Vetstradamus: Dating Dilemma
Posted on July 5, 2009
I am a 23 year old first year veterinary student. There is a classmate that I am interested in romantically. We are currently just friends and study partners but we enjoy each other’s company and have great chemistry. I am worried about dating a classmate, given that we spend so much time together already and that it might turn awkward for us and our whole class if our relationship didn’t work out. What do you think?
- Conflicted in Class
Dear Conflicted, I commend your concern and recognition for the potential pitfalls of dating a classmate in veterinary school. With so much time spent together and frequently so much in common, it should not be surprising that many love stories start in vet school. So, while your predicament may not be that uncommon, it can certainly be complex. Having been around vet schools for a long time, I estimate the success of vet school relationships to last is about 25%. While that may sound low, it is much higher than most relationships and for the 1 in 4 successful ones, they yield lifetime partnerships and happiness. Of course, you can’t put statistics on love and if you think this person is the one for you, do not let fear of failure or future awkwardness stand in your way. That being said, you should make sure that no matter what happens while you are dating that you treat this person well because if things do not work out, all of your friends and colleagues will be gossiping about why.
