I am currently a Veterinary Technician Student at the end of my first year at Oulton College. I…read morehave found that, in my program, the instructors are genuine, and really care about their students' success and wellbeing. No, the tuition is not easy money, and yes, this program is very condensed and the work load can get pretty heavy. But it can be done, and can be done well if you aren't afraid of a bit of hard work.
Pros:
- You get to actually work with, and take care of animals in the clinic, and have lots of hands on time for those kinesthetic learners.
- Instructors so far have been patient and happy to walk us through the newer, scarier things like blood draws and injections.
- There is free parking now - just make sure you get a sticker for your car.
- This one may not always apply, but my class has been incredibly supportive and helpful to one another.
- Our instructors use the books and powerpoints, but also make sure that we know that what may happen in the real world, can often look a little different, and they will explain those differences.
- Speaking of powerpoints, those are always available for students to study off of.
- Two year course. The program is condensed, but you also are only in school for two years.
- The Vet Tech instructors really do care about you. Not just academically, but personally. Especially our current head instructor. She knows us all by name, and she asks how specific things are doing if she knows there's stuff going on in our lives. She often asks our class how we feel about the week, the workload, and if we're all feeling overwhelmed, she has put the work in to find ways to make it easier for us.
Cons:
- Tuition. Not gonna lie, tuition is a bit pricey, and if you're not able to work during the school year, financial aid and Student loans will be your best friends.
- The program is incredibly condensed. You're still learning eveerything, but it is fast paced and sometimes it feels like the assignments and tests are really piling up. While there is a benefit to only being in school for two years, there's also some stress with it. Personally, I wouldn't reccomend working if you can help it, but if you absolutely have to, be sure you have adequate support in place.
- If you're starting in Februrary like I did, be prepared to have even less down time. You don't get the same breaks as the September starters, but you do get 3 weeks over christmas in comparison to their 2 weeks. There are smaller breaks throughout the year, but no long summer break for you.
- You will probably want to quit. And I only say that because it's normal. It's a lot of work, you will be tired, you will get overwhelmed. But so far, for me it's been worth it. If this is your dream, don't let yourself give up. If you need help, it's there for you.
