Mature student applying to vet school

Hi everyone, I was just wandering if any of you guys could provide me with some advice with regards to applying to vet school please?

So here's my predicament.....

I'm 25 years old and obviously a mature student, long story short, I want to become a vet. In order to do this I need to achieve the entry requirements. I have researched and emailed uni's etc to which I have found that there are 3 uni's which accept a student having completed an access course (rcv, Bristol, Cambridge). However, the uni's with preliminary year courses only accept students with A levels.

I could quit my job and enrol onto a science access course in September, but I would also have to work part time to pay bills. This course is only a year long so I could gain relevant work experience the following year.

Or I could stay in my current job and complete my A levels through distance learning, which would take 2 years and be more expensive.

Do any of you have experience with applying to vet school as a mature student?
Is it more preferable to apply with A levels?
Do you thinks its worth the extra time and money to do the A levels?

I really appreciate any advice

Thanks, Jade

Universities and other people usually use the context of 'mature student' as someone who has a degree already, not by age.

I can't speak from personal experience but I would think that doing A levels would give you more of a choice of where you can apply. This might increase your chances- for example you could apply to 4 unis per cycle rather than just 3 and could pitch your strengths differently e.g. if you don't feel you would do well in the BMAT exam which is required for Cambridge and RVC then it may play against you.

Certainly I don't think the unis will discriminate against you if they say they accept an access course compared to A levels so long as you get the grades.

Choice is yours. Hopefully you might hear from an access student here.

Do they? I thought it was anyone over the age of 21.

Hi everyone, I was just wandering if any of you guys could provide me with some advice with regards to applying to vet school please?

So here's my predicament.....

I'm 25 years old and obviously a mature student, long story short, I want to become a vet. In order to do this I need to achieve the entry requirements. I have researched and emailed uni's etc to which I have found that there are 3 uni's which accept a student having completed an access course (rcv, Bristol, Cambridge). However, the uni's with preliminary year courses only accept students with A levels.

I could quit my job and enrol onto a science access course in September, but I would also have to work part time to pay bills. This course is only a year long so I could gain relevant work experience the following year.

Or I could stay in my current job and complete my A levels through distance learning, which would take 2 years and be more expensive.

Do any of you have experience with applying to vet school as a mature student?
Is it more preferable to apply with A levels?
Do you thinks its worth the extra time and money to do the A levels?

I really appreciate any advice

Thanks, Jade

Thanks for your replies, Yeh I have had a look through the other threads and I think the general consensus is that doing an access course will limit options compared to A levels. I'm lucky as I get a lot of time at work which I could utilise as study time. I just hope my brain hasn't turned to mush!

I have seen how much work experience some of the unis require and have therefore attempted to get some. However, no where will accept me until I'm enrolled at an institution.

Does anyone know if distance learning A levels cling as being enrolled? I called up the company I'm planning to start with and they had no idea. Although the man on the phone was about as friendly as a rock!

Do they? I thought it was anyone over the age of 21.

Tarnia, sorry I meant educational institution. It's because they need some forms signing by them apparently. It could be school, college or uni, possibly for insurance purposes...... The few who I've asked told me top get back in touch when I've enrolled but not confirmed whether distance learning will count as enrolling.

Hi Tarnia,

Your first post is the EXACT situation I was in one year ago!
I'm 26, I've finished my access course now, just a few exams to sit, and have an offer at Bristol .

It's such a difficult decision trying to figure out how to get the grades you need.

Firstly look into the Foundation to Health and Veterinary Studies (Year 0) at Liverpool. I'm not sure what the entry requirements are etc, but its worth a look and you don't need to have done A-Levels. You would get student finance for this too so it'd be a lot more "liveable" than going to college!

A-Levels are difficult and require a lot of work (I did biol, chem and pychology in 2006... didn't do very well :/). I thought about re-doing them this year by distance learning, but I think I would have struggled. Also it takes an extra year, and finding somewhere to do your practicals can be difficult. There are a lot of shady looking distance learning companies out there charging a lot of money, so if you choose this make sure the material and support they provide is high quality! I chose not to do this as I felt I'd benefit from face to face teaching, and it would have costed a fortune! (which I don't have lol)

So I chose an access course. They can be a bit of a grey area and some aren't so good, but if you can get on a good pure science one I'd recommend it. Student Finance England do a 24+ advanced learning loan too, which covers tuition fees, and is written off once you go to Uni and get a degree, so this was much cheaper!

I study at Leeds City College and my course is Access to HE (Science). In semester one we do 2 modules in chemistry and 2 in biology. These are mainly AS stuff and really helped me get back into the swing of things! Especially in Chemistry where one of the modules covers a lot of basics and sets you up for the more complicated stuff. In semester two we again study 2 more biology modules and 2 chemistry. Its a little more difficult, like A2, but you are well prepared with a lot of support.
Each of these modules is at Level 3 (this is important - level 2 credits won't count for much!) and is worth 6 credits. So you have a total of 48 level 3 credits in biology and chemistry, graded distinction, merit, pass or fail.
Bristol ask for 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at merit.
You also do academic skills which is worth 12 credits and makes up the 60 you need to pass the diploma.

The college have sent students to Bristol, RVC and Liverpool in the past, and were helpful through the UCAS application process too.

I have rent and bills to pay, and it has been a struggle this year, but I have been able to work 25-30 hours a week and still get distinctions. I'm only in college Monday 9-4, Tuesday 9-4 and Weds 9-11. It helps to go over your notes when not in classes, and there are a few assignments to complete, but nothing horrendous or too time-consuming, its very manageable.

Your university choices are more limited... but its not that bad. This is based on what I found for 2014 entry...

Glasgow, Edinburgh and Cambridge will not accept Access courses for Vet Med. (With the exception of Glasgow who would accept Access to Veterinary which is only run at Glasgow college... with v. limited places by the sounds of things)

The RVC and Surrey do accept Access, but I didn't really look into these as I can't really afford to live in these places!

Nottingham accept Access students onto their 6 year course. (I couldn't apply as I have previously done A-Levels)

Bristol and Liverpool also accept access students. They seemed very positive when I talked to them on the phone and at open days I didn't feel discriminated against. But... I didn't have enough work ex for Liverpool

I would contact the Universities and check though as Access courses are quite "up and coming", so things may have changed.
Also Liverpool have a list of accepted courses and colleges, so you'd need to check yours was one of those.

Doing it this way meant I could apply to vet school pretty much as soon as I started college! I've been lucky enough to get a place, so its saved me a year, but if I hadn't I would have had my grades in the bag and could do more work ex and reapply. I did have a lot of work exp... although not massively varied. But I'd advise you get building that up now!

I do agree that A-Levels are the more traditional way of getting in and feel I'd have had it easier if I had them. But its not just about doing the A-Levels, you need to get amazing grades, which might be harder distance learning. I think without actually going to college and having face to face lectures and support I would have struggled with assignments and exams as I have been out of education a while. I also didn't want to wait 2 years!!!

Anyway... I've rambled enough haha...

Good luck!