Preparing for Vet school: Veterinary Expierence Ideas

As I noted before, veterinary experience is the key to strong application and career. Now, I will supply some quick ideas how anyone, regardless of age, can get experience now.

Shadowing

Shadowing is an excellent way to get your feet wet in veterinary medicine. If you (or your child) is interested in vet med, then shadowing is usually the first step. Shadowing is in essence when you go to a vet clinic and you fallow around a veterinarian for the day. I did this when I was in elementary school, and if you’re meant to be a vet you will love it. Depending on your age/knowledge many vets will talk you show the various parts of the hospital, the staff, equipment, and of course the patients. Maybe they will demonstrate how shots are administered, illnesses are diagnosed, or a surgery if you’re lucky. This is great for more than just younger children, as high school students and undergrads can also learn a lot. The veterinarian will be able to more fully explain disease pathogenesis and diagnosis. Even, though I’m in vet school I still like to shadow vets because of all the useful information you can gain. Also, if you have never worked in a vet clinic before it you will get a real life taste of what it is like. Most vets are happy to allow you to shadow, just give them a call and set up a time for you to come. It’s a quick, easy, and fun way for anyone to get some veterinary experience.

Kennel or Ranch Hand

Many vet clinics also offer boarding facilities for clients and just need extra sets of hands to help restrain animals and keep a hospital clean. These needs present opportunities for employment for those that are seeking veterinarian experience. The jobs are not always the most “elegant” as you will be responsible for cleaning out dog cages, walking dogs, retraining dogs that are difficult, and basically doing stuff that no one else at the clinic wants to do. HOWEVER, I would bet that 99% of all veterinarians and vet students have all had jobs just like it at some point in time. I was once told by a vet, that it’s a kind of rite of passage that all veterinarians have done. Everyone has to start at the bottom. The good news is that you will LEARN both skills and medicine during your job. I had a job just like this where I was basically a janitor that got to walk dogs and clean up both animal and man-made messes. But I learned where vaccines where administered, medications, how to restrain aggressive dogs, and observed several surgeries. All of this experience has served me very well so far, and looks great on your application.

Veterinary Technician

The key to any great veterinary practice is simple, the technicians. Although it will the veterinarian that comes up with the treatment plans, it’s the technicians that actually administer many of them, and talk to the clients. Technicians talk with clients, monitor anesthesia, draw blood, place catheters, and really whatever a veterinarian prescribes for the patients. In my opinion, being a technician is the best way to prepare yourself for veterinary school, simple as that. In addition to learning technical skills, you will learn medicine as well. You will quickly learn how to treat various illnesses, what to do in emergencies, and other medical knowledge. As I mentioned earlier you can become a veterinary technician by being trained by the staff at a clinic, or receive formal veterinary technician training from various schools. Both have advantages, but in my experience technician with formal training have a better understanding and will get paid more if the attend a veterinary technician school.

Internships

If you schedule is too busy to work year round, a summer internships are excellent experiences to have. These internships vary greatly; some are with pharmaceutical companies, research facilities, zoos, or other veterinary clinics. These internships typically are available to undergrad students, but their may be some for high school students. If you have time in the summer, then look into doing an internship. You will likely have a unique and informative experience. These will look great on your vet school application as schools like students with unique and diverse backgrounds. Internships can be found online or perhaps easier though you advisor or career counselor.

Non-veterinary experiences

Outside of a veterinary medicine job or internship, what other types of jobs look good on your application? Well first off, you need experience in veterinary medicine, no ifs, ands, or buts. However, if you are unable to find a veterinary job one summer, other jobs look good too. The key is finding jobs that require some skills or attributes that veterinarians use as well. For example, working as a camp counselor or tour guide displays your ability to communicate. Working as a waitress in a busy restaurant proves you ca multi task and handle stress well. If you work to organize and plan events shows you are a leader and organized. This list could go on and on, but I think you get the point. Again, you must of veterinary experience, but other experiences can enhance your resume as well.

A Quick Tip

To close, getting experience will not only improve you application, but will help you as a practicing veterinarian one day. Also, although these is nothing wrong in working for the same clinic for 6 years, then applying to vet school, some schools like their students to have diverse experiences. I know this sounds the opposite of what I have said, that its important to have strong and long work relationships in clinics, but hear me out. Personally, I worked for one small animal clinic growing up and my first two summers in college. Then, a veterinarian informed me that schools like their students to be familiar with animals both large and small. Therefore, I got a job the next summer working in a large animal veterinary clinic. The reason for this is that veterinarian schools want their students to be well rounded, complete veterinarians that are competent in both large and small animal medicine. Therefore, they like applicants that have experience in both. Also, I think veterinary schools really want more students that are interested or at least open to careers in biomedical research and academia. Thus, students with those types of experiences are looked well upon. In my case I spent many years working at a small animal clinic, one summer in a large animal clinic, and one summer doing a research internship. I think my length and diversity of experiences looked well on my resume.

Now don’t stress too much because I know many, if not most veterinary students DO NOT has very diverse veterinary backgrounds. Some could tell you everything you ever wanted to know about horses, but nothing about dogs. Others are the exact opposite. Therefore, I don’t think getting diverse experiences is a must, but I just wanted to throw this tip out there for students that are looking for any little edge they can get. Also, remember that in vet school you will have to learn to treat everything form dog, horses, cattle, to lab mice. Every experience you get now will benefit you in the future.

Ok, I’m sure you’re tired of hearing about work experience now, so I will go onto a new subject in my next post. Every serious pre-vet student stresses over it. Grades.