Veterinary Science (1 Viewer)

[Seabiscuit]

Is anyone here doing or knows anyone doing vet science at Sydney? I'm thinking of doing it but i don't know if being a vet is the best job for me out there..
I just want to know what you do in vet science, ie. what subjects you do. I'm not a sciency person (hate science!) but i really love animals and i think working with animals would be exciting and sometimes even fun, but i'm being scared off doing veterinary science because sciences like chem and phys seem to be major components of the course. So basically im wondering if it is possible for a person who sucks at science and hates science to do vet science and not fail...?

 

[xiao1985]

not too sure abt this, check with meg with it... but i think

in the first yr, u MAY do some generic science subjects like chem/phys, but later on u will move to more specialised courses to vet sci...

so u shouldn't worry too much...

 

[Seabiscuit]

Ahh thanks!

who's meg? A BOS person?

 

[xiao1985]

visit open day... i am sure megan will be there..

sorry , btw, tis megan, not meg...
she'd be around sci rd in open day... just muck around there n ask them...
also, pop into one of those mini lectures and ask the lecturer after hand... i am sure they will have more than enough information than u need... =)

 

[Mambomeg]

hey, i am here!

Ok, stress less. Vet science is sciency, but not in the traditional way. In first year, you have to do chemistry (which would probably be the worst of it for you) and Cell biology, but the cell bio is interesting, and after you get through the first dull stuff about the componenets of cells, you do stuff on DNA, genetic disorders, stem cell research etc, and even though it is science, its related to the real world, so for me, that made it easier to understand.

You also do Anatomy, which is more memorising body parts etc, and Physiolgy, which again is a bit sciency, but its more like "when you stand up, the force of gravity causes blood to flow away from your head, so you become dizzy...." again, its related to real life, so its easier to understand.

In first year, you also do animal husbandry, which is what you would probably enjoy most, where you learn about life cycles, feed and nutrietion requirements, animal training etc, and do the hands on animal handling. As well you do professional practice, learning about careers, etc.

In my opinion, you could probably get through the science if you really wanted to be a vet. But if you are not certain you want to be a vet, you might consider doing psychology to become an animal behavioralist, or animal attending or animal husbandry at tafe.

You can always try it out for a year and transfer if you dont like it. There are a lot of ppl who struggle with the science, especially the chem, and there is a lot of support, like extra classes etc. And if you live at college you get extra tutes too. So you wouldnt be alone at all.

But serioulsy consider whether you want to spend your life acting as doctor, pharmacist, surgeon, trainer, psychologist etc all in one, because thats what it takes to be a vet! If that doesnt appeal, maybe look at other options.

Anyways, talk to the vet science ppl at info day, ask if they know of any other options if they dont think vet science is for you. And dont get too stressed, if you enrol and dont like it, its not the end of the world, transferring is always an option.

 

[Seabiscuit]

Wow thanks alot!
One more question - do u enjoy vet science? i.e. do u have no regrets about choosing it?

 

[Mambomeg]

none whatsoever, i love it, even though its tough at times, like when assignments are due etc, i would never consider doing anything else! but i've wanted to be a vet since before i can even remember, so i'm slightly biased! But yeah, i love it, its tops, cant reccomend it enough!

 

[Moonlite]

I would seriously love to become a Vet... but you need a really good UAI don't you? I heard it was 99% .... by the way, what was your UAI Mambomeg? And if you don't get the required UAI, is there any other way to get in?

 

[kimmeh]

I'm planning to do Veterinary science: provided i make the cut off. I personally dont really have a love of animals (well, not the the extent of meg ), more over a like, but i really am passionate and truly love anatomy/physiology/evolution/histology/species behaivour/disease: more the the "biology" kind of things. I DID want to do medicine but now that i think it over, i'd rather do vet sci because i'd be able to study a broad range of speices, not just one. I obviuosly am a sciency person and absolutely love the biology component (not so much chem). Here's the subects you do: http://www.vetsci.usyd.edu.au/study/vetsciustudy.shtml thanks good nees theres no signs of physics (or is there?)

PS meg, i'm coming to you tommorow to annoy you

 

[Beats]

umm this is probably a superficial question, but i was wondering if it is possible to avoid certain animals (such as reptiles) if you study vet science and become a vet?

 

[Bob.J]

umm this is probably a superficial question, but i was wondering if it is possible to avoid certain animals (such as reptiles) if you study vet science and become a vet?

definitely
you can become a bird specialist or areas similar to that
there are always separate paths you can go to take your interests to their fullest.

 

[Beats]

hehe thats funny bcos i was going to write 'such as reptiles or birds' - but what u say about specialising is good news! thanks

 

[kimmeh]

umm not really. Since you're an "animal docotr", i'm sure you'll have to encounter ALL species animals during your study. I guess you can choose later down your career whether or not to work where there is less/no contact with reptiles, but as bob.j said, you can specialise, but i assume most vets just stay as vets and dont specialise.

 

[Mambomeg]

hey, to answer all asked questions....

My UAI was 96.95, not high enough to get in straight from school, so i did a year of animal science and applied to tranfer into vet. To do this you need to complete at least 1 year of uni study, get a distinction average (or honours if you complete a degree), do the STAT test and do well in that, and do as much work experience as you can possibly do.

Specialising.... At uni, we learn about most major types of animals that you will encounter as a vet in Australia. We dont do a lot on birds or reptiles, but we do do a little bit, so you'd just have to put up with that. We focus mainly on dogs, cats, horses, cows, sheep and pigs. Its really up to you which species you surround yourself with when you graduate. Most suburban practices see mainly dogs and cats, where as rural mixed practices also see all of the "farm" type animals. In a normal small animal practice, you might see maybe 10% birds, reptiles and "pocket pets" (mice, guinea pigs etc). Again, depends on the area etc.

But, with a vet science degree, you dont have to be a vet, you can go into research, like human medical research, or study animal behaviour, be a consultant to a tv show, be a journalist, anything really, its quite an open ended degree, much to many peoples astonishment.

Becomming a specialist usually requires further study, like postgrad research, usually overseas, as there is generally more info / better teachers for specialisation in other countries, like america. This can be done any time after you graduate, theres no rush, so if you decide 10 yrs down the track that you want to specialise in dairy cattle, or become an orthopaedic surgeon, then you can go back to uni later on.

 

[+Po1ntDeXt3r+]

umm i was suppose to do vet but.. had my calling with humans ..

altho one of my friends is a whiz at sciences and LOVED animals.. but they could not stand treating the animals and i suspect they dun lik sci much anymore .. dropped out of vet..

 

[Bob.J]

yeh you gotta be absolutely sure you're gonna be dedicated in completing vet sci. That's why they make tertiary students write up that statement or other.
I know someone who did full-fee vet. Total cost for one year was around 36k i think then they dropped out. Yikes

 

[+Po1ntDeXt3r+]

they should make secondary students do it too

i think in the fees for Usyd are wayyy tooo high.. and only to get a laminated student card is harsh..

 

[Bob.J]

oh yeh. since when does vet sci cost more than med? geez, must be coz the govt doesnt subsidise anything for vets

yes. usyd is so damn cheap with the ID cards. We have to supply our own bloody passport photos. Every other uni does the photo for you. Even UMelb ID cards are better than ours (even tho they're ugly and just photocopied pieces of paper)

 

[+Po1ntDeXt3r+]

actualli med is lik 40-50K /yr. at bond uni.. and 40K at melb.. 32K at adel..
i cant figure why the 2 oldest unis in the country are still using shit cards?

at least i hav a magnetic swipe access on mine.. its lik UNSW one.. and its a old uni too .. sif Usyd and UMelb cant do tat too....