Soon to be vet graduate - need advice!
I’m a veterinary student and will soon be entering my final year of studies. Lately I’ve been feeling increasingly anxious about graduating, and I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar.
I feel like my university hasn’t provided a well rounded education. I completely understand that a lot of learning is self-directed in veterinary medicine, and I’m happy to study outside of class. However, I feel that some fundamental subjects, like parasitology and pharmacology, were not taught properly. Lectures often felt rushed, and asking questions was discouraged. There were times when lecturers became frustrated with students simply for asking for clarification.
Clinical rotations have been another source of frustration. Some veterinarians are fantastic teachers, but many seem too busy or simply uninterested in teaching students. When we ask questions, we’re often told, “You’re in your 5th you should know this already.” But it’s difficult to know something when you haven’t been taught it, and your questions have gone unanswered for years.
We also don’t have access to the hospital database, so we can’t review cases in our own time. We aren’t allowed to read patient records, take photos of case notes, or print them to study later. It feels like we’re expected to learn from clinical cases, but we’re not given the resources to do so.
Recently, during an externship, a veterinarian pointed out that I have gaps in my knowledge and said it’s important that I work on them. I completely agree with that feedback, but instead of motivating me, it made me panic. In less than a year, I’ll be responsible for treating animals, and I honestly don’t feel ready. I know no new graduate knows everything, but I worry that my education has left me with bigger gaps than it should have.
Because of this, I’m starting to question whether clinical practice is the right fit for me. I’ve been looking into alternative veterinary careers, such as diagnostic laboratories, histopathology, research, or the pharmaceutical industry. I’m not particularly interested in teaching or academia, but I don’t really know how people transition into these other fields. Our university focuses almost exclusively on clinical practice and doesn’t discuss alternative career paths.
Has anyone else felt this way before graduating? Did you feel unprepared but eventually gain confidence once you started working? And for those who chose non-clinical careers, how did you get into them?
I’d really appreciate any advice or hearing about your experiences.