Graduate Entry to Veterinary Medicine 2016

Yeah they're being great so far!
Ok so not very animal-y but definitely useful as a background! Mine was a BSc Zoology So not really very animal-y either, just quite a broad basis in physiology and mostly theoretical ecology and conservation topics.
How come you're doing VetMed as a second degree?

It didn't occur to to me to attempt it as a first degree because teachers had always told me I couldn't be a vet so I did science instead. When I was at uni I got really good grades though and asked RVC and they gave me a really positive response so here I am! I always wanted to work with animals and considered being a farmer (I know..) for a while but I think vetmed would be way more satisfying.
How about you?

I'm a boy who's in my final year of BSc Zoology; interview is on the 2nd

You know what, that's really similar to me! I basically got told that it was 'too competitive' for me and I wouldn't make it, in the end I probably would have got in after A level with my grades, but I had already started Zoology by that point. But I knew I wanted to work with animals and have a more physical aspect to my job, and VetMed just kept coming back as an option
Where is your top choice?

Yeah I think it's a really common theme among us grads, being told we can't. But we can!
RVC is absolutely my no.1 choice, they were so nice to me when I first enquired and I really love their attitude when it comes to students with unconventional backgrounds. Of course them being my first choice and my first interview is *really* not helping with the nerves.... You? Is this your first interview?

Yeah I can imagine! Yes RVC is definitely my top choice - like you say they've been lovely and helpful to me too and it being 4 years instead of 5 is a definite plus. Surrey is a close second, and they're my first interview on the 2nd December, then RVC on the 4th! I have Edinburgh in January but the fees are so expensive...
So exciting but nerve-wracking!

Good luck! Will hopefully see you in September 2016!

I hope all your interviews went well! i'm a current accelerated student, it is possible!

your interviews were much earlier (well by a week and a bit) this year i was shocked to see you all on campus the other day.

For those still with interviews to come, prepare, prepare and... prepare! don't let it take away from your current degree as we all know too well how hard a final year BSc can be! but make sure you look up current affairs in the veterinary world, from the well know to the outright bizarre that fits into a particular interest of yours. learn about the university and the course and formulate questions based on that or show initiative by commenting on facilities/course aspects not mentioned in the tours/prospectuses where there is an opportunity to do so.

Lastly, relax! i had 3 interviews and got three offers, i knew i had my favourite offer before my last two interviews which relaxed me a lot even if i was still very nervous on the day, but being that tiny bit more relaxed helped me a lot.

I take it you're at RVC?
What was your first degree in?
How are you finding the course, particularly from the perspective of a graduate?
What did you do for housing? Did you go back into halls, would you have liked to have gone into a house if it was an option? Did other grads do the same?
How soon did you hear back after your interviews?

Sorry for all the questions haha! Well done on getting in :-)

yeah i am. I did animal science before. The course is extremely intense, as expected as we're putting 2 years into 1. My advice, keep all of your notes from what your currently studying, you'd be amazed at how much comes in handy. I went to halls as housing was too expensive, would have preferred a house. i live with 2 other grads and 3 undergrads but we're all vet students so its nice. a very long time, February if i remember right, and i was in the first batch to go out for accelerated interviews, and they continue to send offers for a while after, but they could have changed how they do it this year i wouldn't know.

Could I ask how do you compare your final animal science year to 1st year VetMed in terms of workload? I'm in 2nd year Biochem and we're doing A LOT, I can't imagine it getting any worse tbh, so I'm just wondering

Could I ask how do you compare your final animal science year to 1st year VetMed in terms of workload? I'm in 2nd year Biochem and we're doing A LOT, I can't imagine it getting any worse tbh, so I'm just wondering

considering accelerated is two years in one, it's an extreme step up from 3rd year BSc in terms of workload. even so 5 year veterinary is still more of a work load.

To be fair 3rd year of a BSc, assuming you have a dissertation, is as much or little work as you want to make it
I think the fact that the type of work will be much more varied with practicals and different group work etc. it will be a lot of work but may not feel like a bad thing
Just speculating!

To be fair 3rd year of a BSc, assuming you have a dissertation, is as much or little work as you want to make it
I think the fact that the type of work will be much more varied with practicals and different group work etc. it will be a lot of work but may not feel like a bad thing
Just speculating!

I'm just going to point out it is a massive change going from even a degree to vet school, it requires you doing notes after uni every night, reading round the subject and a hell of a lot of revision due to the fact it's 100% exam based. Just don't want people to get the idea that it's as easy as a normal degree because I can tell you now, it definitely isn't.

well put it this way my 3rd year was my hardest year! it's massive change, and you're constantly studying, there are no breaks, whilst fitting in placements and some form of a social life be it solely with vet students! It's hard, but so interesting, if you really do want to do veterinary it's so interesting but it is an extremely hard and intensive degree