[Jlane5000]

(Original post by miffy56)
There is another thing that might be against me. This year I have been on a pre-teacher training course (Subject knowledge enhancement course in chemistry that teaches me chemistry to A2 level) because I have had a conditional offer at Portsmouth Uni for doing a PGCE in Chem. However, the longer I have spent on the course, the less I want to teach. I choose teaching because originally I just thought that I would never be able to afford vet school and so looked at other options. Teaching really isnt for me though. I like telling people about things, teaching in that way, but not as an actual teacher. Has anyone else done something similar, wanted to be a vet but saw the price and looked at other things to only end up going back to your original idea?.

Hi, I can most certainly relate to this! I always wanted to do vet med but was poorly advised in high school that I would never really have a chance and that it would be best to choose something else. Being young and worried about not getting into university I stupidly listened and chose to do Marine Biology. Marine Biology was a course that didn't meet my expectations at all and so I chose to do a law conversion, which I am in the process of finishing off.

Like you and the teaching, the more I got into the law course the more I hated it, and it is how unhappy I am on this course that has convinced me to finally just have the courage to go for vet med, even though it means re-sitting a-levels etc. To be honest it feels like after doing a degree and post grad that taking a-levels is going many steps backwards, but if that means being able to do what I have always wanted then it is a small price to pay. So you are not alone at all, I have a very unconventional background. I am also hoping to apply for 2013 entry and have my heart set on RVC

At least there are quite a few of us in the same boat and we can all help each other throughout the application process etc.

Hope that helps a little

[miffy56]

Thanks everyone for your info. I have phoned each of the unis I want to apply to, which is why I am taking chem and retaking bio a-level next year. Notts said about retaking my GCSE Eng lang, but I feel I wouldnt get any better than what I already have because I just do not get poetry (especially when it doesnt rhythme!!). My brother resat his last year and I was looking at worksheets he was given and things and I was like, eh? However, to me it seems silly. Why does my understanding of poetry and the like affect the way I write scientific papers? And I havent written plenty of them plus 2 dissertations. Anyway, I had best stop ranting.

Thanks for all that info about the RVC course, I particulary like the fact that there are groups which can do extra practicals and things. I am a very visual and tactile learner hence why I like the sound of practical courses. I love a good dissection! Just out of interest, how much do you cover on rabbits? Im a bit of a crazy bunny person, and its due to my first rabbit Dexter (my avatar), that made me determined to follow my ambition to be a vet. Any vet that knows anything about bloat/GI stasis would see how ill he was but this vet didnt and basically killed him force feeding him liquid parafin. Unfortunately at that point I didnt know anything about the problem either. Now I have 2 rabbits, who, due to various reasons (e.g. molar issues, inbreeding (possibly, they are rexes)), I deal with it all the time.*This does not mean I want to be a small animal vet only, I am pretty open as to which route I would take should I get in and I am going to wait and see what oppertunities arise.*

UCD currently charge 19,000 euros a year, which is about £16,500 in pounds (current conversion rates). They require prospective graduates to sit the GAMSAT test. When I phoned them, the woman said that they do not base all their decisions on your past a-levels, but more your degree/MSc/PhD and work experience. I have a friend there right now and she says its very full on. I am only considering it as a viable option because I would be allowed onto the 4 year course, whereas the expensive UK schools have all said that I have to do the 5 year courses.

Marine Biology sounds all dolphins and turtles but I am guessing its not? And law, wow, I would find that so hard! I do not mind going back and doing my a-levels. Biology will be fun and because of the course I am currently doing, I am hoping chemistry will not be unbearably hard as I have been taught it to A2 level.

I keep worrying about my work experience. Depending how far back you can go, Ive got:
-1 week small animal vet (2003)
-1 week RDA-type stables (2005)
-Voluntary work at riding school and large livery (1 afternoon a week for 3 months)(2005)
-Riding since I was 16 (I am nearly 24)
-6 weeks riding school and small stud with stallions and youngstock (2007)
-1 night paid (joys!) lambing (2008 or 9)
-2 days mixed animal practice (2010)
-1 year 1 month voluntary work with working shire horses, plus looking after "working" cows (I drove them once!), chickens, geese and sheep (just feeding/checking they are cool), and catching escaped pigs (average 1-2 days a week) (ongoing since april 2011)
-2.5 weeks on a small (100 strong herd) dairy which I am waiting to see if I will get a summer job at in the farmshop that is being set up (2012)
-1 week farm animal practice (2012-last week actually)
-Not forgetting uni trips to a flat stud and national hunt stud (include seeing a covering!)

and still to come:
-1 week at my vets (where I went in 2003) so should be fun
-1 week at an equine vets (full on clinic and everything!)
-1 week at a small animal hospital (referral practice)
-plus possibly lambing but will not be able to do it until after Ive applied, obviously

I am thinking of getting some kennels work too. Its quite difficult to get some zoo work as they are quite far from me, like 1.5-2 hours away (closest are Marwell, Chessington and Drusillas). What are people's thoughts?

[miffy56]

Sorry for writing such an essay, whoops!

[stef_vet?]

That's cool that UCD think further than A Levels for grad entry. The huge fees would still have meant that even with A*A*A* I wouldn't have been able to afford it :-/

Sounds like you've had a bit of a time with your bunnies! At RVC we focus a lot on comparative anatomy and physiology of different species, so when we learn a body system we'll learn about how it differs amoungst the domestic species. So everything we do is applied to at least dog/cat/horse/cow and then pig/sheep/small furries when they differ We've just finished GIT (digestion) and because rabbits are pretty unique in that we did concentrate on them in a few lectures. We've also had specific 'small furry' nutrition lectures. The whole course is multi-species as obviously we'll probably be working with more than one in our career (even equine vets may change their mind about smalls one day!)

[Eevee13]

(Original post by miffy56)
Im a bit of a crazy bunny person,

Hii! You're in good company here as there are two more crazy rabbit people on here, myself and Loosy (hope she doesn't mind me calling her a crazy rabbit person!). Most vets I have spoken to have all said that time spent on rabbit specific medicine is limited at vet school, however it is getting more and more popular and wider spread so content is increasing.

I saw a poster at RVC on the open day which showed a trial they did, including rabbit specific extras on the course such as extra handling, anaesthesia etc. I couldn't read in depth as I was passing by but it shows they are certainly understanding and looking to increase and improve the rabbit content, which in my books means they get A+++. I was also lucky enough to have my Bristol interview based almost entirely on rabbits as they picked up on my interest, and my dissertation was on rabbits!

Just to add I'm yet another one who only wanted to be a vet but didn't end up going for it. I was rather ill during A levels, and school told me not to bother applying so I didn't! I did an Animal Science degree and now work in a lab, but after the first year of Animal Science I knew there was nothing else I wanted to be, I loved my course but I constantly wanted it to be more in depth and clinical. Now I am working full time in a lab, which is the only other career I had really considered and it has just made me more determined, as although it is alright, it isn't what I want to do forever.

Good luck on your application!

[Eevee13]

(Original post by trixster)
I'm thinking about maybe applying to RVC for 2013. I don't have my hopes up though because I know how fiercely competitive it is!

I was going to apply for Kosice in Slovakia but realistically couldn't meet the requirements for funding. Being unable to work abroad was the biggest clincher -- I just could not rely solely on my parents and I would struggle with no income for 4 years. At least studying in this country gives you the opportunity to do some part time work alongside studying.

My degree is in Biological Science.

Hiya

Good luck with your application this year, will you just be applying to RVC?

[Jlane5000]

(Original post by miffy56)
Marine Biology sounds all dolphins and turtles but I am guessing its not? And law, wow, I would find that so hard! I do not mind going back and doing my a-levels. Biology will be fun and because of the course I am currently doing, I am hoping chemistry will not be unbearably hard as I have been taught it to A2 level.

I can see why Notts saying to re-take English GCSE's seems silly considering everything you have done since. I would say that if it is only Notts saying this and none of the other university's have a problem with it, then perhaps its not worth retaking the GCSE. If you have your heart set on Notts then go for it, but like others have said, Notts is very very tough on accepting grads and so taking a qualification just for them might not be worth it. Just a thought

Work experience wise, on the open day at RVC I had a word with head of admissions and listed my work experience (well, what I will have by the end of summer) and she said it was more than fine and I didn't need anymore, and you have a bit more than me by the looks of it. I think as long as it is varied they are a little lenient on grads as they understand it is hard to fit it in. The only thing is they like it to be within the last 2 years, but a lot of yours is in 2012 which should be fine. The only gap I can see that you could do is maybe a cattery/kennels/RSPCA placement to cover the small animal handling side of things outside of a veterinary practice.

and yep Marine Biology wasn't want I expected, I knew it wasn't going to be all sharks and such, but surprisingly there was a very limited practical element, there was a bit of microscope work etc but nowhere near as much as I was hoping for in 3 years.

[iwishtheskywaspink]

I know this has nothing to do with the thread but I love reading all your comments (in fact any thing) that gives me a(slightly) inside look into the hardships of becoming a vet, just to motivate me, and remind myself of why I'm revising after a hard day of school but, I would really appreciate anyone telling me their work experience, I honestly doubt I'll be able to achieve some of the amazing range of experience a lot of you have. I live in a really city-like area of west London, any advice?
(sorry for interupting, and good luck!)

[stef_vet?]

(Original post by iwishtheskywaspink)
I know this has nothing to do with the thread but I love reading all your comments (in fact any thing) that gives me a(slightly) inside look into the hardships of becoming a vet, just to motivate me, and remind myself of why I'm revising after a hard day of school but, I would really appreciate anyone telling me their work experience, I honestly doubt I'll be able to achieve some of the amazing range of experience a lot of you have. I live in a really city-like area of west London, any advice?
(sorry for interupting, and good luck!)

Some of the unis do take into account the fact that where you live does affect how much work experience you can obtain but if you aim for Liverpool's minimum of 4 weeks vets including large and small animal, and 6 weeks animal husbandry including cattery/kennel, dairy, equine then supplement with pigs/sheep/exotic/lab/abbattoir if you have time and the contacts you'll be looking really good on the work experience side of things. City farms are great for getting an overall idea of farm animals, although not the more commerical aspects and there are RSPCAs, PDSAs and Blue Cross branches etc dotted around London as well as loads of small animal vets. If you can get the tube or bus to Heathrow terminal 5 then I can give you a contact for a RDA and small farm.

When I applied (successfully - the first time I applied I had LOADS of equine experience but otherwise v. little and v. unvaried and didn't get in) I had the following:
- 2 weeks mixed practice
- 2 weeks small animal veterinary hospital
- 1 week small animal vets
- 4 months RDA/city farm
- 2 weeks dairy
- 1 week lambing (planned)
- 1 week pigs
- 3 weeks thoroughbred stud
- 5 years riding school
- 2 weeks smallholding with pigs and chickens

None of it is particularly mindblowing as you can see but the basics were covered

[miffy56]

Do you have any of those city farms/riding schools near you? I've heard of and seen some on TV. They could be worth it, plus somewhere like Battersea Dogs home or equivalent. My work with Shire Horses and working cows (well they dont anymore, they are just pets really) is at a museum near Chichester so the places where you find experience can be a bit random. What about some other rescues that you could help out at? In S/E London there is Greenwich Rabbit Rescue, its only small scale and I dont really know much about it apart from the website but places like that might be willing if you helped them do cage cleaning and the like.

Jlane, thats a shame your course wasn't very practical. I did some lab work, e.g. feed analysis and PCR for genes etc, but the main things were dissections. In 1st year I did a lower horse leg, horse head, watched digestive tract of pony (minus stomach), in 2nd year I did male and female repro tracts of the main farm animals and horses (though I only remember the horse really) plus a pregnant ewe and mare (probably a cow too but again, forgotten), and in the MSc I did a head again but in more detail looking at specific muscles, the brain and smell apparatus, then a whole horse to remove the head+neck and all legs for further dissection, and I also got to see the digestive tract of that horse (with bot fly larvea in the stomach) plus the lungs and heart. Then we also had some sports science things like riding on a stationery bike and collecting exhaled breath, and interval training and the difference between horses and humans (i was a rider for that) and the difference training makes on jumping in horses. My own dissertations were practical and involved a feed trial looking at the affect of flavours on rate of intake (my focus was problems like finicky eaters and horses that bolt feed) and the MSc was on rider variables on pressure distribution under the saddle (my focus was back problems in horses). Oh and there was also the behaviour practical where we had to teach the uni horses to kick and push a gym ball using clicker training (that was MSc). My course was also very scienctific though, and I think its the most scientific of the UK equine courses. My MSc also involved 2 small conferences with lecturers from Liverpool and Nottingham vet schools plus a farrier from RVC.

Its good that there are crazy bunny people/vets out there. I was only asking about it because finding a good bunny vet can be quite difficult (luckily my vets is good) and with rabbits becoming even more popular and awareness of them increasing, the need for vets with good rabbit knowledge is really vital. So knowing that, regardless of me going to vet school or not, that vets-to-be are being taught a decent amount about them is reassuring. I think if I was a small animal vet I would be a good bunny vet. Ive seen quite a bit: spay and neuter after care, mites (on the back and ears), worms (a vet gave me a look of disgust when I took poop in to show him), a toe sticking out at 90 degrees from a hind foot, a sprained wrist, bloat/GI stasis (a lot!) and other unexplained anorexia problems, crap molars, colds and gungy eyes, reactions to the cyclap VHD jab, and having a bunny have a fit and die in my arms (Dexter, after the **** vet with the liquid parafin). Ive had a cat (various fight wounds and hyperthyroidism) and 7 hamsters (wet tail, brain damage/tumour, abdominal tumour, mites, uterine infection) as well plus looked after 4 friends hamsters (all since my last one died which also included treating my one of my friend's old hamsters with wet tail while she was busy with essays).

My pants a-level results I had when I was younger was basically because I didnt try. Its not a good excuse but I basically wasnt very academically mature (plus no dyslexia help e.g. extra time, mustnt forget that). There is no way I could have coped with vet school then. Going to uni for the BSc, then going again for the MSc has really matured me and now I am ready. I seem to do nothing but study nowerdays (except get work experience!).

....Sorry Ive done it again, another essay!

[Loosy]

Yay more bunny people
I've learnt quite a lot about rabbit health just dealing with one of my own rabbits. He has had pretty much every possible problem. He is a tiny netherland dwarf so that probably has something to do with it. I feel very lucky with my own vets as they are very knowledgeable about rabbits, I hear that is quite hard to find!

In other news, I should soon be starting a long term animal volunteer position at the zoo where I work (in the shop). I did a couple of weeks work experience there a few of years ago in the bird section and it was so much fun. This time I will be on the Africa section which includes the lions, hippos and giraffes (my favourites!) so should be even more varied.

I'm a bit worried it won't leave me much time to do some of the more basic work experience placements because I was hoping to do a bit more farm work, but hopefully I can squeeze that in some time, even if it's after applications are sent off in October.

[Phoenix_147]

Hey guys!

Just thought I would chip in as I noticed this thread on the vet threads. Just wanted to say dont under estimate getting basic work experience. There are loads of people on the other threads that are just leaving school and are quoting 5 weeks llama trekking and 25 weeks working with Persian jumping toads or whatever and then cant understand why they dont get offered a place. What they dont realise when they quote the rest of their WE is that they have half a day lambing and 2 days at a small animal vet.

Yes a good range of WE looks nice on a PS but no vet school will take you if you dont have all the basics covered. My advice would be to focus on the core placements, say 2 weeks at each, SA vet, LA vet, lambing, equine and then a third generic farmy/domestic type. I would worry less about a broad range and make sure you can total some good weeks in those ones. After all most of your vetty training will be based on these species so they want to see your dedication to 'less exciting' work experiences.

Good luck on your applications I will be stalking everyone to see how they do this year xxxx

[Laurascavies]

I`m not graduate entry applicant but one thing I have been told by my local vet who has a friend that interviews for liverpool is that there are too many people applying who have had all this epxrience but when asked in interview they cannot relay all this information accross.

[Erin01]

(Original post by Laurascavies)
I`m not graduate entry applicant but one thing I have been told by my local vet who has a friend that interviews for liverpool is that there are too many people applying who have had all this epxrience but when asked in interview they cannot relay all this information accross.

This is quite a valid point actually, for A-level and graduate applicants. Most applicants who get interviews will have extensive work experience in a variety of environments... the universities have to separate these candidates (who are very similar on paper) into people they would like to offer a place to, and those who they won't offer a place to.

It is better to have the absolute minimum number of weeks, but have a true understanding of the medicine and the profession, than to have 30+ weeks but no clue of what was happening. It's also very well to talk about what happened in an interesting case, but what makes you really stand out is to understand why the vet (or farmer) did something and why they use particular techniques, as opposed to what the vet did. That's why it's so important to ask questions whilst you're on work experience!

Also, what my interviewers seemed interested in was when I compared techniques that different vets had used in different practices - there's more than one way to go about treating something, a lot of which is down to personal preference of the vet!

[Laurascavies]

(Original post by Erin01)
This is quite a valid point actually, for A-level and graduate applicants. Most applicants who get interviews will have extensive work experience in a variety of environments... the universities have to separate these candidates (who are very similar on paper) into people they would like to offer a place to, and those who they won't offer a place to.

It is better to have the absolute minimum number of weeks, but have a true understanding of the medicine and the profession, than to have 30+ weeks but no clue of what was happening. It's also very well to talk about what happened in an interesting case, but what makes you really stand out is to understand why the vet (or farmer) did something and why they use particular techniques, as opposed to what the vet did. That's why it's so important to ask questions whilst you're on work experience!

Also, what my interviewers seemed interested in was when I compared techniques that different vets had used in different practices - there's more than one way to go about treating something, a lot of which is down to personal preference of the vet!

Thats very true when i did a lot of work exprience before i gave up in trying to be a vet a noticed little things like stitiching techniques.

You have a very valid point there are all these guides out there and lots of pointer and I myself followed them, but with everyone following the same tips in getting into vet school then it is hard to make your self stand out. I think some people forget to them selves and over prepare and read things.

[miffy56]

(Original post by Laurascavies)
I`m not graduate entry applicant but one thing I have been told by my local vet who has a friend that interviews for liverpool is that there are too many people applying who have had all this epxrience but when asked in interview they cannot relay all this information accross.

After I finish at a placement, I write down everything that I did and saw. Mainly I do this as I dont have an amazing memory so ill remember the main things but not the detail. I did it before when I was applying for teaching and read through it before interviews so I could wow them with what I had seen. I also wrote down other things like I wanted to teach and why I wanted to teach secondary and not primary so I never cocked up an interview by trying to say something different. It is a good idea so then you never forget and can remember detail.

In other news, I would recommend a book called "Tell me where it hurts" by Dr Nick Trout. Its by a british vet working in v.large humane society- veterinary hospital in Boston and its like a day-in-the-life book but its made from things he has seen/done throughtout his career plus discussing various aspects of veterinary medicine. For a book, its a very good insight into being a vet eg you may miss out on a lot of family stuff, how about half of all vets that answered a survey would not be a vet if they could go back in time. the last point there reminds me of when I went to a VLA while with a farm vet practice and this woman was talking with us and said that the average career length for a new vet is 4 years. Thats quite scary. She said she had a guy for EMS who was only doing veterinary because his parents wanted him to but after he graduated he just went and worked in stock trading or banking. A waste of a place in my opinion.

[iwishtheskywaspink]

(Original post by stef_vet?)
Some of the unis do take into account the fact that where you live does affect how much work experience you can obtain but if you aim for Liverpool's minimum of 4 weeks vets including large and small animal, and 6 weeks animal husbandry including cattery/kennel, dairy, equine then supplement with pigs/sheep/exotic/lab/abbattoir if you have time and the contacts you'll be looking really good on the work experience side of things. City farms are great for getting an overall idea of farm animals, although not the more commerical aspects and there are RSPCAs, PDSAs and Blue Cross branches etc dotted around London as well as loads of small animal vets. If you can get the tube or bus to Heathrow terminal 5 then I can give you a contact for a RDA and small farm.

When I applied (successfully - the first time I applied I had LOADS of equine experience but otherwise v. little and v. unvaried and didn't get in) I had the following:
- 2 weeks mixed practice
- 2 weeks small animal veterinary hospital
- 1 week small animal vets
- 4 months RDA/city farm
- 2 weeks dairy
- 1 week lambing (planned)
- 1 week pigs
- 3 weeks thoroughbred stud
- 5 years riding school
- 2 weeks smallholding with pigs and chickens

None of it is particularly mindblowing as you can see but the basics were covered

Wow, that would be so nice of you! I would really appreciate that!Unfortunatly my parents don't want be to travel far and they're both always working (urgh) I can't get anyone to travel far with me! So I've been looking about (in desperation)and actually found a farm nearby! It's not much, they only have 2 cows and some sheep, but it's something! I've yet to contact them yet because of my 'gcse' comotion, but over the summer holiday's I will be doing whatever I can get my hands on. Your's is so neat and varied I'm jelous Thank you, I was worried I would be expected at least 5 years riding school or something :P

[CocoVet]

Hi guys,
I'm a grad just finishing the prelim year at Notts so if anyone has any questions about it, I'd be happy to answer them

[tvoorspuy]

HI
Well done for whoever started this thread.
I have a slightly different question, I want to apply for vet school as a postgrad but I don't have Biology A-Level, (As in Chem, Phys and Maths, done before the days of A*s!)
does anyone have any advice on sitting Biology A-Level in one year and what the best way of going about it might be?

many thanks

[Phoenix_147]

(Original post by tvoorspuy)
HI
Well done for whoever started this thread.
I have a slightly different question, I want to apply for vet school as a postgrad but I don't have Biology A-Level, (As in Chem, Phys and Maths, done before the days of A*s!)
does anyone have any advice on sitting Biology A-Level in one year and what the best way of going about it might be?

many thanks

You may not need it at all! I would contact the universities you are thinking of applying to and asking them. You have great grades in ahrd subject at ALevel and you have Chem which is the main one.

If you dont mind me asking what sort of degree did you do? If its biological enough the admissions team may still accept you without having to go out of you way to complete a basically redundant exam