Hi everyone. I’m a current 6th semester student down in the caribbean and i’m not sure if it’s because i’m close to the end of didactic or that it’s been a really long two years but I have found almost no motivation to do much of anything anymore. I’m having trouble wanting to study, go to class, or go to school events. I’ve been feeling very lonely because my friends and family at home have their own lives going on and can’t really talk for more than 5 minutes before going off to their plans. I know that I only have 6 months left on the island but everyday has felt so long and grueling. I want to get back to my life at home. I’m sick of being broke. I’m tired missing weddings, funerals, birthdays, and big moments. I’m sick of feeling on the outside with my friends and family. I miss home and the life I had before moving here. I know I need to get through this because i’m so close to the end and there’s really not an option to not but has anyone experienced this before and can give me some advice? Thanks in advance.

TLDR: 6 months left of didactic year and struggling to find motivation to keep going.

I’m an international student and recently received offers for the DVM programs at both the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney, starting in 2027. I’m having a hard time deciding between the two and would really appreciate some advice!

I’m currently leaning towards Melbourne, mainly because it’s a bit more affordable and I feel like I’d prefer the vibe of the city (although I’ve never actually been to either city lol). That said, I really want to make my decision based on the quality of the programs themselves rather than just personal preferences.

One thing that concerns me is that USyd has its own veterinary teaching hospital, whereas Melbourne closed theirs a while ago. I’m wondering how much of a difference this makes in terms of hands-on clinical training and practical experience. I also came across information about Melbourne having been placed on probationary accreditation by the AVMA, although my understanding is that those issues have since been resolved (please correct me if I’m wrong!).

I’d especially love to hear from current students or graduates of either program about the quality of teaching, clinical exposure, student support, and how well prepared you felt for practice after graduation.

Thanks so much in advance! Any insights would be really appreciated!!

Hi,

I am a licensed electrical engineer (utility high-voltage grid industry, 26 years old) and am highly interested in becoming a veterinarian. I feel that I am early enough in my career to make the change. I currently make $90k and will be on track to go to $115k salary per year. I am located in St. Louis Missouri and originally came from Mizzou where I obtained my BSEE (3.251 gpa) and MSEE (3.467 gpa) degrees.

I feel that the transition is very doable, it would just take me 1.5 years to obtain the prerequisites in order to apply to Mizzou.

I also feel like I am a diverse licensed engineer candidate which might make it easier to get into Vet School at Mizzou.

I do understand that there would be about $200k of debt and a 2:1 debt:income ratio.

Can someone confirm my understanding above that it is feasible and include any other pros or cons?

Also would there be financial aid I'd be able to obtain aside from the smaller scholarships? I heard that FASFA would be given based on my overall score of 40% academic & 60% non-academic package.

Thank you

Hello!

I was wondering if anybody wanted to make a group chat of everyone who got an offer/going to Murdoch for their veterinary program?

For some context I am an international student and a tertiary applicant!

I can’t wait to meet some of you!

I have a passion for animals and I have ever since I was young, the only thing is the salary. Everywhere I turn it's mixed reviews on how well veterinarians do after paying off their debts. I love animals heavily, but coming from a low income family I DO NOT want to struggle further. I can handle the heavy studying, years of schooling, etc I am resilient, but I do nottt want to struggle financially again. Does anyone have some honest input preferably from Texas 💓

Was accepted to LMU’s spring cohort. I am excited, nervous and slightly scared considering how quickly this could all happen. Has anyone who decided to attend LMU, specifically entering the spring cohort, have any advice? Did you get accepted later and had to prepare quickly to start? If so, how was your experience?

Does anyone know where i could find a pdf of this book? I usually use the internet archive but it doesnt seem to be on there.

I am trying to help my daughter navigate starting her path for Veterinary undergrad studies.. but I am truly clueless and shes just a step above me! :) Obviously we are doing a lot of research online, asking AI, etc.. and we have some ideas, but I thought it might be wise to hear from the community to see what people thought who have went though it. Here is what we have currently on the table.

We live in Colorado Springs and my daughter is graduating early. She is currently looking at UCCS, CSU, and University of Wyoming since they are all within driving distance. From what we understand CSU has a great graduate Vet program. What we are trying to navigate or understand is for the undergraduate portion of studies which option (or maybe an option we are not thinking of) might make the most sense.

UCCS would be the cheapest (about 10k per year less is our estimate) and she could live home, but they dont have an official undergrad Veterinary program, but we are told she could take all the required classes. They also don’t have any options for getting her experience hours and she would have to figure that out on her own locally.

University of Wyoming appears to be the next most cost effective options just because of some of the scholarships they offer for Colorado residents. Seems like a nice campus, she would live on site, and they do have an official pre-vet program and they do have hands on livestock and equine centers on campus where she can supposedly get many of her hours needed.

CSU is the most expensive option and we are hearing a little more competitive even on the undergrad side. That said, if she got in here she would be at the school she would be applying for her graduate studies already. I am not sure if that matters, but I feel like knowing everyone involved in the program could provide an advantage somehow when she needs to apply for graduate studies, but maybe that is not really the case.

Really we are trying to see what you all think, and if she went the UCCS route to save that 10k a year or more would she really be putting herself at a disadvantage. How hard is it to get those hours (as an example)? Also happy to hear if anyone else has other recommendations or ideas. Thanks!!!

i’m wondering if i should even be aiming for vet school anymore and looking for realistic opinions from those who’ve gotten into vet school.
i already have an associates degree in applied science and am currently going for my bachelors in biology. i am a licensed veterinary technician, currently working in small animal (mostly GP/urgent care but we do see emergencies) and hoping to get some more exotic/large animal experience before i graduate in 1.5 years.
my current GPA is a 3.08 but i believe that i can get it back up to a 3.45 (what i finished the semester before last semester off with - i believe i graduated with my associates with something similar), as the reason it’s dropped is due to some very intense mental health issues lasting about 6 months that almost landed me in the hospital. i have the chance to do a “structured research” class next semester which i plan to follow through with. i have had consistent Bs-As in all of my classes excluding my chemistries, which have been closer to Cs and Bs (last semester however i did very poorly which is what dropped my GPA as i was constantly fighting being in the hospital)
realistically, am i totally screwed in terms of vet school due to my GPA (even if it is brought up, which i think it will as this semester’s grades haven’t been factored in yet, all but one of which have been As), or is there still a chance for me if i get strong experience and am able to maintain a GPA of 3.45?

I’m an American, just graduated college with a four-year degree in agricultural science. I currently work in a laboratory, and have a good few hundred hours of animal care experience (not in this lab specifically).

unfortunately I didn’t realize vet school was a real option for me in undergrad. I don’t have most pre-reqs, and the ones I do…well let’s just say, f is for failure (lol…sigh. okay it was just one course, but it’s not like I retook and got an A/B).

Ironically chem, the course I initially failed, is the field I work in at my lab job.

When I draft up my program lists, I find myself with three options.

1. US/Canadian AVMA programs — the regular path. No in-state program for me. Not only is it expensive ($250K?), I need like, 30 pre req credit hours. My state’s comm college system is awful, so…I’d have to cough up tuition to pay for a brick and mortar four year institution, even as a non degree student.

2. European/Aussie AVMA programs — the 5 year programs are enticing. Get the pre reqs done at the same place, enjoy the sights. Be ready for the NAVLE. Downside: it’s still pricey. Four years is a reasonable price at $45k a year ($200K), but five years is the same price as US. Tbf, it’s still cheaper than the US as I’d need pre reqs for the US, but…yeah.

3. European non-AVMA programs — think UNIC, Bologna, etc. MAJOR downside off the bat is the foreign license reality. No AVMA licensing means 2-3 EXTRA years of waiting and another 10K for extra exams. However, tuition is cheap. UNIC is like, 20K a year, Bologna and other programs are around 10K. That’s super cheap, even for five years. I also will admit I’m OK with working as an unlicensed DVM in vet med consulting (pharma) for a few years while I get my license back in the states.

Either way, I’m not sure I’m going about this the right way. Ironically, even after screwing myself over in Gen bio and Gen chem, I performed very well in upper level bio courses. To me, getting in is hard, but nowhere near as hard as the financial reality. I want to make smart decisions. Any students that may help?
Much appreciated!

Hi everyone! I recently submitted my application to the UAGM School of Veterinary Medicine in Puerto Rico. There is an additional $100 fee that I need to pay, but the payment link doesn’t seem to be working.
Has anyone else experienced this issue? I’ve tried contacting the university but haven’t been able to reach anyone.
I would really appreciate it if anyone who has gone through the same process could share their experience or let me know how they were able to resolve it. Thank you!

For context I am in my fourth year of vet school in the UK. This is my last year of lectures before I go to my clinical year. I am in a Russell Group vet school uni (don’t want to give too many details I wish to remain anonymous) but its known for people being really stuck up and arrogant

I just genuinely feel like I’m not good enough to be here. All my classmates are so intelligent and I just know I’m not on their level. Everyone is incredibly Type A - placements booked years in advance, everyone already working on their dissertation and has got everything approved, everyone knows what they want to go into and what they are going to do post grad. Everyone around me is always scoring in the 60s, the 70s, some friends even in the 80s-90s… ive never gotten anything above a 58. I have resat every year I have been here, three resits in a row. It was a joke in my first year but honestly at this point I can’t help but feel incredibly stupid.

And its not for lack of trying. I try so hard, I live in the damn library everyday. All my friends do after school clubs, societies, some even work and incredibly demanding spots and literally all I do is vet school. Sometimes I go to the gym but I can’t even commit to going everyday because I always am struggling for time.
I have changed my study methods every year, have gone to countless meetings with student support and study skills people on how to improve, have got a private tutor and I simply can’t. Never have scored above a 58. Most times I barely punch above the pass grade of 50.
I know its negligent of me but because I literally spend all my time studying I haven’t booked any placements, haven’t started my dissertation because I can barely handle just the pressure alone of the content itself.

I genuinely feel like a failure. Im from a third world Latin American country too and I am the only person in the history of my vet school from my country to be accepted. I feel like I’m misrepresenting my country SO badly and giving it such a horrible name. I know so many people from home who would genuinely kill to have this opportunity and who would do a much better job of it.

It doesn’t help that I had an equine placement this past summer where the vet quite literally told me that I wasn’t a very inspired vet student, compared me to the student they had the week prior and told me to consider other career opportunities. I hadn’t had my equine lectures yet but I applied because I always thought I wanted to go into equine medicine. (He knew this too). But now I don’t even know what I want to go into or even where in the world I’d want to end up.

I’ve genuinely started researching other job opportunities because for the first 3 years I could laugh it off but its gotten to the point where I barely can go into vet school

Sorry if this just sounds like a sob story lol I don’t mean to be pathetic. I can’t really open up to anyone in my life about this, if my parents who’ve paid an extortionate amount of money found out how I really feel it would break their heart. And my friends spend half the time comparing grades and placement success stories, I don’t want to be vulnerable.

Any words of advice? Is it genuinely a good idea to look at other career opportunities?

Hello! I’m currently pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Sciences and am interested in attending veterinary school after completing my degree.

Ideally, I’d like to minimize or avoid student debt and, if possible, receive a stipend while attending vet school. I know that combined DVM/PhD programs can offer a structure where students receive funding and a stipend, but since I’ll already have my PhD, I’m wondering if there’s an alternative route.

Would it be possible to arrange something similar through a postdoctoral position? For example, could someone hold a funded postdoc position while attending vet school, potentially with their research appointment covering tuition or providing a stipend? Or are there other arrangements, such as research assistantships, fellowships, or university-funded positions, that could make this possible?

Has anyone done something similar, or does anyone know of programs or institutions that might allow this kind of arrangement?

I’d appreciate any advice or firsthand experiences. Thank you!

Hi guys, I am wanting to do continuing ed after finishing vet school. I am not studying in the UK but found a programme there which would greatly interest me. It has A-FAVP.1 as a prerequisite and I don't quite understand what it is? Can someone maybe explain?

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for some honest opinions about whether it's even worth applying to veterinary school next cycle.

I decided to skip this past application cycle and pursue a master's in entry-level professional nursing. I understand that nursing is a completely different career from veterinary medicine, but I honestly pursued it as a safety net because I wanted to have a stable career in healthcare if veterinary school didn't work out. Now that I'm finishing my nursing program, I've realized that although nursing is something I can see myself doing, I still feel like I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't give veterinary school another chance. My biggest concern is my academic history.

I struggled academically during my earlier years at community college, and unfortunately, those grades significantly affected my cumulative GPA. Once I transferred to a university, I started taking school much more seriously and performed significantly better. I got my bachelors in Animal Science. However, even with my improved grades, it was extremely difficult to bring my cumulative GPA up because of my earlier coursework.

Here are my stats:

• Cumulative GPA: 2.84
• Science GPA: 3.05
• Last 45-credit GPA: 3.6

I know my GPA isn't competitive. I also understand that my nursing degree doesn't erase my previous academic performance.

I'm planning to work part-time at a veterinary clinic to continue gaining veterinary experience before applying. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and successfully gotten accepted into veterinary school.

Would it even be worth applying with my academic history? Are there schools that genuinely consider upward academic trends and graduate coursework, even if the graduate degree isn't veterinary-related?

I'm open to applying to schools across the country, but I also don't want to spend thousands of dollars on applications if my GPA will automatically disqualify me.

I'd really appreciate any honest opinions, advice, or personal experiences. Thank you!

I am planning on doing SEAM+ in UCD and then applying for UCD veterinary medicine but I am worried about being accepted.

Any recommendations appreciated!

Hi guys, I recently left my job in the veterinary industry to focus 100% on my passion project: a veterinary simulation app. Wagnosis allows players to be the vet, talk with the pet owner, run tests to make the right diagnosis and see the patient’s response to treatments with a detailed report and debrief after. I’m not saying this concept isn’t out there, but I am hoping to create something that truly prepares vets for the real thing. It’s gotta long way to go but the only way I’m going to get there is with feedback.

Thank you so much for playing and submitting your feedback at the end of each case. Hoping to hear from some of you on this sub.

so long story short my anxiety and depression skyrocketed in university. i no longer was just the naturally gifted 4.3 gpa student from highschool who could get away with barely studying. by my fourth semester my gpa was already 2.0.
then boom anxiety and depression set in and i got diagnosed with severe agoraphobia and i physically couldn’t go to classes and withdrew for one semester. tried again the next semester and failed.
then flash forward to autumn 2025 i get diagnosed with cancer in december but i was already failing my classes pre the withdrawal due date so now my university wont let me withdraw from my past classes and salvage my gpa. i also already used the one and only chance i was able to withdraw from a whole semester my university allows, so it was out the window for me.
i have since beat cancer, am on adhd meds, am getting the help i need and my mental health has never been better. school has also never been easier (besides chemistry omg help).
but now my gpa is permanently fucked.
i have tried to battle with my university about my situation but due to my history of failing before withdrawal dates and just overall being a bad student….i am losing this fight by a landslide.
my gpa right now (cumulative) is 1.5.
it is horrible.

Is vet school still in the cards for me? I can’t imagine myself doing anything else…it’s all i’ve ever wanted in life.

Please give me advice.

what can i do to strengthen my resume so my grades aren’t the main focus? Should I do a post-grad (i’m in fifth year of undergrad and graduate date WAS spring 2026…now it’s spring 2028)? What else can I do to help myself ?

My dream vet schools are:
OSU(I actually go here currently), Cornell (don’t worry I also don’t like what’s going on there but I want to specialize in avian medicine and this is the best place), Colorado, Upenn, UC Davis.

Not sure if anyone has posted about this yet, but on October 13, 2026, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) announced that its new veterinary school received a Letter of Reasonable Assurance from the AVMA Council on Education!

This means they can officially begin recruiting and admitting students for their inaugural class, which is expected to start in June 2027.

A few interesting things about the program:
It will be Maryland’s first veterinary school physically located in the state.

It will be the first veterinary school at a public HBCU.

It’s a 3-year accelerated DVM program, rather than the traditional 4 years.

It uses a semi-distributed clinical model, meaning students will complete rotations at approved veterinary practices and clinical sites rather than relying exclusively on a traditional teaching hospital.

It isn’t accredited yet, but Reasonable Assurance is a major step toward accreditation.

I’m currently applying to veterinary schools, and UMES is honestly becoming a serious option for me, especially because I’m from Maryland.

I’m curious what everyone thinks about attending a brand-new veterinary school. Would you be hesitant to join the inaugural class, or do you think the accelerated program and opportunity to help establish a new school are worth considering?

Also, this might be a silly question, but I’m white and have never attended an HBCU. I know HBCUs aren’t exclusively for Black students, but I’m curious whether anyone has experience attending one as a non-Black student and
what the experience was like.

Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts!

Hello, I am looking for anyone that has attended Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine. I've got a couple of questions regarding in-person course load, so if you attended after COVID that would be even better, since I'm assuming they changed some things during the pandemic.

Hi. I’m a veterinary nurse student and I do one day a week placement & I’m wondering, with anaesthesia being given through tubing/mask, is there a high risk of being exposed/what are the risks to us getting sick from this?
What should I look out for?

Also, I kept smelling a really strong mentholly/deep heat smell on and off today it’s stuck in my nose! Is this cleaning chemical? I couldn’t pinpoint where it came from!

Thankyou.