2025 VIRMP Match

[BigCats]

I can't believe the match opens tomorrow- eek!! I'll be applying for small animal rotating internships How is everyone feeling so far?

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[supershorty]

I can't believe the match opens tomorrow- eek!! I'll be applying for small animal rotating internships How is everyone feeling so far?

Nauseated.

I’ll be applying for SA surgery residencies.

 

[sheepcowdoghorse23]

I can't believe the match opens tomorrow- eek!! I'll be applying for small animal rotating internships How is everyone feeling so far?

Actually can't believe it's here... I'm more worried about the match than NAVLE - needing 2 more LORs and I'm planning on asking a clinician that I haven't really talked to since my rotation with him in July, really worried that I didn't leave enough of an impression for a strong LOR (I got really good scores on the rotation but he sees a lot of students) 😵‍💫

 

[gartersotter]

Actually can't believe it's here... I'm more worried about the match than NAVLE - needing 2 more LORs and I'm planning on asking a clinician that I haven't really talked to since my rotation with him in July, really worried that I didn't leave enough of an impression for a strong LOR (I got really good scores on the rotation but he sees a lot of students) 😵‍💫

If you feel comfortable, you can always reach out to the residents on that service for their input before asking for the letter.

Good luck to everyone going through match!

 

[Whatisthemeaningoflife?]

Applying for a small animal rotating internship as a foreign grad🤡. I know the chances are super slim. I did my best to make my profile good but with limited opportunities, I could only go so far. But I guess, it is worth a shot to see where I stand.

 

[thedogtorisin2020]

I can't believe the match opens tomorrow- eek!! I'll be applying for small animal rotating internships How is everyone feeling so far?

Sooo nervous, the imposter's syndrome is real haha. Applying to imaging internships and residencies this year!! 🤞🤞

 

[techtovetnyc]

Small animal rotating applicant/ ecc combined rotating. So nervous, it’s crazy how fast the past four years went by 🙈🙉

 

[sheepcowdoghorse23]

If you feel comfortable, you can always reach out to the residents on that service for their input before asking for the letter.

Good luck to everyone going through match!

Ooh that's good advice, some of them are off service now but I'll see if I can track some down that are on clinics now and get their input!

I actually did woman up 💪 today and ask him if he had some time to chat about the Match to get his input on things (and ask him for the LOR at the same time) and he was amenable, so hopefully it will work out!

 

[lkstone2]

Okay, this might be dumb but can you go ahead and 'Apply' for programs without completing the application packet? Like, it doesnt just send whats in at that moment but will continue to update as I add things?

 

[KCgophervet]

Okay, this might be dumb but can you go ahead and 'Apply' for programs without completing the application packet? Like, it doesnt just send whats in at that moment but will continue to update as I add things?

Yes it will continue to update as you add things. The program you apply to will have access to what has been submitted as soon as you hit apply but will also get the updated information if you add things later. It just depends on when they download the packet (which is typically sometime after the program application deadline).

 

[PhiloslothicalStudent]

I feel dumb for asking this - for the personal statement, are we writing it as a letter of intent? Such as "Dear internship selection committee" or as a regular personal statement like when we applied to veterinary school? I have seen conflicting information and was wondering what the opinions were here.

 

[supershorty]

are we writing it as a letter of intent? Such as "Dear internship selection committee"

Yes.

 

[supershorty]

Also, for any 4th years applying for small animal rotatings and thinking about Ohio State, I'm a current intern there and happy to chat via PM about the program

 

[GabyC]

As I prepare my application packet for the VIRMP, I've started to pacick a little bit.
I have 3 LOR from different doctors I've worked with during rotations. One of them, is a highly known doctor in the field. However, when I requested a letter from her, I did not ask the typical question and it was right after my first rotation of the year (considering it's a field I'm interested in).
Now that I'm pretty much done with my application packet, I've heard other people say that sometimes, if not asked appropriately, the letter may not be the best you could get.
My other 2 letters, I'm sure will be positive and from areas that are important for what I want to do in the future. But I'm not sure if this is enough. Now, unfortunately my last few rotations have been in large animal fields, but also, I've started to feel more confident about my performance and in one of them, I received very positive feedback about my participation.
I wonder if having an additional/4th letter from a large animal vet (assuming this doctor will say yes) is weird or not recommended.
I'm thinking that they may be able to talk about my participation and how engaged I was with the learning process in a more positive way than the doctor I worked with during my very first rotation.

 

[GabyC]

I can't believe the match opens tomorrow- eek!! I'll be applying for small animal rotating internships How is everyone feeling so far?

Slightly freaking out. But I'm also excited.
I'm so nervous about the process. The places I'm applying are competitive without a doubt. One of them had roughly 250 applications last year. Imposter syndrome is stronger than ever! So... what can I say?

 

[katiemcat]

Hi all. I’m not applying to the match this year, but I will probably be next year. At thanksgiving dinner my grandmother decided to announce to everyone that I was pursing residency and my uncle (who is a general practice veterinarian of 30 years) told me that would be a really stupid idea because I would be giving up a lot of money and time. He also said if I really wanted to specialize I could just “do it while being in GP.” First of all, I am very not interested in GP and I want the mentorship that comes with residency, but is the second part true? If it is do people commonly go through this to specialize? I have never heard this mentioned. Thanks!

 

[supershorty]

Hi all. I’m not applying to the match this year, but I will probably be next year. At thanksgiving dinner my grandmother decided to announce to everyone that I was pursing residency and my uncle (who is a general practice veterinarian of 30 years) told me that would be a really stupid idea because I would be giving up a lot of money and time. He also said if I really wanted to specialize I could just “do it while being in GP.” First of all, I am very not interested in GP and I want the mentorship that comes with residency, but is the second part true? If it is do people commonly go through this to specialize? I have never heard this mentioned. Thanks!

There are some specialties where there is an experiential pathway option, but they are few and far between, and no, it's not while being in GP.

If you want to specialize, you should be intending to do at least 1 internship (for most specialties) and a residency.

 

[supershorty]

As I prepare my application packet for the VIRMP, I've started to pacick a little bit.
I have 3 LOR from different doctors I've worked with during rotations. One of them, is a highly known doctor in the field. However, when I requested a letter from her, I did not ask the typical question and it was right after my first rotation of the year (considering it's a field I'm interested in).
Now that I'm pretty much done with my application packet, I've heard other people say that sometimes, if not asked appropriately, the letter may not be the best you could get.
My other 2 letters, I'm sure will be positive and from areas that are important for what I want to do in the future. But I'm not sure if this is enough. Now, unfortunately my last few rotations have been in large animal fields, but also, I've started to feel more confident about my performance and in one of them, I received very positive feedback about my participation.
I wonder if having an additional/4th letter from a large animal vet (assuming this doctor will say yes) is weird or not recommended.
I'm thinking that they may be able to talk about my participation and how engaged I was with the learning process in a more positive way than the doctor I worked with during my very first rotation.

I think it's fine to have an additional letter from someone in large animal. IMO, for internship, one of the most important things is that you're teachable, engaged, and show that you'll be a good solid doctor. It doesn't need to be a small animal person to attest to that, especially if you're coming from a program that doesn't track.

What do you mean by you didn't ask the typical question, though? If you're concerned that this person will write you a poor letter, I'd consider whether you really want to include that - having 3 good letters and one mediocre one would be worse than just having 3 letters.

 

[GabyC]

I think it's fine to have an additional letter from someone in large animal. IMO, for internship, one of the most important things is that you're teachable, engaged, and show that you'll be a good solid doctor. It doesn't need to be a small animal person to attest to that, especially if you're coming from a program that doesn't track.

What do you mean by you didn't ask the typical question, though? If you're concerned that this person will write you a poor letter, I'd consider whether you really want to include that - having 3 good letters and one mediocre one would be worse than just having 3 letters.

Thank you for replying.
I didn't ask if she could write me a strong and positive letter.
However, I do consider that our interactions were mostly positive and I don't truly think the letter would be negative. The feedback in general from this rotation appreciated my engagement with the learning process and the teaching rounds (because I actually loved the rotation), it's just me thinking that because she's renowned and I didn't really ask the proper question, it may not be the best of the best. I also started thinking about this after attending an informative zoom meeting about one of the programs that I'm applying to where someone asked about things that may be of importance for the application and they said that sometimes people ask letters from those very well renowned doctors without working with them and that in such cases a 4th letter with more insight about the applicant could be of help.
Truly I think it's the paranoia, the nervousness and evaluating every movement I've made to come to this point. Lol

 

[katiemcat]

There are some specialties where there is an experiential pathway option, but they are few and far between, and no, it's not while being in GP.

If you want to specialize, you should be intending to do at least 1 internship (for most specialties) and a residency.

I am interested in specializing in internal medicine or cardiology. I have a specialty externship scheduled this summer somewhere I hope to do my rotating. He kind of made me feel stupid for choosing this pathway? Good to know it’s not common and not for a majority of specialty.
Edit: thanks so much for clarifying

 

[supershorty]

I am interested in specializing in internal medicine or cardiology. I have a specialty externship scheduled this summer somewhere I hope to do my rotating. He kind of made me feel stupid for choosing this pathway? Good to know it’s not common and not for a majority of specialty.
Edit: thanks so much for clarifying

Yeah, I would take the advice of specialists when it comes to specializing, not GPs, especially not GPs who graduated from veterinary school a generation ago

 

[katiemcat]

Yeah, I would take the advice of specialists when it comes to specializing, not GPs, especially not GPs who graduated from veterinary school a generation ago

For sure! Thanks for your help, and good luck with match this cycle! Maybe I’ll see you at UF 😎