Getting diverse experiences

[Mia]

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I'm a first year undergrad, but I actually have probably five years of undergrad to do since right now I'm at a vet tech school. I applied to MSU for fall '07, so hopefully I can get myself on track soon. But anyways, I hear a lot about getting diverse experiences for applying to vet school, but I'm not really sure how to go about things like that.

I have something like 100 hours with a private breeding/showing kennel here in Michigan. But that was just volunteer work to keep myself busy, really. Does that count?

I can't work in/around a vet clinic unless I'm an RVT, right? What other things can I do to get more experience?

 

[UpstateNY27]

Hi Mia:

I am sure you'll get a lot of varying opinions on how you can get the best vet-related experience for you to be in a better position as an applicant to veterinary school.

How would you go about obtaining these experiences?

Since right now you are so early in your academic training, make sure you diversify your experiences. Get large animal, small animal, and research animal veterinary experience. It seems that schools like breath of experiences a little more than depth of experiences. This might highly depend on the school of course. I know that this is the case for Cornell (my in-state school). Anyone else have any comments on this?

How would you go about obtaining these experiences? Many options exist of course. For large animal, well, think of large animals and where are they in your area of the country? Farms? Zoos? Contact these places. Small animals, shelters, vet clinics. Research animals? Is there a vet or med school that conducts research in the city that you reside? Does MSU conduct animals research. Just get your feet wet. Call the people you are interested in and ask them about opportunities. One of the best ways, and easiest is to go on the internet and start obtaining information. It is very easy. Just get the ball rolling. You are in a great position right now.

If I were in your position, I would make sure that I got a recommendation/letter from the experiences that you are accumulating as soon as these experiences have culminated. This way, your reviewers, if of course they think highly of you, can specifically say things you did well. From speaking with admission staff at various schools, it seems that letters of recommendations that state specific things on why you are a competitive applicant are looked upon highly.

 

[HopefulUGACVM]

You do not have to be an RVT to work in a vet office. A lot of small animal hospitals will hire pre-vet students in the kennel and work you up to an assistant position. Most equine vets do not have RVT's for assistants but usually are experienced with horses.

As far as diversity, breadth vs depth etc. I think it is important to remember to not look... completely unfocused on your application.

What I have as far as experience... I have 2 longish term hospital employments (3 years at a small animal practice, 2 years under my belt and still there at a mixed practice- horses/cows/camelids/exotics) and gone and done other experiences.

As far as breadth think consistent... I would say having gone and shadowed 10 different types of vets but for 4 hours each (exaggerating here!) may not look as good as doing a summer research program, shadowing the same equine veterinarian or 2 over a period of time, and working part time at a vet clinic. Put yourself out there but don't be scattered (am I making any sense here?)

My state school that I did not get into last year (GRE) praised me on my breadth and depth of experience. The admissions counselor said that I had diverse and long term experiences and this was a very good thing (she was more eloquent than I though!)

Good luck and utilize your resources: advisor(s), upperclassmen, see if you can contact any 1st year vet students that went to your undergrad institution, etc.

 

[Mia]

If I try to do the vet clinic thing this summer, should I be applying for a job or for volunteer work?

 

[are_jay]

If I try to do the vet clinic thing this summer, should I be applying for a job or for volunteer work?

all other things equal, paid experience is more valuble, both because of the financial compensation and that being an employee demonstrates a commitment and effort. I did something like 1000 hours of volunteer work at my undergrad institution's teaching hospital, and they definately paid me in 3 rejection letters.

Not saying volunteering is bad, but more value in paid position. Also shows you can keep a job. Oh and be careful of trying to use a volunteer position as a stepping stone to a paid position--if you are too good at being a volunteer they will like having you work for free, and there will be no incentive to start paying you.

I agree with the statements of others here--talk to upperclassmen, get involved in your prevet club (sometimes they get vet student panels together), etc. And most people who work in vet clinics, especially as a precurser to vet school, are not RVTs. This is animal, not human 🙂

 

[HorseyVet]

Not saying volunteering is bad, but more value in paid position. Also shows you can keep a job. Oh and be careful of trying to use a volunteer position as a stepping stone to a paid position--if you are too good at being a volunteer they will like having you work for free, and there will be no incentive to start paying you.

HA! That happened to me. I volunteered at an ER clinic for like a month and they always said they would hire me (but didn't)...they really wanted to drag it out as long as possible. I eventually went to work for their competitor which was a MUCH better clinic.

 

[are_jay]

HA! That happened to me. I volunteered at an ER clinic for like a month and they always said they would hire me (but didn't)...they really wanted to drag it out as long as possible. I eventually went to work for their competitor which was a MUCH better clinic.

Yup I hear you, I was definately speaking from experience. I tend to get stuck in ruts, believing I still have something to learn, instead of jumping into new things. It is good to spend some time at each thing, but after awhile you don't learn as much as you could. At some point you have to bail, and as you pointed out, it is an opportunity for advancement.

 

[Mia]

I think I'll look for a job at an emergency clinic this summer. That sounds like fun.

I can't do anything at the university because, like I said, I'm still waiting to get accepted there and my vet tech school doesn't really have anything.. intensive or research-like. As far as I know, anyways.

Thanks for the replies 🙂

 

[HorseyVet]

I think I'll look for a job at an emergency clinic this summer. That sounds like fun.

Emergency is a ton of fun.

Just another thing to look out for, which might be a little different if you actually are an RVT, but in my experience some techs can get really defensive around other techs/assistants that are trying to be vets. Bascially you're using the job they may have had for sometime and plan to continue at as a "stepping stone." I've had people assume that I have a lot more money then I do (and that that's why I was going to be a vet and they weren't), that I was stuck up because I was in college, or just general resentment that because I wanted to be a vet that I had to think I was better than the techs. ERs often have a decent amount of turnover, so the regular people are kinda used to people not staying long and it takes a while for them to "warm-up" to new people.

Where I was, the Drs. were in general really nice, but a few of the techs HATED me no matter what I did. This one made sure that when I worked in hospital with her (as opposed to in-coming) that I only had like 2-3 very basic treatment animals and she'd take like 10-15 criticals herself, which was WAY too much for one person. She couldn't physically do all the treatments when they needed them and would always get yelled at when she did that because she would be behind (but it also made me look bad because I'd end up sitting around because she refused to let me do anything). lol...She eventually got fired for basically being a B$%*#. I have several equally ridiculous stories from that place, but you get the idea.

Just be aware they're are some funky dynamics that can happen.

 

[are_jay]

I think I'll look for a job at an emergency clinic this summer. That sounds like fun.

I can't do anything at the university because, like I said, I'm still waiting to get accepted there and my vet tech school doesn't really have anything.. intensive or research-like. As far as I know, anyways.

Thanks for the replies 🙂

I don't know about your school, but many teaching hospitals have volunteer programs where you don't need to be a student. Also, your local humane society or some other animal rescue group is a good resource. The good part about volunteer programs is that there is less time commitment, and can be scheduled around work or school. Still a good place to add variety to experience.

 

[ginkogirl]

Not saying volunteering is bad, but more value in paid position. Also shows you can keep a job. Oh and be careful of trying to use a volunteer position as a stepping stone to a paid position--if you are too good at being a volunteer they will like having you work for free, and there will be no incentive to start paying you.
QUOTE]


My two cents:

Depending on where you are in the country (which state and what city) it may be easier or harder to find a job at a veterinary clinic in the first place, and the state you are in may differ from other posters' about how much a veterinary assistant (ie non-registered/licenced veterinary "helper") can do. Here in MA, a vet assistant can do nearly everything a licenced tech can do, so I was able to get quality hands-on expierence without being a RVT. Other states do not work this way, so it may be somewhat more difficult to get good expierences (See an earlier thread about my confusion between vet tech and assistant.)

This being said, it may be easier to find a volunteer position than a paid one in a vet clinic. Although are_jay and HorseyVet warn against it (for good reason in their personal expierences.) I did successfully go from being a volunteer to being a paid employee, and the reason it changed over was due to liability issues (we were short staffed, the vet wanted me to be able to help out more, but being a volunteer I could only do so much because I wasn't covered under the hospital's insurance.)

So, in short I wouldn't rule out volunteer work. Although monetary compensation is nice (and necessary for the less rich of us 🙂 ) volunteer work is still vet expierence, and in any case is valuable for vet school admissions.

Lisa

 

[4theanimals]

I find it very interesting that you would recommend ruling out volunteer experience. Almost all of my experience is volunteer. The major benefit for me is flexibility. I think if you show dedication and are reliable it shows a real intiative. More so than showing up everyday because you need the paycheck. I did not miss out on any experience and in fact in some ways got more than the paid workers. I have been volunteering with my county shelter for three years. The vet there really took me under his wings. He took me on rounds, explained procedures, etc. There were two other student workers there who were pre-vet. But because they were paid workers they were expected to be doing treatments, vaccinations, etc. while I on the other hand was out with the DVM.

In general there are many opportunities for experience you just have to keep your eye out. I say to get some breadth. Admissions committees want to know that you understand all that vet med has to offer. I got equine experience through volunteering with therapeutic riding, critical care foal teams, and horse rescues. I worked full time a couple of summers in a small animal clinic. I also was able to work for about six months in research. I also agree that although breadth is important you can't just flit around. You want to spend quality time. i.e. I was involved with foal team and therapeutic riding for three years.

So try for depth and breadth. I imagine your vet tech program has some sort of internship requirement. You should be able to make some connections through that and better understand where you might best fit in.