Vet Schools Experience Student Shortage

According to an article in the Hollister Free Lance, there are approximately 2,500 openings for veterinary students among all the veterinary schools around the country. Last year, there were only about 5,000 applicants for those positions. These numbers show a dramatic decline in people who aspire to become vets.

Industries worried about potential Veterinary Shortage

This number is disturbing to a number of industries that rely on veterinarians, such as the Food and Drug Administration, NASA, and worldwide disease control centers, among other industries. Veterinarians are needed by these industries because of their unique knowledge of animals and specific diseases that animals carry.

Length of Veterinary Study Often Daunting

One potential reason that veterinary school applications have fallen is the current job market. College freshmen can see that certain careers, such as those in the high tech industry, can be quite lucrative with only a four year bachelor's degree in computer science. Earning a veterinary degree often takes seven or eight years. Unfortunately, many students don't understand that the financial benefits of owning a private veterinary practice can be much larger in the long run than writing code at a software company. Working with animals also keeps vets on their feet and much more active than someone who stares at a computer screen all day.

Save Time by Becoming a Veterinary Technician

Those who don't want to spend so much time in school but who love animals and want to be in a veterinary atmosphere often become veterinary technicians. Vet Techs assist veterinarians and are a vital part of veterinary medicine. They can usually earn an associate degree in approximately two years, thus saving a lot of time and money.

Source

• Hollister Free Lance

About the Author
Kirk Bangstad is an artist manager and singer working in Chicago, IL. His previous experience includes consulting for technology companies in the Silicon Valley and serving as a field director and publicist for a statewide political campaign. Kirk holds a B.A. in government from Harvard University.