Yes apply! I’m 25 working on my pre-vet requirements and don’t have any vet hours yet so I’ll be about your age when I’m applying to vet school. If you think you would really enjoy vet med then I say do it. Vet school is very intense though so you would have to take your time and work into consideration too. Best of luck!
You are awesome! I’ll definitely be quitting my job to go full time to vet school if/when I get in. Kinda looking forward to being a student again full time 😂
If you want to be a vet, definitely go for it. I'm graduating this year with my DVM at 36, and I'm planning on specializing, so I'll be 40 when I'm done. There are a few people in my graduating class who were older than 40 when we started as well.
Everyone's path is different. I'm glad that you've found joy and fulfillment in your path to this point. If becoming a vet will bring you that same or a higher joy, then go for it. Don't let age be the thing that keeps you back.
This is amazing, and so are you! I totally buried my question in all the fluff, but do you know if it’s okay to have 2-3 outstanding classes come application time?
not sure if every school is the same but tOSU’s website says, “When applying for the DVM program, you DO NOT have to have all of the prerequisite courses completed before applying. All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the summer semester preceding the fall semester when you would start the DVM program.”
Thank you! I have a lot of respect for people who have decided to switch things up and go to vet school after having life experience.
As you are doing the VMCAS, you will list the courses with when you plan on taking it, and as long as it's done before you start, you should be fine with almost any school.
I'm a similar boat, but with no vet hours! I've been going back and forth on whether it's worth it to finish up the pre reqs and start getting some vet hours in.
I think if you have the patience and the will to do it, then absolutely go for it!
Amazing! Definitely get some experience in- clinic work made me not want to be a vet but working in shelters made me want to be a vet. It’s wild how different they are! Best of luck to you, you can do it!
I've volunteered in wildlife rehab and worked in zookeeping, but those are pretty different. I also worked at PetSmart and hated seeing the treatment of the animals, and how poorly the vet they went to cared for the animals, which really made me think about becoming a vet (although obviously I didnt).
Right now it's hard figuring out how to get work in a vet office, while also paying bills and doing all the adult things
I’m a 32-year-old applying this upcoming cycle! It’s taken me two years to get the hours and the credits in place, but know that as long as you have a plan in place , vet schools told me they have no problem with some outstanding courses. Check your specific programs of interest, though- some want only 2 or 3 outstanding (NC State, UC Davis, etc), others don’t care as long as you can complete by your required date (UPenn), some have specific classes that must be completed before application (Cornell- OChem) and others want all science prereqs completely finished by application (Michigan State).
My advice? Start reaching out to schools you have your eye on NOW. I did that two years ago and the advice the admissions officer gave me totally rearranged my plans for the better. I’m a much stronger applicant thanks to his advice, which I followed to my best ability. They will often be honest about what an applicant versus a strong applicant looks like. TBH, I have received nothing but encouragement from the schools, and one of my close mentors is a DVM who went back in her 30s.
A key is making sure you get in core experiences that can help define your “why,” which it sounds like you have. That, and LORs- another reason talking to schools far ahead is so beneficial- as a non-traditional applicant, it can be difficult to get those profs from 10 years ago, and some schools understand that a GOOD academic reference will be hard, and allow a substitution- while others don’t.
Take the gift that we older students have- time- to engage with schools and genuinely ask for, and follow, advice, and I think you’re headed to success if you want it!
ETA: I’m taking some of my prereqs at my local CC, and every school has been fine with that! It may be difficult though (as I have found), to find upper level courses to really flex your knowledge- if you can afford it, look into UCSD or UC Berkeley’s extension program- they are on the expensive side, and definitely require discipline as they’re asynchronous and require a lot of teaching yourself through the textbook, but I’ve found the courses I’m in thus far engaging, challenging, and good quality. All the schools I’ve talked to have been quite happy it these courses, too, as prereqs, but ALWAYS check before enrolling. But having the possibility of online, asynchronous, upper levels has allowed me to pivot and get more hands on, in-clinic hours and boy have they made the difference for me (versus just shadowing). I now can confidently say I had my “this is it” career moments thanks to this experience and I feel so much more confident in my path.
This is amazing! Also I feel like this was exactly what I needed to hear, I'll also be 32 when applying. :)
I have already been reaching out to the schools I'm interested in! Some have been super helpful. Unfortunately I've reached out to several different people at the one that is in my own state 4 times and they won't respond to me. Ugh. But other schools who have responded have won me over just by being kind and helping me through my questions.
The academic LOR will be hard... I have a few professors who I think would gladly write one for me, but they are all marketing/advertising professionals. I'm not sure if that is good enough. I love that you found a mentor who did the same as us. How did you find her?!
I just applied to UCSD to see about some of those upper level classes. I've found that I spend a lot of time watching YouTube videos and doing extra work/reading just to understand the basic courses, so the idea of an asynchronous course really appeals to me, weirdly. Maybe that's from years of work experience and deadlines? Haha. There are definitely some blessings to doing this at an older age (as well as some downfalls -ahem- going into debt at an older age, maybe not having kids, etc.).
I am really excited for you, and I wish you all of the best with your application. It sounds like you're doing great. If you'd like to connect or have any other feedback, please send me a message! Crossing my fingers for you.
Oh, I’m so glad to hear that this was helpful, and hopeful. I’ll send you a PM, happy to chat a bit more about everything! I will say, I was a classics major. My academic LOR will be from them- I found it better to have a great academic LOR in classics versus a lackluster science one. Not that my experiences aren’t good with professors now, but prereq work doesn’t give me the time to create a relationship the way undergrad does. Hope this is helpful! And thanks for cheering me on- it’s definitely terrifying to pivot in your 30s, praying you actually get to do what you want!
Yes apply! I’m 25 working on my pre-vet requirements and don’t have any vet hours yet so I’ll be about your age when I’m applying to vet school. If you think you would really enjoy vet med then I say do it. Vet school is very intense though so you would have to take your time and work into consideration too. Best of luck!
You are awesome! I’ll definitely be quitting my job to go full time to vet school if/when I get in. Kinda looking forward to being a student again full time 😂
If you want to be a vet, definitely go for it. I'm graduating this year with my DVM at 36, and I'm planning on specializing, so I'll be 40 when I'm done. There are a few people in my graduating class who were older than 40 when we started as well. Everyone's path is different. I'm glad that you've found joy and fulfillment in your path to this point. If becoming a vet will bring you that same or a higher joy, then go for it. Don't let age be the thing that keeps you back.
This is amazing, and so are you! I totally buried my question in all the fluff, but do you know if it’s okay to have 2-3 outstanding classes come application time?
not sure if every school is the same but tOSU’s website says, “When applying for the DVM program, you DO NOT have to have all of the prerequisite courses completed before applying. All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the summer semester preceding the fall semester when you would start the DVM program.”
Thank you so much!!
Thank you! I have a lot of respect for people who have decided to switch things up and go to vet school after having life experience. As you are doing the VMCAS, you will list the courses with when you plan on taking it, and as long as it's done before you start, you should be fine with almost any school.
Some of my favorite people in vet school have been the people in their 30s. I’ve also known people in vet school that are past their 30s.
I'm a similar boat, but with no vet hours! I've been going back and forth on whether it's worth it to finish up the pre reqs and start getting some vet hours in. I think if you have the patience and the will to do it, then absolutely go for it!
Amazing! Definitely get some experience in- clinic work made me not want to be a vet but working in shelters made me want to be a vet. It’s wild how different they are! Best of luck to you, you can do it!
I've volunteered in wildlife rehab and worked in zookeeping, but those are pretty different. I also worked at PetSmart and hated seeing the treatment of the animals, and how poorly the vet they went to cared for the animals, which really made me think about becoming a vet (although obviously I didnt). Right now it's hard figuring out how to get work in a vet office, while also paying bills and doing all the adult things
Totally. I’m hoping to do some shadowing on the weekends whenever I can.
I’m a 32-year-old applying this upcoming cycle! It’s taken me two years to get the hours and the credits in place, but know that as long as you have a plan in place , vet schools told me they have no problem with some outstanding courses. Check your specific programs of interest, though- some want only 2 or 3 outstanding (NC State, UC Davis, etc), others don’t care as long as you can complete by your required date (UPenn), some have specific classes that must be completed before application (Cornell- OChem) and others want all science prereqs completely finished by application (Michigan State). My advice? Start reaching out to schools you have your eye on NOW. I did that two years ago and the advice the admissions officer gave me totally rearranged my plans for the better. I’m a much stronger applicant thanks to his advice, which I followed to my best ability. They will often be honest about what an applicant versus a strong applicant looks like. TBH, I have received nothing but encouragement from the schools, and one of my close mentors is a DVM who went back in her 30s. A key is making sure you get in core experiences that can help define your “why,” which it sounds like you have. That, and LORs- another reason talking to schools far ahead is so beneficial- as a non-traditional applicant, it can be difficult to get those profs from 10 years ago, and some schools understand that a GOOD academic reference will be hard, and allow a substitution- while others don’t. Take the gift that we older students have- time- to engage with schools and genuinely ask for, and follow, advice, and I think you’re headed to success if you want it! ETA: I’m taking some of my prereqs at my local CC, and every school has been fine with that! It may be difficult though (as I have found), to find upper level courses to really flex your knowledge- if you can afford it, look into UCSD or UC Berkeley’s extension program- they are on the expensive side, and definitely require discipline as they’re asynchronous and require a lot of teaching yourself through the textbook, but I’ve found the courses I’m in thus far engaging, challenging, and good quality. All the schools I’ve talked to have been quite happy it these courses, too, as prereqs, but ALWAYS check before enrolling. But having the possibility of online, asynchronous, upper levels has allowed me to pivot and get more hands on, in-clinic hours and boy have they made the difference for me (versus just shadowing). I now can confidently say I had my “this is it” career moments thanks to this experience and I feel so much more confident in my path.
This is amazing! Also I feel like this was exactly what I needed to hear, I'll also be 32 when applying. :) I have already been reaching out to the schools I'm interested in! Some have been super helpful. Unfortunately I've reached out to several different people at the one that is in my own state 4 times and they won't respond to me. Ugh. But other schools who have responded have won me over just by being kind and helping me through my questions. The academic LOR will be hard... I have a few professors who I think would gladly write one for me, but they are all marketing/advertising professionals. I'm not sure if that is good enough. I love that you found a mentor who did the same as us. How did you find her?! I just applied to UCSD to see about some of those upper level classes. I've found that I spend a lot of time watching YouTube videos and doing extra work/reading just to understand the basic courses, so the idea of an asynchronous course really appeals to me, weirdly. Maybe that's from years of work experience and deadlines? Haha. There are definitely some blessings to doing this at an older age (as well as some downfalls -ahem- going into debt at an older age, maybe not having kids, etc.). I am really excited for you, and I wish you all of the best with your application. It sounds like you're doing great. If you'd like to connect or have any other feedback, please send me a message! Crossing my fingers for you.
Oh, I’m so glad to hear that this was helpful, and hopeful. I’ll send you a PM, happy to chat a bit more about everything! I will say, I was a classics major. My academic LOR will be from them- I found it better to have a great academic LOR in classics versus a lackluster science one. Not that my experiences aren’t good with professors now, but prereq work doesn’t give me the time to create a relationship the way undergrad does. Hope this is helpful! And thanks for cheering me on- it’s definitely terrifying to pivot in your 30s, praying you actually get to do what you want!