To think I can go to Uni to become a Vet

[Lilt1992]

Im mid twenties in a dead end job. I was brought up on a council estate with nothing, never had anyone to look up to, never took school seriously but I had potential, all my teachers kept telling me. I left with fairly ok GCSE's. Signed onto benefits by 18 years old and then went into full time work. Now that I have money behind me and I'm older, I'm regretting not going to Uni and getting a career. My dream would be to be a vet and I'm considering studying Veterinary medicine, a 6 year course. I've been doing a bunch of research but my next step is to speak to a Uni or vet surgery to get an idea of how I'll get accepted. However, part of me feels stupid to even consider myself good enough to do it. I'm having these constant doubts. Family have told me that anything is possible. Has anyone else got any experience with something similar?

I think you need to pursue it or you will still be asking yourself the same questions at 40. When I was 24 I wanted to retrain as a nurse. I put it off and put it off, then I had my first child at 27. He has disabilities so it got put off again. By the time he was at school full time I felt I was too old🙄 and couldn’t imagine trying to study whilst meeting his needs. Then along came two more children .. I’m now nearly 50 and feel life has definitely passed me by. We have a business and there’s no way I could do my bit there and study. Just go for it while you can.

Find the university and course you want, then talk to the admissions officer. Don't listen to anyone else. For over-21s, universities can reduce the exam qualification requirements.

ZOMBIE THREAD
ZOMBIE THREAD
ZOMBIE THREAD
ZOMBIE THREAD

I realise this is a zombie thread, but for anyone reading this out of interest: you need to know that in the UK it is definitely easier to get into medical school than vet school (I have one daughter in medical school and one in vet school, the vet school one is at an EU University as even with a Masters degree in zoology, an Eramus year at a leading EU research institution, and a publication in a major science journal she could not get a place in a UK vet school). The EU study route is worth looking into...

Do some research @Lilt1992 if you want it bad enough then you will find a way!! Believe in yourself and have perseverance, it won't be easy but it's possible! Good luck!

Might be relevant to someone.... hardly the carpet fitter stormed out

I missed this thread the first time around and it's a very interesting read, so can posters stop screeching ZOMBIE THREAD?

It's made me feel more secure in my decision to stay with my independent vets, even though the local MediVet (?) would be cheaper.

Yes it might be relevant to some -who could do a search for information, but look at how much time and effort Stormtrooper put in with her response. Is it fair to let people do that without giving a heads up that it’s not neede?

Anything is possible. I started of as a receptionist in my chosen medical field ( I actually was ‘the’ receptionist! ) . I stayed in the profession all my life and then I finally went to uni at 49 yrs old, sold my house, upped sticks to finance it and qualified in my fifties. I won’t name the profession as a bit outing but one of the mainstream ones we are all familiar with. Incredibly hard work but so worth it.

I am always surprised by how little vets actually earn considering how much studying and the length of time it takes to become qualified! My friend is a vet and I always assumed she was raking it in, she really isn't!

Vet Nurse jobs are awfully paid, sometimes just minimum wage - you have to really love animals and the job to be happy doing that for for what you earn....

Veterinary Science is very competitive and you need the highest GCSE and A-level subjects in the right subjects. Solid A’s and A*’s at GCSE and A-levels and your A-levels will have to be made up of primarily the pure STEM subjects. It’s more competitive than medicine and attracts academic attainers of that level. Basically, straight A students and ones who follow through with biology, chemistry and physics. This isn’t to put you off OP, just to give you a realistic picture. You could start by re-sitting your GCSEs and A-levels to get the required grades and then go from there.

Good luck OP! Hope it works out.