Kelli Cortopassi

WRA 140
Assignment 3
March 31, 2015
Thinking Pre-Vet?
Who could imagine that a dog indulging in a bowl of food or a cats urine
could bring joy to a person? Said Dr. Bhupinder (boo-pin-der) Pelia of Monroe
Veterinary Clinic in Monroe, when he told me what the most rewarding part of his job
was. There are several advantages of becoming a veterinarian, such as a
wholesome salary, flexible hours, good job stability, the versatility of the profession,
and ultimately bettering the lives of animals and their loved ones. But, with those
come some I wouldnt call them disadvantages, but challenges people face when
they choose this discipline. Such as, the competitiveness of the profession, gender
supremacy, the schooling is very long, difficult and costly, and lastly you have to
oversee euthanizations of animals (no one wants to see a mans best friend be put
to sleep). So, if you believe you can handle the challenges and embrace the
advantages then the Veterinary discipline should be on your radar.
As an incoming freshman to Michigan State University I had no idea what to
expect of my major or of the classes I would be taking. After research and from what
I have experienced my first two semesters here at Michigan State, to be successful
in Pre-Vet you must be sufficient in biology and chemistry. Those two courses will

follow you all throughout college. Dr. Robert Kahrs, former dean of the College of
Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri, stated in his Book So You Want To
Be A Veterinarian? On page 36: Although some students who decide to peruse the
discipline of veterinary medicine toward the end of college are admitted to Vet
school, making the decision early on in college is wiser. To view the specific
prerequisite college courses for admission to Veterinary school visit the Veterinary
Medical College Application Service website, www.vmcas.aavmc.org.
A huge disadvantage of deciding the profession of Veterinary medicine is the
competitiveness of being admitted into Veterinary school. According to Dr. Kahrs
There are 26 accredited colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States. Vet
school admission statistics are seriously brutal and there are actually more
prerequisite undergraduate courses required for vet school than medical school.
GPAs and test scores are also comparable to those of medical school. Vet schools
also seem to require substantial work or volunteer experience prior to admission and
most applicants don't get in on the first try. Those facts really surprised me. Nobody
really thinks of veterinarians as medical doctors, I always assumed that medical
school was a lot tougher to get into than veterinary school. Medical school is where
the people who didnt get into vet school go. It really is that competitive. chuckled
doctor Pelia.
You think getting into Vet school is the hard part? Once admitted into
Veterinary school it only gets harder, the process of vet school is extremely long and
strenuous, and not to mention expensive. A huge challenge veterinary students face
is the increasing high cost per student. The Veterinary medicine colleges have some

of the highest university expenses due to the need of unique hospital and clinical
facilities. Vet school was the greatest yes most stressful time of my life, even
though Im still paying it off to this day. stated Dr. Pelia. At least 2 years of
undergraduate pre veterinary studies is required but getting a bachelors degree is
highly recommended. Most Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DMV) degree programs
include three years of classroom learning and one year of clinical rotations in an
animal hospital. (Kahrs, 18) But, most schools incorporate hands-on learning all
throughout the all the years of vet school. The content of the classes is constantly
changing due to the fact that new information endlessly emerging.
I continued to ask Dr. Pelia, what the most difficult part of his job was. His
answer shocked me when he didnt say administering euthanizations. Though, I do
not enjoy putting animals down. By far the worst part of my job is the fact that I am
constantly drowning in piles of paperwork. Said Pelia. Paperwork serves a major
purpose in the veterinary field. Medical records are a vital part of any animals care
or treatment. When animals are sent from one vet to another the paper work is the
only thing that helps the new vet know what medications have been administered or
what procedures have taken place. The writing of medical records, when done
properly, is a chore. It guzzles a huge fraction of my daily hours in the office. There is
not one thing that I enjoy about it. It is simply work; essential, but not exciting and
indeed not fun. Added Dr. Pelia.
A huge advantage that the general public is relatively nave about is when it
comes to the versatility of the veterinary profession. Most people think that when
youre a vet that means youre just a general practice, domestic animal vet (solely

treating household pets). But, thats not the case; there are various veterinary
careers and specialties. Kahrs explains in his book on page 54 that, A veterinary
specialist is someone who has completed additional training in a specific area of
veterinary medicine beyond receiving a DVM or VMD degree, and has passed an
examination that evaluates his or her skills and understanding of that specialty.
Currently, there are 22 AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organizations
comprising 41 distinct specialties (avama.org); ranging from dentistry to surgery too
Zoological Medicine (what I want to specialize in), which is someone who works with
zoo animals, free-living wildlife, aquatic species and companion zoological animals.
With becoming a Veterinary specialist comes the qualifications for a plethora
of academic, corporate and government job positions that have regular hours and
offer wonderful benefits such as health insurance and retirement pensions. Some
examples of academic careers in the veterinary field would pertain to teaching or
research, which would usually require a PhD or MS in addition to the DMV degree.
(Kahrs, 61) The AVAMA website notes that Corporate careers would involve
employment with pet food manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, or other
industrial companies. Many veterinarians also work for the state or federal
government doing things such as developing and regulating food safety, animal
control, and securing borders from outside animal diseases or animal-borne
diseases from entering the country. The wide range of veterinary careers makes the
profession great for all types of people, personalities and employment preferences.

The salary of just a general practice Veterinarian is above decent for a single
person. According to U.S. Department of Labor, the lowest 10 percent of
veterinarians earn under $52,530 per year, whereas the top 10 percent earn over
$144,100 per year. The median annual earnings figure is $84,460, which is defined
as that amount where half the veterinarians earned less than this figure and half
earned more. There are many variables the impact the earnings for veterinarians.
Some considerations for someone interested in becoming a veterinarian would be
working full time versus part time. Also, be sure to choose your specialty wisely,
Veterinarians working in general practice tend to earn the higher salaries than ones
who work mostly in the research aspect. Lastly, be aware of your geographic area of
practice. Veterinarians working in rural locations usually earn less than veterinarians
working in metropolitan areas.
Veterinary medicine in the past was a male-dominated profession, but in the
more recent years, the field has experienced a significant increase in the number of
women studying at veterinary colleges and practicing in all fields of the profession.
According to a journal article called Gender and veterinary medicine written by
Jeanne Lofstedt, DVM. In Canada, and in the United States, women constitute
approximately 80% of the veterinary college student population. Forty-three percent
of practicing veterinarians in Canada are now female, and women are predicted to
represent the majority of the veterinary profession by 2007. (1) Men are not
applying for admission to veterinary colleges to the same degree as women these
days. In the United States, men constituted 44% of the applicant pool in 1985, but
only 28% of the applicant pool in 1999. Stated Lofstedt. But, Is there a problem with
the veterinary profession becoming feminized? Some say it will lead to declining

veterinary incomes due to the unavoidable fact that women make less than men in
America. Others have expressed the apprehension that women will not participate
fully in professional life like men do, including practice ownership. I believe women
can conquer the field just the same as men as long as the desire to better the lives of
animals is still apparent.
Before I even had a chance to ask, Dr. Pelia was more than eager to tell me
about the most rewarding part of his job. As you know, I treat many critically sick
animals every day. I live for the moment when one can visibly see them start to feel
better. He continued to tell me that beyond all the obstacles and challenges he
faced throughout his many years of schooling and the inevitable debt he was in, it is
all worth it when you see yes, a cat with a lifelong history of urinary problems,
urinate with ease.

References

American Veterinary Medical Association - Home. (2015). Retrieved March 26, 2015, from
https://www.avma.org/

Kahrs, R. (2009). So You Want to Be a Veterinarian. Infinity Pub.

Lofstedt, J. (2003). Gender and veterinary medicine. The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 44(7),
533535.

Pelia, B. (2015, March 27). [Personal interview].

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. (2015). Retrieved March 25, 2015,

from http://www.dol.gov/