Ask a Vet Med Student
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Original post by vetstudent123
I’m a Liverpool student. Yes you’re correct in that we spend 3 years at the city centre campus and the last 2 at the Leahurst campus. You can absolutely mix with everyone in other courses. All uni accommodation is mixed so you will definitely be with other courses. Crown place is the most popular amongst first years. And the campus is quite compact, you can walk from one side to the other in about 10 minutes or so, so it’s quite easy to mingle with everyone. The sports facilities are also fantastic and we have Wyncote sports ground which is apparently one of the best in any UK university.
We have practicals every week, starting straight away, this is mostly clinical skills, dissections and prosections. We have animal handling in first year and necropsy practicals in third year, both at Leahurst. I’m the same in that I prefer to learn through practicals! We also have consolidation which has materials from practicals that you can go and practice with further if you want to. Liverpool does have a fantastic equine unit but small animals, large animals and equine are covered equally and are all onsite.
This was a bit brief so feel free to ask any further questions 😄
We have practicals every week, starting straight away, this is mostly clinical skills, dissections and prosections. We have animal handling in first year and necropsy practicals in third year, both at Leahurst. I’m the same in that I prefer to learn through practicals! We also have consolidation which has materials from practicals that you can go and practice with further if you want to. Liverpool does have a fantastic equine unit but small animals, large animals and equine are covered equally and are all onsite.
This was a bit brief so feel free to ask any further questions 😄
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions! Just wondering what your timetable is like/how many hours of work do you find yourself doing a day? Do you find it okay to balance and still go out/do sport etc?
Liverpool sounds pretty perfect for me tbh, it would be a dream come true to get in! I'm currently at a college where they give you little to no help with any uni application processes, so trying to gather as much information on my own. I'm studying bio, chem and textiles A-level and although I'm on track for 3 A*'s I'm worried that unis won't think I'm as academically capable as someone taking maths instead. I'm quite a creative and practical person though and my textiles course is pretty much all practical, which I think will really help me in the practical parts of the veterinary course (i will have beautifully sewed up animals lol). It's just tryna spin it that way so they don't just think it's me taking the easy option out.
I am going to get very little if not no help with my personal statement or interview prep at college. So although im quite confident and chatty in interview environments, I'm nervous that I won't look as stronger candidate as other well drilled students that come from more supportive schools.
I've completed some work experience but had some of it canceled so im hoping to work for a lot of summer to get a to get at least 5 weeks (which would include 2x week at a vet practice, 1x week at a zoo, 1x week at a wildlife hospital and 1x week farming, plus ongoing volunteering at RDA riding stables). And I'm also doing a 6-week online course on animal virology during lockdown which is really relevant and teaching my stuff beyond A-level standard.
I was wondering if you had any advice/tips on personal statement writing (how important is it), as well as interview prep and what to expect.
Thank you so much xx
Original post by 123vet
Hi, I’m a Nottingham vet student. Hopefully I can answer a few of your questions 
You can absolutely play sports on the main campus - I and many of my friends do and we love it! Being on SB doesn’t stop you getting involved - there are buses to and from main campus and lots of people lift share if there’s a crowd going. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend living in halls there, just because I think it’s nice to be on the social scene in SB and to have a chance to socialise with that crowd. It’s obviously great to have friends outside your course but it’s nice to be at the vet social events too. That’s just my opinion though🤷🏻*♀️
As for going out, it is more difficult than living in the city but not impossible by any means! The bus/tram journey becomes like an extension of pres to be honest😂 and it’s great fun to be heading in with all your mates. Yes, you can’t see the club from the lecture hall window, but I don’t think it’s all bad. If you’re seriously dead set against to a rural life you might want to consider somewhere else, but tbh most people are absolutely fine with it - I’ve got friends from London, Manchester, Liverpool etc. And they’ve coped just fine
I’m a September student in the first year with an April cohort. There has absolutely been lots of careful planning for the introduction of the April cohort, but I don’t feel the teaching quality has been compromised at all - I’m another one of the Notts vets who loves it to bits! I also don’t feel we’ve been rushed through - the vet school took this opportunity to streamline the curriculum, and have carefully checked to make sure sept/April teaching is exactly the same (like, down to the bank holidays... we had bank holidays in sept like they would have at the start of their first term in April😂). All that said, it is a new system, so whilst I don’t think the vet school will be compromised or anything, I think there will probably be a bit of adjusting here and there to strike the right balance. But to my mind that’s a small price for being at a vet school I wouldn’t change for the world... if I had my choice again I’d choose Notts like a shot
I hope this helps - at the end of the day, you should pick the vet school you think you’ll be happiest at. Whether or not that is Notts, I wish you the best of luck on your veterinary journey. Feel free to ask any more questions xx
You can absolutely play sports on the main campus - I and many of my friends do and we love it! Being on SB doesn’t stop you getting involved - there are buses to and from main campus and lots of people lift share if there’s a crowd going. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend living in halls there, just because I think it’s nice to be on the social scene in SB and to have a chance to socialise with that crowd. It’s obviously great to have friends outside your course but it’s nice to be at the vet social events too. That’s just my opinion though🤷🏻*♀️
As for going out, it is more difficult than living in the city but not impossible by any means! The bus/tram journey becomes like an extension of pres to be honest😂 and it’s great fun to be heading in with all your mates. Yes, you can’t see the club from the lecture hall window, but I don’t think it’s all bad. If you’re seriously dead set against to a rural life you might want to consider somewhere else, but tbh most people are absolutely fine with it - I’ve got friends from London, Manchester, Liverpool etc. And they’ve coped just fine
I’m a September student in the first year with an April cohort. There has absolutely been lots of careful planning for the introduction of the April cohort, but I don’t feel the teaching quality has been compromised at all - I’m another one of the Notts vets who loves it to bits! I also don’t feel we’ve been rushed through - the vet school took this opportunity to streamline the curriculum, and have carefully checked to make sure sept/April teaching is exactly the same (like, down to the bank holidays... we had bank holidays in sept like they would have at the start of their first term in April😂). All that said, it is a new system, so whilst I don’t think the vet school will be compromised or anything, I think there will probably be a bit of adjusting here and there to strike the right balance. But to my mind that’s a small price for being at a vet school I wouldn’t change for the world... if I had my choice again I’d choose Notts like a shot
I hope this helps - at the end of the day, you should pick the vet school you think you’ll be happiest at. Whether or not that is Notts, I wish you the best of luck on your veterinary journey. Feel free to ask any more questions xx
Thank you so much this was so helpful! Tbh the one thing I can't ignore about Nottingham is that almost every person you speak to say they absolutely love it and it seems like they are all very 'work hard play hard' type of people and I'm defo on that vibe too lol.
Did u get into any other vet schools/was notts your top choice? Because I know the interview process is a bit different to other schools cause they have panel interviews instead. What kind of things did they ask you during this because its quite long isn't it? did u prefer the panel interview to the MMI's at other schools?
Also, were those situational judgement tests you had to do online before you were offered an interview difficult/anything you could revise for?
And can you specifically apply for the cohort you want to be in/is there a chance you could be given the other one?
Sorry loads of questions again, tysm for taking the time to answer them xx
Original post by ck_morris02
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions! Just wondering what your timetable is like/how many hours of work do you find yourself doing a day? Do you find it okay to balance and still go out/do sport etc?
Liverpool sounds pretty perfect for me tbh, it would be a dream come true to get in! I'm currently at a college where they give you little to no help with any uni application processes, so trying to gather as much information on my own. I'm studying bio, chem and textiles A-level and although I'm on track for 3 A*'s I'm worried that unis won't think I'm as academically capable as someone taking maths instead. I'm quite a creative and practical person though and my textiles course is pretty much all practical, which I think will really help me in the practical parts of the veterinary course (i will have beautifully sewed up animals lol). It's just tryna spin it that way so they don't just think it's me taking the easy option out.
I am going to get very little if not no help with my personal statement or interview prep at college. So although im quite confident and chatty in interview environments, I'm nervous that I won't look as stronger candidate as other well drilled students that come from more supportive schools.
I've completed some work experience but had some of it canceled so im hoping to work for a lot of summer to get a to get at least 5 weeks (which would include 2x week at a vet practice, 1x week at a zoo, 1x week at a wildlife hospital and 1x week farming, plus ongoing volunteering at RDA riding stables). And I'm also doing a 6-week online course on animal virology during lockdown which is really relevant and teaching my stuff beyond A-level standard.
I was wondering if you had any advice/tips on personal statement writing (how important is it), as well as interview prep and what to expect.
Thank you so much xx
Liverpool sounds pretty perfect for me tbh, it would be a dream come true to get in! I'm currently at a college where they give you little to no help with any uni application processes, so trying to gather as much information on my own. I'm studying bio, chem and textiles A-level and although I'm on track for 3 A*'s I'm worried that unis won't think I'm as academically capable as someone taking maths instead. I'm quite a creative and practical person though and my textiles course is pretty much all practical, which I think will really help me in the practical parts of the veterinary course (i will have beautifully sewed up animals lol). It's just tryna spin it that way so they don't just think it's me taking the easy option out.
I am going to get very little if not no help with my personal statement or interview prep at college. So although im quite confident and chatty in interview environments, I'm nervous that I won't look as stronger candidate as other well drilled students that come from more supportive schools.
I've completed some work experience but had some of it canceled so im hoping to work for a lot of summer to get a to get at least 5 weeks (which would include 2x week at a vet practice, 1x week at a zoo, 1x week at a wildlife hospital and 1x week farming, plus ongoing volunteering at RDA riding stables). And I'm also doing a 6-week online course on animal virology during lockdown which is really relevant and teaching my stuff beyond A-level standard.
I was wondering if you had any advice/tips on personal statement writing (how important is it), as well as interview prep and what to expect.
Thank you so much xx
No problem at all, this is helping me procrastinate from exam revision haha!
I'm still preclinical so I can't comment much about clinical years. First year will be when you have the heaviest timetable, it gets lighter every year. I'd say first year has about 25-30 hours a week timetabled, but any space you have between 9 and 5 is considered private study time and they recommend you study in those gaps. However it's up to you, I personally prefer to do my own thing in that time and just study a bit extra in the evening or on the weekend. They generally advise that if you work Mon-Fri 9-5 and a few hours over the weekend that should be enough, but everyone's different and you can see what works for you. You will definitely have time for you extra curriculars. We have every Wednesday afternoon and every other Friday afternoon off (finish by 1pm at the latest) and Wednesdays are usually when the sports teams meet up. There are a few options when it comes to sports, you can either join the vet sports teams, or out of the uni teams each sport usually has more casual sessions or you can join the teams that represent the university but they are more competitive to get into.
It's lovely that you are so enthusiastic
As far as I am aware, most vet schools only specify for bio and chemistry (or sometimes two out of bio/chem/maths) and leave the third one up to you, so it won't necessarily be a disadvantage if you haven't done maths. The only part you might struggle with is stats but the staff will support you when it comes to that. You can definitely put a positive spin on doing textiles. Like you said, it will have improved your motor and coordination skills, it's a creative outlet that can help with the stresses of vet school, things like that. The only way it will disadvantage you is if you couldn't tell them what you have gained from doing textiles. Vet schools are aware everyone has different interests and backgrounds and all they really want to know is how are they making you a better candidate for a place. For example I spoke a lot about my waitressing job in my interviews and the interviewers said they were impressed with what I had gained from the role and how the skills could be translated to being a vet student. So always look for the positive of whatever you do I can't speak for other universities, but that's one of the reasons why Liverpool doesn't look at personal statements anymore because it gives an unfair advantage to those students who have had extensive help with what to write (not to take away from those students who I'm sure are great candidates regardless
) and they're becoming quite generic. However, obviously you still need to write one haha! Keep records of everything you've booked and has been cancelled. I can't say how the requirements will change for the upcoming application cycle, but just do the best you can and try not to worry about things you can't change for now.The biggest advice I can give about personal statements is to provide evidence for every claim you make. For example, anyone can say they have good communication skills or have improved their ability to show empathy, but if you can't give an example demonstrating that, then it will just be disregarded. And like I mentioned earlier, vet schools are always looking to see what you have gained from different experiences. It's often quality over quantity and they want to know what you've learned. If you've done two weeks but learnt more than someone who's done three or four then they will pick you. So link everything to how it has made you a better candidate and look at some example personal statements as well
For interviews, every university is slightly different. But for panel interviews, know your ps like the back of your hand, and for interviews like MMI it's more about knowing about the industry and demonstrating skills. It's always good to be aware about the current issues in vet and arguments for both sides
Sorry that was a bit long ahah
Original post by ck_morris02
Thank you so much this was so helpful! Tbh the one thing I can't ignore about Nottingham is that almost every person you speak to say they absolutely love it and it seems like they are all very 'work hard play hard' type of people and I'm defo on that vibe too lol.
Did u get into any other vet schools/was notts your top choice? Because I know the interview process is a bit different to other schools cause they have panel interviews instead. What kind of things did they ask you during this because its quite long isn't it? did u prefer the panel interview to the MMI's at other schools?
Also, were those situational judgement tests you had to do online before you were offered an interview difficult/anything you could revise for?
And can you specifically apply for the cohort you want to be in/is there a chance you could be given the other one?
Sorry loads of questions again, tysm for taking the time to answer them xx
Did u get into any other vet schools/was notts your top choice? Because I know the interview process is a bit different to other schools cause they have panel interviews instead. What kind of things did they ask you during this because its quite long isn't it? did u prefer the panel interview to the MMI's at other schools?
Also, were those situational judgement tests you had to do online before you were offered an interview difficult/anything you could revise for?
And can you specifically apply for the cohort you want to be in/is there a chance you could be given the other one?
Sorry loads of questions again, tysm for taking the time to answer them xx
Hi
Yes Notts was my top choice out of all the schools I applied to - I would have been happy to go to any vet school (they all make you a vet at the end of the day ) but I really did like the sound of Nottingham. I was lucky enough to receive a Biovet offer from Liverpool and vet med offers from RVC and Surrey; they're all very good schools in the end I just felt Notts was the best fit for me. I'm afraid I can't tell you too much about interviews - as I'm sure you'll appreciate there is confidentiality around questions that needs to be maintained, so I can't tell you specific questions unfortunately. My advice to prepare for a panel interview would be to know your personal statement and anything on it really well, have a general awareness of issues and developments in the veterinary world that interest you and have a think about your career plans (where do you see yourself in the future? It's fine if you are unsure, you just need to justify what you say). Also think about what questions you want to ask your interviewers.
I suppose the panel interview is quite long but it certainly didn't feel that way! By the end I felt like I had good rapport with the interviewers and they were asking me about stuff I was really interested in, so time didn't seem like it was dragging. I can't decide whether I liked MMI or panel interviews more - both were good for different reasons. I think the panel interview gave you a bit more time to talk and was maybe more personal to you, but that's just my opinion. There's several different elements and activities on the Notts assessment day though (you get told what these are on your invitation to interview letter) so I definitely enjoyed that interview day the most out of all those I attended.
As for situational judgement tests, I wouldn't say I found them particularly difficult, but I don't think you can revise for them that much - that's all personal opinion though as I know some people found them more challenging🤷🏻*♀️. It's all about your decision making process, so if you struggle with prioritisation it might be worth looking into how to improve that but otherwise I think you should do fine. I couldn't really revise but before I did them I looked over guidance documents for vets on how to make certain decisions/what they can/can't do so perhaps it's worth doing that if you want to?
I think around the time you are invited to interview you specify whether you want September/April cohort or either. As I had other offers by this time, I put 'only September' as I really did want to follow a traditional year structure, and I was subsequently made an offer for the September cohort. I know some people put 'either' but then decided they wanted September and weren't always able to get it, so it's worth thinking carefully about which one you want.
Hope this helps and don't worry about asking lots of questions - that's what we're here for! Just ask if there's anything else you would like to know xx
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by 123vet
Hi Yes Notts was my top choice out of all the schools I applied to - I would have been happy to go to any vet school (they all make you a vet at the end of the day ) but I really did like the sound of Nottingham. I was lucky enough to receive a Biovet offer from Liverpool and vet med offers from RVC and Surrey; they're all very good schools in the end I just felt Notts was the best fit for me.
I'm afraid I can't tell you too much about interviews - as I'm sure you'll appreciate there is confidentiality around questions that needs to vie maintained, so I can't tell you specific questions unfortunately. My advice to prepare for a panel interview would be to know your personal statement and anything on it really well, have a general awareness of issues and developments in the veterinary world that interest you and have a think about your career plans (where do you see yourself in the future? It's fine if you are unsure, you just need to justify what you say). Also think about what questions you want to ask your interviewers.
I suppose the panel interview is quite long but it certainly didn't feel that way! By the end I felt like I had good rapport with the interviewers and they were asking me about stuff I was really interested in, so time didn't seem like it was dragging. I can't decide whether I liked MMI or panel interviews more - both were good for different reasons. I think the panel interview gave you a bit more time to talk and was maybe more personal to you, but that's just my opinion. There's several different elements and activities on the Notts assessment day though (you get told what these are on your invitation to interview letter) so I definitely enjoyed that interview day the most out of all those I attended.
As for situational judgement tests, I wouldn't say I found them particularly difficult, but I don't think you can revise for them that much - that's all personal opinion though as I know some people found them more challenging🤷🏻*♀️. It's all about your decision making process, so if you struggle with prioritisation it might be worth looking into how to improve that but otherwise I think you should do fine. I couldn't really revise but before I did them I looked over guidance documents for vets on how to make certain decisions/what they can/can't do so perhaps it's worth doing that if you want to?
I think around the time you are invited to interview you specify whether you want September/April cohort or either. As I had other offers by this time, I put 'only September' as I really did want to follow a traditional year structure, and I was subsequently made an offer for the September cohort. I know some people put 'either' but then decided they wanted September and weren't always able to get it, so it's worth thinking carefully about which one you want.
Hope this helps and don't worry about asking lots of questions - that's what we're here for! Just ask if there's anything else you would like to know xx
Yes Notts was my top choice out of all the schools I applied to - I would have been happy to go to any vet school (they all make you a vet at the end of the day ) but I really did like the sound of Nottingham. I was lucky enough to receive a Biovet offer from Liverpool and vet med offers from RVC and Surrey; they're all very good schools in the end I just felt Notts was the best fit for me. I'm afraid I can't tell you too much about interviews - as I'm sure you'll appreciate there is confidentiality around questions that needs to vie maintained, so I can't tell you specific questions unfortunately. My advice to prepare for a panel interview would be to know your personal statement and anything on it really well, have a general awareness of issues and developments in the veterinary world that interest you and have a think about your career plans (where do you see yourself in the future? It's fine if you are unsure, you just need to justify what you say). Also think about what questions you want to ask your interviewers.
I suppose the panel interview is quite long but it certainly didn't feel that way! By the end I felt like I had good rapport with the interviewers and they were asking me about stuff I was really interested in, so time didn't seem like it was dragging. I can't decide whether I liked MMI or panel interviews more - both were good for different reasons. I think the panel interview gave you a bit more time to talk and was maybe more personal to you, but that's just my opinion. There's several different elements and activities on the Notts assessment day though (you get told what these are on your invitation to interview letter) so I definitely enjoyed that interview day the most out of all those I attended.
As for situational judgement tests, I wouldn't say I found them particularly difficult, but I don't think you can revise for them that much - that's all personal opinion though as I know some people found them more challenging🤷🏻*♀️. It's all about your decision making process, so if you struggle with prioritisation it might be worth looking into how to improve that but otherwise I think you should do fine. I couldn't really revise but before I did them I looked over guidance documents for vets on how to make certain decisions/what they can/can't do so perhaps it's worth doing that if you want to?
I think around the time you are invited to interview you specify whether you want September/April cohort or either. As I had other offers by this time, I put 'only September' as I really did want to follow a traditional year structure, and I was subsequently made an offer for the September cohort. I know some people put 'either' but then decided they wanted September and weren't always able to get it, so it's worth thinking carefully about which one you want.
Hope this helps and don't worry about asking lots of questions - that's what we're here for! Just ask if there's anything else you would like to know xx
Hi, could I ask a quick questions about Notts? How many people get a part-time job? I would quite like to get a part-time job to try and support myself a bit more, but I was wondering how easy that would be due to both the intensity of the course and the fact that the campus is separate from the city. Do you know many people on the course who have a job and whether it is manageable? Do you also know how many job opportunities there are on-campus, e.g student ambassadors etc?
Having a job thankfully isn't a must for me and I'm April cohort so will hopefully be able to find some work before I start, but it's just something I was wondering about. Thank you! xx
Original post by treetops12
Hi, could I ask a quick questions about Notts? How many people get a part-time job? I would quite like to get a part-time job to try and support myself a bit more, but I was wondering how easy that would be due to both the intensity of the course and the fact that the campus is separate from the city. Do you know many people on the course who have a job and whether it is manageable? Do you also know how many job opportunities there are on-campus, e.g student ambassadors etc?
Having a job thankfully isn't a must for me and I'm April cohort so will hopefully be able to find some work before I start, but it's just something I was wondering about. Thank you! xx
Having a job thankfully isn't a must for me and I'm April cohort so will hopefully be able to find some work before I start, but it's just something I was wondering about. Thank you! xx
Several people I know have part-time jobs - there's opportunities to work in the campus shop and cafe, or sometimes as student ambassadors (though that is rarer shifts; regular work in the cafe is probably better for earnings). Some people also work in local pubs and restaurants as there are quite a few in the surrounding villages, or do online tutoring to make a bit of money here and there.
A part-time job is definitely something you could look into if you wanted. You'll need good time-management skills but I've seen people who strike a very successful balance, despite the busy timetable
Hiya love this thread idea it has been really helpful. I’m a hopeful 2021 vet applicant and have some questions:
What are the differences between Liverpool/Bristol for all round student experience? Eg: why would you choose one over the other?
Did anyone go to Edinburgh open days/ have any opinions about it? It looks really good online but obviously won’t be able to go to open day so idk
Have you got any examples of topics to research for interviews etc? Eg: Tb in cows?
Has anyone done any good online courses related to veterinary? I did one with Edinburgh uni on “have you got what it takes to be a vet” which I would definitely recommend
Random one- has anyone ever managed to keep pets at uni? Maybe even just a hamster or something? Idk that would just be great if it was possible
Thanks!!
What are the differences between Liverpool/Bristol for all round student experience? Eg: why would you choose one over the other?
Did anyone go to Edinburgh open days/ have any opinions about it? It looks really good online but obviously won’t be able to go to open day so idk
Have you got any examples of topics to research for interviews etc? Eg: Tb in cows?
Has anyone done any good online courses related to veterinary? I did one with Edinburgh uni on “have you got what it takes to be a vet” which I would definitely recommend
Random one- has anyone ever managed to keep pets at uni? Maybe even just a hamster or something? Idk that would just be great if it was possible
Thanks!!
The Edinburgh open day was great - it is a lovely city. It didn't make DD's final list for a few reasons - distance from home, perceived cost of living and mainly it was the commute out to Easter Bush for 5 years. I think that she would have been fine with the first 2 points as she did really like the city and the vet school facilities but the 30-40 minutes twice a day on a bus to get there was not appealing.
Pets aren't really viable - a definite No in halls and probably a no in quite a lot of accomodation. Bristol people did talk of having pets in the private rentals out at Langford during years 4 & 5.
Liverpool bin your personal statement and use MMI for selection whereas Bristol don't interview and rely on questionnaire/personal statement.
Pets aren't really viable - a definite No in halls and probably a no in quite a lot of accomodation. Bristol people did talk of having pets in the private rentals out at Langford during years 4 & 5.
Liverpool bin your personal statement and use MMI for selection whereas Bristol don't interview and rely on questionnaire/personal statement.
Original post by The Alice
Hiya love this thread idea it has been really helpful. I’m a hopeful 2021 vet applicant and have some questions:
What are the differences between Liverpool/Bristol for all round student experience? Eg: why would you choose one over the other?
Did anyone go to Edinburgh open days/ have any opinions about it? It looks really good online but obviously won’t be able to go to open day so idk
Have you got any examples of topics to research for interviews etc? Eg: Tb in cows?
Has anyone done any good online courses related to veterinary? I did one with Edinburgh uni on “have you got what it takes to be a vet” which I would definitely recommend
Random one- has anyone ever managed to keep pets at uni? Maybe even just a hamster or something? Idk that would just be great if it was possible
Thanks!!
What are the differences between Liverpool/Bristol for all round student experience? Eg: why would you choose one over the other?
Did anyone go to Edinburgh open days/ have any opinions about it? It looks really good online but obviously won’t be able to go to open day so idk
Have you got any examples of topics to research for interviews etc? Eg: Tb in cows?
Has anyone done any good online courses related to veterinary? I did one with Edinburgh uni on “have you got what it takes to be a vet” which I would definitely recommend
Random one- has anyone ever managed to keep pets at uni? Maybe even just a hamster or something? Idk that would just be great if it was possible
Thanks!!
Hi, I can only speak for Liverpool (and I ramble) so here goes:
I personally preferred Liverpool because it’s a really friendly city, everything’s cheap and it’s quite compact so you don’t really need to use public transport, you can just walk. The nightlife is amazing as well but obviously that doesn’t interest everyone, however all of the night life venues are in the same area and within walking distance of uni so you don’t need to stress about getting taxis on a busy night if you don’t want to.
Course wise, I like Liverpool because it’s practical from the start, their course structure just works for me, you can have fun in the city and then you move to the quieter Leahurst campus so you get the best of both worlds. Liverpool also has fantastic and well established support structures in place so they’re always happy to help with anything, it’s a nice community
Plus they have all of their own onsite facilities so you don’t need to travel to other hospitals/farms during rotations.TB in cows is always a good topic to cover. I don’t want to suggest too many topics because you shouldn’t limit yourself to just what I suggest, but take a look at online veterinary journals to see what kind of topics are being covered. The veterinary record is usually a good place to start. Raw diets is an issue I’ve started to hear about more and more so that could be interesting. But most tend to link to animal welfare.
I’ve just seen one online from Edinburgh Uni on a website called coursera about animal welfare and behaviour but I haven’t really checked it out.
I know a lot of people who have pets. No one really does in first year because you’re usually in halls where pets aren’t allowed. But after first year you could. It is definitely manageable you will just need to work around the pet’s needs if it’s something that takes up more time than like a hamster would. It’s more common to see pets in clinical years though.
Hope this helps
Original post by 123vet
Several people I know have part-time jobs - there's opportunities to work in the campus shop and cafe, or sometimes as student ambassadors (though that is rarer shifts; regular work in the cafe is probably better for earnings). Some people also work in local pubs and restaurants as there are quite a few in the surrounding villages, or do online tutoring to make a bit of money here and there.
A part-time job is definitely something you could look into if you wanted. You'll need good time-management skills but I've seen people who strike a very successful balance, despite the busy timetable
A part-time job is definitely something you could look into if you wanted. You'll need good time-management skills but I've seen people who strike a very successful balance, despite the busy timetable
Thank you! How easy is it to get the bus into the surrounding towns, like Kegworth, Sutton Bonnington etc. Are the buses fairly regular?
Original post by The Alice
Hiya love this thread idea it has been really helpful. I’m a hopeful 2021 vet applicant and have some questions:
What are the differences between Liverpool/Bristol for all round student experience? Eg: why would you choose one over the other?
Did anyone go to Edinburgh open days/ have any opinions about it? It looks really good online but obviously won’t be able to go to open day so idk
Have you got any examples of topics to research for interviews etc? Eg: Tb in cows?
Has anyone done any good online courses related to veterinary? I did one with Edinburgh uni on “have you got what it takes to be a vet” which I would definitely recommend
Random one- has anyone ever managed to keep pets at uni? Maybe even just a hamster or something? Idk that would just be great if it was possible
Thanks!!
What are the differences between Liverpool/Bristol for all round student experience? Eg: why would you choose one over the other?
Did anyone go to Edinburgh open days/ have any opinions about it? It looks really good online but obviously won’t be able to go to open day so idk
Have you got any examples of topics to research for interviews etc? Eg: Tb in cows?
Has anyone done any good online courses related to veterinary? I did one with Edinburgh uni on “have you got what it takes to be a vet” which I would definitely recommend
Random one- has anyone ever managed to keep pets at uni? Maybe even just a hamster or something? Idk that would just be great if it was possible
Thanks!!
Hi! Edinburgh was at the top of my list when I applied. Unfortunately it was the one offer I didn't get (I was put on the reserve list) which I was gutted about, but if you're thinking of applying there you should be aware that both Edi and Glasgow have overall less places available for UK students as they have a set number of offers for Scottish students and International students. I would also say that the Edinburgh interview felt significantly harder than my other interviews, and it's known for being one of the more difficult unis to get in to, so bear that in mind.
I fell in love with the city of Edinburgh - the old town where the uni is situated is gorgeous, and there's lots of nice places to eat, a nice market scene etc. Then you have the new town with lots of shops etc. I'm not a big city person but I really loved it there. The vet campus also has really great facilities, and in my opinion the best out of the unis I saw (RVC, Glasgow, Bristol, Surrey and Notts). They have an animal hospital on site, and a really great exotics department if that interests you at all.
As ReadingMum has mentioned, the vet campus is a 40 min bus journey from the city campus. Personally I wouldn't have minded this as I used to take a 40 minute bus journey to my school evert day before I could drive, and I quite liked having the time to wind down after a day at school, but obviously it isn't for everyone. It does mean that you live in the city with all the other Edinburgh students, so you get to mix with a large range of people, unlike some other vet unis. If you want catered accommodation it may be an issue due to the long days on the vet campus and so not being back at the right times for catering, so most vets at uni go for the self-catered accommodation I believe. It is also quite expensive to live in Edinburgh.
In terms of topics for interviews, you want to make sure that you are knowledgable about the current topical issues that vets may encounter. There is a thread on here that gives a nice list of some topics: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3773957
There is also a really great website called 'Edvet' that was written by some Liverpool students and has info on current topics. I would also recommend just keeping a watch out in the news on things like Vet Times and BVA for any new issues that come up in veterinary medicine. Finally, I would take a look at your work experience and try to think of some key cases that you saw that interested you, then go and do some further research into those cases. This shows that you are actually learning from your work experience and taking things away from it rather than just passively doing it to meet the requirements.
The only other vet specific online course that I know of is one that the RVC does. I haven't gotten around to doing it yet but I know a few people who have. I believe you can find it on the RVC website, and have to create a login in order to access it xx
Original post by 123vet
Hi Yes Notts was my top choice out of all the schools I applied to - I would have been happy to go to any vet school (they all make you a vet at the end of the day ) but I really did like the sound of Nottingham. I was lucky enough to receive a Biovet offer from Liverpool and vet med offers from RVC and Surrey; they're all very good schools in the end I just felt Notts was the best fit for me.
I'm afraid I can't tell you too much about interviews - as I'm sure you'll appreciate there is confidentiality around questions that needs to vie maintained, so I can't tell you specific questions unfortunately. My advice to prepare for a panel interview would be to know your personal statement and anything on it really well, have a general awareness of issues and developments in the veterinary world that interest you and have a think about your career plans (where do you see yourself in the future? It's fine if you are unsure, you just need to justify what you say). Also think about what questions you want to ask your interviewers.
I suppose the panel interview is quite long but it certainly didn't feel that way! By the end I felt like I had good rapport with the interviewers and they were asking me about stuff I was really interested in, so time didn't seem like it was dragging. I can't decide whether I liked MMI or panel interviews more - both were good for different reasons. I think the panel interview gave you a bit more time to talk and was maybe more personal to you, but that's just my opinion. There's several different elements and activities on the Notts assessment day though (you get told what these are on your invitation to interview letter) so I definitely enjoyed that interview day the most out of all those I attended.
As for situational judgement tests, I wouldn't say I found them particularly difficult, but I don't think you can revise for them that much - that's all personal opinion though as I know some people found them more challenging🤷🏻*♀️. It's all about your decision making process, so if you struggle with prioritisation it might be worth looking into how to improve that but otherwise I think you should do fine. I couldn't really revise but before I did them I looked over guidance documents for vets on how to make certain decisions/what they can/can't do so perhaps it's worth doing that if you want to?
I think around the time you are invited to interview you specify whether you want September/April cohort or either. As I had other offers by this time, I put 'only September' as I really did want to follow a traditional year structure, and I was subsequently made an offer for the September cohort. I know some people put 'either' but then decided they wanted September and weren't always able to get it, so it's worth thinking carefully about which one you want.
Hope this helps and don't worry about asking lots of questions - that's what we're here for! Just ask if there's anything else you would like to know xx
Yes Notts was my top choice out of all the schools I applied to - I would have been happy to go to any vet school (they all make you a vet at the end of the day ) but I really did like the sound of Nottingham. I was lucky enough to receive a Biovet offer from Liverpool and vet med offers from RVC and Surrey; they're all very good schools in the end I just felt Notts was the best fit for me. I'm afraid I can't tell you too much about interviews - as I'm sure you'll appreciate there is confidentiality around questions that needs to vie maintained, so I can't tell you specific questions unfortunately. My advice to prepare for a panel interview would be to know your personal statement and anything on it really well, have a general awareness of issues and developments in the veterinary world that interest you and have a think about your career plans (where do you see yourself in the future? It's fine if you are unsure, you just need to justify what you say). Also think about what questions you want to ask your interviewers.
I suppose the panel interview is quite long but it certainly didn't feel that way! By the end I felt like I had good rapport with the interviewers and they were asking me about stuff I was really interested in, so time didn't seem like it was dragging. I can't decide whether I liked MMI or panel interviews more - both were good for different reasons. I think the panel interview gave you a bit more time to talk and was maybe more personal to you, but that's just my opinion. There's several different elements and activities on the Notts assessment day though (you get told what these are on your invitation to interview letter) so I definitely enjoyed that interview day the most out of all those I attended.
As for situational judgement tests, I wouldn't say I found them particularly difficult, but I don't think you can revise for them that much - that's all personal opinion though as I know some people found them more challenging🤷🏻*♀️. It's all about your decision making process, so if you struggle with prioritisation it might be worth looking into how to improve that but otherwise I think you should do fine. I couldn't really revise but before I did them I looked over guidance documents for vets on how to make certain decisions/what they can/can't do so perhaps it's worth doing that if you want to?
I think around the time you are invited to interview you specify whether you want September/April cohort or either. As I had other offers by this time, I put 'only September' as I really did want to follow a traditional year structure, and I was subsequently made an offer for the September cohort. I know some people put 'either' but then decided they wanted September and weren't always able to get it, so it's worth thinking carefully about which one you want.
Hope this helps and don't worry about asking lots of questions - that's what we're here for! Just ask if there's anything else you would like to know xx
Thanks so much this was so helpful. I think I'm going to apply to the exact same vet schools as u did! Congrats on getting so many offers that's amazing, do you think it's becoming more common to have increased offers due to new vet schools? As I was told at school you only tend to get one offer.
For Surrey, I heard that they interview quite early on so is a good chance to get some MMI practice in as well (i come from a college where they literally give u no help so I wouldn't had any practice beforehand.) Was this the case for you aswell?
What made you choose Nottingham over Liverpool/what did you prefer about Notts? as I think these will be my top two choices. Also, did you do the usual bio chem and maths/ know anyone on your course that did a slightly weird third Alevel and still got in (as i chose art-textiles over maths eek).
Also at SB how many years do u tend to live in halls there and are they catered or slef-catered/do u ever stay in your own uni house? And are all vet and farm facilities located at SB or do you travel elsewhere for that?
Thanks so much xx
The lady doing our tour of SB accommodation said that 1st years had to be in catered which I thought was a bit weird but maybe it is in recognition of them needing the extra service as they settle in to their first year away from home - or maybe she was wrong?
Original post by vetstudent123
No problem at all, this is helping me procrastinate from exam revision haha!
I'm still preclinical so I can't comment much about clinical years. First year will be when you have the heaviest timetable, it gets lighter every year. I'd say first year has about 25-30 hours a week timetabled, but any space you have between 9 and 5 is considered private study time and they recommend you study in those gaps. However it's up to you, I personally prefer to do my own thing in that time and just study a bit extra in the evening or on the weekend. They generally advise that if you work Mon-Fri 9-5 and a few hours over the weekend that should be enough, but everyone's different and you can see what works for you. You will definitely have time for you extra curriculars. We have every Wednesday afternoon and every other Friday afternoon off (finish by 1pm at the latest) and Wednesdays are usually when the sports teams meet up. There are a few options when it comes to sports, you can either join the vet sports teams, or out of the uni teams each sport usually has more casual sessions or you can join the teams that represent the university but they are more competitive to get into.
It's lovely that you are so enthusiastic As far as I am aware, most vet schools only specify for bio and chemistry (or sometimes two out of bio/chem/maths) and leave the third one up to you, so it won't necessarily be a disadvantage if you haven't done maths. The only part you might struggle with is stats but the staff will support you when it comes to that. You can definitely put a positive spin on doing textiles. Like you said, it will have improved your motor and coordination skills, it's a creative outlet that can help with the stresses of vet school, things like that. The only way it will disadvantage you is if you couldn't tell them what you have gained from doing textiles. Vet schools are aware everyone has different interests and backgrounds and all they really want to know is how are they making you a better candidate for a place. For example I spoke a lot about my waitressing job in my interviews and the interviewers said they were impressed with what I had gained from the role and how the skills could be translated to being a vet student. So always look for the positive of whatever you do
I can't speak for other universities, but that's one of the reasons why Liverpool doesn't look at personal statements anymore because it gives an unfair advantage to those students who have had extensive help with what to write (not to take away from those students who I'm sure are great candidates regardless ) and they're becoming quite generic. However, obviously you still need to write one haha! Keep records of everything you've booked and has been cancelled. I can't say how the requirements will change for the upcoming application cycle, but just do the best you can and try not to worry about things you can't change for now.
The biggest advice I can give about personal statements is to provide evidence for every claim you make. For example, anyone can say they have good communication skills or have improved their ability to show empathy, but if you can't give an example demonstrating that, then it will just be disregarded. And like I mentioned earlier, vet schools are always looking to see what you have gained from different experiences. It's often quality over quantity and they want to know what you've learned. If you've done two weeks but learnt more than someone who's done three or four then they will pick you. So link everything to how it has made you a better candidate and look at some example personal statements as well
For interviews, every university is slightly different. But for panel interviews, know your ps like the back of your hand, and for interviews like MMI it's more about knowing about the industry and demonstrating skills. It's always good to be aware about the current issues in vet and arguments for both sides
Sorry that was a bit long ahah
I'm still preclinical so I can't comment much about clinical years. First year will be when you have the heaviest timetable, it gets lighter every year. I'd say first year has about 25-30 hours a week timetabled, but any space you have between 9 and 5 is considered private study time and they recommend you study in those gaps. However it's up to you, I personally prefer to do my own thing in that time and just study a bit extra in the evening or on the weekend. They generally advise that if you work Mon-Fri 9-5 and a few hours over the weekend that should be enough, but everyone's different and you can see what works for you. You will definitely have time for you extra curriculars. We have every Wednesday afternoon and every other Friday afternoon off (finish by 1pm at the latest) and Wednesdays are usually when the sports teams meet up. There are a few options when it comes to sports, you can either join the vet sports teams, or out of the uni teams each sport usually has more casual sessions or you can join the teams that represent the university but they are more competitive to get into.
It's lovely that you are so enthusiastic
As far as I am aware, most vet schools only specify for bio and chemistry (or sometimes two out of bio/chem/maths) and leave the third one up to you, so it won't necessarily be a disadvantage if you haven't done maths. The only part you might struggle with is stats but the staff will support you when it comes to that. You can definitely put a positive spin on doing textiles. Like you said, it will have improved your motor and coordination skills, it's a creative outlet that can help with the stresses of vet school, things like that. The only way it will disadvantage you is if you couldn't tell them what you have gained from doing textiles. Vet schools are aware everyone has different interests and backgrounds and all they really want to know is how are they making you a better candidate for a place. For example I spoke a lot about my waitressing job in my interviews and the interviewers said they were impressed with what I had gained from the role and how the skills could be translated to being a vet student. So always look for the positive of whatever you do I can't speak for other universities, but that's one of the reasons why Liverpool doesn't look at personal statements anymore because it gives an unfair advantage to those students who have had extensive help with what to write (not to take away from those students who I'm sure are great candidates regardless
) and they're becoming quite generic. However, obviously you still need to write one haha! Keep records of everything you've booked and has been cancelled. I can't say how the requirements will change for the upcoming application cycle, but just do the best you can and try not to worry about things you can't change for now.The biggest advice I can give about personal statements is to provide evidence for every claim you make. For example, anyone can say they have good communication skills or have improved their ability to show empathy, but if you can't give an example demonstrating that, then it will just be disregarded. And like I mentioned earlier, vet schools are always looking to see what you have gained from different experiences. It's often quality over quantity and they want to know what you've learned. If you've done two weeks but learnt more than someone who's done three or four then they will pick you. So link everything to how it has made you a better candidate and look at some example personal statements as well
For interviews, every university is slightly different. But for panel interviews, know your ps like the back of your hand, and for interviews like MMI it's more about knowing about the industry and demonstrating skills. It's always good to be aware about the current issues in vet and arguments for both sides
Sorry that was a bit long ahah
Thank you so much that was honestly so helpful and answered all my questions. Good luck for your exams, I hope they go well! Xx
Original post by treetops12
Thank you! How easy is it to get the bus into the surrounding towns, like Kegworth, Sutton Bonnington etc. Are the buses fairly regular?
Buses have definitely got more regular over the years and this is something that will hopefully continue to improve in future with even more students at the vet school. Currently they are every 30 mins to 1 hour, and you can get to Kegworth, Clifton tram stop (Park and Ride into the city), University Park (the main campus) etc. At the moment they work just fine - the only thing is, if you want to get somewhere in the middle of the day, especially on weekends, there could be a long gap where it would be ideal to have a few more services running.
You can also walk to Kegworth and Sutton Bonington. Sutton Bonington is literally round the corner from campus so you can be at a pub in 10 mins
Kegworth is a bit more of a hike but 40 mins of fresh air never did anyone any harm! Hope this helps Original post by ReadingMum
The lady doing our tour of SB accommodation said that 1st years had to be in catered which I thought was a bit weird but maybe it is in recognition of them needing the extra service as they settle in to their first year away from home - or maybe she was wrong?
Yes this is correct. For everyone in first year who is living on campus, your accommodation comes with a contract that means you receive evening meals during the week. These are about where you'd expect for catered accommodation - they're not gourmet but they work perfectly fine. They are also good at adjusting to dietary requirements etc. - I have allergies and one of my friends has very severe food intolerances, and we have never had the issue of not having a meal that works for us.
I know the set up seems a bit weird to some but I honestly really appreciated it this year and the majority of my friends agree. Even if you can cook well for yourself, it's nice to just have food provided for you at the end of a long day. Also, it provides a great opportunity to meet people - dinner is a really social event and my friends and I enjoyed sitting there for ages just catching up about everyone's days! There's nothing like getting all your mates together around a massive table... I'm excited to be living out in a house in Kegworth next year but I am going to miss getting everyone sat round the same table at dinner
Hope this helps Original post by 123vet
Buses have definitely got more regular over the years and this is something that will hopefully continue to improve in future with even more students at the vet school. Currently they are every 30 mins to 1 hour, and you can get to Kegworth, Clifton tram stop (Park and Ride into the city), University Park (the main campus) etc. At the moment they work just fine - the only thing is, if you want to get somewhere in the middle of the day, especially on weekends, there could be a long gap where it would be ideal to have a few more services running.
You can also walk to Kegworth and Sutton Bonington. Sutton Bonington is literally round the corner from campus so you can be at a pub in 10 mins Kegworth is a bit more of a hike but 40 mins of fresh air never did anyone any harm! Hope this helps
You can also walk to Kegworth and Sutton Bonington. Sutton Bonington is literally round the corner from campus so you can be at a pub in 10 mins
Kegworth is a bit more of a hike but 40 mins of fresh air never did anyone any harm! Hope this helps Oh wow I didn't realise Sutton Bonnington was that close, thank you! I'm really excited to start at Notts, even if it's a while away (April)! x
Original post by ck_morris02
Thanks so much this was so helpful. I think I'm going to apply to the exact same vet schools as u did! Congrats on getting so many offers that's amazing, do you think it's becoming more common to have increased offers due to new vet schools? As I was told at school you only tend to get one offer.
For Surrey, I heard that they interview quite early on so is a good chance to get some MMI practice in as well (i come from a college where they literally give u no help so I wouldn't had any practice beforehand.) Was this the case for you aswell?
What made you choose Nottingham over Liverpool/what did you prefer about Notts? as I think these will be my top two choices. Also, did you do the usual bio chem and maths/ know anyone on your course that did a slightly weird third Alevel and still got in (as i chose art-textiles over maths eek).
Also at SB how many years do u tend to live in halls there and are they catered or slef-catered/do u ever stay in your own uni house? And are all vet and farm facilities located at SB or do you travel elsewhere for that?
Thanks so much xx
For Surrey, I heard that they interview quite early on so is a good chance to get some MMI practice in as well (i come from a college where they literally give u no help so I wouldn't had any practice beforehand.) Was this the case for you aswell?
What made you choose Nottingham over Liverpool/what did you prefer about Notts? as I think these will be my top two choices. Also, did you do the usual bio chem and maths/ know anyone on your course that did a slightly weird third Alevel and still got in (as i chose art-textiles over maths eek).
Also at SB how many years do u tend to live in halls there and are they catered or slef-catered/do u ever stay in your own uni house? And are all vet and farm facilities located at SB or do you travel elsewhere for that?
Thanks so much xx
I'm not a Notts student but I've firmed an offer there for April next year. I did English literature as my third a-level and got three of my four vet med offers, and was waitlisted for the fourth, so I wouldn't worry about not having maths. For Surrey, it is true that they started interviewing people very early (in October I believe), but they finished at the end of January. I had my interview at the beginning of January, and it was my second interview, my first being Nottingham. I can't say too much about the interviews, but I can say that out of the three interviews I had (Bristol don't interview), they were all completely different. Also, I didn't have any MMI practice before my Surrey interview, and it didn't affect me at all. If your school doesn't offer any help with practice interviews, then I suggest having a look at the interview preparation thread on here and compile a list of common questions that you will get in an interview (I don't feel like at any of my interviews I was under-prepared, as all the questions that came up I had anticipated would be asked), then you can get friends or family to ask you them, under timed conditions if you like. As long as you're confident and you know your stuff, you should be fine!
Notts is pretty much the same as most unis where you live in halls during year one then move out into the surroundings towns. It's also part-catered, which is something that quite appealed to me, as it means you get an evening meal Monday-Friday, but then have to cook for yourself at weekends. I felt like this was a nice way to get that independence of cooking for yourself (as I would have gone for self-catered at other unis), but then during the week when you have had long days and are still finding your feet, you don't have to worry about cooking. It also means you get both the social experience of eating in catered halls, and the experience of cooking with the people in your flat xx
Original post by ck_morris02
Thanks so much this was so helpful. I think I'm going to apply to the exact same vet schools as u did! Congrats on getting so many offers that's amazing, do you think it's becoming more common to have increased offers due to new vet schools? As I was told at school you only tend to get one offer.
For Surrey, I heard that they interview quite early on so is a good chance to get some MMI practice in as well (i come from a college where they literally give u no help so I wouldn't had any practice beforehand.) Was this the case for you aswell?
What made you choose Nottingham over Liverpool/what did you prefer about Notts? as I think these will be my top two choices. Also, did you do the usual bio chem and maths/ know anyone on your course that did a slightly weird third Alevel and still got in (as i chose art-textiles over maths eek).
Also at SB how many years do u tend to live in halls there and are they catered or slef-catered/do u ever stay in your own uni house? And are all vet and farm facilities located at SB or do you travel elsewhere for that?
Thanks so much xx
For Surrey, I heard that they interview quite early on so is a good chance to get some MMI practice in as well (i come from a college where they literally give u no help so I wouldn't had any practice beforehand.) Was this the case for you aswell?
What made you choose Nottingham over Liverpool/what did you prefer about Notts? as I think these will be my top two choices. Also, did you do the usual bio chem and maths/ know anyone on your course that did a slightly weird third Alevel and still got in (as i chose art-textiles over maths eek).
Also at SB how many years do u tend to live in halls there and are they catered or slef-catered/do u ever stay in your own uni house? And are all vet and farm facilities located at SB or do you travel elsewhere for that?
Thanks so much xx
Hi
Not sure about getting a bigger number of offers - it's important to remember that there is a big demand for places on the vet med course and I know people who really had to work for just 1 offer. I was also told not to expect more than one offer (if I got any at all!) and I personally think it is a good mindset to have. If you only get one offer, that offer will still get you to a school that will make you a vet one day... 1 offer is all you need I don't know much about when Surrey interviews are, sorry. Interview timings have changed at vet schools even since I applied. For reference, my Surrey interview was just before Christmas. If you can, I would recommend doing some MMI practice/preparation; even just asking friends and family to ask you some more generic interview questions would be a good start. You could also look at some scenario based questions (look around online, they are out there) and see if you can problem-solve your way through them? These are just some thoughts to get you started.
So as for the Liverpool/Notts question; at the time of applying, I was unable to get any farm animal vet practice work experience, which meant I was ineligible to apply for Liverpool vet med due to their work experience requirements (hence I made it my backup choice, applying instead for Bioveterinary sciences, which I received an offer for). It is a great vet school, and if I had had the right work experience I may have considered applying to Liverpool for vet med. However, even thinking about Liverpool as a contender, Nottingham was always my favourite (I tried not to have favourites, as I knew that I might just get 1 offer and that I would go wherever that was, but it happened nonetheless). I could never put my finger on the reason why but Notts just felt right for me when I looked round. I think spending all 5 years on the same campus and the slightly more rural life was the better fit for me... the smaller campus that is SB has proved to be perfect and provided me with exactly what I was looking for, and the highly clinically focused teaching has helped keep me motivated and remember what all the studying's about. It's all about personal preference really! I'm sorry if that's not terribly helpful
I was a bit like you when it came to A Levels. I took Maths for a year, but decided to continue with English Literature as I enjoyed it more, as well as Biology, Chemistry and an EPQ. I would definitely say don't worry about not doing Maths - I know plenty of people haven't! At one of my interviews my subject choice came up and my interviewer was very positive about me doing English - because I was able to support how it would be useful to the course, it was not looked upon as a disadvantage. It's always nice to have a bit of variety and doing English provided me with a good balance which I think the vet school appreciated. As long as you can support your choice of subject - which you seem to be well able of doing - I think you should be fine
Cambridge is the only vet school that might prefer people to have Maths but as far as I know it's not essential anywhere.Most people (except some mature students) live on SB for the first year. After that most move into houses in surrounding villages, mainly Kegworth but occasionally the village of Sutton Bonington or other nearby towns. You tend to live in houses from then on really. Again, though, this is a matter of personal preference - some people enjoy the convenience of living on campus so there are even a couple of 4th years who still live in halls - it's really up to you.
As for vet and farm facilities: Nottingham is one of the vet schools that has partner practices, so instead of having a veterinary hospital on site where people do their rotations (5th year) you go out into practices and establishments in the surrounding areas. The vet school sees this as an asset because it makes your rotations representative of practice life - you get out of the university environment and into a bit more of the real world! But you are of course supported by vet school staff at these locations throughout your time there. (Not knocking vet schools that do it differently btw, everywhere's different and there's pros and cons to each system).
That's not to say that because we don't have a vet practice on site we are removed from the veterinary world - we have clinical relevances cases 3 times per week where you work through a case in a small group, often using photo/video content provided by vets from the practices we work with. We have also Skyped these vets when we are in lectures so we get the chance to ask them questions, and veterinary staff who work at practices we are partnered with come into the vet school to assist with teaching for example in dissections... so in short I don't feel hard done by
if you're really keen to get stuck in with clinical skills, there are often talks done by visiting veterinary surgeons that you can go to (and there's pizza ) as well as societies like Surgery Society where you can practise knot tying!When it comes to farm facilities, we have a smallholding where there are cows, sheep, sometimes pigs. There are also small animals on site too: teaching dogs who belong to our lecturers, mice, rats, gerbils, chinchillas, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens bearded dragons, snakes and a tortoise so plenty to practise with! In your practical teaching you will often be visiting these animals to develop your skills on them. Once you have completed your health and safety training, you can also go down and visit them in your own time to practise your handling skills if you want to
Again I have found this to be a major advantage as it's allowed me to get extensive practice with species I had never even touched before vet school! We have an abattoir on site that is used for teaching, and then down the road we have a bigger commercial dairy farm which students occasionally visit in specific timetabled sessions. If there's anything we don't have on campus then the vet school will make sure we get to see it somehow (we recently went to our local Cats Protection centre to get an understanding of shelter medicine and practise feline handling skills for example).Sorry this has been so long! I hope it answered some of your questions
xxOriginal post by treetops12
Oh wow I didn't realise Sutton Bonnington was that close, thank you! I'm really excited to start at Notts, even if it's a while away (April)! x
Congratulations on getting into Notts!! I'm glad you're looking forward to it - thinking about people about to start vet school makes me excited all over again😂 You're going to have a fab time
Feel free to ask me any questions between now and then xxQuick Reply
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