Tag Archives: vet school

Pick Me, Pick Me….. Application Tips

Posted on by
Reply

 

If you’re reading this then it means you’re either interested in applying to vet school in the future or are in the process of preparing to do so this year. If the latter is you then absolutely read on.

 

The UCAS application used to be the only bit of application ‘paperwork’ that prospective new vet students had to do, with all the info that the vet schools needed included within it’s various pages, the most important of all being the hallowed Personal Statement. How, pray tell, is one to distill down the Essence of Awesomeness that is you and your compelling case for being awarded access to the fabled halls of epic that are the vet school of your choice sufficiently to fit on 47 measly lines of text?! It is indeed a challenge but like any good challenge there is a good way to approach it and a bad way.

 

Bad way = wing it, writing it in one sitting without editing, spelling and grammar checking or proof-reading, and then hit send. That’s a really good tactic to ensure it takes the least amount of time out of your busy life but it’s also a foolproof strategy for getting your application to head straight into the trash can.

 

Good way = prepare, prepare some more, plan, write, review, edit, proof-read, get someone you trust to proof-read, make any suggested amendments, proof-read again, get that person you charmed before to continue helping you, give a copy to your reference writer, think “am I done?” for enough time to actually feel confident in your answer, and then…… hit SEND.

 

If you’re an incredibly disciplined person then you’ll have most of this covered already and may even be drafting your masterpiece as we speak. If you’re like most of us, however, then you may benefit from a little expert guidance when it comes to what to include, how to structure your statement, what NOT to say, etc. It may also be helpful to have a little inspiration from, say, a bunch of people who have been exactly where you are right now and who made it in with their statements. Even great, original artists took inspiration from others – NOT copying as that is plagiarism and is quite rightly rejected for the bad thing that it is. Being inspired, on the other hand, can be instrumental in cutting through all the ‘me-too’ sameness that vet school applications can suffer from and help craft the ultimate ‘I’m your candidate’ message!

 

Remember some of the important basics:

  • Get your application in on time – the deadline for applications to the vet schools is 15th OCTOBER. Best to get yours in BEFORE that date.
  • A number of vet schools request supplementary information that is sent to them directly. For example, Edinburgh and Glasgow both request a work experience survey be submitted. Make sure you leave sufficient time to collate all the information needed and get these additional bits of admin completed.
  • Referee report – don’t expect your referee to be able to drop everything and turn around an awesome reference at the very last minute just because you couldn’t get organised in time. Who knows, they may even have a life of their own?! Start talking to them well in advance of the deadline and provide any useful info that they might need to be able to talk in a glowing, affirmative manner about you.

 

If you do feel as though some additional help could be useful then look no further than Vet School: Book 1, as it has a whole chapter devoted to this very subject. Alternatively, if you’re feeling like you want to invest in yourself and get the very best help there is then you might want to take a peek at the UPDATED Personal Statement Success service.

 

Whatever you decide and however you go about completing your application, good luck and give it your very best 🙂

No Offer, No Cry

Posted on by
Reply

A question that gets asked a fair amount is what the options are for those who have applied to vet school but are ultimately unsuccessful in either attracting an offer of a place or who do not meet the entrance requirements to take an offer up. Needless to say either scenario is not one that is expected to be pleasant as none of us particularly enjoys rejection, especially when applying to vet school is necessarily such an all consuming endeavour. Anything other than a place at vet school is understandably bound to feel like a failure of truly epic and devastating proportions. The first piece of advice, therefore, is to accept that you’re going to feel utterly miserable and dejected for a period of time. Although I was fortunate enough to receive a vet school offer I do empathise with the feelings of intense disappointment, on account of my intercalation. I studied biochemistry and in spite of really knuckling down, working hard and revising my socks off the exams went terribly and I finished with a disappointing 2:2 in the degree. This was against the backdrop of all of my other friends who had intercalated in other subjects all achieving 2:1 classifications or better. I was crushed for several weeks but ultimately shook myself off, accepted that which had occurred, sought to learn lessons from the experience and examined how best to move on from and even capitalise on the experience. This is ultimately what you will need to do yourself if unfortunate enough to find an offer out of grasp. Sadly we cannot yet turn back time and alter the past – that would be an epic power – but what we can, and should, do is reflect and then formulate a new, revised plan based on the experiences and results up to that point. Still won’t stop you feeling rubbish though so expect and embrace a certain period of ‘mourning.’

Once you’re over the acute disappointment what next? Well, the options depend on your specific set of circumstances but are, in general:

 

Call the vet schools. Like right away!

Although you don’t have a place or may have not met the requirements for a conditional offer you’ll be basing your next move on mere assumption and we all know what assumption does. Call the schools, especially those that you had offers from, to clarify exactly their position. Who knows, they may have loved you so much at interview and couldn’t imagine teaching without your cherubic presence that they’re prepared to overlook the slight discrepancy that is your missing the offer requirements, especially if you were close. Clearly it would be a tad optimistic to expect this to be the case if you wind up missing the grade by a long way but a single grade slip-up might not necessarily mean game over, so ask.

If you don’t even have any offers then calling the vet schools is basically a massive long shot but you never know: fortune favours the brave and if they have to fill spaces for which they don’t already have candidates (unlikely) then your prompt, enthusiastic, enquiring call (from you, by the way, NOT your mum/ dad/ gran/ dog etc) may just result in a miracle.

 

Take up your ‘Insurance’ Offer

You may well have taken advantage of the option to apply to a non-vet course as part of your UCAS applications and so may have an offer from that course that you can take up. Whether you do so or not is up to you, and I guess that if your plan is to reapply to vet school then it will be irrelevant that you have a ‘backup’ course, although quite why you’d have bothered applying in the first place if this were the case is a valid question. Completing an initial degree in a relevant non-vet subject can certainly lead you to vet school eventually and if you’re prepared for the path to veterinary status to be longer and more expensive than you initially hoped then this can be a good option.

 

Apply through Clearing

If you don’t have any backup offers and the idea of not going on to university this year is not one you wish to consider then there is always clearing, the process by which universities open up places to courses that have to that point been undersubscribed. You can learn more about clearing via the UCAS website and the same potential for entering the veterinary course as a graduate as above is there.

 

Take a Gap Year & Reapply

With the number of places at vet schools limited and the number of applicants in excess of this figure it is inevitable that many perfectly good future vets will be unfortunate and not secure a place on the first application. The decision to take a year out and reapply, either with secured grades that meet the basic requirements of the vet schools, or with the intention of retaking some or all subjects is one that needs careful consideration. For a start, there is no guarantee that you’ll be any more successful at the second bite of the cherry and although some students do persist and prove the naysayers wrong by reapplying more than once, the chances of success are very slim and there is a strong case to be made for using your time (life) most effectively and exploring alternative options. If you do reapply then ensure you have a solid plan for doing so and aim to improve on what you submitted or did before. A greater variety of work experience? Better grades? An interesting hobby or project? A focus on nailing your interview technique and knowledge of the profession and issues relevant to it? There are so many ways in which an extra year can, and should, be used and failing to do at least something positive and proactive with the time will only serve to let you down. Even if you are not then successful the second time around at least you will have grown and improved as a person, with new or improved skills and knowledge and a better base from which to then kick start your next move. I would, personally, dissuade anyone from choosing to reapply more than twice as the chances of success are so slim and the years so precious. Rather do all you can to improve your application for one reapplication and then if it doesn’t work out look at options to move on. Remember, you can always come back to veterinary down the line if you still have the burning desire to become a vet in the years to come.

 

Do Something Else

If you either don’t plan to reapply, or if perhaps you already have and this is the second or third time of being unsuccessful in your applications then you may well opt to change tack completely and pursue other career options. Again, what you do is a personal choice but the possibilities are endless and I am sure you will choose wisely.

Reapplying & More

Posted on by
Reply

Reapplying & More

Emma Harris, Year 1 Edinburgh Vet School

That time of year

It’s that time of the ‘applying to vet school’ year where you now know where you stand.  Some of you will have offers (congratulations) be it conditional, and now concentrating on getting those all important grades.  Or unconditional where you can sit back, relax and eagerly await the coming of September.  However, for many of you, this time will have been bitterly disappointing as you find yourselves in the horrible position of having obtained four rejections.  

Fear not my young vet school applicants, all is not lost.  Speaking from experience, I myself have managed to obtain 15 rejections from my 4 years of applying to vet school and am now, eventually, in my first year at Edinburgh. There is a huge amount that you can do if you just can’t shake that vetty feeling.

The initial shock

No one likes being rejected.  You have no doubt worked very hard over the last few years; getting top grades, cleaning up after a menagerie of animals on work experience and slaving away at your personal statements for the early UCAS deadline.  To have all that thrown back at you, especially if you didn’t manage to secure any interviews, is extremely disheartening.  However, there is a time to sulk and a time to take action!  By all means, have a mope (I did after all my rejections, including the one where I was accidentally rejected and had to wait the whole weekend for the admissions team to rectify their mistake) but now is the time to ‘chin up’, find out what went wrong and concentrate on achieving those grades if you haven’t yet sat your exams.

Now what? 

Email the universities for feedback as soon as possible.  As always, they are very busy people and it may still take a while for them to get back to you – but at least you’ve ticked it off your ‘to do’ list.  I have found that feedback from the universities is very good if you’ve had an interview.  If you didn’t manage to get one then getting a response that isn’t ‘unfortunately there are x many applicants for x many places’ is pretty rare.  However, if you didn’t get an interview the most likely reason would be due either to academic requirements or your personal statement wasn’t quite ‘up to scratch’.

 There are a number of things you can do to improve your personal statement.  I won’t list them but make sure you get anyone and everyone to have a look over it.  The more people the better, and by far the most important thing is to ensure you talk about your work experience and what it taught you about the veterinary profession.  If you’re having a gap year, dedicate a paragraph (doesn’t have to be big) for your plans – you don’t want the admissions tutors thinking you’re doing nothing in your year off!  Additionally don’t panic if at this stage you haven’t attended a lot of the work experience you have booked, as by the time interviews come around (or you have to complete work experience questionnaires) you will have done a lot of it.
 If it was your academics that let you down, things are a little more difficult. If you just missed your grades, have a look/email the universities you’re thinking of applying to.  Each has individual requirements for re-sits so check you’re still eligible to apply.  On the whole, unless applying to Cambridge, I believe module re-sits are okay as the universities don’t take them into account and just want the overall grade (check the websites, or email to make doubly sure).  If you missed your grade by a lot, then you need to consider why this happened or what you could improve on.  The veterinary course is very challenging and being realistic about why you haven’t achieved what you wanted is key to knowing and being able to cope with the work load that will be waiting when you get here.

Interviews

If you got to this stage, even if it didn’t end well, give yourself a pat on the back.  For me, the interview represents the halfway stage, you’ve sent everything off, waited patiently to hear (don’t forget that no news is more than likely good news when it comes to applying for veterinary) and have finally been rewarded!  People kept telling me that getting the interview was the hard part. For me it was the start of the worst part – and may feel like that for you to.  I was not very good at preparing for interviews. I tried to learn answers for questions they might ask me (and of course they never did). I also only got asked once, out of my 7 interviews, why I wanted to be a vet – which was a relief as I still can’t answer it without sounding clichéd) instead of knowing what I learn’t on work experience.  This is crucial.  Knowing why you’ve seen what you’ve seen, not necessarily how what you saw works.  Now, it is important, for instance, if you’ve spent x weeks at a small animal hospital to know that we remove the uterus from a dog during spaying.  However it is much more important to know the reasons for that spaying than it is for you to tell me what suture material the vet uses when doing a midline or flank spay, for example.  If you’ve been at that practice for more than 2 weeks I would expect you to be able to outline roughly what happens in a spay, but they would not ask you this outright in an interview – if it came up they would gradually build to it.  If you turn up and immediately answer simple questions with a lot of detail you will be liable to dig yourself in a hole and get confused about the simple things.  Interviewers are looking to see how you think and deal with different situations. Of course if you’ve said you’ve seen things on work experience they expect you to talk about it – but not in so much detail.  After all, if you already know it all what is there for them to teach you?

There is also the worry that everyone else who is applying knows more than you.  Social media is a great but worrying thing.  My best advice to you is to not get hung up on what other people know or are doing for their interview prep – it doesn’t mean they will get offers because they know in-depth about x which may not even come up.

 

Do I or don’t I?

So you’ve already been through that once, you followed the advice, had a cracking personal statement, got the interview but it didn’t work out again.  The big question now is do you re-reapply or go down another route?  The only person who can answer that is you.  It took me less than a nano-second to decide to re-reapply after my second lot of rejections.  I had had interviews this time round and experience; surely this next application would be a breeze?  It clearly wasn’t, but that was down to me and my, as I’ve mentioned, really bad interview prep.  After the third set of rejections, the question wasn’t so easy.  The reason I went for it was because I felt I could still improve my application.  If I had been rejected that time I would of taken my backup option, as I truly had exhausted all possibilities of improving.

When I was applying people applying a third or even fourth time was almost unheard of (or if they were they kept quiet about it). The thought of having another gap year while your friends are halfway through their degrees puts a lot of people off.  Its also difficult thinking of things to do after you’ve had a gap year of work experience and traveling etc just earning money or doing more work experience may not appeal to you.  You may have parents or friends not being very supportive and thinking you should give up, or try a different route. The graduate route is expensive, even with some of the universities now offering lower fees.  You would still be in competition with others for the places, and don’t forget, if you ever had to re-sit a year you would have to pay for that extra year as well.  You would also be older, which may bother some people.  Applying abroad is another popular choice, or doing a completely different degree altogether and forgetting about veterinary.  There are a huge variety of things that you will need to think about.  Some of you wont be daunted by the huge fees, or traveling abroad, some may even think that in the end veterinary wasn’t for them and could end up doing something else that pays better and has considerably less stress involved.  The point that I’m trying to make is that if it’s your first, or your fifth application, the decision to re-apply is one only you can make.  You are the only one that knows deep down why you wanted to apply for this course despite the high competition, crazy amount of work experience and dedication needed.

The Waiting Game

Posted on by
Reply
With November here and the countdown to the ‘C’ word set to begin many of you will be waiting for responses from the vet schools to your applications. The annual ‘Waiting Games.’ It is a weird period because it is, as I am concerned, the only time during your applications where you have no real power over the outcome. You simply have to trust that you have done an awesome job with your application and that the admissions tutors appreciate that level of sheer brilliance and follow suit by sending you an invite to interview.
We’re the kind of people, however, who don’t enjoy sitting around waiting idly – it’s not really in our DNA. The good news is that there are still things that you can be doing during this period of time to further enhance your chances of an ultimately successful application. The goal of submitting a UCAS application for most of us is to be invited to interview. The next real challenge thus becomes nailing the interview and this is one major area where you can be very proactive in preparing for the event. There are already some good interview related articles on this blog, in addition to a cracking chapter dedicated to interviews in the book.

Interview Preparation

The famous saying, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice,” is as applicable to vet school applications as it is to becoming a successful performer. Even if you have not yet received an invite to an interview, starting  to prepare is a good idea, as by the time you do then you’ll be firing on all cylinders and ready to absolutely storm the interview as if it is the most natural and laid back activity in the world. If you have read the frankly huge chapter on interviews in my book (if you haven’t then I wholeheartedly suggest you start there) then you’ll already have a good idea of what to expect at interview and how best to prepare, the main method being to get at least one mock interview under your belt.

Read Widely

Vet school interviews will often involve discussion of topical subjects in science and veterinary-related areas such as farming. Having even a very superficial yet broad grasp of some of the key topics is a very sensible idea and if you really are totally committed to securing a place at vet school then it is highly likely that you already maintain an active interest in such news and topical affairs simply because you enjoy doing so. I used to keep a keen eye on the news and with news websites like the BBC it is easier than ever to keep abreast of the key topics. No one will expect you to be an expert on any of the topical issues but drawing a blank when asked about the issues pertaining to the badger cull, for example, will not win you any support from the interview panel. So that’s probably one of the main activities you can be doing during the waiting period: read.

Work Experience Questionnaires & Supplementary Questionnaires

A number of the vet schools quite rightly appreciate that trying to cram all of the pertinent information about yourself into a single UCAS application is difficult and so several will send out additional questionnaires for you to complete. Having the relevant info to hand at the time will make completing these so much faster and less stressful. Ensure you have any work experience references already in your possession and, if necessary, take a look back at any work experience journals or diaries to help jog your memory of the placements.

Use the time to focus on academic pursuits

Needless to say but most of you will be offered conditional offers, meaning that they are dependent on your ultimate grades. I know it’s probably pointing out the unbelievably obvious but just continue to work hard and apply yourself to your studies. This period is a great time to just regroup and focus on those areas that really need your academic attention. After all, there’s little point in getting too hung up on interviews if there is a danger of your grades slipping.

Do something truly altruistic

It’s a nice feeling to do something nice for others and this is as good a time as any to do just that. Why not help out future vets following in your footsteps by giving me the chance to send your school library their very own copy of Vet School. I firmly believe that having access to a fantastic resource like Vet School can, for some prospective vets, be the difference between a successful application and having to look for alternative career options. I want as many future vets to have that chance as possible and school libraries are often one place we all start our career planning.
So…..you can help out your school and future generations of young vets like you by enabling me to send your school a copy of Vet School. There is more information about this here.

No news is good news

Remember that if you have not yet heard from the vet schools then it means your application is still being considered. Therefore, no news genuinely is good news.

Iron Vet – Interview with Adelle Isaacs BVSc GPCertFAP MRCVS

Posted on by
Reply

Adelle Isaacs, Farm Vet & Ironman athleteThere are few challenges bigger or tougher than undertaking an Ironman race, which is exactly what a good friend of mine from my days at Bristol Vet School has just undertaken. Hers is an inspirational story and she is a role model for anyone looking to apply to vet school, juggle athletic and academic pursuits, or simply take on a colossal challenge. The Iron Vet in question is Adelle Isaacs, Junior Partner at Larkmead Veterinary Group, based in Oxfordshire.

 

Who are you? Where did you study? When did you first decide to be a vet and what kind of vet you are now? Where do you work?

I decided that I wanted to be a vet when I was 7 years old.  I loved animals and had a menagerie of small pets. A family friend was a vet and I was lucky enough to be allowed to hang around the practice after school, I never really looked back.  I went to my local comprehensive school, got the necessary grades and studied at Bristol between 2002 and 2007.  I am still in my first job at Larkmead Veterinary Group in Oxfordshire, which happens to be at my foster practice from university. In January I became a Junior Partner in the practice.  I am a large animal vet and spend 90% of my time working with cattle and sheep.

finish line at Ironman Treblant, Adelle IsaacsYou are undertaking your first Ironman race. What drove you to sign up for the toughest event in the sporting world?

I read Chrissie Wellington’s book (for those that don’t know she is one of the greatest ironman athletes of all time).  There was a chapter in the book about a nun who was 80 years old and still competing in Ironman events.  I was reading this book on a flight to Auckland, I was on my way to represent GB at an age group level in the World Championships for Sprint Distance triathlon.  My brother, and training partner (Danny) had also qualified and had read the book.  We had a conversation about this nun in New Zealand and both decided that if an 80 year old could do it there was absolutely no reason why two fit people in their twenties couldn’t do it too. Once we were back in the UK we signed up within a couple of days.  Then there was no going back! We chose the race at Mont Tremblant in Canada as it was late in the season, giving us time to prepare, and the scenery looked beautiful.  We decided we would try to raise some money for cancer charities in memory of our older sister who unfortunately lost her battle with cancer a few years ago.

How did you first get into triathlon? Why?

I was swimming, mountain biking and running to get fit and I wanted a challenge to keep me motivated.  My first race was in 2010 and was a super sprint at Dorney Lake near Eton.  Since then I have competed in all of the mainstream distances (sprint, olympic, half ironman and ironman) as well as a half marathon and a few cycling sportives.  Triathlon is an amazing sport, it is competitive, but for many (including myself and my brother) the most important contest is with yourself and challenging yourself to give the best performance that you are capable of.  Triathlon has a hugely supportive spirit and the atmosphere at races is always really friendly and encouraging.

Were you a sporty/ athletic person before and during vet school?

Whilst I was at school I played lots of girls’ football, I absolutely loved it.  I played for our county team and had dreams of going to America (where ladies football is massive) and becoming a pro (I was never really talented enough to do this!).  I tore my cruciate ligament in a game the season before coming to university and had it surgically repaired the summer before I started at Bristol.  Once I was at vet school I kept thinking I would join the ladies team, but it never really happened.  Free time wasn’t really something we had in abundance and I spent more of my time at the bar then exercising and as a result I got really unfit!

bike leg, Ironman, Adelle IsaacsWhat are the challenges associated with balancing training, your work as a vet and a social life?

I am hugely lucky to have an incredibly supportive and understanding boyfriend, and family and friends that are second to none.  My colleagues at work have been amazing also, offering to cover some duties so that I can fit in long bike rides every weekend and just generally encouraging me.  Without these people I could not have even made it to the start line of the Ironman.  Balancing the training and increasingly responsibilities at work has been challenging, sometimes more so than the actual training.  I’ve had to improve my skills of time management hugely and I wasn’t exactly disorganised before.

What have been the highlights of both your professional and sporting lives to date?

The highlight of my professional life is gaining a place a Bristol Vet School, professionally everything else has followed on from here really.  Obviously I am really excited to have joined the partnership at Larkmead Veterinary Group.  In terms of my sporting life the major highlight has to be crossing the finishing line at Ironman Mont Tremblant, the race was pretty eventful and there were times when I thought I wouldn’t make it so it was a very emotional moment.  We also raised over £6000 for Cancer Research and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research and this is something I am hugely proud of. My brother and I also represented the GB age group team for sprint distance triathlon at the World Champs in New Zealand last year, racing in the GB trisuit was a very proud moment and I was so happy to share the experience with my brother.

 

What are your sporting and professional ambitions following Ironman Tremblant?

I want to focus more on work next year, everyone has been very supportive and understanding during my Ironman training but I feel I owe the practice more of my mental attention going forward. Becoming a partner has taken a bit of getting used to, but I am enjoying it and I hope to progress to Senior Partnership within the next 5 years.  I will focus on olympic distance and half ironman distance racing next year as these distances are a bit more compatable with a ‘normal’ life.  I hope to return to Ironman racing in 2015 and maybe even a shot at Ironman World Championship (Kona) qualification in the future.

How was the race?

Eventful!!! The swim started really well but half way through my hat came off which unleashed my hair!  Every time I turned my head to breathe I almost choked on my own hair and it made it very difficult to ‘sight’ and swim in a straight line.  I was pleased to get out of the water and looked like a drowned rat by the time I made it to transition.  The bike started really well, I felt so strong after a couple of weeks of tapering and I was flying along!  This was until then 40km mark when I was hit by another cyclist and knocked off my bike at an aid station! The bike went flying as I landed on my shoulder, elbow and head.  I quickly realised that I ‘wasn’t that bad’ and was relieved to see my bike was fine.  I got back on and although my arm was really stiff I was confident that I would make it through the remaining 140km on the bike and tried not to think about the marathon that awaited.  I got to T2 feeling pretty sick, the energy drink offered on the bike course was slightly different to what they had advertised and it didn’t agree with me!! This really frustrated me as my brother and I had imported some of the advertised product from the USA to try during training to avoid this very scenario.  Anyway, there was nothing I could do, I felt awful and seriously considered pulling out after the bike.  I couldn’t imagine how I was going to make it through a marathon feeling how I did.  I made myself start the run, I couldn’t have lived with myself if I hadn’t even tried to run.  After 2km of running I realised that the energy drink was now making its way through my system, I was having serious stomach cramps and as a result I had to visit the portaloos at every aid station in the first half of the run.  As well as being really painful and disgusting I found this so frustrating as I just couldn’t get into a rhythm and my legs actually felt fine.  Things got really bad at the halfway mark, I could run more than about 50m without doubling over in pain.  I decided at this point to walk until my stomach settled, this took about 30 minutes, during my walk I discovered that my shoulder was actually seriously painful after the crash.   It was just one thing after another! I got really low at this point, but after seeing my friends and family I attempted to start running again.  I felt fine for the first time in about 6 hours.  I ran the last 15km of the 42 km marathon well and finished strong.  Running down the finishing chute felt totally surreal.  I couldn’t believe I had done it.  I knew my brother had finished about 2 hours before me, so crossing the line I knew we had both done it! It felt incredible! I’m so glad I didn’t drop out after the bike, the human body is capable of more than our minds give it credit for!

Adelle Isaacs, Farm vet with patientWhat tips and advice do you have for anyone thinking of applying to vet school? What about any current athletes or prospective athletes?

Achieving a place at vet school is not easy!  It takes dedication, commitment and hard work, but if it is something that you are passionate about and you are willing to put in the effort it is achievable.  Getting a broad range of work experience with many species is vital.  It is important to get some longer work experience placements to show that you have the required commitment, for example, work at a farm every Saturday for a prolonged period.  I would assume that all those applying have similar grades to you and probably similar work experience, so you need to do something to set you apart from the masses.  This is where extra-curricular activities come in handy, whether it be sport, music or drama, anything that demonstrates that you are a balanced individual with a passion for non-veterinary matters will stand you in good stead.  These activities may also demonstrate that you have developed some skills such as teamwork and communication, which are so important as a vet.  If you are lucky enough to be invited for interview, prepare for it meticulously, read up on current affairs and key cases you have seen during work experience.  Prepare for it as though it is an exam and then try to relax during the interview so that you can communicate clearly and allow your personality to shine through.

 If you are an athlete thinking of applying to vet school don’t be put off.  Your skills of time management will probably be more developed than those of people who have applying for vet school as their sole focus, this skill will be invaluable at vet school when spare time is very limited.  Dedication to sport will teach so many of the transferable skills that you will be able to use during the application process, at university and during your working life.  Sport will also keep you sane!

Scaling New Heights

Posted on by
Reply

For those of you keeping up with my adventures via my blog, The Nerdy Vet, you may know that I have recently been to Europe, and specifically the Alps, during which I spent some time not only jumping from planes (as I am prone to do from time to time), but also a spot of paragliding, mountain biking and alpine climbing, something that I had never really done before.

Climbing to the summit of Gran Paradiso

On the ascent to the summit of Gran Paradiso

I had always wondered what the fuss was with climbing mountains, especially given the obvious fact that it has always looked so hard, just to stand on top of a bit of snow, ice and rock. Yet humans seem almost obsessively driven to drag themselves up ever higher in the name of conquering a plethora of peaks. Having now experienced first-hand the feeling of incredible achievement, in addition to the breathtaking views that are afforded to those who summit, I have newly discovered appreciation for the motivating forces that drive people to push themselves beyond their levels of comfort in pursuit of alpine success.

Danny Uhlmann, First Light Mountain Guides

Danny Uhlmann, First Light Mountain Guides

My mountain guide for the week, an effervescent American by the name of Danny Uhlmann (First Light Mountain Guides), was brilliant, not only in terms of his knowledge and ability as a guide, but also as great company, something that is important to have when tired, aching and uncertain of the extent of your own physical abilities. From advising me on initial preparation, kit and discussing the kind of climbs that we could do, to literally coaching me up my first alpine ascent, Danny was the perfect guide. One of the pivotal moments for me came on our very first day’s climbing, during the first bit of proper alpine rock climbing that I had ever done, complete with crampons and ice axe. There was a section of the climb that involved edging out onto and up a crazily exposed sheer cliff face, with nothing but a vertical drop of what seemed like forever below us. Danny explained the route and although I was trying my best to listen all I was really able to focus on was how intense the next section seemed, considering that all I really had keeping me attached to the mountain was my hands, feet, the sincere desire not to fall, and a rope between my guide and myself. As Danny headed off first I had several moments to quietly contemplate what it was that I was expected to do in the coming minutes. I was genuinely concerned that I was going to freeze and not be able to actually push myself to do the climb – the prospect of fear getting the better of me was real. But what if I didn’t do it? What then? I couldn’t come this far and not give it my best, especially on day 1. As such, I focused on the task immediately in hand, concentrating 100% on exactly where every foot and hand hold was going to go, and edged out with my back facing the endless expanse of the valley thousands of feet below. Well, I did it and the rest of the climb went well, a perfect introduction to alpine climbing that set us up well for the following days and the eventual ascent of Gran Paradiso, the highest peak in Italy and the crowning achievement of the week in Europe.

Gran Paradiso, summit

Gran Paradiso summit

I will be the first to admit that at the time of doing it and being there at the summit I was not having the best time ever. In fact, it would be safe to say I was crapping myself and very much looking forward to getting down again. In spite of that fact I would wholeheartedly recommend the experience to every one of you. The journey, including the preparation for the day itself, was an enriching experience of highs (both metaphorical and physical) and lows, with fatigue, fear and doubt always present. Now I am no stranger to heights being a skydiver. In fact I think nothing of leaping into thin air from 13,000 feet for fun. Alpine climbing, however, was truly scary for reasons that I am still working through in my mind.

There are so many factors in play with a mountain that danger literally exists at all times. From navigating glaciers and avoiding (hopefully) crevasses, to climbing round an exposed spur of rock thousands of feet up an exposed cliff face with little more than a bit of rope looped around and just careful placement of both hands and feet, I have come to the conclusion that mountaineers truly are impressive athletes. Danny did a sterling job preparing me and coaching me up, down, over and around obstacles that at times I seriously doubted I could overcome. He was patient and calm, yet encouraging and pushy enough at times when all I needed was just a good kick up the arse. It is amazing what can actually be achieved with the right support and belief in what you’re capable of.

One of the scariest moments of the trip was traversing a lengthy yet impossibly narrow and exposed snow ridge en route to the start of our second alpine climb at the Aguille du Midi in the Mont Blanc massif. Imagine, if you can, the prospect of walking along a path of snow and ice that is no wider than a standard school ruler, with a precipitously looooooooooong drop either side which would literally send you down to your death with enough time during the descent to truly comprehend the fact, and add to that a biting, bracing and strong wind that is trying to push you off said path. Oh, and then throw into the mix fun little features such as a deep crevasse over which you have to step, and quickly at that, because to fall down said crack in the ice would also lead to certain death. When you consider that this experience was at the start of this one day’s climbing then you get a flavour for the sort of challenges that awaited.

Applying to vet school is much like climbing a mountain: a lengthy, at times, demoralising preparation period, culminating in the actual attempt at the big prize, with the trials, stresses and concerns that go along with the process, and with no guarantee of ultimate success. Much as I would either have never reached the summit of any of the peaks I climbed, or faltered spectacularly along the way, without my mountain guide, your chances of Vet School Success are so much greater with the right help, support, nudging and advice along the way.

Those of you about to start vet school are much like those climbers who have reached the summit and are about to start their descent to base camp. The feeling of incredible achievement really starts to sink in as you take in the fact that you have done it, you have reached your goal! However, there is still much work to do during the next critical part of the journey and there is no guarantee that you’ll make it through safely – there are still all those crevasses and rocky drops (exams etc) to test your resolve, focus and determination along the way. Having said this, the descent is always more relaxed and enjoyable than the ascent, as you can beam and glow at the pride of having achieved what seemed so insurmountable before. If you could bottle that feeling then I would implore you to do so.

Gran Paradiso ascentI left the Alps aching but incredibly proud of my achievements, having pushed myself above and beyond what I thought I was capable of. Having had my first experience of mountain climbing I can certainly envisage returning for more and totally now get the addictive nature of the push for ever greater heights that comes with mountaineering. There is something deeply humbling about being in and on mountains, an environment in which in spite of the best laid plans and preparation can be cruel and unforgiving yet can serve up priceless moments of beauty. You’ll face trials, tribulations and moments of doubt during your own ‘ascent’ to the peak that is a successful vet school application but with the right planning, preparation and action, there is no reason why you won’t make the summit and enjoy the ultimate high that comes from achieving that which you’ve been dreaming of. Go and climb that mountain!

Results Day – Scariest Day Ever?!

Posted on by
Reply

Exam results day is the culmination of all of the hard work done to date and hopefully the confirmation of the fact that you’ll definitely be heading off to vet school, either this year or following a nice relaxed and interesting Gap Year. As such, there is rather a lot riding on it all and the stress can be quite overwhelming. I should know as I have been there.

The first thing to point out is the obvious fact that you will be nervous. Even if you’re Mr or Miss Super Cool and Unflappable, the mere fact that you don’t actually know what it says on that results sheet will lead to some nerves. Embrace it though and recognise the feeling of nervous anticipation. It is, however, important to realise when nervousness is morphing into panic and act to prevent it. At the end of the day there is nothing you can do at this stage to change the results and reminding yourself of this fact is useful. Reassure yourself that you have worked hard and that this hard work will be reflected in your results.

Preparing for the Big Day:

1. Get a good night’s sleep – such a mum and dad thing to say I know but its true. Being rested and alert on the day will enable you to either react swiftly and decisively if the results don’t pan out quite as you’d hoped or to at least savour and enjoy every moment of success assuming you do as well, or better, than expected.

2. Arrive early – if your results don’t come out as expected and it looks as though your conditional vet school offer is at risk then being one of the first to be able to ring the vet schools will place you in a much stronger position compared to being one of hundreds later in the day. Similarly, if your grades turn out to be stellar and you don’t have a place or were on a waiting list then getting straight on the phone as early as possible is the surefire way of turning that opportunity into ultimate success. Surely it’s worth getting up nice and early just this once 🙂

3. Take a list of the vet schools’ contact details, especially the Admissions Offices – having the essential information to hand, such as who to call, will save valuable time and could be the difference between being one of the first to get through to the vet schools or being in a frustrating queue. When you’re in a bit of an emotional state on results day, the last thing that you will want to be doing is scrawling through the internet looking for the correct telephone numbers to call. Do the legwork beforehand and save yourself the headache.

4. Charge your phone and ensure you have call credit – rather obvious you might say but you’d be surprised how many people will turn up to results day, need to or want to call someone and find that they can’t as they’re out of battery. How rubbish would it be if you were on the phone to a vet school admissions tutor and the phone cut out? Pretty rubbish is my assessment. Don’t let it happen.

 

The Big Day itself:

1. Eat something – you’re likely to be super nervous and as such not feel like eating. That would be a mistake. Your brain needs fuel to work properly and if you need to step to it and be all proactive in calling the vet schools then you’ll want your brain along for the ride. Feed it beforehand.

2. Check you have everything you need – charged phone, contact details (as above), car keys etc. I am bit of a nerd and so tend to set out everything I need the night before so I can see if I am missing anything. That way, on the morning in question I can simply scoop everything up safe in the knowledge that it’s all present.

3. Arrive early – not only will you get to open your results in relative peace without the entire school buzzing about but you’ll also be in a great position to act quickly if necessary and call the vet schools before half the world has the same idea. You can, of course, then stay on and enjoy the buzz as everyone else arrives to get their results – after all, it’s potentially a great day of solidarity and celebration between friends so should be enjoyed.

4. Opening your results – the MOMENT OF TRUTH! Take a deep breath, relax and embrace the reality 🙂 I remember time slowing right down and the words and letters taking a few moments to really come into full focus, and then for my brain to compute them. What I remember really feeling, more than elation, was just pure relief. Relief that I had done what I had set out to do by getting the required grades and confirming my place, and also relief that I hadn’t let anyone down. As daft as that last statement might sound I don’t think I was, or am, alone in feeling that way. We place so much pressure on ourselves and the expectations placed on us, either real or imagined, from everyone around us is often huge. As such, when I saw my results I just thought “phew!” It doesn’t mean to say I didn’t enjoy the fact that I had achieved something big, just that the response was a bit more complex.

 

What if you do better than expected?

First of all pat yourself right there on your back – you legend! If you have not got an offer from a vet school then get on the phone immediately and see if that situation can be changed – you owe it to yourself to try, right?! Otherwise you may have another plan in place, in which case good luck and enjoy the rest of your summer.

 

What if I miss out on my conditional offer?

I sincerely hope this doesn’t happen to any of you as I know the crushing disappointment that comes with not achieving what you really had your heart set on. First of all, expect to ride a huge wave of emotions, from disbelief, to bitter disappointment, to anger and many more emotions still. Again, the key is to get on the phone immediately to the vet school that you have an offer from and see whether you can still take up the place. Sometimes the schools will have liked you so much that they are prepared to look past the black and white nature of your results – the only way you’ll know is to ask the question, so get on it. If you are not successful then your options at this stage are to either take a Gap Year and reapply, take up a place doing another non-vet course at uni, or do something totally different instead.

So, there you have it. A potted guide to how to handle what can be the single most stressful day of your academic career (so far). All that remains to be said is GOOD LUCK and ENJOY YOURSELVES 🙂

Gap Years – A Vetty Perspective

Posted on by
Reply

Anyone who has read my books will know that I took a Gap Year before starting vet school in Bristol and absolutely loved it. In fact I would go so far as to say it was one of the most important years of my life in terms of preparing me well for life away from home as a confident, self-reliant student whilst at university. I had, however, been set to go straight from A-levels into the vet course but when results day came around I suddenly had this overwhelming sense of needing to press the pause button and just take a breath for a bit before diving head first into several years of intense training and a major life change.

Thankfully, Bristol was open to the idea of me deferring – in large part due to having been oversubscribed that year from what I understand – and so I had the green light to go off and fill a year before taking up my (now confirmed, phew!) place the following Autumn.

So….. what to do? I had been so used to having a structure to my days and a firm, fixed goal in mind – do well in exams, get grades, go to vet school – and yet now I had a blank slate on which to create something. Where on earth do you start?! I had initially advised the university that I intended to spend the year working, primarily in order to save money to pay for what I knew was going to be a very expensive stage in my young life, and complete some more work experience, perhaps somewhere overseas. Other than that basic ‘plan,’ if indeed that’s what you could call it, I was clueless.

Where to Start?

When contemplating the unknown it’s never a bad idea to do some reading and see what others who have trodden a similar path before you did and look for inspiration from them. I guess that’s what you are doing when you read Vet School, for example. So, a trip to the library and a pile of ‘Gap Year’ titles was the result. This was, however, all done against the backdrop of finding a job as I knew that whatever I decided to do I would need some dosh. Agency sign-up complete. Rather dull but regular office temping job secured. Now time to do some dreaming and planning.

What to do?

It quickly became apparent to me that the idea of spending an entire year just working for the sake of saving was about as appealing as documenting paint drying and I started to get those classic twinges that come with the travel bug. I had always enjoyed seeing new places but until then my experiences were very very limited indeed. I had never really traveled properly or been out of Europe, unless you count my time as a foetus in Florida or my first 3-4 years in South Africa, of which all I can really recall is hiding out in a large laundry basket (odd what you remember!). As such, the world very much was there to be explored. But where should I go? What should I do? Should I be going off and engaging in some selfless charitable work? I quickly decided that the cost alone of signing up for some of the expeditions on offer was prohibitive and would only have enabled me to spend a very short time ‘traveling.’ Well, I knew I wanted adventure and I was sensible enough to realise that chucking myself in at the very deep end of the global traveler experience might have been a little much. My dad had, for a period in his hairier days, spent time living and working in New Zealand and so I had always been a little intrigued by the land of the long white cloud. A little research later and it was confirmed – New Zealand was perfect!

It was English speaking, which as a first time traveler made me feel a little more confident, far away so as to feel like I really was going on a huge adventure, and had so many options for doing crazy, nutty, adrenaline-fueled activities that it was as if it had been designed as an adventure playground. I had always wanted to try skydiving and bungy jumping and skiing, and all of the other such sports that Kiwis just get to do almost as a matter of normal life. With the where confirmed, I then did some more research and discovered that you could apply for a working holiday visa for a year. Perfect! Adventure that was going to pay for itself. Rather than jump on a plane myself and jet off into the unknown I did, again, think somewhat sensibly and found out about an organisation called BUNAC, who ran trips out to various parts of the world, including New Zealand. The advantage of booking through them was that they helped with every aspect of putting the trip together, from the important work visa, to booking flights. The most important reason, however, for electing to go through an organisation rather than be all independent was that a) I got to travel out to New Zealand with a diverse group of like-minded individuals from all over the UK, providing not only some semblance of reassurance – remember, I was a fresh faced naive wee young thing from Norfolk, UK – and a great social circle from the get-go. Meeting so many interesting and varied characters at the very start of the adventure was a great introduction to the experience of truly traveling and being somewhere new and embracing the rich experiences on offer – much like starting university where meeting and getting to know new and unknown people is so vitally important. The other advantage of traveling with an organisation was that I had a known support network in place once in New Zealand. Although my time in the country was ultimately very independent and I soon headed off on my own adventures, I knew that should things go awry then I had the backup of a team of professionals in the UK and Auckland in New Zealand. The other advantage was that I often ended up bumping into many of my original ‘BUNAC buddies’ during my travels round the country, which was lovely.

I guess the take-home message here is to a) have some idea of what you might like to do during a Gap Year – is there anything you’ve always wanted to do? Anywhere you’ve always wanted to visit? A Gap Year is the perfect time to indulge in such dream activities. However, the other thing to try and remember is to b) keep an open mind – do some research, talk to people who have had Gap Years and this way you’ll be surprised at how much inspiration and how many ideas you can generate that you wouldn’t originally have come up with. A Gap Year is, ultimately, a very personal experience and it is very much your blank slate on which to etch on to. Of course, if you’re planning on taking a Gap Year in order to resit exams or apply/ re-apply to vet school then there are some restrictions. Having said that, it is still a great chance to organise something unique, perhaps a “golden ticket” work experience placement.

Deferred Entry

As I mentioned, I had intended to enter vet school straight after my A-levels and so I guess I ended up deferring by rather unorthodox methods. I think the chances of being able to do the same are slim and if you apply to go this year then I daresay you will be expected to turn up this year. The options when it comes to deferred entry are therefore two-fold:

1. Apply for deferred entry – some vet schools will consider applications for deferred entry, the advantage being that you have an offer confirmed and can head off into your Gap Year safe in the knowledge that you have a place at vet school to come back to. Not all do so it is worth checking the latest applications info on each vet schools’ website to see if they clearly state their position on deferment.

2. Take a Gap Year and apply during it – after getting your results you could then take those stellar grades and submit an application for the following year’s intake. Obviously you would then need to be on hand to attend interviews and deal with any other associated administration, such as work experience questionnaires and university accommodation, and finance matters, but there would likely be more than enough time and opportunity – especially once final offers have been made – to indulge in some great Gap Year activities.

Include in your application/ Personal Statement?

I am asked often whether students should mention their Gap Year plans in their application personal statements or not, and my answer is “it depends.” If you have something firmly planned and confirmed, and it is of relevance to your vet school application then absolutely include it. The key with personal statements is reflection and illustrating your suitable and favourable qualities for vet schools so if you have organised a trip to go off and do some amazing experience somewhere, not even necessarily animal-related, then mention it and say what it shows about you (eg adventurous, determined, charitable, eager to educate etc etc). Simply stating that you are heading off to kayak the Zambezi without any further explanation does nothing really for your application, even though on the face of it is awesome. If you don’t have any plans for a Gap Year or they’re just unconfirmed ideas at the moment then I would pause before writing anything. Remember that it is easy to say what you’re going to do – for example, I am “going to” complete an Ironman next year – but universities are only really interested at the end of the day in what you have done as this is all they can realistically and fairly assess candidates on the basis of.

What are you up to? Any ideas?

What ideas have you got for an amazing Gap Year? Share your ideas and plans here or on the Facebook page so that others can feel inspired. Some ideas that I can think of to get you started include:

  • go to ‘Safari School’ in South Africa
  • work on a ranch in the USA
  • spend a year on a working holiday in Australia and New Zealand
  • learn to dive and volunteer at a small animal clinic in Thailand
  • build a school in Africa
  • teach English in Peru

The options are endless…..!

The NEW vet school in Surrey

Posted on by
3

Tonight seemed to bring the new vet school at the University of Surrey, Guildford very much to the forefront of everyone’s attention. One thing that it highlighted, however, was how little many actually know about the new school and it’s plans to start accepting applicants this year.

I recently spoke with a representative from the new school, following my visit to the main University of Surrey campus, and put some questions to them:

1. What is the anticipated annual intake for the new school? 

In year one (2014) we will have a small intake of 25 students, rising to 100 students per year in subsequent years.

 

2. Is the vet school to offer just one veterinary degree programme, and what will this be (eg BVSc), or are there plans to offer additional options, such an integrated intercalation?

Surrey already runs a BSc programme in veterinary biosciences and a MSc in veterinary microbiology. In the new School we will initially offer a veterinary medicine programme but in future years we wish to offer integrated intercalation. We will also use our clinical expertise in the school to offer a range of CPD programmes for veterinary graduates, veterinary nurses and technicians.

 

3. What will the minimum entry requirements be? (Grades, work-experience requirements) 

Our entry requirements are AAB (with A grades required in chemistry and biology).  Applicants are expected to have gained at least four weeks animal-related work experience, which could include general veterinary practice, farm, stable yard, kennels, rescue centre, research laboratory, or abattoir work.

 

4. Will there be any provisions made for widening participation, eg lower entrance requirements for eligible students?

The University runs an In2Surrey scheme which is targeted at able students with widening participation profiles, applied on a national basis and aims to support students through on-campus advice, guidance workshops on applying to university and writing personal statements.  The potential of qualifying students is recognised by making an offer one grade below the standard offer for the course the student applies for; this scheme will also be open to any future candidates entering the scheme that wishes to undertake the Veterinary Medicine programme. The University has a strong record in providing targeted bursaries and is investing more to support students from low-income backgrounds to ensure that tuition fees do not deter talented young people from considering university.  The University offers a package of bursaries and fee waivers to students to ensure they are not disadvantaged by their financial circumstances.

 

5. What teaching style is likely to be applied? Problem-based learning, or more traditional lecture based teaching?

This will be a new curriculum based on the current best teaching practices. There will therefore be a mixture of teaching styles including some traditional lectures and problem (or case) based learning, as well as an emphasis on building both clinical and research skills through hands-on practical teaching.

 

6. How will clinical teaching be delivered? Will it be via the Nottingham system whereby this is provided by commercial practices or are there plans to establish clinical facilities at the university itself? 

We will be adopting a Nottingham style delivery mode for clinical skills training; students will have the opportunity to build their skills from the start of the course in practical teaching sessions, our new clinical skills centre and through working with clinical staff at a number of associated partner practices and veterinary hospitals.

 

7. Where will students be taught? Will the full course be taught at one site, like Nottingham, or will there be two sites, like Bristol ? 

The students will be taught in a brand new School of Veterinary Medicine on campus offering state of the art facilities that will include a clinical skills centre, a surgery training suite and a learning environment that is built around the needs of the student of today and focused on using technology to enhance learning.

 

Applications for the new course can be submitted via UCAS (as with any of the other veterinary degree courses) from this September (2013) for the initial intake of just 25 students in 2014.

New Year. New Plans.

Posted on by
Reply

New Year FireworksWith a New Year comes thoughts of what we might do in the next 12 months. Its often a time for deep reflection, musings of a big life change, or simply the creation of several resolutions, most to be dropped, one or two possibly to become established.

There is perhaps no bigger target for a prospective vet in the ensuing months of a new year than to bring their application together and successfully apply to vet school. Whether in the first stages, with the October deadline for applications to be submitted, or the final stretch, with interviews, offers (hopefully) and securing of grades the focus, now is a great time to really take stock, focus and plan for the ultimate goal.

What is it that you plan to do this New Year? Personally, I plan to bring you the next incredible edition of Vet School, in addition to continuing to be there, by your side, as you strive to make it to Vet School.

I hope you have a great start to 2013 and remember that for all the best advice and guidance on getting to Vet School, sign up on the website, keep in touch via Facebook and why not say hi via Twitter. In fact, whilst you’re at it, why not share your plans for this new year.