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DD is 25 and wants to study veterinary medicine in Europe!

165 replies

SouperMario · 08/05/2023 20:56

Hello,

DD is 25. She has worked in politics/journalism since she graduated uni. Most people in her position I think would be very pleased with how their career is going, but I think she has become disillusioned with it all and she wants to change career.

Ever since she was little she has adored animals and wanted to become a vet until she turned 16/17. She regrets not following through with this dream and now claims there is nothing else she wants to do. She still lives at home (because she cannot find accommodation in London that will take her pets 🙄).

She cannot afford to study in the UK as she is not entitled to any government funding. She recently inherited 40k from my father and has announced she intends to use this to fund her studies abroad in Eastern Europe and become a veterinarian. She can just about afford it but she will use up all of her savings as well as her inheritance.

Am I right in thinking she is mad to consider this? I wanted her to use that money as a deposit for a house in the near future, if she goes ahead she’ll stand no chance at saving up a similar figure in my lifetime. By the time she graduates (if she actually does) she’ll be 32 and at the early stages of her career - will she be giving up the chance to start a family?

I might be overthinking this, as she hasn’t even been accepted. She’s just at the very early stages, that being said, she is incredibly stubborn and if she wants something, she tends to work until she gets it. I just think she will be making a terrible mistake if she does it.

OP posts:
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FurAndFeathers · 08/05/2023 23:30

@Vanillazebra that link is for Home students only. Calgary does not accept international students https://vet.ucalgary.ca/future-students/dvm-students-undergraduate-program/frequently-asked-questions

so not hugely helpful
most Canadian schools are hugely oversubscribed as there are relatively few of them

Frequently Asked Questions

https://vet.ucalgary.ca/future-students/dvm-students-undergraduate-program/frequently-asked-questions

FurAndFeathers · 08/05/2023 23:32

beckietheconqueror · 08/05/2023 23:30

Look up French degrees in veterinary science. French universities are free and many of them offer online degree that she can take from home. I am 26. Used my inheritance for a degree I didn't even finish and deeply regret it. If I had a second chance I'd definitely have invested in a house.

You cannot do a vet degree online from home!

honestly some of the ‘advice’ on this thread is just nonsense!

why post about something you have zero knowledge of 🙄

frazzledasarock · 08/05/2023 23:42

Could she get a job at a vets here and do her veterinary degree part time whilst working?

also has she checked what requirements are for veterinary courses in Eastern Europe country of her choice?

I know in England you need a lot of hours working with animals, both farm animals and domestic animals and the work experience is needed to be within eighteen months of the uni application.

will she have the GCSEs/ A’Levels needed to do the degree?

don’t stop her, see if there are ways she can achieve her dream. There’s more than one way of doing the degree she wants.

Notwavingbutsignalling · 08/05/2023 23:46

Has she got A’level, OP? You said she has graduated then said her highest qualms are GCSEs ( unless I read that wrong).

I think she should look at doing science A’levels first. Maybe spend some of the money on some good tuition.

beckietheconqueror · 08/05/2023 23:47

FurAndFeathers · 08/05/2023 23:32

You cannot do a vet degree online from home!

honestly some of the ‘advice’ on this thread is just nonsense!

why post about something you have zero knowledge of 🙄

You absolutely can.

There are seven ways to get a veterinary degree in France.

One of the ways is to take a bachelor in science or biology, which is widely available online, after which you are expected to take an entry exam called Concours B.

Only after you pass the Concours B exam are you expected to attend a physical uni for the final 3 years of your degree.

Notwavingbutsignalling · 08/05/2023 23:49

@beckietheconqueror

would they be available in English though? Those undergrad courses would be in French, no? They are set up for home students

beckietheconqueror · 08/05/2023 23:50

Notwavingbutsignalling · 08/05/2023 23:49

@beckietheconqueror

would they be available in English though? Those undergrad courses would be in French, no? They are set up for home students

You can get ones in English too, depending on what uni. I believe Marseille University offers those.

FurAndFeathers · 09/05/2023 00:02

beckietheconqueror · 08/05/2023 23:47

You absolutely can.

There are seven ways to get a veterinary degree in France.

One of the ways is to take a bachelor in science or biology, which is widely available online, after which you are expected to take an entry exam called Concours B.

Only after you pass the Concours B exam are you expected to attend a physical uni for the final 3 years of your degree.

So three years of face to face vet degree after a BSc and an standardised exam?

so no part of the actual vet degree is done ‘online, from home’ then.

It’s only possible for a general science undergrad (I assume one that teaches no lab/practical/field work skills)

glad we agree 😊

FurAndFeathers · 09/05/2023 00:04

Why would you study an unrelated BSc online abroad when she could do an access/foundation degree for 1 year and enter straight to a Uk university or a polish or Hungarian one?

@SouperMario she’d need to ensure it’s an EAEVE accredited school and even then she might have to apply for recognition of her vet degree in the Uk - she should speak to the RCVS

ClairDeLaLune · 09/05/2023 00:06

Haven’t RTFT but get her to look into New Zealand too - I think the course is possibly sorter.

Maddy70 · 09/05/2023 00:07

I would think that's money well spent.ab investment in her future. If it was my daughter I would encourage it

FurAndFeathers · 09/05/2023 00:13

beckietheconqueror · 08/05/2023 23:47

You absolutely can.

There are seven ways to get a veterinary degree in France.

One of the ways is to take a bachelor in science or biology, which is widely available online, after which you are expected to take an entry exam called Concours B.

Only after you pass the Concours B exam are you expected to attend a physical uni for the final 3 years of your degree.

@beckietheconqueror also which of the 4 French vet schools offers a 3 year degree please? I can only find 5 year courses

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterinary_education_in_France

Veterinary education in France - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterinary_education_in_France

poetryandwine · 09/05/2023 00:28

Another DD supporter here. I would just urge her to research both deeply and widely.

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/05/2023 00:31

She needs to check the qualifications translate and what her realistic chances of work are, but beyond that I don’t see a problem, it’s a more stable career that political journalism and if she buys into a practice she most certainly will be able to buy a house. Equine veterinary is v lucrative BTW.

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/05/2023 00:33

SouperMario · 08/05/2023 21:11

I should add, part of my anxiety comes from the fact she was born with a medical condition that increases the chances of miscarriage or could even prevent her becoming pregnant at all. I know she is anxious about this impacting her chance to have children.

What on earth has this got to do with anything?!

FurAndFeathers · 09/05/2023 00:35

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/05/2023 00:31

She needs to check the qualifications translate and what her realistic chances of work are, but beyond that I don’t see a problem, it’s a more stable career that political journalism and if she buys into a practice she most certainly will be able to buy a house. Equine veterinary is v lucrative BTW.

@Luredbyapomegranate
is it?

Based on what?

DD is 25 and wants to study veterinary medicine in Europe!
FurAndFeathers · 09/05/2023 00:38

This one’s better so there’s clearly some variability, but very few veterinary careers are lucrative and financial stress at vet school is high due to the placement requirements.

it’s certainly not a career with financial compensation similar to doctors, dentists, lawyers etc and most vets don’t pay off their student loans until well into their 40s

DD is 25 and wants to study veterinary medicine in Europe!
imnotsadyouresad · 09/05/2023 00:45

SouperMario · 08/05/2023 21:11

I should add, part of my anxiety comes from the fact she was born with a medical condition that increases the chances of miscarriage or could even prevent her becoming pregnant at all. I know she is anxious about this impacting her chance to have children.

Some people may have missed this post - the desire for grandchildren isn't all from the OP. Her DD actually wants kids.

I wonder if it would be worth spending some of her inheritance on checking out her fertility and freezing eggs. It might give her some breathing space to go abroad and study without worrying that the clock is ticking.

imnotsadyouresad · 09/05/2023 00:48

OP, 25 isn't too old to change career.

I know plenty of people in their 30s, 40s and 50s who feel trapped by a high-earning career that makes them miserable. They have too many financial commitments to retrain and do something that makes them happy.

If you must retrain, it's so much better to do so before you have the pressure of having to service a mortgage and/or childcare.

A house is not the be-all and end-all. Being happy is. If she's researched this, support her.

LBFseBrom · 09/05/2023 00:51

Confrontayshunme · 08/05/2023 20:59

I moved to the UK to do my master's degree at 25, and I got a DH, two lovely children, and a whole wonderful life and career I couldn't have dreamt up. She is an adult. Be supportive and try not to worry.

That is marvellous!

Op, your daughter is old enough to make her own mind. Personally I think she should go for it. She is young enough to recover the £40k in time and will be putting it to good use.

No doubt she will meet someone (if she wants to), please don't worry about that.

I understand your concerns, you're her mum. If she finds it isn't quite what she thought, she can always come home. However I have a feeling all will be well.

Presumably you'll be looking after the pets :-).

Kokeshi123 · 09/05/2023 00:56

She sounds very immature. Wanting to be a vet because you "adore animals" is the way most girls think when they are 10, not 25.

If she wants kids and has reason to think her fertility window is more limited than the average woman, she should be careful about a career where she won't even be able to make a start till her early 30s.

Kokeshi123 · 09/05/2023 00:57

I wonder if it would be worth spending some of her inheritance on checking out her fertility and freezing eggs.

As long as she understands that freezing eggs has a low success rate. It really isn't something you should use as an excuse for putting things off indefinitely.

Kokeshi123 · 09/05/2023 00:58

Also, how come she does not have any qualifications after GCSE?

fUNNYfACE36 · 09/05/2023 01:07

Sissynova · 08/05/2023 21:02

Is the qualification even transferable?

By the time she graduates (if she actually does) she’ll be 32 and at the early stages of her career - will she be giving up the chance to start a family?
Most women in professional jobs are not having kids at 32. Maybe she doesn’t even want kids. It’s her life.

if she goes ahead she’ll stand no chance at saving up a similar figure in my lifetime.
Why not?
Are you already in your 70s?
The vet I know in London is on 60k and only about 4/5 years into her career. It can be very lucrative.

That isn't very lucrative especially in London!

fUNNYfACE36 · 09/05/2023 01:10

Working with large productive animals which I think is necessary to qualify, isn't necessarily for an animal lover

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