[waterbuffalofarmer]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I will look at all of what you have all said.
Thankyou

[shygirl]

im not smart enough to be a vet but i did really want to become a vet nurse at one point but let a vets wife put me off with her negativity about the job. but i should never have listened to her. if its your dream, go for it. youl need top school grades all through.

how old are you buffalo?

[alicegriffiths83]

Becoming a vet is a tough and expensive career to pursue. You generally need to be a top science based student. I obviously wasn't but still Pursued an education with animals. I did a degree in Animal science specialising in agriculture. It's well worth reading journals and books on the subject including reproduction based and nutrition. I still use my lecture notes! Check out your local agricultural college  for vocational courses in agriculture. National Diplomas etc 

[benandjerry]

What about vets receptionist?  You'd pick up loads of info and have a team of experts on hand. 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

That's actually a good idea. By the way i'm sorry to say that I hate disclosing my age, so am afraid I can't answer your question sorry. By the way thanks for the replies.

[shygirl]

thats ok, im terrible for guessing what people are like in my head, and i imagined you were older as you had buffalo etc, but now was thinking you are maybe much younger (than me anyway) if you are considering university. i dont think training to be a vet is so easy as a mature student so advice would be different in that scenario.
dont mind my sticky beak 

[Ina]

What about vets receptionist?  You'd pick up loads of info and have a team of experts on hand. 

Tried for a job like that once, and despite the fact that I would have been extremely well suited (experience and qualifications), and only 5 minutes walk away, never even got an interview...

It's not easy to get into jobs that you could do well!

[Backinwellies]

I know you don't want to disclose your age WB but it would help to know which side of say  21  you are to help us give you realistic ideas for the future.

[ZaktheLad]

Next to nil chance of getting anywhere near becoming a vet without the initial A level requirements to firstly get you to Uni.  Then you have to actually be offered a place at a Uni....  and that's all before the very lengthy yeasr and years of training and then the final examinations to actually qualify!  Becoming a vet is said to be harder than qualifying to become a GP - my GP actually qualified to become a vet but changed his mind!

You would also need to consider if you have the funds available to take you through Uni etc...

Mature students and graduates
To gain admission to a veterinary degree course mature students without a degree should hold good GCSE and 'A' level examination passes in subjects including chemistry, biology and physics/mathematics, or be able to produce evidence of knowledge to this standard in comparable examinations.

Graduate applicants would normally be expected to hold at least an upper second class honours degree in a related subject. With a relevant science degree, you may be able to complete the veterinary degree in 4 years, rather than 5 – consult the prospectuses of each of the veterinary schools to see what options may be available to you. Graduate entrants do not qualify for UK student loans to cover the tuition fees, although student loans to cover maintenance costs may be available.

Graduates and mature students may need to discuss their own particular qualifications and experience with the veterinary schools' admissions tutors
 

[lord flynn]

I am an ex vet nurse. Its a fab job to a point, training pay is awful. Luckily though, it put me right off wanting to be a vet. I do work in the veterinary research industry though with plenty of vets!

Now is not a good time to be a vet IMO. We are producing way too many of them and there is another new vet school opening up in Surrey that will produce even more. Some new graduates are finding it hard to find work in the first year. The pay, for what's involved and the amount of dept you rack up qualifying, is pretty poor these days. To become a partner in a reasonable size practice, you are talking even more debt-big time debt way more than any mortgage you'll ever want to consider.

Animal Science sounds it would be a good idea!

[Womble]

I think vetting is the sort of job you either do with a real passion or should not do at all. If it's right for you personally, and you have the brains and work ethic to get the qualifications then I reckon it's a great career path.

My sister has worked all over the country and used her qualifications to travel around NZ for a year (one month doing locum work then one month enjoying herself, repeat x6!). It's hard for all graduates to land their first graduate level job these days (would you hire a newly qualified person in any discipline when you can have somebody with 2 years experience for 20% more?).
 
It's like anything - if you go for it, great. But do it with your eyes open to both the good and bad stuff.

[john and helen]

Karen , happy hippy, that was a great posting


did some work for a vet last year….i can tell you one thing that appears you don't need…is common sense 

the guy may have been bright as a button , but boy when it came to common sense, he had me wondering how the hell he got his A levels 

my neighbours daughter is a vet, she has moved to Oz to study more on horses, her coarse was 7 years long,

[plumseverywhere]

My 11 year old has wanted to be a vet since she was 2.  She's not into the 'fluffy little bunnies' type of dreaming - she has already expressed to me that she understands she needs to care for humans (the owners) as much as the animals.  came away from parents evening really proud when her science teacher said that "she has it all up there to achieve her dream of being a vet" so fingers crossed for her.

WBF - I'll tell you my age if you tell me yours      only kidding.   How about volunteering at a sanctuary or something for a bit? good way of gaining all sorts of experience. happy hippy's post was fantastic (might print that off for my goat shed!!)

[SallyintNorth]

the guy may have been bright as a button , but boy when it came to common sense, he had me wondering how the hell he got his A levels 

Ain't that the problem with all education these days?

 

[Lesley Silvester]

Not all, Sally. I had a good education but I think/hope I have common sense as well. I do think that common sense is more important than education but both is even better.