Vet Med CEMS

Has anyone else found it a nightmare to find any CEMS? I've just started booking mine (I started emailling around in March) and literally next to nowhere is replying. I've now set my travel up to an hour and a half to two hours in each direction and I have sent out probably around 50 emails; I have had one no, one offer me one week and the rest have been zero replies. At a loss of what to do. I'm supposed to somehow scrounge up 24 weeks of this?

(edited 5 months ago)

Reply 1

RambleAmple

17

Tbh I’ve not had any issues booking clinical placements. Are you looking for these for this summer? In which case I do tend to book them like a year in advance because they do get booked up, particularly in areas around vet schools. Large animal may need even more than a year - I booked my June 2024 farm placement back in August 2022, and that was the first availability they had and it was only because I pestered a vet I saw a few times throughout my preclinical ones. I’ve not had any issues with smallies though, even around Liverpool. Calling would be more effective than emails though (personally I’ve not had to call though) as you get a straight answer and emails are easily missed/ignored. Try fb groups like VetWings too, you could find placements with free or cheap accommodation.

Reply 2

kittybix

OP

7

Original post by rambleample

Tbh I’ve not had any issues booking clinical placements. Are you looking for these for this summer? In which case I do tend to book them like a year in advance because they do get booked up, particularly in areas around vet schools. Large animal may need even more than a year - I booked my June 2024 farm placement back in August 2022, and that was the first availability they had and it was only because I pestered a vet I saw a few times throughout my preclinical ones. I’ve not had any issues with smallies though, even around Liverpool. Calling would be more effective than emails though (personally I’ve not had to call though) as you get a straight answer and emails are easily missed/ignored. Try fb groups like VetWings too, you could find placements with free or cheap accommodation.

I've just been asking if they have any availablity whatsoever, no fixed dates at all - I don't care of dates as I have the next 2 years to book them - have heard back from literally none over the span of two months. It feels absolutely ridiculous! Even in my hometown which has my own local vets I am just getting no replies and if I call they say to email. I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall! It baffles me how people have not found it difficult to book placements when most places just aren't answering which makes me feel like I am doing something wrong.
I get that the area around my uni would be packed, but no one is replying in any area for me and I am starting to feel like I am not going to get any placements and am running out of steam to be sending emails to so many different practices. I have only really been contacting smallies since I don't drive so I feel like a farm placement would be a nightmare for me (also I have zero farm experience outside of AHEMS).

Will try out VetWings though, tysm <3

(edited 5 months ago)

Reply 3

flamingolover

22

Original post by kittybix

Has anyone else found it a nightmare to find any CEMS? I've just started booking mine (I started emailling around in March) and literally next to nowhere is replying. I've now set my travel up to an hour and a half to two hours in each direction and I have sent out probably around 50 emails; I have had one no, one offer me one week and the rest have been zero replies. At a loss of what to do. I'm supposed to somehow scrounge up 24 weeks of this?

I haven’t found it too bad honestly. I’ve had to call a few places. My biggest issue has been places not having enough staff to host students. What area are you in? A lot of places book far in advance. There’s lots of Facebook groups that might help such as Vetwings!

Reply 4

RambleAmple

17

Original post by kittybix

I've just been asking if they have any availablity whatsoever, no fixed dates at all - I don't care of dates as I have the next 2 years to book them - have heard back from literally none over the span of two months. It feels absolutely ridiculous! Even in my hometown which has my own local vets I am just getting no replies and if I call they say to email. I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall! It baffles me how people have not found it difficult to book placements when most places just aren't answering which makes me feel like I am doing something wrong.
I get that the area around my uni would be packed, but no one is replying in any area for me and I am starting to feel like I am not going to get any placements and am running out of steam to be sending emails to so many different practices. I have only really been contacting smallies since I don't drive so I feel like a farm placement would be a nightmare for me (also I have zero farm experience outside of AHEMS).
Will try out VetWings though, tysm <3

I’m not saying you are doing anything wrong per se, but in what way do you structure your emails? I feel giving them actual date ranges (even if it’s “2 weeks between 3rd June and 15th September 2024” as an example) might be a bit better for them as they can actually check those weeks for availability. Do you do a little introduction etc? Nothing over the top, but I do say hi I’m x, in 3rd year at Liverpool, I am based near x, I have a car, I have experience in the sector doing x, if you have any availability during x dates I would love to do a placement here because I’m interested in x etc. I do also always attach a “vetty CV” which has my education (including some bits like my research project title, being on society committee), employment history because I worked at a restaurant and now a kennels and also a “placement history” with all my AHEMS and CEMS with a short description. I feel an increasing number of placements is starting to expect students to send these kinds of CVs and “cover letter” emails.

I’d say I would first email, wait a couple weeks, if you haven’t heard anything call and say you’ve emailed and just want to make sure they have received it, and if still nothing a couple weeks later maybe email again (or if you’re nearby the clinic maybe try seeing in person). I haven’t really had to do that since before uni though so I’m not sure why you are having bad luck. Does your uni have a database of placements? If they’ve taken previous students then you’d probably be more likely to be successful. If you have any bigger corporates near you they might have their own way to apply but it may mean it’s more standardised so you have a better chance at getting an answer, e.g. for PDSA there’s a form on their website and I think that’s the same for the likes of MediVet. If you look through previous posts or do a post yourself on VetWings it might yield good results though, it is a very handy group.

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