[LittleMissyMe.x]

Hello,
I really want to work and help animals therefore combining the interests of medicine, science and animals seems the perfect career! This has been my career ambition for many years due to my life long passion of animals. Please tell me how to stand out from the crowd of applicants and whether with slightly lower grades but a lot of work experience I still stand a hopeful chance? Also, can you explain to me what I would have to do to get onto a course Veterinary gateway? At GCSE, would A in Biology, B in Chemistry, B in Physics, B in Maths and A/A* in English language be suitable for either course? I would really appreciate some helpful advice and any experiences you may of been through on your way to Vet School- this may help put me in the correct direction.
If I do not succeed, where would I be able to study a three year Veterinary Nursing degree and would the GCSE grades stated above be suitable?
Thank-you very much!

[science_geek]

(Original post by LittleMissyMe.x)
Hello,
I really want to work and help animals therefore combining the interests of medicine, science and animals seems the perfect career! This has been my career ambition for many years due to my life long passion of animals. Please tell me how to stand out from the crowd of applicants and whether with slightly lower grades but a lot of work experience I still stand a hopeful chance? Also, can you explain to me what I would have to do to get onto a course Veterinary gateway? At GCSE, would A in Biology, B in Chemistry, B in Physics, B in Maths and A/A* in English language be suitable for either course? I would really appreciate some helpful advice and any experiences you may of been through on your way to Vet School- this may help put me in the correct direction.
If I do not succeed, where would I be able to study a three year Veterinary Nursing degree and would the GCSE grades stated above be suitable?
Thank-you very much!

Hi, If your predicted grades at A level are lower than AAA most unis won't even look at your application no matter how much work experience you have, and it's A level grades which matter most, they may look at GCSE's depending where you apply or if you are a borderline case but if you've got the A level grades that's the most important thing.
The gateway course is for applicants who want to study vet medicine but don't have the correct A levels (most places chemistry and biology) so you couldn't apply for that if you're doing A-level chem and bio.

The A level grades are the most important thing but Veterinary medicine is SO competitive you also need a good amount of varied work experience. Also trying to go that little bit extra than just your college studies would make you stand out (slightly, it's very hard to stand out as there as so many quality applicants), for example further reading, peer mentoring, extension classes etc.

Good luck! Sorry if you feel extremely rubbish after reading this post - we're all in the same boat though don't forget you have as much chance as anyone else, just go for it if you really want it it's worth it!

[MadMonkey]

Well, Technically you have a shot. I mean, everyone is right about AAA being ideal but the actual minimum is AAB for most places and you have that (even if one of those subjects is a humanity).

Basically. Don't believe the hype. Its worth a shot. I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that you have a good shot, but its certainly worth a try.

Well, If I was going to be honest with you, it really depends on what else you have on the table. What are your references and letters of recommendation like? What sort of experience do you have? And I'm not talking obvious experience, I mean interesting wacky experience? What does your personal statement look like? Do you have any unique features in your skill set or in your experience? And honestly, the humanity isn't as much of a disadvantage as you might be told. Its still an A and it implicates a strength that might make you stand out. If you can only manage a AAB, it can be offset by what else you might have to offer. If your complete package is good (and it better be good) then the AAB isn't the calamity that you might be told.

[kookabura]

From my experience places tend to look at the essentials first - so grades in the subjects they want (BMAT for RVC and Cambridge), and the work experience that they ask for (everywhere has a min amount). Plus you need a strong personal statement, so for example, I wouldn't phrase things the way you have in your post here...wanting to work with and help animals doesn't say why you want to be a vet, it is also the standard phrase from most applicants, why vet med though - why not nursing, why not work for the RSPCA etc - they involve helping animals? Also, it involves *a lot* of dealing with people as a career, so don't forget to mention that side of things as well (I know you'd put more thought into your PS than a post on here...but just wanted to explain that bit :-) )

Really you need to make sure you get min of AAB and apply to uni's that ask for that - you *may* with every else being good get an offer at that level, but ideally you will need AAA. Or...if you are getting lower that that look at gateway courses - RVC do one (details on their website), can't remember which other places, but it will all be online...have a look.

Then you need to write a fantastic PS - take what careers advisors/teachers say with a pinch of salt, they are notoriously bad at helping with vet med statements. Have a look at the example ones on here and use the personal statement review bit. Make sure you have plenty of work experience - cover all the basics first (horses, dairy, sheep, small animal vet, large animal vet, maybe kennels/cattery/rspca type place) before you start on the unusual zoo's, labs etc. The basics are the most important, without them the other kind of stuff won't help much.

In all...you *may* be ok with AAB for normal entry, but any lower than this and you would have to look at resits/or gateway entry. But...you will need to make sure other things are good, but unfortunately lots of work experience won't make a difference if your grades are lower than AAB as you won't even make it into the pile to be looked at.

With regards to vet nursing, there are a few places that do it...but not sure where other than RVC, have a look on the UCAS website.