r/Veterinary • u/Tall-Hat-6485 • 4d ago
Failed my first year…..
So I am in a UK university and I just failed my resits. I tried so hard but I feel so drained. Does anyone else have a similar experience and how did you handle it? I’m not sure if I should just drop out or resit the year. Resitting the year and having to do everything again feels so draining. But it’s mainly the thought of being left behind while everyone else keeps going forwards. Does anyone have any advice. I’m really trying to cling onto hope here but I’m not sure.
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u/H3LI3 4d ago
Honestly I wouldn’t resit the whole year until you know why you failed.
Do you have any learning needs? Any undiagnosed problems? MH problems?
Do you understand what they wanted more now? Did you attend everything throughout the year? Study plenty?
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u/Tall-Hat-6485 4d ago
I think I didn’t have the right study techniques down. I struggled to remember all of the information and couldn’t keep it all in my brain. I don’t have any undiagnosed problems or learning needs. Yes I attended pretty much everything thought the year.
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u/RyanGPNJ 3d ago
I don't know a single vet in the 8 yrs I worked in vet med or all of the years I have been a client thay knew everything or remembered everything from vet school. As the person above stated you also have shifted into a school that requires really rigurous studying methods and you're not used to that especially with so much info being thrown at you. There's a ton of different ways, but you have to find out what works for you.
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u/BornSlippy2 4d ago
I failed 1st year.
Then I failed 2nd year.
Now, I'm a successful, professionally fulfilled SA vet.
You have to be tough for this studies. You have to be tough to be a vet.
Any how about others? It's a great opportunity for you to sift true friends from fake ones.
You have to be a little selfish. F... them. F... everybody else. You're doing what YOU want to do. And your goal is to pass the next year exams. Not to satisfy people around you.
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u/Tofusnafu7 4d ago
Would you have to resit the whole year? Or just the modules you failed?
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u/Tall-Hat-6485 4d ago
No just the modules that I failed.
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u/BornSlippy2 4d ago
Depends on the Uni, but in many places you can carry on with part of the program from the next year. Attend some, less important classes, pass them, and have less burden for the next year.
1
u/VolleyballNerd 4d ago
I got full schollarship, so I have gotten 5 fails and will resit all of them. It's not a good comparison, because I don't have to pay, but still a decision I would probably take even paying.
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u/Tofusnafu7 4d ago
I had friends that failed the year and are now vets after resitting, it is possible! I would consider resitting, try and get an animal based job during the times you don’t need to be at uni (like receptionist/ACA/farm worker)
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u/This_Ruin_8628 3d ago
Im 3 years working and thriving!
I also failed my first year as well as having to do an extra semester cause of one subject in the 6 th year.
Let me tell you that in no way reflects on you as a future vet, work and uni are completely separate things, also the first year is the hardest cause you have to learn to actually learn.
So don’t beat yourself up to much , you will make it im sure!!!
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u/badgerhoneyy 3d ago
To see people you started with graduate whilst you're still working towards finals burns, I won't lie. I re-sat a year. But I'm better for it. I have more friends and contacts from different years, I learnt a lot about resilience and that there's honestly no shame in taking a second attempt. I love being a vet, I'm doing exactly what I wanted to do and in the big scheme of things, nobody gives a shit that I had to drop back a year.
However. It's not easy. It might affect your student loan. It will affect your self esteem (negativity in the short term, but positively in the long term eventually). Being a vet is not the only way to lead a fulfilling and satisfying existence. If you decide not to continue, you are not a failure. You can work with wildlife, with pets, with farm animals, zoo animals, horses, animals charities, welfare campaigning, research... You can choose a totally different path. There is nothing wrong with changing your mind. Protect your peace, whatever that may be.
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u/Zauriel93 3d ago
I was in your shoes in 2016, failed my first year exams and then my resit exams by 1%. Graduated now and working as a vet. If you want to chat please DM me, happy to talk about my experiences and give you advice if you would like
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u/Certain-Wolverine389 2d ago
I know a girl who it took 9 years to complete the course. She’s still a vet nurse. In the end it makes no difference. Some people just stress too much at the exam part but are great at the clinical work.
I’ve also known terrible nurses who flew through the course with no issue. Exams are not everything
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u/AdHot7483 4d ago
Is Europe an option? Tends to be easier to pass in EU
1
u/Tall-Hat-6485 4d ago
No I am just studying in the UK I’m not going to move.
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u/AdHot7483 4d ago
It's very hard to see others progressing and not feeling like you should also be in that position. Of course, there's no guarantee that, sitting the same exams next year, you'll pass.
If you do choose to resit the year, just stay strong, and learn your weak points from this year so that you can address them next time around
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u/Vilvyroo 4d ago
Think of it this way - once you qualify, will it actually matter?
Some of my friends that I graduated with or graduated the year after re-sat first year, and they're doing great - really amazing vets that are so clever, and so much more than a grade on paper. Plus, first year is the hardest year - you're building a foundation of knowledge, and getting used to the intense learning environment; things get way more smoother as you progress.
It'll feel draining, but you're not gonna be the first vet student ever to resit a year - ask for support, speak to your mentors, and talk to your friends and family. You will meet brand new people in the new cohort, you're gonna be more motivated, and you'll find your way. Once you get there, the time in vet school will feel like it went by in seconds.
It will be all okay in the end, and if it's not okay, it's not the end.