Using the career test and worksheets filled out in class I came to find that the right career for me is in Veterinary medicine. I’ve actually wanted to be a veterinarian since the age of four, but these tests and information has led me to understand that this career also suits my personality, values, and abilities. I’ve always loved working with animals and people as well and am currently working as a veterinarian technician at Oxford Veterinarian Hospital, which has also helped me figure out that I want to continue in this career path.
Being a veterinarian is much like being a doctor for people. Animals get sick just like humans. They get viruses and cancer like we do, and they get into accidents just like we do. A veterinarian is the primary healthcare provider for animals. A veterinarian prevents disease by giving shots, diagnoses and treats illnesses, examines and treats injuries, performs surgery, delivers babies, prescribes and administers medications, and advises people on how to keep their animals healthy. Veterinarians also help keep people healthy. Some diseases can be passed from animals to humans. Veterinarians research ways to prevent the spread of such diseases and hopefully wipe them out altogether. Others make sure our food is safe to eat by inspecting livestock and meat processing facilities.
Most veterinarians enjoy modern, pleasant surroundings. Non-clinical employers in private industry, colleges, and research centers provide clean, well-lit offices or laboratories furnished with the latest technology and equipment. Veterinarians in these settings spend most of their time dealing with people and may never come in contact with animals. Those in small animal practices work in comfortable offices and clinics that are as clean as any hospital. Depending on the size of the practice, facilities can be noisy when too many dogs and cats voice their displeasure at being there. Most veterinarians have reasonable hours, working between 40 to 50 hours per week. About one-third put in more than 50 hours on the job. Those who do are usually large animal practitioners who spend a lot of time on the road. Working evenings and weekends is often necessary to accommodate clients\' busy schedules. Those in group practices take turns being on call for emergencies or other unexpected appointments. Working conditions for veterinarians working with large animals are the least predictable and most likely to be unpleasant. A lot of time is spent driving to farms and ranches. Much of the work is performed outside in snow, rain, dust, or heat. All veterinarians are at risk for being exposed to infectious diseases and being injured by the animals they\'re trying to help. Sick or injured animals instinctively lash out by biting, scratching, and kicking.
Prospective veterinarians must graduate with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from a 4-year program at an accredited college of veterinary medicine and must obtain a license to practice. Admission requirements vary among veterinary medical colleges. Not all require a bachelor\'s degree, but all do require a significant amount of undergraduate work. A GPA of at least 3.0 is required. In addition to satisfying pre-veterinary course requirements, applicants must submit test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT), or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), depending on the preference of the college to which they are applying. Actual hands-on experience working with animals, especially in a veterinary setting, will give you a competitive edge. The more formal your work experience, the better. For example, you\'ll gain points for working with farm or ranch animals or volunteering in an animal shelter. But actually working with veterinarians or scientists in clinics, agribusiness, or research would be ideal.
There will always be a demand for veterinary services. Most of us have pets and most of us make sure they get routine care. Americans are also becoming increasingly aware of new technology and specialty services and are willing to pay for them. Even those who don\'t own animals depend on veterinarians to keep animals of all kinds healthy. The number of jobs for large-animal veterinarians is likely to grow more slowly than that for veterinarians in private practice who care for companion animals. Nevertheless, job prospects may be better for veterinarians who specialize in farm animals than for companion-animal practitioners because of low earnings in the former specialty and because many veterinarians do not want to work in rural or isolated areas. If you choose a career as a doctor of veterinary medicine, you\'ll be choosing a stable career that can offer you satisfaction for a lifetime.
How much you can expect to earn depends on a variety of factors including where you work, for whom you work, whether you are self-employed (in private practice), and how many years of experience you have. Overall, the median annual income for all veterinarians is about $70,000 with the highest 10 percent earning more than $130,000. Interestingly, the size of the animals being treated seems to have an impact on the size of the paycheck. The average starting salary for those working predominantly with small animals is $50,878, while working with large animals lowers that to $48,529. The lowest starting salary is received for working with horses. That average salary starts at only $38,628, but it also has the most potential for growth. Experienced equine veterinarians average $83,000.
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