My desire to become a vet has shifted from simply a love of animals to a fascination with the biological and chemical aspects of treating them. Sitting with a dog for an hour while it vomited its owner's pills confirmed that this was the career for me by showing me not only the determination and indifference towards bodily fluids required by a vet, but most importantly that one of the most rewarding parts of the job is to improve the lives of not just the pets, but also the owners. At my ongoing small animal placement, I am now asked to help with simple procedures such as checking for fleas, allowing me to get hands-on experience with both pets and owners. As the animals are often nervous in the unfamiliar environment, I have learnt to adapt my handling of animals based on their temperament. One case that stood out to me during a week's placement was a cat which was admitted for a routine spay yet upon examination turned out to be pregnant. This demonstrated that vets must always be prepared for the unexpected and must stay calm under pressure. Another significant moment for me was the first time I saw an animal put to sleep. Although upsetting, this confirmed that I was strong enough to deal with one of the harder challenges I could face. It showed me the importance of compassion for owners; for example by explaining that the process is quick and harmless, and allowing them the choice to stay or leave. Spending three days with an optometrist, I saw how important it is in cases such as suspected blindness to pay attention to detail in order to look for subtle clinical signs and to listen to owners to get the most information about a pet's condition. A week at a safari park demonstrated the importance of time management when taking care of many animals, and encouraged me to explore more veterinary work outside of a practice by organising a week of lambing next year. I have enjoyed spending three years working at a stables where I have learned about handling horses, their day-to-day care and common problems such as lameness and mud fever. Leading in lessons, assisting with teaching, doing mini treks for disabled riders and training new volunteers has taught me how to talk to a wide range of people and I feel this will not only be useful as a vet but also enable me to succeed in university where I would be able to adapt to a range of teaching styles. I enjoy reading Veterinary Record, and one particularly interesting article concerned the use of genome sequencing of cows to improve survival rates in calves by reducing the transmission of genetic diseases. This inspired my EPQ on the effects of selective breeding of cattle, which allowed me to combine my interest in Biology and Chemistry, and required me to explain complex concepts in simple terms – a skill which I have noticed from consultations is essential to communicate between vet and owner. Being a Sergeant in the Air Training Corps has inspired my hopes of joining the Royal Veterinary Corps in the future. My work experience has shown me how vets play an important role in the community, however, I feel the army would give me a fantastic opportunity to make an impact nationally and internationally. It would also give me the chance to build on skills I have already started to acquire as a cadet through initiative exercises and running activities; for example a strong sense of leadership, teamwork as well as improved confidence. Charity work such as selling poppies has improved my ability to always greet people with a friendly face, and the completion of my first aid qualification taught me how to make quick but informed decisions to provide the best care. I believe that I am suited to a veterinary career due to my communication skills gained working at the stables, teamwork in the training corps and I have a willingness to challenge myself. I know veterinary medicine would enable me to pursue not only a career that I am interested in, but one that I would love studying.
Universities Applied to:
Bristol (Veterinary Medicine) - Offer (AAA) - Firm
Cambridge (Veterinary Medicine) - Rejection after interview
Nottingham (Veterinary Medicine) - Rejection after interview
RVC (Veterinary Medicine) - Rejection before interview (due to work experience)
York (Natural Sciences) - Offer (A*AA)
Grades Predicted (on UCAS):
- Biology (A2) - A*
- Chemistry (A2) - A*
- Maths (A2) - A*
- Further Maths (A2) - A*
Grades Achieved:
- Biology (A2) - A*
- Chemistry (A2) - A*
- Maths (A2) - A*
- Further Maths (A2) - A
Work Experience:
- 3 years weekends/holidays at a stables
- 1 week at one veterinary practice
- Wednesday afternoons at another practice for 6 months
- 1 week at West Midlands Safari Park
- 3 days with an optometrist
