Personal Statement
From observing the delicate suturing of the flank of a freshly spayed cat to attempting to haul a prolapsed cow out of a stream where it had fallen, during my work experience I have come to understand that being a vet is about as varied as a job can get. There is no way to predict what cases you might see and there is never an end to what you can learn, and it is this that has always drawn me to a career in Veterinary Medicine.
To help me better understand what a career as a vet involves, I have undertaken a variety of work experience. At my first placement (2 weeks at a local RSPCA vets) I got my first opportunity to sit in on consultations and observe the vet using the small pieces of information that owners gave to piece together a bigger picture of the problem, a skill that I found fascinating. I have since had 3 weeks further work experience in 3 veterinary clinics; a small animal practice, where I observed many surgeries from routine bitch spays to more complicated procedures, such as a cystotomy, an abdominal biopsy and a cruciate ligament removal; an equine practice, where I saw a penectomy and a liver biopsy; and a mixed animal practice. I enjoyed putting my knowledge of Biology into practice when looking at the internal anatomy of the animals.
I am also keen to work with animals outside of a clinical environment, so in addition to these 5 weeks I have spent 3 weeks at a wildlife rescue centre, a week lambing and working with pigs, a week on an organic dairy farm and a week on a turkey farm. At the rescue centre I dealt with many animal emergencies including a hare with broken hind legs and a fox with necrotic skin covering its back after suffering from an abscess. I enjoyed the unpredictability of the work; the next animal through the door could be a bird or a seal, and it could have a minor injury or be on the brink of death.
I especially enjoyed my week at Garr House Farm, where I split my time between the sheep and the pigs. I was able to discuss the then recent outbreak of Schmallenberg virus with the farmer and learn how it had affected the day-to-day management of the farm and its flock. She also taught me about the importance of colostrum in the first few hours of life and how it gives the lambs the antibodies needed to protect against disease, knowledge which I then transferred to my work on the dairy farm when tube feeding calves that had not had their first milk. When working with the pigs I performed an internal examination on a farrowing sow, successfully removing three piglets, and assisted in the clipping of piglets’ teeth and tails. I found that confidence when handling the animals was imperative and for this my farm experience was invaluable.
I have attended Biomedical lectures in London and completed an Open University module on Darwin and Evolution. Tutoring a year 10 student in Biology taught me how to explain complex scientific ideas in a simple and succinct way, a skill which I have noticed is important when speaking to pet owners. I also write articles for a newsletter that is sent to hundreds of potential veterinary students, my favourite being an article on Johne’s disease in ruminants, which I found particularly interesting.
A weekend job at Argos has given me experience in working accurately and quickly under pressure and demonstrates my drive to succeed in a constantly changing environment. I was a director of my school’s Young Enterprise team, thriving in a leadership role and helping my team reach the Essex finals. I also sell t-shirts online and have raised over GBP250 for charity with one of my designs. In my spare time I enjoy listening to and playing music (I am a grade 6 clarinetist and have played in many concerts with my school’s senior orchestra) and reading.
I look forward to tackling the challenges that this career will present and plan on making the most of my years at university to become the best vet that I can be.
Universities Applied to:
- Bristol - Post-interview rejection
- Cambridge - Offer (A*AA, Pembroke College) - Firm
- Edinburgh - Pre-interview rejection
- Nottingham - Offer (AAB) - Insurance
Grades Achieved:
- Biology A2 - A*
- Chemistry A2 - A*
- Maths A2 - A*
- German A2 - A
- Critical Thinking A2 - A
- General Studies AS - A
