet school is very hard to get into. I'm going to have to work my butt off for a long time.