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If you’re considering pursuing a career as a veterinarian, you probably have tremendous affection and compassion for animals and want to help them via medical training. That probably means you’re considering attending veterinary school. Among the questions you may be wondering about are, How long is vet school? How do I apply? How much will vet school cost, and how can I afford it?

This guide will help you understand the process for how to become a vet and how you might afford this fulfilling career.

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Veterinarian?

The cost for a four-year veterinary school for in-state residents is over $200,000 while students with out-of-state tuition may pay more than $275,000, depending on the school, according to the VIN Foundation Student Debt Center.

While that’s a lot of money, getting a doctorate in veterinary medicine (DVM) can lead to a median salary of $103,260 a year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A vet’s salary depends on what kind of practice they go into and where they are located.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Veterinarian?

The path to becoming a vet can vary, and the length of time it takes to become a vet can vary as well. In general, most vet schools are four-year programs for a DVM. Some, however, have accelerated programs and semesters and get the work done in three years.

Those pursuing a veterinary career path might also want to factor in how long it takes to complete the prerequisites. In general, that will require students to have a bachelor’s degree, which also takes around four years to complete. If you have already completed your bachelor’s degree but didn’t take the courses required for vet school, then you may need to pick up those credits as well before you start your applications.

That said, what follows are six key steps if you are wondering how to be a veterinarian.
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6 Steps to Become a Veterinarian

The steps to becoming a veterinarian are often as follows:

Step 1: Check Off The Prerequisites

These points can help you move towards your degree as a veterinarian:

•   The Veterinary Medical College Application Service resource will show you the list of prerequisite college courses that are generally required for students applying for veterinary school. Required courses for most veterinary schools include biology, chemistry, animal sciences, and advanced math.

•   Students interested in pursuing vet school who are currently enrolled in undergrad may want to review their current course of study to be sure they are on track for vet school prerequisites.

•   Another tip is to volunteer, get an internship, or do part-time work with an animal hospital, local business, or charitable organization that helps animals. See if your college has a prevet extracurricular club that could broaden your experience and help you learn more about the field.

Getting a lot of hands-on animal experience can help build your resume and help you make sure that you’re pursuing a career path that appeals to you.

Also, know that to file your vet school application, you’ll most likely be required to submit your undergraduate transcripts and provide a reference from a college professor or professional in the animal sciences.

Step 2: Determine How to Pay for School

Before you decide on which veterinary school you want to attend, consider evaluating what savings you have to put toward vet school and estimate what you may need to borrow in student loans or fund with grants and scholarships.

It’s important to think about veterinary school costs as you begin researching schools so you have a good idea of what your veterinary school debts may look like.

According to the most recent data from the American Veterinary Medical Association, the average educational debt among the 82% of US veterinary college graduates who take on debt was $179,505. While vets do earn a good salary once they find employment, that is a significant sum to consider.

Working a part-time job while attending school might help offset some of the vet school costs or the amount you have to take out in loans in order to cover living expenses, but it might be challenging to balance work and school, especially as your schoolwork increases.

Recommended: Why Your Student Loan Balance Never Seems to Decrease

Step 3: Research Veterinary Schools

Once you have an idea of how much money you have to pay for vet school, research the veterinary schools in the country. You’ll likely consider the location, costs, and the types of programs offered if you’re pursuing a specialty veterinary degree.

This step can be an important part of the journey on how to become a veterinarian. As you read above, it may be more affordable to attend a vet school in your state.

Also, check that the vet school(s) you are applying to are suited to the type of vet medicine you want to practice. For example, if you’d like to pursue a career working with horses, research schools that offer equine programs.

If you plan to pursue a general DVM degree, find an accredited veterinary program that fits the criteria most important to you, such as your budget or where you want to live.

Step 4: Apply to Veterinary Schools

Check out the schools’ admissions website to determine the specific graduate school application requirements. Some pointers:

•   Most vet schools require students to submit scores for either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Some schools may also require applicants to take the Biology GRE.

•   You also might need a letter of recommendation or two, as noted above.

•   Some applications may also require a personal essay.

•   Once your application is received, there may also be an in-person interview.

Yes, the vet school application process can be involved and long. It can get expensive, too. Vet schools often charge a non-refundable application fee; many schools follow the fee structure set by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, which sets the first application fee at $227, and then each additional application fee is $124.
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Step 5: Attend Veterinary School

A three- to four-year vet med school degree often involves a few semesters of coursework, followed by clinical training and intense clinical training to gain hands-on training at one of the college’s affiliates.

Students can apply for scholarships and grants to help alleviate some of the costs of a veterinary degree. By managing your budget and minimizing extraneous expenses, you may also lower the amount of student debt you end up borrowing.

In order to practice veterinary medicine and become a veterinary, students will also need to study for and pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). Generally, vet students take the exam during their senior year.

Step 6: Begin The Job Search

The experiences you had during clinical rotations can help you determine which area of veterinary medicine you want to go in. Options include private veterinary practice, vet hospital, research, education, diagnostics, or even public health with a DVM degree.

In general, it can be helpful to start looking for a job in veterinary medicine before graduating from vet school. After passing the NAVLE and graduating from school, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running if you have a job in place.

Having a job secured before you graduate may also provide peace of mind as you start thinking about student loan repayment.

The Takeaway

A career in veterinary medicine can be a rewarding one. You’re helping sick or injured animals heal, providing preventative care, and getting to interact with animals all day long. When it comes to discovering how to become a veterinarian, the process takes planning, dedication, and hard work.

Attending veterinary school can be a challenging but fulfilling journey. It’s also typically an expensive one. After graduating, refinancing student loans may be an option that can lower the loan’s interest rate, and potentially reduce the cost of borrowing in the long term. However, you may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term. Also, refinancing federal student loans means you forfeit some borrower protections, such as loan forgiveness and deferment.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.

FAQ

Where do veterinarians work?

Veterinarians work across the country and around the world in a variety of settings, such a s private clinics, animal hospitals, and zoos, or they may operate out of an office and then visit homes or ranches.

What does a veterinarian do?

A veterinarian cares for the health of animals, whether pets, livestock, or other animals. They diagnose and work to heal issues animals endure and may protect public health by doing so.

What’s the salary and job outlook for a veterinarian?

The median salary for a veterinarian is currently $103,260 a year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The need for vets is seen as increasing, with a projected growth of 19.4% between 2021 and 2031.

What hours do vets work?

The hours a vet will work can vary tremendously depending on a specific job, type of employment, and location. Most vets work four to five days a week, eight to 10 hours a day.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.

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SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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Source: sofi.com

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Netflix’s latest bid for the upcoming Oscars season brings together stellar acting from both well-established and emerging stars, an eerie atmosphere, unsettling sound effects, and a story that’s immensely captivating — even when not much is happening.

And at the center of the action (or lack of, at times) is a perfectly appointed house that perfectly contrasts the chaos the characters are surrounded with.

The postapocalyptic thriller, directed by Mr. Robot’s Sam Esmail, tells the tale of a family that rents a luxurious home for a weekend away with their kids, with their vacation cut short by the appearance of the house’s owners, who are seeking refuge in the middle of the night following an apparent cyberattack.

LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND (2023) Julia Roberts as Amanda, Ethan Hawke as Clay, Mahershala Ali as G.H. and Myha’la as Ruth. Photo Courtesy of NETFLIX

Starring big screen darlings like Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and Myha’la, the movie is based on the National Book Award-nominated novel Leave The World Behind by Rumaan Alam.

The ‘Leave The World Behind’ house in Old WestburyIt was featured in Dwell magazine

And while we don’t want to spoil the movie for those who haven’t had a chance to watch yet, the plot sees the two families “reckon with a looming disaster that grows more terrifying by the minute, forcing everyone to come to terms with their places in a collapsing world.”

The ‘Leave The World Behind’ house in Old Westbury

While most postapocalyptic movies build elaborate sets to serve as a backdrop for the production, Sam Esmail’s movie was filmed on location at a real-life house in Long Island.

You’ll find the Leave The World Behind house in Old Westbury, a charming village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island in New York.

Known as the Open Corner House, the Long Island residence is a striking modern farmhouse that was completely rebuilt in recent years, after the former French-style home on the property burned down.

Farrah Mackenzie as Rose next to the pool of the Leave The World Behind house. Photo credit: JoJo Whilden/NETFLIX

So owners Roula and Fotis hired award-winning New York-based The Up Studio to design the 5,200-square-foot contemporary farmhouse as a home for their family.

From the layout — which was restructured to better fit the L-shaped lot and maximize nature views — to the addition of floor-to-ceiling windows, dark steel accents, and warm wood floors, THE UP STUDIO created a bright, light-filled, and modern home for the couple, one they didn’t necessarily expect the entire world to see.

Talking to CURBED Magazine, John Patrick Winberry, a partner at The Up Studio, admitted that he “didn’t know he was designing for a movie apocalypse when he started the project with his team, but the house has a cinematic quality all the same.”

Julia Roberts as Amanda, Ethan Hawke as Clay, Myha’la as Ruth and Mahershala Ali as G.H. inside the Leave The World Behind Airbnb. Photo Courtesy of NETFLIX

The house’s beauty didn’t go unnoticed.

Well before it was a glam Airbnb rented by Julia Roberts, the Old Westbury house received plenty of accolades for its stellar design — and was featured in quite a few home design magazines, including Home Adore and Dwell.

You can take a full tour of the Leave The World Behind house and get a better understanding of the design concepts it was based on by watching the full Dwell interview with both the home’s designers and its owners.

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Source: fancypantshomes.com

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Federal Reserve may finally be done raising interest rates in its bid to tame lower inflation.

it reached 7.79%, the highest level on records going back to late 2000.

The recent downward shift in mortgage rates is a welcome development for prospective homebuyers facing a housing market that remains unaffordable to many Americans.

While sales of previously occupied US homes are down 20.2% through the first 10 months of this year, home prices have kept climbing amid a stubbornly low supply properties on the market.

But as mortgage rates ease, they boost borrowers’ purchasing power, increasing how much home they can afford.

Still, the average rate on a 30-year home loan remains sharply higher than just two years ago, when it was 3.10%.


Home prices have kept climbing amid a stubbornly low supply properties on the market. AP

The large gap between rates now and then is contributing to the low inventory of homes for sale by discouraging homeowners who locked in rock-bottom rates two years ago from selling.

So far, the pullback in rates has spurred a pickup in demand for home loans.

Mortgage applications notched their fifth consecutive weekly increase last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Several housing economists are projecting that mortgage rates will continue to ease in 2024, though the forecasts call for the average rate on a 30-year home loan to remain above 6%, still about double what the average rate was just two years ago.

Source: nypost.com

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Good news, home buyers — expect both lower mortgage rates and home prices in 2024, which could ease the cost of homeownership, Redfin
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says.

In its housing outlook for 2024, the real-estate brokerage said that next year would not only be “a year of change” but one where aspiring homeowners will finally be “catching a break.”

“2024 will be neither a buyers’ nor a sellers’ market, but we think that the market will be tilting in favor of buyers with lower rates, lower prices, and more inventory as sellers get tired of waiting for rates to drop,” Chen Zhao, Redfin’s economics research lead, told MarketWatch. 

“The increase in supply is likely to exceed the increase in demand, creating a market more friendly for buyers than 2023,” she added.

Home prices and mortgage rates to fall in 2024, according to Redfin 

The brokerage expects home prices to fall 1% on a year-over-year basis in the second and third quarter of 2024. Aside from a brief drop in the first half of this year, the decrease would be the first time prices would have fallen since 2012, Redfin added, “when the housing market was recovering from the Great Recession.” 

The median price of a home sold in October 2023 was $391,800, according to the National Association of Realtors. Prices were up 3.4% from last October.

Redfin expects home prices to fall in part because it expects the “lock-in” effect to subside. The lock-in effect refers to people who don’t want to sell their current home because of their relatively low mortgage rate.

“We’ve recently seen a double-digit annual increase in homeowners contacting Redfin for help selling their home, alongside a small drop in requests from prospective buyers,” the company noted.

Some homeowners are warming up to the idea of borrowing at a rate of 7%, Redfin said, because they may not see mortgage rates fall to the 3% – 4% range any time soon. Others see an opportunity to cash out on their equity and move to a more affordable place, the company added.

Redfin’s forecast also expects mortgage rates to drop. The rate on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was averaging 7.22% as of Nov. 30, according to Freddie Mac. The 30-year will fall throughout the year, Redfin said, and drop to 6.6% by the end of 2024. Even though Redfin expects the U.S. Federal Reserve will keep interest rates at their current level for the time being, it’s expecting a rate cut two or three times starting in the summer, which would bring mortgage rates down, they explained.

A separate 2024 housing forecast by Realtor.com predicted that mortgage rates will drop to 6.5% by the end of 2024.

Redfin also expects home prices to fall more significantly in certain parts of the nation, such as in parts of coastal Florida. Considering the run-up in home prices in places like North Port and Cape Coral, Redfin explained, there’s a “lot of room to fall.” Additionally, there’s the rising risk of climate disasters, such as hurricanes and storm surges, which make it more expensive to own homes in such areas given the rising cost of home insurance and other associated repair and rebuilding costs.

“At the same time, affordable and climate resilient places such as Albany, N.Y., Rochester, N.Y., and Grand Rapids, Mich., could see more rapid price appreciation,” Zhao added.

Political and legal developments to watch for in 2024 

Redfin also noted that buyers and sellers will be more aware of the commissions they pay to real-estate agents next year, on the back of a landmark jury verdict in 2023 which upended a decades-long arrangement. Redfin is one of the defendants named in another class-action suit by home sellers, and is accused of engaging in a price-fixing conspiracy to inflate commissions.

Instead of the home seller bearing the 5-6% fee paid to their broker, which has historically been shared between the listing agent and the buyer’s agents, the arrangement may change. “Home buyers in 2024 will become even more aware of how much an agent costs,” Redfin said, “and less apologetic about negotiating commissions.”  

Buyers may also forgo working with their own agent and work directly with the listing agent, Redfin suggested.

Additionally, Redfin expects the Biden administration to focus more efforts on housing, given how rapidly affordability has deteriorated in the last year. Considering the fact that home prices are up more than 20% since the president took office, Redfin said, “high housing costs are making many Americans feel poor.” 

The Biden-Harris campaign did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

“We expect President Biden and his opponents to make splashy housing policy proposals to try to lure voters who are unhappy with their economic prospects,” Redfin said.

“Democrats are likely to focus on subsidizing down payments for first-time homebuyers, promoting inclusionary zoning and funding housing vouchers, which are all popular with liberal voters,” the company added. “Republicans are more likely to focus on reducing regulations that limit development.”

Source: marketwatch.com

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Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson released a statement today centered on the ongoing mortgage crisis, rejecting a so-called bailout and calling on borrowers to do their part to improve their own situation.

He also slammed many of the proposals circulating in Washington, claiming that the focus should be on struggling homeowners, and not bailouts for speculators.

“Let’s put this in perspective: 93% of mortgages are paid on time. Less than 2% are in foreclosure,” Paulson said in a prepared statement on his website.

“So while some in Washington are proposing big interventions, most of the proposals I’ve seen would do more harm than good. I’m not interested in bailing out investors, lenders and speculators. I’m focused on solutions targeted at struggling homeowners who want to keep their homes.”

But Paulson noted that these struggling homeowners need to step up to the plate if they want help.

“This is a shared responsibility. If borrowers aren’t willing to ask for help or respond to efforts to reach them, there is only so much that others can or should do on their behalf.”

He also addressed the negative equity crisis, which stands to affect 10-15 million homeowners, with the most recent homebuyers suffering the most.

“Being “underwater” when you can afford your mortgage does not affect your ability to pay your mortgage,” he said. “Homeowners who can afford their mortgage should honor their obligations.”

“Homeowners who gambled in the housing market and viewed their purchase as a short term investment may choose to walk away. Those who do this are nothing more than speculators, and they are not the focus of our efforts.”

Amen Paulson, people shouldn’t stop paying their mortgage just because it’s no longer a worthy investment, although their walking away will affect the values of surrounding properties, hurting the very homeowners you’re out to protect.

The Treasury Secretary also said he’d be keeping a close eye on servicers to ensure they’re pulling their weight in regard to loan modifications.

“I’ll be examining the results closely – it’s important to see that everyone who signed up for this protocol is following through on their commitment to implement it. I won’t look kindly on free riders.”

It sounds like Paulson is getting tired of the crap, which is refreshing, but at the same time, there’s also word that many lenders aren’t being very forthcoming when it comes to helping at-risk borrowers.

(photo: carvalho)

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

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The Bright MLS 2024 National Housing Market Outlook predicts that next year will bring better conditions for homebuyers. Despite the challenges posed by affordability, buyers can expect a slowdown in home price growth, lower mortgage rates, and an increase in housing options. This shift will occur as life events prompt current homeowners to enter the market, providing more opportunities for prospective buyers.

The Bright MLS 2024 National Housing Market Outlook forecast signals several critical developments for buyers and sellers:

  1. Mortgage rates will establish a new standard, dipping below 7% in the initial quarter and fluctuating between 6-6.5% before landing at 6.2% by year-end.
  2. The year’s conclusion will witness existing home sales reaching 4.6 million, marking a 12.1% surge from the historically low figures in 2023, albeit beneath the standard home sales volume in a typical year.
  3. Evolving family and financial circumstances will increase the number of sellers entering the market, resulting in a 7.6% upturn in inventory by the culmination of 2024.
  4. The augmented inventory and heightened buyer activity will likely maintain home prices steady, as the median home price in the U.S. will ascend by a mere 1.5% to $394,200.
  5. Escalating affordability hurdles and an upsurge in the availability of new homes will steer home prices downward in certain markets, primarily concentrated in California and Florida.
The 30-year mortgage rate is expected to drop below 7% in the first quarter of 2024, continuing to decrease to 6.2% by the end of the year. (Bright MLS)

More Home Sales in 2024

Home sales will increase next year, following a prolonged period of subdued activity. In 2023, the housing market experienced a notable decline in home sales, reaching the lowest level since 2008 because of limited inventory, heightened mortgage rates, and soaring home prices, which dampened demand, particularly in the latter part of the year.

Nevertheless, there remains substantial pent-up demand for homeownership, particularly among younger households, whose homeownership rate still lags because of previous generations. Lower rates and increased inventory will drive the anticipated influx of buyers in 2024. However, affordability will remain a significant challenge, potentially deterring some prospective buyers from entering the market in 2024.

Stable Home Prices

The housing market will likely experience relatively stable home prices in 2024, with a modest 1.5% increase in the median home price in the U.S. compared to 2023. Factors like inventory offset by a rise in the number of buyers in the market will drive the projected growth in home prices.

Overall, the median home price in the U.S. will grow modestly, rising to $394,200 in 2024, a 1.5% increase over 2023.

Affordability Remains a Challenge

In 2024, the U.S. housing market will not experience widespread price corrections. However, certain local markets have seen rapid price increases, posing affordability challenges for potential buyers. Additionally, some metropolitan areas have witnessed a surge in new construction activity. 

This surge and decreased affordability may lead to price declines in particular markets nationwide. Based on an analysis of price growth, affordability, and construction trends, 10 of the 50 largest metro areas are forecasted to have lower median prices in 2024 compared to 2023. Notably, California and Florida dominate the list of regions with forecasted price declines, although no market is anticipated to experience a double-digit price drop next year.

2024 National Housing Market Outlook by Bright MLS

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Mihaela Lica Butler is senior partner at Pamil Visions PR. She is a widely cited authority on public relations issues, with an experience of over 25 years in online PR, marketing, and SEO.She covers startups, online marketing, social media, SEO, and other topics of interest for Realty Biz News.

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Source: realtybiznews.com