Mature Student/Changing Career (to Vet) Advice
clairescavys
Posts: 239 Forum Member
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Hi everyone
I'll try to explain this as best as I can - hopefully I'll make sense (very unusual for me)!
I've come here for advice as I've researched the internet on the following and there is a lot of conflicting advice out there which has been really confusing. So someone on DS may have been in this situation and are able to offer there advice/experiences.
My situation is that I'm 31 years old and left school at age 16 with only GCSE grades (5 grade C’s and 3 grade D’s) and no idea of what I wanted to do at that point (unfortunately back then I didn't bother studying so I may have gained better GCSE grades if I had studied).
My attitude has changed a lot since then and I've worked my way up within full time administration roles since then (including doing 2 NVQ’s in Business Administration).
However for some time now (at least the past 7 years) I have come to realise this is not what I want to do and that I would love to actually work as a Vet.
Back in early 2012 I was made redundant from my admin job and afterwards have been working in another admin role – however this is maternity cover and my contract will end 31/03/2013. Once my contract ends, I will be back to looking for another job and claiming Job Seekers Allowance.
I've been considering taking this period to start studying to be a vet (starting off with a local college full time course (BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care) for 1 year starting in September 2013. This is the only course at that college that doesn't require an entry level of grade C or above Science GCSE (I've got grade D) - it doesn't allow results from GCSE re-sits either. Anyway the full time course has been my preference anyway regardless of the entry level as it appears to give more out of the course with regards to subject learning and further progression in training and employment.
If I apply and am successful in getting into the full time course (BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care), may I ask the following and if anyone has any experiences on what I may expect (it's been some years since I've been in education)!
* As a person receiving Job Seekers Allowance, would I receive any help towards the cost of the course?
* I live with my husband who is in full time work. We have a mortgage and other bills to pay (like most people). Would we receive any financial help towards this? I understand if not, but would like all information before I make an informed decision. Living solely on my husbands wage would be possible but would make things very tight. Is there any other financial aid I/we would be eligible for? Unfortunately we do not having savings (it wasn't possible to save much on what we were earning).
Any help would be very much appreciated. Information I have found online generally has been conflicting and therefore confusing.
Thanks very much for your time and for reading my post. I'll revisit this thread as and when possible - please don't think I'm ignoring any replies, it may be that I may not be able to access my thread to reply at that point (on my last thread I got told off for not being able to reply to someone within 15 minutes and I am grateful for any advice - I don't want people thinking otherwise).
I'll try to explain this as best as I can - hopefully I'll make sense (very unusual for me)!
I've come here for advice as I've researched the internet on the following and there is a lot of conflicting advice out there which has been really confusing. So someone on DS may have been in this situation and are able to offer there advice/experiences.
My situation is that I'm 31 years old and left school at age 16 with only GCSE grades (5 grade C’s and 3 grade D’s) and no idea of what I wanted to do at that point (unfortunately back then I didn't bother studying so I may have gained better GCSE grades if I had studied).
My attitude has changed a lot since then and I've worked my way up within full time administration roles since then (including doing 2 NVQ’s in Business Administration).
However for some time now (at least the past 7 years) I have come to realise this is not what I want to do and that I would love to actually work as a Vet.
Back in early 2012 I was made redundant from my admin job and afterwards have been working in another admin role – however this is maternity cover and my contract will end 31/03/2013. Once my contract ends, I will be back to looking for another job and claiming Job Seekers Allowance.
I've been considering taking this period to start studying to be a vet (starting off with a local college full time course (BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care) for 1 year starting in September 2013. This is the only course at that college that doesn't require an entry level of grade C or above Science GCSE (I've got grade D) - it doesn't allow results from GCSE re-sits either. Anyway the full time course has been my preference anyway regardless of the entry level as it appears to give more out of the course with regards to subject learning and further progression in training and employment.
If I apply and am successful in getting into the full time course (BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care), may I ask the following and if anyone has any experiences on what I may expect (it's been some years since I've been in education)!
* As a person receiving Job Seekers Allowance, would I receive any help towards the cost of the course?
* I live with my husband who is in full time work. We have a mortgage and other bills to pay (like most people). Would we receive any financial help towards this? I understand if not, but would like all information before I make an informed decision. Living solely on my husbands wage would be possible but would make things very tight. Is there any other financial aid I/we would be eligible for? Unfortunately we do not having savings (it wasn't possible to save much on what we were earning).
Any help would be very much appreciated. Information I have found online generally has been conflicting and therefore confusing.
Thanks very much for your time and for reading my post. I'll revisit this thread as and when possible - please don't think I'm ignoring any replies, it may be that I may not be able to access my thread to reply at that point (on my last thread I got told off for not being able to reply to someone within 15 minutes and I am grateful for any advice - I don't want people thinking otherwise).
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Comments
It's a very sort after course, and in many ways very similar to training to be a doctor.
From reading your post it sounds like you don't have any A Levels. You just wouldn't even be considered for Veterinary Science unless you have A Levels in three science subjects. And they need to be good ones - A or A*. The websites of universities which offer the course will tell you exactly what grades/subjects you need.
While these courses on Animal Care may look good on your application, they won't be accepted instead of A Levels I'm afraid.
You need to get back to college and get the A Levels. And be realistic about what grades you think you could manage. If getting A's or A*'s are a pipe dream for you, you may have to give up on your dream of being a vet.
Lastly, the thing that universities always look for with candidates for VS is a shed load of work experience. You need to get lots or experience in a variety of places. Yes, veterinary practices themselves, but also farms, kennels, catteries, stables etc etc. I even knew one person who worked in a slaughterhouse as part of their work experience to become a vet!
I don't want to put you off or sound harsh, but you've got to know what you're taking on and be realistic about whether you can achieve it. Good luck!:)
Have you considered Veterinary Nursing? That might be a more achievable goal.
This. It is THEE most competitive course as far as I'm aware (to be compared only to medicine) and it's absolutely impossible to get into with your grades I'm afraid. Sorry to be negative, but I think you should find other opportunities to work with animals.
You'll need at least AAB at A level or equivalent (including chemistry and/or biology/maths.
Vet courses are the most oversubscribed of any uni course...it's harder to get in than to be a doctor.
Many of them also expect previous work experience...including on large animals/farms.
I have a neighbour who has a daughter at vet school...she had 12 GSCE's at A grade...got four A levels (at AAA/B) (Chemistry/Biology/Maths/Physics) and thanks to his contacts had done 3/4 years of volunteer/work experience at local vet/a livery stable/an animal shelter and spent time at a local dairy farm.
I wish you luck but I think you need to get a handle on the likely academic requirements to get in before you start worrying about funding it...never mind the practical implications of having to live/move somewhere like Glasgow to complete a six year course given you are married etc
As I understand it you can only obtain loans for fees if the course is higher than you already have and you mention having NVQ's in administration so unless the BTEC is at a higher level even if the course was eligible, you would not be if the course is equivalent to what you already have.
If you do get into Uni, you then have the uni fees to pay - again not sure but is it £9,000 per year they can charge now? So 6 x what ever the max fee chargeable for a uni course is. (£54,000 ?)
You may qualify for a student loan for the fees though.
Unless you are able to commute or your husband change jobs to be local to where you'd study, you'll need accommodation costs too.
Clear guidelines for training, qualifications etc for vet, veterinary nurse and animal care worker (and many other jobs for that matter) are obtainable by using the search box at
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
even if you manage to get 3 As for a-levels you will be competing against others who have 3 As thats where your GCSEs could go against you.
I would not rely 100% on advice from here because people are already trying to put you off. They're within their rights to do that of course. But it would be a shame if you gave up on a dream without getting the facts from the horses mouth.. excuse the pun.. and saw posts on here and thought "See I knew it, oh well" and didn't speak with people. At least then if you come up against a brick wall you'll be happy you've tried all options and spoken with the right people.
Good luck. Life is too short to do something you don't enjoy and regret not trying something new.
I don't think anyone here is trying to put her off - why on earth would we? We're just trying to be realistic.
She is going to need A levels. It is very competitive. She will need experience working with animals. It will be expensive but she might be able to get grants/loans for the A levels and loans for the University course. She may need to move away from home or relocate if not already near the Uni she choses/gets into.
Surely you don't want us all to lie and just say 'go for it' and set her up for a fall?
Ok for vet nurse though they prefer you do the HND too.
Some vet practices offer training 'on the job', you'll start as a kennel maid and work/study your way up - these placements are like gold dust!
Nobody is trying to put you off, if you want to try, good on you but you will need top grade A-levels and lots of work experience.
On the JSA front, when I went to college to study,I did get discounted fees but my JSA was stopped as I was deemed 'unavailable for work' but that was full time college not a correspondence course.
Good luck whatever you decide, you may find your studies lead you in a totally different direction
My advice would be to make an effort to attend one of the universities that offer Vet quals and speak to the tutors.
I know this is harsh but the OP needs a reality check, there is no point of starting a qualification, which you think will get you to a certain place without doing your homework first to ensure your planned route will get you where you expect it too.
As others have said getting a place to study to be a vet is very difficult and competitive, without top class grades and a very very strong personal statement,a place is probably out of grasp.
the other things I would suggest is to volunteer with a Vet practice, PDSA or RSPCA to see if the job is really something you could cope with.
Vet was one of the things I wanted to be when at school but a chat with a vet did put me off - the PTSs even when best for the animal, animals dying even when you've tried everything, upset owners, long hours. TBH, I think he was trying to put me off:D but he was right - it wasn't really for me. Might have been able academically but I didn't have the temperament for it.
So that is a good suggestion and probably why Unis want a lot of experience to make sure people are committed.
You need three straight A's, nothing less. The people who have told you how difficult it is to get in are being nothing short of realistic. Its very tough to get in. A lot of people get discouraged half way through. Its not just the course, also its very difficult to find a place, these days once qualified you are competing with vets coming in from across the world for places.
In all reality, to give yourself a chance, if I were in your position I would consider going to Australia, New Zealand or South Africa to qualify. The conditions are less rigorous, the courses are likely going to be financially more affordable but you are likely to have to up your own entry qualifications of take an international baccalaureate first, before you can begin.
Anyone would find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get on a Vet degree course via an access course or BTEC. The demand from A level students with 4 science A levels at A* plus experience of working with animals is just too high, given the very limited number of places.
The vet nurse route is far more doable for the OP.
Yes, I didn't mean to bump it up, got a bit muddled.
There's also another thread created in 2007 asking the same thing.
How strange. Perhaps the OP will be back and will explain why she keeps asking the same question every few years!
OP out of interest why have you not done anything about it? You initially posted 6 years ago and then again 3 years ago, you could have been well on your way now
As everyone has said, becoming a vet is ridiculously competitive. People do, however, succeed at it as mature students however I would say they probably are extraordinarily motivated to do so. This appears to be lacking if these threads are anything to go by...