Hey folks :)

Re: Hey folks :)

Pippa Louise — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 01:06:12 GMT

I get a pittance of a loan - because of my dads salary. But my parents aren't comfortably living, as mum's just had a baby! expensive stuffs x

Re: Hey folks :)

Ashleigh Parker — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:30:22 GMT

[quote user="Pippa Louise Sharp"]

Oh wow. I have been researching my first university out of 5 uni's, the RVC being my top one, and I have discovered that at the moment it is financially impossible for me :(

I am roughly £2,500 short!!!! Boooo :(

Looks like I will be taking reception jobs and working my behind off to fund this if i really want it! :) But I'm prepared to do this!

[/quote]

Are you not able to get a student loan? That is what I have survived on for the past 4 years! OK, you have to pay it back but not until you are earning £15,000 or more.

Re: Hey folks :)

Pippa Louise — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:33:46 GMT

Oh wow. I have been researching my first university out of 5 uni's, the RVC being my top one, and I have discovered that at the moment it is financially impossible for me :(

I am roughly £2,500 short!!!! Boooo :(

Looks like I will be taking reception jobs and working my behind off to fund this if i really want it! :) But I'm prepared to do this!

Re: Hey folks :)

Ashleigh Parker — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:46:38 GMT

The best of luck to you! Hope you enjoy it!

Re: Hey folks :)

Pippa Louise — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:56:54 GMT

[quote user="Kim Blowing RVN"]

Glad you had a chat with your mum! Go along to open days and see if places have the right feel! I went to interviews at RVC/middlesex, Bristol, Harper Adams and Myerscough and it was good to have a look around.

Best of luck! x

[/quote]

Again thank you guys for all your help :) I'm going to Liverpool uni open day, and will go in the summer of this year to RVC :) x

Re: Hey folks :)

Kim Buckley — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:50:20 GMT

Best of luck! x

Re: Hey folks :)

Pippa Louise — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:45:36 GMT

Well, I have had a long chat with my mum, explained all the possibilities for becoming a VN, and we have decided the best option for me is to complete the ANA next June and apply to university for 2011 entry. All I have to do now is choose which 5 universities I am applying for - I am definately applying to the RVC, Liverpool central if they do nursing, and UWE and maybe Middlesex. The rest I have no idea about yet!

I have a plan now! :D And I'm going to stick to it and work hard throught this year!!

Thanks for all your help and advice guys its much appreciated, anything I can do for you guys let me know! x x x x

Re: Hey folks :)

Ashleigh Parker — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:35:14 GMT

[quote user="Kim Blowing RVN"]

[quote user="Ashleigh Parker"]

Eww, Enfield and Ponders End, no offence but that was a dive! Was there for my first two years and then Middlesex shut down it's Enfield campus and moved to Hendon. But yes was a great location for the night bus! I'm in 4th year. Both universities have split now though I think, so you either study veterinary nursing at Middlesex University or at the RVC. I'd certainly choose the latter!

[/quote]

Ooooo yes Ponders End was a complete dump! Awww the memories! lol 2 of my friends were mugged whilst we were there! Yeah I left in 2008 and that's when they were moving over to the Hendon campus. It's so much nicer than Enfield!

I'd heard they had split. I'd def choose RVC over Middlesex because mdx were pretty useless! Good luck with your dissertation and everything!

[/quote]

That's bad! We had our flat broken into and so did the flat downstairs, they ransacked my coursemates bedroom, and we were in Middlesex halls on campus! I mean the security was shocking! You never felt safe. The Hendon campus is nicer, but I wouldn't choose to study there, not vet nursing anyway. And couldn't agree more that they are useless - got it in one!

And thank you! I think I need all the luck!

Re: Hey folks :)

Kim Buckley — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:27:38 GMT

[quote user="Ashleigh Parker"]

[/quote]

I'd heard they had split. I'd def choose RVC over Middlesex because mdx were pretty useless! Good luck with your dissertation and everything!

Re: Hey folks :)

Ashleigh Parker — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:19:41 GMT

Re: Hey folks :)

Kim Buckley — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:15:38 GMT

[quote user="Ashleigh Parker"]

[quote user="Kim Blowing RVN"]

[quote user="Doolally"]

The only thing negative I have to say about the RVC is that if you do end up staying on campus it can be pretty boring, I only live 15mins down the road so stayed at home, but had friends staying at campus who got bored, there's a bar on site but that's about it...its very isolated so having a car is essential IMO.

[/quote]

Yeah I lived on campus for my second year and had no car. Was ok when my housemates with cars were about but was very boring when they weren't. Was a nice place to live though and very useful for library and when on placement at the QMH.

[/quote]

I agree that it can be a bit quiet. I don't live on campus, I'm renting in Potters Bar, but London is only a short train ride away if you get bored. I personally like it here, and the library at Hawkshead is good.

[/quote]

I moved to Enfield for my 3rd and 4th year ( was based at the Enfield campus then) which was a lot more fun! Was a complete dump but very easy to get into London and out again! (Good old night bus!) What year are you in?

Re: Hey folks :)

Ashleigh Parker — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:09:11 GMT

[quote user="Kim Blowing RVN"]

[quote user="Doolally"]

[/quote]

Re: Hey folks :)

Ashleigh Parker — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:06:01 GMT

Hey! I'm also doing the degree. What I like about it is that we get taught by experts in the field and get to do a lot of practical sessions when learning about anatomy and physiology, and get to do post-mortems on a variety of animals. I've also had the opportunity to experience different types of practice from general to referral, and meet and work with some great people along the way. It's also good for experiencing life away from home, and how to 'fend' for yourself. The written assignments are a challenge and are certainly not for the faint hearted! I think this was my downfall.

If you are hard-working and think you could do it then go for it! Good luck with whichever path you choose!

Re: Hey folks :)

Kim Buckley — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:22:00 GMT

[quote user="Doolally"]

[/quote]

Re: Hey folks :)

Pippa Louise — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:56:45 GMT

I Have a car but I can barely afford to keep it at the moment infact I cant keep it, my mum is funding it for me!! She wont fund it if I go to university. And I wont be able to either! I wont get much loan money either as I would be studying in England but I live in Wales so have to go through student finance wales. And the household income is over £40,000 but my parents still cant afford to help fund my course as they have just had a baby!

Re: Hey folks :)

Doolally — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:20:49 GMT

[quote user="Kim Blowing RVN"]

Then go prove them wrong and show them that you can do it!

[/quote]

I agree! Prove your parents wrong and then they can be proud of you and eat their words. They're just worried and don't want to see you in debt, but equallly i imagine they want you to be happy.

I think you should apply for the jobs - lots of places will let you finish your ANA, we've got a student who is completing her ANA which she started before coming to us and then when that is done she'll go on to do the VN. Also when applying if you get an interview mention that you'll need to find accomodation as they may know of someone willing to let out a room or doing good rates etc.

I did the foundation degree at the RVC...when I did it, it was a 2.5year course however they have now changed it to 3years as they found people weren't getting finished in time. I chose this over the full BSc as it meant i'd be qualified after 2.5years and therefore have less of a student loan!!

I loved my (foundation) degree. The teaching was mostly fantastic, and the Hawkshead campus is such an idylic place to learn, with good facilities. I feel we got a good balance of practical and theory, you could choose your own placement, so you could go home for placement if you wanted - that would save some costs on living and give you a balance of uni and home life, alternatively you could stay at campus for your placements and do them in the Queen Mother Hospital. The only thing negative I have to say about the RVC is that if you do end up staying on campus it can be pretty boring, I only live 15mins down the road so stayed at home, but had friends staying at campus who got bored, there's a bar on site but that's about it...its very isolated so having a car is essential IMO.

Re: Hey folks :)

Stephanie Hill — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:17:59 GMT

I'm at the University of West England. Have you ever thought that your parents are saying that you can't do it just so that you go ahead and prove them wrong chick?

Like in an episode of scrubs Dr Cox. tells JD there is no hope for the patient and he's just gonna die but JD ignores him

If you really are passionate about it, then who is anyone to stop you

Steph x

Re: Hey folks :)

Pippa Louise — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:07:30 GMT

They just argue back it's not the best of ideas!

And yeah I really want to do it I'm just feeling overwhelmed with all the things I have to do epecially as I am trying to complete the ANA aswell and thinking of applying to uni which I need to be sure of by mid august.

Re: Hey folks :)

Kim Buckley — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:01:13 GMT

Can't you talk to your parents and let them know how much their comments aren't helping??

Then go prove them wrong and show them that you can do it!

Re: Hey folks :)

Pippa Louise — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:48:08 GMT

Aw thank you :) Which university are you in at the moment?

To be honest I'm a little confused. I really want to be a veterinary nurse. I dream about the day I can say I am a registered VN!! But when I mention anything to my parents they just say I can't do it like I wont sitck out uni or I cant afford to live on my own. So I don't know what to do - I know it all makes me sound weak and childish but I feel so confused!!

x x x x x x

Re: Hey folks :)

Stephanie Hill — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:24:32 GMT

I'm currently in UWE studying BSc in Veterinary nursing science... I love every minute of it :)

We're always here for yu chick ;) x x x x x

Re: Hey folks :)

loopylou711 — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:38:46 GMT

yeah the cnt afford it bit is a big pain in the ass!!

But don't worry, apply and see what happens? What the worse that can happen?

Google search accomodation for both or evne gumtree is qute just be careful with gumtree of course!!

Again Good luck!!

Re: Hey folks :)

Pippa Louise — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:36:48 GMT

Thanks yeah I am going to look into the manchester job and cardiff job RE: accommodation and see what I can find.

I am going to apply toboth and If I get interviews well even better. I dont suppose it can hurt to try!

The reason I'm so apprehensive is because I usually run things by my mum as I still live at home and she always says 'cant do it' no matter what it is. She says ;oh but you cant afford it.' etc. It kinda gets me down a bit and makes me believe I cant do it!

Re: Hey folks :)

loopylou711 — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:32:48 GMT

[quote user="Nick Shackleton DipAVN(Surgical)VN MBVNA"] Looked into financial support and was offered a max of £5k per year, now how anyone can live on this amount of money is beyond me. .[/quote]

Agreed! Exactly what Ihave done for 3 years and it is impossible!! Massive debts now! Well 10 grand yay!

[quote user="Nick Shackleton DipAVN(Surgical)VN MBVNA"]What I'm trying to say is that most of us know what we want to do. And that there are many ways to do it. I think you need to explore every avenue.[/quote]

Again agree with Nick here. It has took me a wee while to realise that though! For example, I started the degree and stuck it out for two years and hated it. For me it was the little practical exprience that made me leave, but now having thought it over and over again and again, I have decided to go for it and start applying for places! Theres a vet practice across the road from me looking for an auxilary nurse and I decided to go for it, if anything it will get exprience behind me at least so here is hoping i get it if not then am going to look further away from home!

But seriously, home comforts are great, but take a giant step forward and go for whatever you want. As Nick said, if you go to another practice you could continue your ANA course there and then do training at a later day which probably would suit most practices. Doing ANA looks great and makes you quite appealing and motivated!

Good luck!

Re: Hey folks :)

Pippa Louise — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:28:40 GMT

This is what I am trying to do at the moment. Explore every avenue.

I have worked within the NHS well it was the Ambulance Service but still part. I loved it! But I've always had a passion for animals! I'm finishing my biography on here now I think (if you ignore the rambling I do) it will convey that animals are my life - particuarly my own pooch :)

I love radiography and diagnostic imaging. I have an A Level equivalent in the human side of radiography! It was amazing to study!

Like I said, I attempted uni the first time for childrens nursing but quit.

As I say - il est cause - its a famous Italian saying that means Everything happens for a reason. And I truly believe that I have been led back to the veterinary world for a reason as it is my passion and true calling.

Ps forgive the rambling, I am also a creative writer therefore I tend to 'prose' everything!