Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- An honest and critical mind
- Time to volunteer time with animals
- Time, energy and resources to get the education
- Compassion for animals
- Knowledge about yourself and the world
Step1
Imagine what an ideal day for you as a vet would be. What kind of animals will you treat? What kind of setting is it? Who are the people you are working with? Ask yourself honestly if your compassion for/duty to animals is greater than your urge or need for social recognition or money. If you still want to be an animal doc, proceed.
Step2
Do some research into the veterinary world as it is by reading and visiting real clinics. As for reading, see "Henry and the Wolf Dr" on www.longriderpress.net, as example of something written in modern times. Keep in mind that the "All Creatures Great and Small" books and films were done decades ago about a world that is long gone. Volunteer time at various vet clinics, and learn what kind of vet you want to be, and what kind you don't want to be. You can learn a lot from people who are doing it wrong as much as by being around those who are doing it "right." In the event that you do decide to go to vet school, you will have to do volunteer veterinary experience as part of your admission requirments, so this isn't a lost step. If still interested, go to next step.
Step3
Decide on a vet school to go to. Many of them have residency preferences and you may have to move to the State or Province they are in and do some undergraduate work there as part of the preparation to get in. If at all possible, visit the vet schools in question. Talk to the faculty, the students (first and fourth years) and the technicians. Get a balanced view of their experiences of it. If still interested, go to next step.
Step4
Now that you've put your feet into the soup, keep in mind that your academic interests, biological abilities and personal aesthetics will change, but hopefully this is for the better. Keep good relations with animals at home, and have them as friends rather than "practice" tools. Beware that due to the various challenges and sheer exhaustion you will experience, it is very possible that your love for animals will become "numbed." Your love and trust for people may also be severely tested. But, if you choose to continue in it, you will be in a position to preserve, save and enhance the quality of billions of lives.
Novice 
