Buck Randall
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USDA programs to try to hand out scholarships or money for vets doing large animal work in underserved areas haven't been very effective. For one, there's no way to give rural veterinarians enough money to compensate for what they could make elsewhere. Even when veterinarians decide to take the job for the grant money or loan repayment, they often move on as soon as they've met the requirements for payment.
Vets schools have tried to combat the problem by giving admissions preferences to students from underserved areas, with the idea that they're more likely to go back. Even for kids who leave home at 18 with every intention of returning to be a large animal vet, it often doesn't work out that way.
Young large animal vets are subject to a lot of the forces that keep college graduates from coming back to small towns. Can they earn enough money to justify their degree? If they have a spouse who isn't a vet, can they get a good job? If they are single, is there anyone to date? If they have kids, are there childcare options and decent schools? A lot of rural areas struggle to provide what young people need to get started.
Vets schools have tried to combat the problem by giving admissions preferences to students from underserved areas, with the idea that they're more likely to go back. Even for kids who leave home at 18 with every intention of returning to be a large animal vet, it often doesn't work out that way.
Young large animal vets are subject to a lot of the forces that keep college graduates from coming back to small towns. Can they earn enough money to justify their degree? If they have a spouse who isn't a vet, can they get a good job? If they are single, is there anyone to date? If they have kids, are there childcare options and decent schools? A lot of rural areas struggle to provide what young people need to get started.