The long road to vet school

A blog designed to help budding vet students get into university.

[roadtovetschool]

Sorry!!

To the follower that sent an ask, I pressed the wrong button! Please ask again :)

[rayketh]

Vet student Discord

Hi all!

We’ve got a pretty big community of student veblrs and I wanted to make another space where we could connect. I set up a Discord server, and I’d love it if people want to come hang out, share clinic horror stories, help each other out with study motivation, or just chat and share pictures of cute patients.

I’m intending it to mostly be for students but grown up vets are of course also welcome to share their tips and wisdom!

Here’s the invite link: https://discord.gg/xPn8Pv8

Going to tag all the vetblrs I follow/am aware of; please share this around!

@eruditionanimaladoration @vetssupportingvets @pivotal-moment @the-vet-life @future-vet-student @vetforlife @vetsetgo @veterinary-related @datvetlife @hopeless-scientist-club @pvmproblems @pwoperbitch @inseltierdoktor @vetschoolblr @vetschoolvacay @vetblr @vetblrthings @busyvetstudent @ivetyouamilliondollars @futurevetmedicalfacts @futurevetlovesounds @gettingvetted @thehappyvet @sass-and-vet-school-studies @adventuresofanoverachiever @vetschooltruths @vet-student @crisscrosscutout @pitsandpastries @lifeatrusvm @everythinghaschemicalsbarbara @vet-student-down-under @vet-in-progress @talesofaveterinarystudent @justanothervetstudentblog @soontobedvm @just-like-a-real-doctor @vet-life @vetplease @veterinaryrambles @veterinaryhumor @justvetschoolthings @vetintraining @@alaskanvetstudent @equinevetadventures​ @fuckyeahvetmed @veterinaryjourney @adventuresinvetschool @astressedvetstudent @wannabeavet @ausvetstudent @philovesophist @itsybitsyvetstudent @vet-type-things @youllwinintheend @getyourveton @jaz-myvetlife @getmeintovetschool @why-i-am-a-vet-student @lifeofavetstudent @vet-school-problems @ourlifeinvetschool-blog @vetstail @gram-stained-paws @theexoticvet @vetmedirl @anaspiringvet @hoovesandheartbeats @drferox @thevetsaidwhat @4yearsofvetschool @shouldersdeepinvetschool 

Also if anyone knows how to run a Discord server halp. 

[roadtovetschool]

I'm in year 12 and currently doing IB (in August I start year 13). To date, I have one week in a vets, one day in a veterinary physiotherapy, and half a week at an animal shelter. I have one week in a veterinary practice, one week in a mixed veterinary practice, one week in an animal shelter planned this summer. Does having so little work experience affect my application? At IGCSE I got 5A*, 3A and 2B. In english language at AS I got an E, however my end of year exams got me 35 points in IB

Universities are usually keen to have some varied work experience, the most useful list is from Liverpool university. They tend to like time with dairy and horses, as well as small animal and lambing too in Easter. It’s not too late though, get planing to spend some time on farms and stables and you’ll be in a better place :). it’s a great start though!! W

[roadtovetschool]

(Private)Hello I was just wondering if you have any advice? I applied to the RVC gateway vet med course this year due to average GCSE grades but good A levels. I aced the interview but they placed me on the holding list which realistically means I'm not getting a place. Do you have any advice for what I can do in my year before re-applying to make my application look really good? I've got an offer for a year animal care course (FE) that will get me 300+ hours of work experience and vet science.

Hi There! Doing something animal related like that is an awesome way to get experience and will probably look very good on your application so yeah things like that. I graduated from the RVC in July from the standard course, but I initially got rejected and was set to do the Bio-Veterinary sciences. I had no idea but they called me on the results day of that year (it was my gap year) and asked if I wanted a place on the vetmed course, so id does happen!! I would consider the animal care course or something also, perhaps finding a job as an animal care assistant in a vets also? Hope this Helps, W

[roadtovetschool]

Hi! I am a grade 12 student currently doing the IB. I just wanted to know how much experience I would need to get into vet school. I have only worked two weeks each at a zoo, vet clinic, stable and dog shelter. How much would get me into a more competitive university. Any advise? Thanks 😊

Hi! You don't specific your nationality and it depends when where you live but basically the answer is to get as much as you can. The more the better. To apply in the UK I had 32 weeks worth of hours of placements down before I applied but that's because I worked Saturday's every week for 6 years.

[verylittleveterinarian]

Basic Abdominal Radiographic Anatomy of Dog and Cat

[parskis]

i swear to god, men raising their voice is the most terrifying thing in the whole world. they dont understand, like its an immediate panic response, game over

[soontobedvm]

Vet School can actually kill you. As much as you feel overwhelmed, don’t let it consume you. It’s not worth it. So make sure to take care of yourself, don’t lose yourself in the details, and let yourself live a little- I promise you all this medical knowledge will eventually fall into place somewhere along the way.

Veterinarian giving great advice to first year vet students.  (via soontobedvm)

[roadtovetschool]

Hi, I have a lot of WEX that's very varied (20+ weeks at SA, LA, wildlife, dairy, beef, equine, lambing, kennels, abattoir) and good GCSEs (7A*s, 5As) but I absolutely fluked my AS levels for the second year running. I'm predicted AAA at A2 but I really worry my AS grades will let me down, especially as the 1st time was out of my hands due to an unforeseen illness + relative dying (both undisclosed). Realistically, will not having As or Bs at AS make me unlikely to even get an interview?

Not at all! I had what I deemed really bad AS grades (they weren't that bad at all but weren't all A's or B's) and still had three interviews :) it's mainly predicted grades & work ex that universities look at :) E x

[roadtovetschool]

When do vet schools starting sending offers for interviews? I've heard some people already have interview dates? So worried :S

Hugely varies! Liverpool have changed their interview method this year and have all their interviews before Christmas, lots are still interviewing after Christmas so don't send their offers till then. Don't worry about anything until you hear something! No news = good news!

[roadtovetschool]

We've had a request for interview advice, does anyone else want to join us? I'm thinking either an email conversation or people sending in advice on the ask box and is making a huge post. I will probably do both and combine all the advice we get into a post. E :)

[hoovesandheartbeats]

Source

[help-im-a-vetstudent]

Hope everyone got the results they wanted today!

[roadtovetschool]

thank you so much you have been very helpful!!!

Glad we can help! 

[roadtovetschool]

I'm sorry, I'm not from the UK. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my question though!

Hey Anon, don't worry about it. In the US they tend to track you into a program via your interests. In your case it would probably be small animal/companion animal if you're into household pets though if pet rodents/rabbits/birds/reptiles/fish/inverts interest you then you may have to add in exotics too. Depending on your school you can also choose to specialise in a field within your chosen animal bracket, for example, I worked with a vet who did a behaviour component and would do behaviour consultations for dogs and cats. Hope that helps too :)-M

[roadtovetschool]

hi, this is probably a stupid question but when i go to vet school what should i specialize in if i just want to be a regular vet who treats common household pets like cats and dogs?

Hey, are you from the UK? In the UK everyone does exactly the same course whilst at university, but can pick and choose work placements to a certain extent to increase experience in an area you think you will specialise in. For example at Liverpool we have to do 12 weeks of pre clinical (non medical) work experience, 6 of those weeks are decided for us, (1 dog/cat placement, 1 dairy, 1 lambing, 1 pig, 1 poultry, and 1 equine) but the other 6 are up to us. It's the same when it comes to clinical rotations, so you could just choose to do more of your optional clinical EMS at general vet practices. I'm not sure how it works in other countries but if you aren't from the UK I'm sure one of the other admins can help. E xxx

[roadtovetschool]

Hi, im 16, my goal is to be a vet and am going for a small animal practice wxp interview tomorrow and Im extremely nervous, what kind of questions will they ask me? And what if i dont know the answer??😦😦

They will ask you what makes you want to be a vet probably, it’s nothing to get nervous about, be sure to smile and be open. If they ask you a question and you don’t know the answer, think about it and think aloud. they like to see people who think. 

They won’t ask anything too tricky, manly about other experience I imagine, You’ll be fine I’m sure, head back, smile on and be friendly :) ask them questions too about the practice, how big it is, the sort of thing they enjoy doing, ask for a tour round and seem interested :).

I hope this helps and good luck :)