Not all paths of a veterinary student look the same. Today, the vets are chatting with Ariel, a current vet med student at UC Davis whose path is that of a non-traditional veterinary student. Prior to starting her journey through veterinary school, Ariel had a career in sociology. Coming from a small town in China, Ariel decided to pivot from her life in academia and apply to veterinary school.

She shares her journey through starting vet school, the overlapping skills from her previous professional life that are relevant to veterinary medicine, and her experience as a vet tech prior to starting veterinary school at UC Davis. Ariel shares the support she’s received from her husband and her family, how she’s supporting herself financially through veterinary school, and her veterinary school application process.

This episode highlights the growing population of non-traditional veterinary students. So if you’re considering a change in career, this is a reminder that it’s never too late. Tune in to this episode to hear Ariel’s story and the advice she has for those wanting to pivot into veterinary medicine.