Canadian here!

[redstripedzebra]

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hi everyone, i'm new here but this forum looks very interesting so far. I am a Canadian university student (first year) and have decided on veterinary science as my career. I have lots of experience and continuing on diversifying it and so far are doing great in university. I have some questions on a Canadian student pursuing studies in the States. If there are Canadians (or Americans) here, I was wondering if you would recommend applying to States schools as well as Canadian ones (my school is Guelph) as we don't have very much to choose from! Also, if anyone has just some tips on keeping up my studies and what to do so i am prepared for the whole admissions chaos in a few years. Thank you.

 

[shocker682]

Hey Zebra!

Great choice on careers! I'm at OVC right now (just finished phase 1). Regarding your question about US schools, I looked into it a bit--You get to see that every school has different things to say about foreign schools. One thing is certain: It's gonna cost a FORTUNE!!! I also briefly looked into Australia and NZ (not much better there + it' one more year). OVC's prob your best bet.

As far as marks go, they're important to a degree. If you keep them in the low to mid 80's that's great. The main thing is to show them that you're committed to the field and that you're open to many possibilities. What they're really looking for is the people that are comitted, caring, personable etc...If you've got that, then success in school will follow. They also want to be sure that you have a life outside of school and vet med, 'cause if you don't, you'll burn out VERY quickly in this profession (I've seen it happen to vets before)

If you have any other specific questions, don't hesitate to ask!

D

 

[giles]

Actually in Australia and NZ, the vet course is 2-3 years shorter than in the US. It's true the actual DVM (called BVSc there) is 5 years instead of 4 in the US, but you can enter it without having done an undergraduate degree - ie straight from high school. And the NZ vet degree has accreditation in the US (as well as the UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore and other countries).

Net result = 5 years to become a vet in Australia/NZ versus 7-8 years in the US.

So, you need to factor that into any cost estimates. Also the fact the greenback is still pretty strong vs the Aussie and Kiwi dollars (despite recently losing value). $NZ1 = $USD0.72 currently

Hey Zebra!
I also briefly looked into Australia and NZ (not much better there + it' one more year).
D

 

[shocker682]

Actually in Australia and NZ, the vet course is 2-3 years shorter than in the US. It's true the actual DVM (called BVSc there) is 5 years instead of 4 in the US, but you can enter it without having done an undergraduate degree - ie straight from high school. And the NZ vet degree has accreditation in the US (as well as the UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore and other countries).

Net result = 5 years to become a vet in Australia/NZ versus 7-8 years in the US.

So, you need to factor that into any cost estimates. Also the fact the greenback is still pretty strong vs the Aussie and Kiwi dollars (despite recently losing value). $NZ1 = $USD0.72 currently

That is very true for anyone living in NZ, but on the website (Massey), it says that for direct entry into the Professional Programme, one is required to have a minimum of 2 years university---+ 4.5 years in the professional program = 6.5 years. I don't think that the schools in Nz/Au really admit international students who have only completed highschool. I would have loved to go to school in Australia or NZ, but I sat down and did the conversions, and it ended up that I'd be like $80,000 MORE in debt than I would be if I attended a Canadian veterinary college.

In Canada, our vet schools only require 2 years university before admission, but most of my class has a BS. It is possible to become a vet in Canada with only 6 years post-highschool.

 

[Canadianirishga]

As you are from Ontario you can only apply to Guelph. In order to apply to PEI you must be from the Atlantic provinces, and to apply to Western, you must be from the Western provinces. This means that there is only one Canadian school you can apply to, and everyone applying to Guelph will be in the same position... increasing the competition. If you really want to be a vet, the extra cost ($80 000) will not be a problem...plus you will be able to pay it back. Do not be short sighted when it comes to your career...its the rest of your life. I have completed a degree from Mac, almost done a professional degree and have decided to switch careers to veterinary medicine. Ill go anywhere, and only wish I knew what I wanted to do with my life while I was in highschool. Go for Guelph, but do not forget about other schools, it does not hurt to apply to them. Good Luck!

 

[giles]

That is very true for anyone living in NZ, but on the website (Massey), it says that for direct entry into the Professional Programme, one is required to have a minimum of 2 years university---+ 4.5 years in the professional program = 6.5 years. I don't think that the schools in Nz/Au really admit international students who have only completed highschool.

Good point, you are right - I should have checked that before shooting me mouth off!!

 

[redstripedzebra]

thanks guys-i know my only Canadian option is Guelph but from everything I've heard, it's better to apply to 3-5 schools which means going international. I know there are a few schools that have pretty much the same pre-reqs as Guelph and admit more larger numbers of international students so I was just wondering what students who have already gone through this process thought. Ya, comparred to Canadian tuition-US is horrible but if that's what it takes...

thanks again-any other helpful tidbits would be greatly appreciated!

Hey Zebra!

Great choice on careers! I'm at OVC right now (just finished phase 1). Regarding your question about US schools, I looked into it a bit--You get to see that every school has different things to say about foreign schools. One thing is certain: It's gonna cost a FORTUNE!!! I also briefly looked into Australia and NZ (not much better there + it' one more year). OVC's prob your best bet.

As far as marks go, they're important to a degree. If you keep them in the low to mid 80's that's great. The main thing is to show them that you're committed to the field and that you're open to many possibilities. What they're really looking for is the people that are comitted, caring, personable etc...If you've got that, then success in school will follow. They also want to be sure that you have a life outside of school and vet med, 'cause if you don't, you'll burn out VERY quickly in this profession (I've seen it happen to vets before)

If you have any other specific questions, don't hesitate to ask!

D

 

[shocker682]

For sure!

I hope it didn't sound like I was dissuading you from attending internationsl schools. That was never my intention. I would have applied to international schools if I got rejected again. My point was that if you can get away with not having to pay international fees, than I would do it (vets really don't make all that much until they own practices). I would have gone international in a second if I failed to get into guelph for a third time.

You'll get in! They really just want to see if you know what it is you're getting into. There's no specific # of hours you need to volunteer (there's some students in my class that have very little experience). It really helps if you can get to know profs at Guelph (it's all who you know here).

Anyways, Good luck! Hopefully I'll see ya here soon!

 

[Canadianirishga]

I was just wondering what your mcat scores were like?
Thanks
J

 

[wannabeDVM]

Hi Guys,
Im canadian too, and this year I was accepted into international vet schools. But I hate to be the one to tell you, if you can find an international school for 80,000 tops thats amazing. I realistically put time into the finacial costs of going to europe, and with the currency exchange, plus tuition, living fees, and if you plan on flying home every now and then, you are looking at well over 200,000 canadian. Its a definite risk. I can see these costs for american schools as well. Tuition for us is 40,000 a year down there. Sad really, i wish canada let us have the option of applying to all the vet schools our country offers.