re: DVMs of the OB...career questions

In good time.

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You aren't kidding. She has about 175k in student loans

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My dad has been a practicing veterinarian in the Baton Rouge and Livingston area for over 30 years. He has tried to talk many people out of going into veterinary medicine for this reason among others. I couldn't even imagine being buried in so much debt and basically paying for a second house you can't live in.

Also, veterinarians don't make nearly as much money as people think. People assume they are fricking stacked and buried in their own piles of cash but this just isn't true. Unless you go into private practice or are willing to move, you will be paying off those debts for a very very long time.

My dad also applied for a teaching job at the veterinary school and I learned that they really don't give a shite about the students getting a quality education. The vast majority of the students go into private practice and yet the vet school barely prepares them for the rigors of private practice. My dad put together a giant presentation to be hired and had a ton of students come in and watch his presentation. So many of them were blown away by how good it was and the fact that he mentioned compassion fatigue, something many vet students never even hear about. Veterinarians have one of the highest rates of suicide for those practicing medicine.

Sorry to ramble but they wouldn't hire my dad simply because he's not board certified. Never mind the fact that he's practiced in south Louisiana for over 30 years and would be an incredible resource for students. They originally required board certification, then pulled the requirement, then after my dad poured his heart and soul into the presentation put the requirement back up. My dad wanted an opportunity to prepare new students and was willing to really invest himself personally in it.

Yes, I'm salty. frick the LSU vet school. That showed me they don't care about preparing their students for the real world and only want that green.

/rant

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she would choose human medicine.

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My dad tried to steer several people to dental school or even PT school but they were adamant to go to vet school. The majority of them were female too, go figure. They have to nurture their love of animals but bury themselves to their eyeballs in debt without knowing it. I would love for parents to actually parent and tell their kids just how much debt that is before they make a regrettable decision.

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That being said... Is your dad hiring?

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He owned Watson Pet Hospital until about 6-7 years ago when he sold it and he works at Sherwood South now. But I'm sure he's still in touch with the guy who bought it and I could try and pull some strings.

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It's so incredibly tough to find a job here

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That's another part of it. Going into veterinary medicine in a city with a veterinary school does not create great local prospects.

My best friend's wife had to move them to Austin for her to work. And other of her fellow graduates went all over the place - Alaska, Texas, the northeast, among others. I don't think a single one of her friends stayed around BR, but if they did it's a minuscule percentage.

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We are driving to Shreveport this weekend for an interview.

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Sorry to shite all over her profession and I wish y'all the best of luck. I honestly see some fundamental changes coming to colleges in the next 10 years, especially undergrad. The internet is making it very obsolete and expensive. It's becoming a very poor investment for people who don't want to go into a STEM field.

/rant again

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But she really loves it, at least there is that.

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There is a silver lining! It would even worse if she had invested in it and then ended up hating the work.

You two will be alright - just try to take little chunks out of that debt rather than looking at one lump sum. You'll get there.

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jeez....maybe I've been absent from the goings on of the OB, but I had no idea there was this many vets here.

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I think most of them start off wanting to be livestock vets, which may be why there are so many here (from rural areas). That was my dad's story (grew up on a farm) so that's my best guess.

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bapple

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Just chiming in to say your Pop's is an awesome vet. We were treated very well by the staff over there, even though the outcome wasn't great. Clients for as long as I'm in Baton Rouge.

Also, do yourself a favor and read up on mental illness and compassion fatigue in veterinary medicine. Your girl might be tough as nails but this profession can mentally beat some people down after a while. I hope you never experience it but it happens, not trying to scare you but as the SO and support person I think it's a good idea that you're at least aware of it.

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She wears a damn apple watch.

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I know very little about these. Do they require you to tap them? The way I try to monitor my timing that wouldn't work for me.

Is she prone to losing pens? If not a really nice pen could be a good start esp if she is in a practice with all paper or half paper records. So. Many. Records you have to write.

I'm glad you're aware of it at least. Fact is that the profession is filled with type A people - perfectionists prone to beating themselves up over the smallest mistakes. Add in that they're working on beings who can't talk or do anything about their own situation and are at the mercy of their owners which can be a really bad thing. Not uncommon for a vet to be verbally abused or accused of all sorts of things which many dwell on. After all that you pile on the fact that most are in what seems like a hopeless pit of debt. You have the perfect recipe for all sorts of mental issues and unfortunately suicide. Some folks just can't disconnect from their work/patients.

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The majority of them were female too, go figure

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When we had them come out, they poured out of that 4 door truck like Mexicans. Iirc, there was 5 chicks, one guy and the actual Vet/ teacher. And this is for large animals. Not a bunch of chicks wanting to Doctor people's "fur babies". Was really shocked and to be honest, none looked like they had enough arse behind them to manipulate and handle a sick, crippled, or otherwise large animal. That being said I still applaud them. They have taken on a huge financial burden and just as big commitment. There will never be enough GOOD large animal vets

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I can't imagine having a real job. I have never felt like I was going to work and continue to enjoy showing up each day

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exactly how my wife feels about her equine practice. Most DVMs aren't in it for the money. Its a vocation to which they are drawn and devoted.