Postgraduate Veterinary Applicants 2014 :)

Hello!!
I've been hoping somebody would start this thread! I'm a little bit older (25) as I've done my undergrad degree in Zoology and now I'm in my second year studying a Masters in Equine Science! I'll be applying this September to Liverpool, Bristol, RVC and Notts, but I can't make my mind up whether to start next year (if I get a place) or defer and save up for a year??


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I have a MSc in equine science! I am an Aber grad (aberystwyth). (my firat degree was also equine sci from aber). Im a this year applicant and got 1 rejection from notts, 2 interviews (liv but withdrew and rvc) and 2 conditional offers for bristol and the 5 yr at rvc. Prob going to go to rvc. I have conditionals as ive had to go back to college to do a level chem (didnt do it originally to a2) and bio (only got a c).
Btw, you now have the option of applying to 4 "cheap" unis, ie they dont charge more than the normal £9000 fee. These are bristol, rvc, notts and cambridge (though there is a college fee here per year as well so its not as cheap). Also you will be able to apply to surrey as their vet school opens for 2014 entry. Dont know what the fees will be but worth checking it out.
Anyway good luck with your masters and degrees and your applications!

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Hi, i'm thinking about applying for 2014 graduate entry. I'm currently in my third year of four studying biology in St Andrews. The main thing i'm worried about is my lack of work experience so far. I have quite a lot of farm and equine experience from before my undergrad but that was 3 years ago and I haven't done that much since. A couple of summers ago I worked at a summer camp in the US, teaching riding and last summer I worked in a bio lab, do you think this would count?

My major question do you think I can get the required work experience in from now until application time, or would it be best to take a year out after graduating to get the required experience and apply then?

Thanks for this, great help! I'm swaying towards the uni's you've mentioned,however im only 20 mins from Liverpool so could cut out living costs and stay at home! Need to apply first tho, I'm just getting overexcited thinking about it! I'm just stressing with the work experience now,I'm working full time as well to save for fees and have managed to talk walk into ten weeks of holidays that I've filled with placement a but don't know if it's going to be enough! I have done more previously but it's over 3 years ago so doubt they'll count it! Do you mind me asking what you'd done before application?


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Hi, i'm thinking about applying for 2014 graduate entry. I'm currently in my third year of four studying biology in St Andrews. The main thing i'm worried about is my lack of work experience so far. I have quite a lot of farm and equine experience from before my undergrad but that was 3 years ago and I haven't done that much since. A couple of summers ago I worked at a summer camp in the US, teaching riding and last summer I worked in a bio lab, do you think this would count?

My major question do you think I can get the required work experience in from now until application time, or would it be best to take a year out after graduating to get the required experience and apply then?

Hi!

I was a graduate applicant this year (and last year) and got an offer from Bristol this year, if you have any questions feel free to ask and I will do my best to help. Good luck for this year!

Hello!!

What had you done previously? Also what work ex had you done? I'd love to get into Bristol, it seems a lovely place!! How are you finding it?

Hiya, I did Animal Science at Hartpury before. Work experience wise I will try and remember!

2 years weekends at a cattery (while at 6th form)
1 year, 2 days a week stables (year 1 of uni)
3 years, once a month at rabbit rescue (still doing)
2 years, 1 - 2 days a week at small animal vets
2 weeks SA referral vets
1 week mixed practice
1 week SA/equine practice
1 week equine practice
2 weeks dairy + beef farm
2 days lambing
1 day abattoir
10 months lab work (job after graduating)

I can't remember if there was anything else off the top of my head! All except cattery I did during my degree and the short term placements I did the summer holiday before I applied first time around.

I start at Bristol in October so can answer you then :P But I love Bristol too and am so happy to have a place there I live nearby so I have always loved it there!

Hi would you mind if I ask what your Alevels grades were? Also, where is did you apply to and did you have any other interviews?
Thanks
Amy

Hiya,

I got BBD at A level, (biology, psychology, chemistry), I applied twice as I didn't get in first time. Last year I got rejected from Notts, interviews at RVC and Bristol and an offer from Edinburgh (couldn't afford it though so declined). This year I got an interview at Bristol, and didn't do well enough in the BMAT for RVC (didn't apply elsewhere).

However I also sent a doctors note because I had extenuating circumstances, separate reference from my old teacher as he knew what I was going through at the time, as well as putting everything I could into all other aspect of my application (BMAT, statement, w/ex) to try and show it was just a blip!

To answer your other post, what you have heard back from Notts and Bristol sounds accurate, I don't know anyone else so far with less than a B who got into Bristol except me, I think my doctors note must have helped. Notts are renowned for being very difficult for grads to get into, I think they only have a very small number of places. Liverpool are definitely a good one to apply for, as is RVC. UCD I believe don't take into account your A levels either. Glasgow I am sure are similar price to Edinburgh.

Statement wise, have you checked the Personal statement guide? And also you can use the personal statement help service to get a review of your statement too If you have any grad specific questions about your statement I'm happy to help out.

BMAT wise, have you looked at all the past papers on the BMAT site? I personally used GCSE books first to revise the maths/science as I hadn't done it for about 6 - 7 years, then moved on to the official BMAT book and past papers. I also used a book called 400 BMAT practice questions. I focused on getting used to timing, remember you aren't supposed to know all the answers so I was very strict with myself and once a minute was up, moved to the next question. It's better to do the ones you know first then guess at the end if you have to!

Any other questions feel free to ask! Good luck with your application

Thank you very much for your advice, I think you're right about Bristol and Nottingham, and im with you on the Scottish unis - too expensive! yes I have had a look at the BMAT site and I was lucky enough to meet someone who had just done the BMAT this year and she gave me some of her old books, one of which was the 400 BMAT questions one - im finding it quite useful. How did you do on the BMAT, if you don't mind me asking? Did you get any help from a college/school, as I was wondering if I would be at a disadvantage without it?
Also how much work experience did you do, and do they care how long ago it was?
Thanks again

First year round I did ok on the BMAT, 5.8ish in the first 2 sections and got an interview. This year I think I was below the cutoff, I think I had 4.3 or something in both sections. Writing section was fine both times, being at uni really helps with that section. I struggled much more this year as I felt there was more maths in it! I had no outside help at all, I was working full time, but I managed ok, as long as you learn the style of the questions and get used to the time constraint you will be fine

My work experience is a few posts above but it's:



Everything was done during my degree except the cattery but it still counted. I think general advice is you can count your previous experience, but try and make sure you meet the minimum requirements with more recent experience. So e.g if RVC ask for 2 weeks vet, make sure that is recent, even if everything else is older.

Ah ok, thank you you have offered some really useful advice. sorry just a few more questions while I think of them! when it came to your work experience, did you try and fit them all into your personal statement or did you have a separate sheet? Also did you ever apply to Liverpool uni, and if so did they have a time limit on how long ago you could have done the work experience? and for the BMAT would your general advice be then just to keep practicing on the questions and timing yourself?
Thanks so much for this!

RVC and Bristol both had work experience sheets to fill in (RVC before the application deadline, Bristol for the interview). I think I tried to fit in enough placements in my statement so that they could see I had the necessary places, but had to miss off a few in order to expand properly on important cases/points, which is more important as it shows that you understand the profession, have gained some skills needed, and learnt a lot.

Liverpool I think have separate categories on their form for current experience and for experience done 3+ years ago. I'm not sure if experience that is 3+ years old can't count for as much though, I can find out though if someone else doesn't pop along!

For the BMAT definitely, timing is most important, and learning the styles. I found once I learnt the types of questions (especially for section 1) I could get to grips with them more quickly in the test. I also mainly did things by elimination before I worked anything out, I crossed off every answer that it couldn't be and I found that helped me reach an answer quicker.

Can I ask, how can you afford to do a postgraduate degree.
I am very confused as I read you will not be able to get funding so how do you
afford and apply for another degree?
Sorry if this is a stupid question but I looked everywhere and am still not sure

Thanks!