Another pre-vet experience option

[LetItSnow]

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I just thought I'd post this so it can be 'search'ed by some pre-vetters down the road, since a common question is 'where do I get experience'.

If you live near a vet school it may be worth checking with the student organizations at that school to see if they have anything you can help out with. We have two service organizations here (one modeled off of RAVS, the other a student-run group that hosts a free monthly urban clinic) ... I help run the urban clinic and in the last few months we've begun allowing a few pre-vet students (3-4/clinic) to join us to help out. We typically task them 50% with handling our front-desk and then let them rotate out the other half to shadow/restrain/whatever (depending on their experience and comfort).

Even if they came every month for a year it would only amount to 48 hours or so, but I think the combination community service + veterinary experience would look great on the application. And it's easy - a few hours on one Sunday/month? Big deal.

I'm sure many vet schools have similar clubs that might have space for a pre-vet or two.

 

[hygebeorht]

Good advice!

Nearby vet schools are great places to find experience opportunities. I knew a few people who I worked with in various clinics and labs who had been volunteering and working in the teaching hospital since they were in high school. Student clubs are a great place to look that I hadn't considered, but there are a lot of places to start volunteering. Calling the volunteer coordinator and having an open mind can help you get a foot in the door.

Don't immediately turn down work that doesn't put you in direct contact with animals, either. Working in central, mucking stalls, and other unglamorous work teaches you a lot and can demonstrate that you are capable and ready for more. Just working in the hospital can open doors for you to work in other, more hands-on areas.

I think if I had been looking for hours as a high-schooler or underclassman, the biggest obstacle would have been my fear of picking up a phone and asking for volunteer opportunities. Honestly, the worst anyone can say is no. For the door of opportunity to open, first you gotta knock.