I have wanted to be a veterinarian since I was little but every time I take a survey I always get nursing or something along the lines of being a designer, I want to become a vet still but I don’t know if I am going to try it and then not like it. What should I do?

Hailie,

Don't let those surveys override common sense and gut feeling. They are just intended to be a guide. There are lots of crossovers in career paths, like Alexandra mentioned. Nursing and Veterinary are two branches of the same career path - they are not that far apart! If you are a people-person, you could look into animal therapy programs, training dogs to assist people with medical conditions/disabilities, for example.

The surveys don't really capture the down-side of jobs. For example, they think social services is about helping people, but, lots of times, it's about generating statistics, record keeping, documentation, etc. Most jobs have a part that really turns people off. If you have to do it only occasionally, that might be tolerable. But, when it becomes the main part of your job, that's something else.

It sounds to me like animals are a big part of your life. I would continue to try to find careers that incorporate animals, but expand how you are thinking about it.

Spend some time in a veterinary hospital and see if it fits you. Veterinarians are generally always open for questions. Remember there are no stupid questions. But ask yourself, is it common sense questions or things that can only be answered by someone with experience.

I would agree with the response above in that it would help you to see what a vet or a vet assistant does on a daily basis and see if you like it. Are you also interested in design? Maybe you can work on designing habitats and toys for animals, or other products to improve animal health. If you are still about to go to college, you might use that time to explore both design and chemistry/biology because you do not have to decide to go to vet school until you are done with college.

Good luck!