Course Requirements and Experiences

[VetDreamz]

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Hi Everyone!

So, I'm currently a Junior, Biology major (possible Chem minor eventually) in college. I have been wanting to do Veterniary Medicine since I was three and I am not about to give up on my dream now. I've been doing relatively ok in my classes and I've been working hard on gaining experiences. I am currently working under a vet doing spay/neuter clinics and working adoptions for dogs and cats, all at my local shelter. Hopefully for my six week winter break I can have an internship type experience with a local vet and next summer get experience with large animals.

So, now that I have stated where I am at, I have two questions. One, is that I am going to be registering for courses for my winter term in a few weeks (I go to a trimester school.) I am going to take either Animal Beahvior or Molecular Genetics. I know many vet schools require Genetics, but I took a course called Molecular Cell Biology that is described as:

"Major topics are the nature of the gene, the mechanism and control of gene
expression, the relationships between important macromolecular constituents within the cell, the cell cycle and cell replication, the nature of the​

chromosomes and the mitotic process, and fundamental patterns of growth and differentiation at the cellular level."
The Molecular Genetics offered here is described as:

"The molecular genetics approach is currently being applied to an extremely diverse array of
questions in biology. This course will expose the student to many of the commonly-used techniques in the "toolkit" of the molecular geneticist.
Emphasis will be on recent advances in our understanding of topics of current interest such as development, cellular response to environmental stimuli,​

tumor formation, and apoptosis, amongst others."
What's a girl to do?

Second and lastly, is what is the best way to approach veterinarians to gain experience with them? I want them to take me seriously and that I really have a genuine interest in the field.

Ok, this novel is complete and I hope to gain some great advice! Best of luck to everyone currently applying as well! 🙂

 

[futurehealervet]

I'm not sure of the way to answer your first question but I have some advice concerning the second.
1. You may not realize it, but some people close to you may actually know someone you can shadow or work for, its much easier to get a position if you have some connection to the veterinarian.
2. If you can't find any connections, you should try visiting a couple of places with your resume in hand. When you call, people rarely feel compelled to call you back and if you talk to the vet face to face, you will have a better chance of making a connection and having them take you on as an intern. Believe, I have called too many veterinary clinics to count, you must show them that you really want this.
Hope this helps

 

[bannanababy146]

Hi! I think the best way to get a definitive answer to your first question is to call schools you might be interested in applying to, since each school has their own requirements. I think Iowa (for example) requires 8 hours of biology and then an additional genetics class. As a biology major hopefully you'll have over those 8 hours, but it is a good idea to look into it just in case. Sometimes they won't accept certain biology classes, it has to be based on cellular biology or something of that nature.

From my personal experience as a bio major and someone who decided to pursue vet school my senior year of college, I wish I had gotten the opportunity to take animal science courses. I didn't have the option since I needed to take other courses to graduate on time. If you could take genetics and an animal science course (even different trimesters), both would probably be beneficial.

I agree with futurehealervet about networking to find veterinarians to shadow. I just asked around and ended up finding out that a lot of my friends/family have personal relationships with veterinarians (my hairdresser, my roommate, my mom etc.).

Goodluck!

 

[felinelvr44]

I'm not sure of the way to answer your first question but I have some advice concerning the second.
1. You may not realize it, but some people close to you may actually know someone you can shadow or work for, its much easier to get a position if you have some connection to the veterinarian.
2. If you can't find any connections, you should try visiting a couple of places with your resume in hand. When you call, people rarely feel compelled to call you back and if you talk to the vet face to face, you will have a better chance of making a connection and having them take you on as an intern. Believe, I have called too many veterinary clinics to count, you must show them that you really want this.
Hope this helps

Just echoing this - do you have any pets? I started shadowing at the vet clinic I take my cats to. They already knew me as a client and were more than happy to let me start shadowing. 6 months after that, they started paying me (as a tech, not just to shadow)! It's much easier to ask if you already know the veterinarian, even tangentially.

That being said, I also did short shadowing stints with large animal vets from a big practice (18 LA, 16 SA). For those I just called up and asked - they said they constantly have students shadowing so they gave me a specific week that hadn't been taken already with the vet I wanted. And it goes without saying, always be super nice.

 

[that redhead]

Second and lastly, is what is the best way to approach veterinarians to gain experience with them? I want them to take me seriously and that I really have a genuine interest in the field.

Networking is huge- the vet for your own pets is a good place to start. If your undergrad has a campus farm, ask the farm manager for the vet's name. If your friend/uncle/cousin's dentist has a horse, ask them for their vet's name. If you come up short there, I wouldn't be afraid to start googling, especially if (for example), you want to get large animal experience but live in a very urban area. I've found that most vets are happy to have someone tag along with them, it just takes the courage to call/email them and ask! I would probably include a little blurb about yourself- year in school, major, specific interests in vet med or even that you just want to get your feet wet.

 

[Emiloo4]

Cell bio and Genetics are different and will be treated differently by all the schools I'm pretty sure. There is some overlapping in their material, but not even close enough to be considered the same class. I took both and they both were used to fulfill different requirements for different schools. You can always take both, but I would definitely take genetics since cell bio is only required by a few schools (I think UTK is one of them). But definitely look at each school's requirements to find out. I also took animal behavior which was really interesting, but considering no schools really require it, it may be in your best interest to take cell bio and genetics. But yeah, check with the schools to see for sure.

 

[forks4spoons]

Hi Everyone!
I have been wanting to do Veterniary Medicine since I was three and I am not about to give up on my dream now.

Please, please don't be offended by this. I think it's flipping AWESOME for you to be so adamant about following your lifelong dreams!!!! But, I literally had a lecture on this two days ago in my Psychology class.. do you really remember what you were doing on your third birthday? Just a tiny suggestion from me would be to not mention being three if you mention it in your future personal statement(s). It just seems like a gross exaggeration to me. But, that's just my opinion.

Secondly, molecular cell biology is not a general genetics course. If you're not familiar with genetics, and your college offers a general genetics class, I'd take that instead of jumping right into molecular genetics, cause, at least at my school, that class is a beast.

Lastly, if you have time, I'd definitely recommend taking Animal Behavior as well. It can be a VERY interesting experience!

 

[Trematode]

Haha, I am on the fence about Animal Behaviour. Depending on the prof, they may cover vertebrates, they may not. I know it didn't count as an animal science for the vet shook I applied to.

 

[irrelephant23]

My behavior course was all about domestic animals. I do go to school in a corn field though... I didn't take very much away from it other than don't eff with an angry mom. But it was a 300 level class 😉 Every behavior is different. I do wish my school offered a better and broader behavior class before I graduated. An animal behavior course would be way more interesting if it was more than cows and pigs!

 

[DVMDream]

My behavior course was all about domestic animals. I do go to school in a corn field though... I didn't take very much away from it other than don't eff with an angry mom. But it was a 300 level class 😉 Every behavior is different. I do wish my school offered a better and broader behavior class before I graduated. An animal behavior course would be way more interesting if it was more than cows and pigs!

My Animal Behavior professor did research in prairie dog communication. That was much of what was covered in that class, along with some information on how bees communicate... It was kind of interesting, but I could only listen to so much about his prairie dog research...

 

[irrelephant23]

My Animal Behavior professor did research in prairie dog communication. That was much of what was covered in that class, along with some information on how bees communicate... It was kind of interesting, but I could only listen to so much about his prairie dog research...

Okay. maybe not too broad! Bee and prairie dog behavior might be hard to use in real life situations 🙄 I always found the bee communication dances fascinating though! Ever since that one magic school bus episode...

 

[NStarz]

My behavior class was pretty broad, but taught by a Psychology professor. Interesting side of the story.

 

[DVMDream]

Here, there is even a website with some of his prairie dog research on it, apparently it is a really big ongoing research project that he has been doing for a very long time..

http://www.petroglyphsnm.org/wildsides/pdlanguage.html


ETA: There is even a wiki article on this professor...

 

[kernel]

MY behavior course was taught by a professor who is obsessed with beetles. I kid you not. I really dislike bugs. Needless to say, it was an interesting semester... 😛

 

[Trilt]

MY behavior course was taught by a professor who is obsessed with beetles. I kid you not. I really dislike bugs. Needless to say, it was an interesting semester... 😛

20% of all known species are beetles! They're cool. 😀

 

[Finnsheep]

I find livestock behavior much more fascinating than wildlife- haven't taken it yet, but I have two options for animal behavior. One is an animal science class and the other is a zoology class.

It's probably more applicable to those who will be working amidst mobs of herding/flocking creatures though, hence the preference for the zoology class held by most prevets. Meh. Sheep will always be more interesting to me. I am especially interested in maternal and mating behavior in ovines, caprines, and bovines. Lots of research is being done in those and flocking/herding behavior that very much off topic for this thread, but fascinating nonetheless.

I personally feel that in most cases, animal sciences classes will be more practical for a prevet, when they are an option.

 

[Emiloo4]

My animal behavior professor was OBSESSED with birds. OBSESSED. But she actually managed to make me believe that birds are pretty cool 🙄
She also wrote one of my eLORS 😀

 

[VetDreamz]

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for all the advice! My school doesn't offer a general Genetics course and I've heard the Molecular Genetics class is a killer and after last year with Orgo, I don't want to take another potential hit to my GPA. I did find an Intro to Genetics at a nearby school. Whether they will offer the course in the summer though I won't know until February. Even then I don't know if I'll be able to take that as that school runs on semester and I don't get out until 2nd week of June and who knows if it will interfere with my class schedule here. Oi! I'll probably run it by my academic advisor and the pre-health advisor next week before winter registration. Thank you all so much!

And forks4spoons, no worries and no offense taken! Of course I don't remember things form being three, it was totally an exaggeration to make a point. I would never include that in my personal statement either. Obviously we all have the goal to become veterinarians and a line like that in an application just wouldn't cut it.

The Animal Behavior course here I heard is pretty good. He guest lectured in my Intro Bio course on altruism and briefly on the behavior of wolves, which was so very interesting. Eventually wrote a paper on wolf behavior in an Anthro class that explored the relationships animals had to different human cultures. Interesting stuff!

 

[forks4spoons]

And forks4spoons, no worries and no offense taken! Of course I don't remember things form being three, it was totally an exaggeration to make a point. I would never include that in my personal statement either. Obviously we all have the goal to become veterinarians and a line like that in an application just wouldn't cut it.

The Animal Behavior course here I heard is pretty good. He guest lectured in my Intro Bio course on altruism and briefly on the behavior of wolves, which was so very interesting. Eventually wrote a paper on wolf behavior in an Anthro class that explored the relationships animals had to different human cultures. Interesting stuff!

I'm glad you weren't offended! I think it just caught me by surprise and I was being super analytical. Sorry about that. I just had a buddy of mine rip my PS to shreds... only after the cycle is over. 🙄

Sounds like you have a pretty cool prof for Behavior. I'd take it. But I am absolutely fascinated with animal behavior. Human behavior, too. I think I could have a minor in Psych. Too bad it doesn't thrill me as much as vet med does. It'd be a lot cheaper to become a therapist. 😉

Good luck to you, regardless! Seems like you have a good head on your shoulders - you'll make the right decisions! 🙂

 

[sunshinevet]

I'm glad you weren't offended! I think it just caught me by surprise and I was being super analytical. Sorry about that. I just had a buddy of mine rip my PS to shreds... only after the cycle is over. 🙄

Sounds like you have a pretty cool prof for Behavior. I'd take it. But I am absolutely fascinated with animal behavior. Human behavior, too. I think I could have a minor in Psych. Too bad it doesn't thrill me as much as vet med does. It'd be a lot cheaper to become a therapist. 😉

Good luck to you, regardless! Seems like you have a good head on your shoulders - you'll make the right decisions! 🙂

TOTALLY OFF THREAD - but - Forksforspoons, have you been accepted to med school as a back up to vet school? Just I see your acceptance and I see you applied this VMCAS round too - which will win out if you get both?! :O😉😛

 

[Emiloo4]

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for all the advice! My school doesn't offer a general Genetics course and I've heard the Molecular Genetics class is a killer and after last year with Orgo, I don't want to take another potential hit to my GPA. I did find an Intro to Genetics at a nearby school. Whether they will offer the course in the summer though I won't know until February. Even then I don't know if I'll be able to take that as that school runs on semester and I don't get out until 2nd week of June and who knows if it will interfere with my class schedule here. Oi! I'll probably run it by my academic advisor and the pre-health advisor next week before winter registration. Thank you all so much!

And forks4spoons, no worries and no offense taken! Of course I don't remember things form being three, it was totally an exaggeration to make a point. I would never include that in my personal statement either. Obviously we all have the goal to become veterinarians and a line like that in an application just wouldn't cut it.

The Animal Behavior course here I heard is pretty good. He guest lectured in my Intro Bio course on altruism and briefly on the behavior of wolves, which was so very interesting. Eventually wrote a paper on wolf behavior in an Anthro class that explored the relationships animals had to different human cultures. Interesting stuff!

Make sure the "Intro to Genetics" course meets the requirements by vet schools. Intro classes aren't always accepted. You can send the school the syllabus for the class and see if it is something they will accept.

 

[forks4spoons]

TOTALLY OFF THREAD - but - Forksforspoons, have you been accepted to med school as a back up to vet school? Just I see your acceptance and I see you applied this VMCAS round too - which will win out if you get both?! :O😉😛

Ah, sorry.. I guess I should update my profile more thoroughly! I've been around SDN since 2008. I spent a year and a half in medical school from 2009-2010 before I realized that it wasn't what I wanted to do with my life. I wasn't happy at all. I applied last cycle through VMCAS and totally chickened out and withdrew my app. I'm in it this time for good. Even if I don't get accepted this cycle, I'll just keep trying because I know it's the only thing in this world that I would be happy doing. My backup plan is nursing school and I'm taking a couple of prereqs right now, but truthfully, I'll just keep doing what I've got to do to go to vet school because I cannot see myself spending the rest of my life as a RN.

Let's hope it's simply to be accepted this term!

 

[sunshinevet]

Ah, sorry.. I guess I should update my profile more thoroughly! I've been around SDN since 2008. I spent a year and a half in medical school from 2009-2010 before I realized that it wasn't what I wanted to do with my life. I wasn't happy at all. I applied last cycle through VMCAS and totally chickened out and withdrew my app. I'm in it this time for good. Even if I don't get accepted this cycle, I'll just keep trying because I know it's the only thing in this world that I would be happy doing. My backup plan is nursing school and I'm taking a couple of prereqs right now, but truthfully, I'll just keep doing what I've got to do to go to vet school because I cannot see myself spending the rest of my life as a RN.

Let's hope it's simply to be accepted this term!

Lol now I feel stupid, really should have read your MDapps more closely lol!!!
Good luck!!!

 

[498820]

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for all the advice! My school doesn't offer a general Genetics course and I've heard the Molecular Genetics class is a killer and after last year with Orgo, I don't want to take another potential hit to my GPA. I did find an Intro to Genetics at a nearby school. Whether they will offer the course in the summer though I won't know until February. Even then I don't know if I'll be able to take that as that school runs on semester and I don't get out until 2nd week of June and who knows if it will interfere with my class schedule here. Oi! I'll probably run it by my academic advisor and the pre-health advisor next week before winter registration. Thank you all so much!

And forks4spoons, no worries and no offense taken! Of course I don't remember things form being three, it was totally an exaggeration to make a point. I would never include that in my personal statement either. Obviously we all have the goal to become veterinarians and a line like that in an application just wouldn't cut it.

The Animal Behavior course here I heard is pretty good. He guest lectured in my Intro Bio course on altruism and briefly on the behavior of wolves, which was so very interesting. Eventually wrote a paper on wolf behavior in an Anthro class that explored the relationships animals had to different human cultures. Interesting stuff!

Hey, I think it is definitely worth it to contact vet schools directly, send them the course description and see if they believe it fulfills the requirement. Something I found really helpful when I found that my school didn't offer a course required by a vet school was to contact the vet school directly and it turns out they offer an online course! So I'll be taking that next semester to fulfill my requirements for the application. Just an idea! Hope it works out!

 

[forks4spoons]

Lol now I feel stupid, really should have read your MDapps more closely lol!!!
Good luck!!!

Haha. Hey, no worries! Thank you very much!