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Where can you get help? 

Help on calculating student loans, help on mental health, help with being a veterinarian? 

Sometimes this stuff is overwhelming, there’s a ton of information. Today is all about getting you the help you need. 

We’ve put together a list of resources and links that you can use at any time. These are resources that are built for veterinarians and veterinary students. You’re going to need these links at some point.  Most importantly, these resources are totally FREE! I hear all the time, wow, I wished I knew about this website or service before now - so consider yourself informed! 

 VIN Foundation

The first is the VIN Foundation, The VIN Foundation was founded in 2005, by members of the VIN community. The VIN Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, meaning that they are here to help. 

The VIN Foundation exists to support the veterinary community and thus the animal community at large. In fact, they “believe a healthy animal community depends on a healthy veterinary community.”

Many other not-for-profits give money to various causes. The VIN Foundation is different because they give resources. Many of those resources are for you, veterinary students!  

They have an entire section of resources dedicated to veterinary students. 

Huge point here- These resources are totally FREE! You don’t even have to be a VIN member to access them. 

We really want to point out the Foundation’s VETS4VETS page. This is an awesome free resource for veterinarians and veterinary students. VETs4VETs is a group of professional therapists, trained veterinarians that are here to help other veterinarians. They can help with difficult school situations, stress, depression, addiction, or if you need to talk. This is totally confidential, and you can text, email, or schedule a phone call. 

Here’s something to remember, if you or one of your classmates in is a tough spot, talk to VETS4VETs. You will see classmates struggle, Be the one that can help. Don’t try to do it alone.  

VETS4VETs is brought to you by the VINFoundation and the Dr. Sophia Yin Memorial Fund. Dr. Yin was an awesome veterinarian and behaviorist, she left us wonderful materials and low stress handling, but tragically her live ended by suicide. Her memorial is dedicated to helping veterinarians and students in the future. 

It’s always good to have these resources right at your fingertips, even if they don’t seem important right now. 

Next, the VIN Foundation’s Student Debt Center is second to none! Everything you need to know about veterinary student is collected and ready for you at VIN Foundation.org. Particularly important is the Borrow better tools. There are up to date webinars, there are presentation materials, a checklist, with five easy steps.  

Take 5 minutes today, browse around the VIN Foundation’s website. There’s a ton of material there and most of it will be relevant to you! You’ll really want to take the time to get to know the website for when you do have questions about student debt. 

The biggest resource, which I go to almost every day is the

VIN Student Loan Repayment Simulator

The Repayment simulator is the best calculator in the world for determining the best type of repayment plan, your monthly payments and making decisions about borrowing and repayment. 

Take the time to go to the Simulator and input your graduation year and total forecasted debt. It will then allow you to make some estimates about your income, your spouse’s income, children and other plans. 

You can also select some pre-prepared settings that will help you gather information about an internship and the debt repayment programs that are out there. 

If you have student loans it is a must that you become very familiar with this simulator. It is the best in any profession, much less veterinary medicine. The VIN Foundation has created this resource, included in the Student Debt Center to help YOU, Now, it’s up to you, to take the time and visit the website to start planning for the future. Remember, planning is the key to control! 

The next awesome resource Is the veterinary Pulse podcast series. There are a ton of podcast on student debt, done by the recognized expert in veterinary student debt, Dr. Tony Bartels and Dr. Rebecca Mears, there’s podcast on burnout, self care, suicide awareness, and diversity equity and inclusion issue. If you’re undecided on career paths there are entire podcasts on alternative career paths in veterinary medicine. Pretty cool stuff, made especially for veterinary students. 

Two more great resources from the VIN Foundation - the New Graduate Survival Manual - This helps tremendously with career development, mentorship and other job related questions. 

All of these VIN Foundation resources are totally free. You don’t even need a VIN log in. You’d be crazy, or living under a rock not to take full advantage of what’s available to you. 

For the VIN side, last but not least - the Student Debt Folder on the VIN message boards. This is huge! There is an incredible amount of detailed information about student debt, repayment and other stuff veterinarians and students ahead of you have tons of questions on. It’s one of the only places you can post on VIN anonymously. Meaning that no one can see your personal information. 

What I suggest is going to the Student Folder and searching for situations that are similar to yours and seeing the professional advice that is given. Your debt, income, career choice and personal life is possibly similar to a veterinarian that has gone ahead. Dr. Bartles, Dr. Mears and the rest of the VIN Community do a great job of providing detailed advice on how to handle your debt and finances. 

Then if you don’t find what you need, post your information and get great personalized advice from the experts in the field. 

Now, the VIN message boards require a VIN log in, but this is completely free to veterinary students. There are a ton of other great educational resources on VIN that you need for veterinary school, so I’m sure you already can access VIN. You have to take advantage of everything that VIN has to offer. 

National Student Loan Data System

Studentaid.gov is a very convenient (convenient relative to the federal government) collection of information about your federal student loans. The main function is the database of all of your federal loans, the dates, the interest rates and the servicers. It’s a place to see off of your various student loans in one place. 

Now is the time to take a hard look at your undergraduate, graduate level, and current veterinary school loans. 

Then, project what loans you will need to finish veterinary school. Yes, think positive and know that you can and will pass those finals!

You can also upload your studentaid.gov file into the VIN Foundation’s My Student Loans tool to help organize and project your remaining veterinary school costs.  

Once you have this total, the next step will be to project some of your repayment schedules. 

Also on studentaid.gov there is a ton of information about repayment, loan forgiveness, and other grants. This is information that is straight from the department of education and made directly for you. 

Remember, knowledge is power, and control over your finances is the key to financial success. If you are in control over your finances, then you’ll be on these websites regularly.