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Xeogaming Forums - Sunset Waterfall - Happiness... or Realism?

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[quote=Belial]So, as many of you already know (due to Facebook), I was accepted into Massey University in New Zealand for the first, "pre-selection" semester for the veterinary medicine program.

Note: Yes, this program is valid in the US, along with Canada, UK, Australia and I think South Africa. It is literally a world-renowned program.

First off, there are only 27 vet schools in America. In America, to even apply to vet school, which is graduate school, you have to first get a four year degree, then apply, hopefully get in, and spend another four years until you're a veterinarian. The only vet school in California (where I live), is UC Davis. According to their website, in 2007, nearly 1000 people applied for 131 seats. What are the odds of me getting into that?! It's also my least expensive choice for grad/vet school, at about [b]$170,000[/b] for the entire four years (tuition only). Another option would be to go out of state, and hope my chances are better. Next option: Washington State University, which would be about [b]$204,000[/b] for the four years, tuition only as an out of state student. If I were a Washington state resident, it would only be about $84k, but alas, I am from California, and I'll be damned if I'm moving to Washington (snow... *shivers*) and living there a year... THEN going to school for another eight. I don't want to be well into my 30s by the time I'm done with my education. =/ The plus side to studying in the States however, is that I will be capable of getting scholarships and grants. Neither of which are readily available for international students of other countries.

Now, Massey University. It's actually rather competitively priced at about [b]$194,000[/b]. The major plus side to this school, is that there is no "undergrad" needed. This goes for most schools outside of the US. The first semester is core science classes, and from that, and a proficiency test, you are competing against your other classmates for a seat in the program. There are a different amount of applicants from year to year, from 10-30. From these, about 10-12 are chosen. Much better odds, yes? After getting into the program, it's another 4.5 years.... and that's it. I'd graduate, be eligible for the US boards to become a DVM in the States, if I chose to come back. I'd be studying in an amazingly beautiful, foreign country, an experience not many get to have.

My problem? Veterinarians have one of the worst cost of education to salary ratio in the world. The average debt of an American veterinarian is around $80-90,000. Average salary is between $50-75,000. I would be having a horrible time paying off $190k+ in student loans. It would probably be more than that amount, due to cost of living expenses, which would range at about $15k a year (*5, would tack on another $75k, if I couldn't manage a job and school).

I think I would make a great veterinarian, and love working with animals... I think it would be a very satisfying career for me. Yet... would I come to regret it, due to the cost of that education? Should I find something that may be less satisfying, but more realistic?

I would greatly value any opinions... Thanks. :)[/quote]

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Belial Posts: 614/647	Well, it's not America, they want the people living here to be able to afford cost of living expenses. $15k includes tuition and that cost of living minimum for the semester. I'm getting a letter that should include more in depth reasons. My grandmother is very much convinced it's her fault; that she filled something out incorrectly. We shall see. Who knows, by the end of this weekend I could be staying after all. It sucks that the only people I could consider asking to cosign are previous students that are trying to pay off their own student loans, and thus would be denied. :/ I am at an impasse. I hate this feeling. I feel like my heart has been torn from my chest. My siblings think I'm being stupid, petty and irresponsible while they sit there in California working at a gift shop while the other does part time security. I finally told my mom that I have known my current boyfriend for ten years online before meeting him. Never have I heard my mother so shocked, yet happy for me. She seems convinced that if we had known each other this long, it's not going to end if I have to move back to the States for awhile. Edit: I accidentally a word.
Elara Posts: 7910/9736	So they don't want any poor Americans in their country? Asshats. I would press the issue and ask what is wrong with the cosigner so that you know what to avoid.
Belial Posts: 613/647	It'll be about a seven month setback. I have to keep faith that I'll be back then. It didn't give specifics, just told me to try and apply with a -different- credit-worthy cosigner. The person who cosigned is the most "credit-worthy" person I know. The only other way is to have about US$15k cash. Then I could stay.
Elara Posts: 7908/9736	Temporary setback. Did they say why you were declined?
Xeoman Posts: 9913/11757	Bring the man with? lol... But seriously Belial, I'm sorry to hear. But maybe, somehow, something else even better can work out of all of this with this turn of events.
Belial Posts: 612/647	I didn't get it. I'll be home mid-July.
Cteno Posts: 2765/3416	Positive energy here. Hope my pep talk last night helped.
Elara Posts: 7907/9736	Positive energy coming your way, Belial. I really hope that you get it, since if anyone deserves it, you do.
Belial Posts: 611/647	Sorry to bump my own thread. But I'm glad this has become a reality. But tomorrow I find out if I am staying longer than one semester. I didn't get into the vet programme, but I'm okay with that. I feel as if this adventure has brought me down another path, one that is less intense and a third the cost. Hopefully will be moving to Wellington next week, to attend Victoria University of Wellington, to achieve a bachelor's degree in marine biology, ecology and biodiversity. I want to teach afterwards... preferably at university level for awhile. Since professors are paid so well, I'll be able to pay off my debt fairly quickly. Like I said though. Tomorrow I find out if I can get the student loan to stay. If the loan application is denied, I will be home before the end of summer. The thought of leaving here, leaving the most amazing person I've ever met has brought me to tears, every time I think about it. Since my application was denied once, it may be denied again. I'm hoping that it was denied simply because I filled something out wrong (that's what I -think- happened). Since the first got denied, I've been unable to eat, focus... all I can think about is that I might have to leave. I know many of you aren't the praying type... but any positive energy, prayers.. It would all mean so much to me. I'm not ready to go home yet. There is so much more here for me. So many ways for me to grow as an individual, finally graduate in a field I am absolutely loving. I haven't cried so hard since my father passed away, and I'm really, really terrified that I won't ever see my boyfriend again. This seems kind of like a teenager "OMG I am moving away from my boyfriend of a few months!" but it's not. I have known him for about ten years online, we met in February in person for the first time... by the end of that week we were in bed cuddling. Things have never felt so right with another person. I didn't think that the love you see in books, films, etc is real, since everything that happened with my ex-husband... But I truly feel that with him. I don't know what I would do if I had to leave him. Be like Buttercup in The Princess Bride as Westley is leaving: "I will never love again."
Belial Posts: 540/647	Thanks again, guys. ^-^
Rogue Posts: 7465/11918	How about these? Or these? Good luck, Belial!
Belial Posts: 539/647	Yeah, I've tried Fastweb and the Scholarships.com. Neither of which offer help for students wanting to study abroad. The only scholarships I have found were for minority students and if your degree is of a language or cultural nature.. shrugs
Elara Posts: 6857/9736	Yeah, there has to be. My mind just went to the Fullbright because it's the biggest one. Have you looked at sites like Fastweb at all? They might be able to find things like that for you.
Belial Posts: 538/647	That'd be amazing.. if I fit the qualifications. Have to be a graduating college senior or more. =/ bah! I must keep looking.. There's gotta be -something- out there...
Elara Posts: 6854/9736	Also, look to see if your course of study is eligible for the Fullbright Scholarship. It's open to grad and undergrad students and is specifically for people who wish to study abroad. If you can get it, it might help quite a bit with expenses.
Belial Posts: 537/647	Originally posted by Elara I love Rogue's wording. even though you will get financial aid for the undergrad part of you schooling here, there isn't much for grad school so in the end you will be paying about the same and maybe less by going to Massey. I loved Rogue's wording as well. hehe And this is what I needed to hear. I didn't know that! The more I learn about America's education system, the less I like it. Thank you all so much for your encouragement. You have no idea how much it means to me. My family thinks I'm nuts for being willing to spend so much on school... but it feels like the "right" thing to do.
Elara Posts: 6848/9736	I love Rogue's wording. Honestly, it's a great program so you know you have a good chance of getting hired where ever you choose to go. Plus is that it's an English-speaking country so you don't have to learn a new language to study there. From what I hear people are super nice there (my cousin is on a trip there right now and they talk about it a lot) so I am sure you can find a way of getting work while you are there and maybe help with cheaper housing and whatnot. You are not going to get a better education for less money, and it will be saving you time because even though you will get financial aid for the undergrad part of you schooling here, there isn't much for grad school so in the end you will be paying about the same and maybe less by going to Massey. Plus, you will be done in half the time and get to say you spend about five years in New Zealand. I would jump at that chance.
Katana Posts: 3131/3649	I'm having a similar dilema with the prospect of going to lawschool. I'll keep this short, so as not to make this about me. The realistic idea is...there is debt and hardship everywhere...but people still manage to be happy. A quick perspective...between my mother and I, we brought in less than 25k last year. That's REALLY poor here where I'm from (although things here aren't AS inflated as they are out west it seems.) Bills are ALWAYS piled high. We don't have much, nor do we have the best of the little we all do have. BUT, I am still VERY happy. I get pissed off and have lots of frustrations, but overall...have nothing at this moment that can get me out of this bit of a slum, and yet I still love life. Point is...if money is what you're worried about, realistically, "money problems" are inevitable, at some point in life. Those privileged to not have any worry like that are SOOOO few. As long as you make sure to the best of your ability that this won't be a waste, then this is a realistic decision, as well as one that will hopefully make you as happy as I know you freaking deserve to be. Go balls deep. If this is what you want, take the plunge. There are probably going to be times that suck. When you first get out there may be a pretty damn hefty struggle. But you already forsee this possibility. If you want a "realistic" outlook, then change the idea of the struggle from being a possibility. Know that it's a definite, unavoidable part of this decision, and most likely, life in general. Understanding this first will be a BIG help. It'll help you keep your head in the game and held high. Do your damndest while you're doing the schooling, no matter where you go, to minimize the length of extreme financial struggle. Do everything and anything you can to research and accomplish what it is that will maximize your chances at getting the job asap. It takes money and risk to make money. But one can still be realistic and happy at the same time. Edit: I took too long typing this. Didn't see others posted before me. but I agree with them wholeheartedly.
Cteno Posts: 2154/3416	Agreed 100% with Rogue, as I said in Skype!
Rogue Posts: 7459/11918	I really feel you should go for it, especially getting to go to school there. Yes, the money is intimidating, but really I feel it's a small price to pay for something you really want to do and become. If I were in your place, I would snatch this opportunity by the testicles and skip to the airport.
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Xeogaming Forums - Sunset Waterfall - Happiness... or Realism?

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