Livia
How do I know if I should switch career paths after being set on only one for my whole life, and what has helped others in making that decision? #Spring26
I am a first year biology major student and I wanted to be a veterinarian for almost my whole life with dreams and plans built around that. However, I have been thinking about possibly switching to something like pharmacy because I found it is something I am really interested in as well.
What is making this decision difficult for me, is that being a vet has always felt like it had been my thing and passion of mine growing up until now. By changing careers to pursue a career in pharmaceuticals, it feels like I'm giving up something that was apart of me, even though both careers I have a strong passion for.
It is especially confusing because I love each path in different ways, but both under the common umbrella of liking science and helping my community. I am not sure how to figure out whether I actually want to pursue this new interest into a career or be the veterinarian I always wanted to be. #Spring26
2 answers
Cynthia Thompson
Cynthia’s Answer
While that early interest may represent your skills and abilities, choices made early in your life are based on a limited knowledge of yourself - and the world of work.
What you need now is real-life information and experience to compare against what you have envisioned these careers to be like.
Do you have any pets - and, if so - do you have a veterinarian who you take them to for checkups?
If so, reach out to them and ask if they would be willing to schedule a 30-minute networking appointment with you. Then prepare some questions to ask them about their work day, what they like best (and least) about their career, etc.
Better yet, ask if you could volunteer - or shadow them - for a day so that you could observe what their daily tasks and responsibilities are like.
Then do the same thing with the pharmacy position.
You may discover that the position at the veterinary clinic feels fulfilling given the interactions with animals while the pharmacy position feels too clinical.
OR you may find the pharmacy position to feel neat and efficient while the veterinary clinic feels loud and chaotic.
Either way, the experience of comparing the two is likely to be a beneficial and enlightening experience.
Good luck!
Skip Jack
Skip’s Answer
A career in veterinary medicine can be very rewarding, but you need to be sure it's what you want and are ready to work hard for it. We receive thousands of applications each year for about 100 spots, so getting in is not guaranteed. If accepted, veterinary school is a long and challenging journey, and it's expensive. Most students graduate with a lot of debt. However, if you succeed, there are many career paths you can explore, including pharmacology.
Have you worked with a veterinarian? This experience is essential before applying, as it can show you both the pros and cons of a veterinary career. You should talk to the pre-veterinary advisor at your college for more insight into the demands of veterinary school, which will help you make an informed decision. Consider visiting a nearby veterinary school and speaking with their admissions staff to learn more about their programs.
This is a big decision, and you should pursue a veterinary education with full awareness. If successful, veterinary medicine is a fantastic career with many options, such as private practice (small, large and/or exotic animals), government, academia, research, and working with zoo and exotic animals.
Learn as much as you can and make a decision you feel comfortable with.
Best wishes,
S. W. Jack, DVM, MS, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine