I could use some input on this topic: a career change....

[Hawkeye-X]

Since I left college (never graduated) in 1998, I have been holding down various IT jobs, never lasting more than a year up until I started working for my dad. We have two businesses in place, both make some money, but not very much, and for that reason I'm on Social Security Disability to supplement my income. Some days I hate my job, some days I love my job. For many, many years I thought I would be destined to go into computers when it started coming out, with the technology. Today, even with the downturn of the economy, our workload has gone up and down, and I feel that I'm really stressing my father to keep me employed despite his illness - he had cancer (now in remission), and his recent hospitalization for viral meningitis, and I had to handle all of my Dad's work for the last three weeks, and it really opened my eyes, because I can tell you the truth - I HATE THIS JOB. It's not easy being deaf, working in an IT environment.

I revealed all of this to my parents and my wife, and they are supporting me through the decision of possibly changing careers. I wanted to do something that I love - technology and animals. I've always wanted to be a veterinarian. I'm 33 years old, and everyone has given me their support - even my Dad who said to me last weekend that if I really want to change careers, then by all means, go for it. I haven't done the preliminary research, but I certainly will NOT be a Dr. Frist vet (I promise!), but I'm trying to find something that will fit me and my disability and see how far I can go with this. I may enter the field as a vet tech (after retraining through Bel-Rea probably), then may eventually go back to school and go find my way into the field that I want to get into.

I know there are many vets (kestrel for one) here in DU, and I wanted to know what the requirements are. I just hope that accounting and calculus (and statistics) are not required, because they were my worst subjects in college, and that was the main reason I left college - mainly of boredom. I can do simple and advanced math, understand chemistry (a little bit - may have to re-take chemistry) and other stuff.

I just need help here - a guidance - if you will. I have my family's backing, and I'll probably beg Vocational Rehab to support me through this new change of career (one VR counselor happens to be a very good friend of the family). I just hope that this will work out for me. I just hope I can have the patience to relearn everything and forget what I knew of computing (somewhat, of course).

Hawkeye-X

[fishnfla]

1. do vets have EMR yet?

I bet they will

[Hawkeye-X]

2. EMR?

I'm lost on that one..

[NYC_SKP]

3. Well, FWIW:

You're 33, awesome, I've changed careers twice since I was your age, and each one was better than the last.

Reading your post I recalled the saying, "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." If working with animals does that for you then you gotta go for it.

On the matter of coursework. I've attended many colleges and had shitty and not-so-shitty professors of solid courses like physics and calculus. How the subject is approached and presented is EVERYTHING. You may be gifted in chemistry, for example, and never know it until it's presented to you in comprehensible or fun or authentic (and not a rote textbookish) manner.

So go for it, good luck, and I hope this was a little helpful!

[sharesunited]

4. Have you visited this site yet?

http://www.aavmc.org

[SheilaT]

5. I'd suggest you start by visiting some vets

and talk to them about what's involved in it as a career. And a quick look on-line at any vet school should give you an idea of what the requirements are, how much math and science and so on.


Hmmm. A quick search of my own turned up this:

"Preveterinary courses should emphasize the sciences. Veterinary medical colleges typically require applicants to have taken classes in organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, general biology, animal biology, animal nutrition, genetics, vertebrate embryology, cellular biology, microbiology, zoology, and systemic physiology. Some programs require calculus; some require only statistics, college algebra and trigonometry, or pre-calculus. Most veterinary medical colleges also require some courses in English or literature, other humanities, and the social sciences. Increasingly, courses in general business management and career development have become a standard part of the curriculum to teach new graduates how to effectively run a business."

Vet school is four years. Maybe becoming a vet tech of some kind would be a better idea?