"How do I classify this experience?" (please help out new applicants)

[kate_g]

---

Members don't see this ad.

In reaction to the dozen independent "how do I classify my particular experience" threads lately, I'm going to try to consolidate things for the benefit of all the new applicants.

(Editing to add step zero: VMCAS itself actually has some guidelines on classification, I know they specifically mention research and showing/training animals as examples. Don't overlook help from the people who actually wrote the rules!)

First, if you're wondering how to classify a particular experience, please try putting "VMCAS experience" into the "search this forum" box on the pre-vet forum page (far right-hand side at top of message list). Browse the resulting threads and you may well find someone with a similar enough situation that you'll have your answer.

Second, look here and see if anyone has posted experience similar to yours.

Third, if you're not finding anything that seems relevant enough, post a short description of your experience in this thread and we'll have at it.

OK.... Go!

 

[kate_g]

To start things off I'm answering Cornish's question in this thread.

In terms of experience, what exactly should I include and how? I have worked at a vet clinic, so that's going in there, but I also have *extensive* cat showing experience (yeah, I'm one of THOSE people ;-), have taken lots of riding lessons through college, went to horse camp when I was in middle school, and went to animal farm camp way back in elementary school. I've owned lots of cats and dogs since I was born (my mother is a vet so instead of brothers and sisters I had animals...although maybe they aren't that different really).

Don't include individual entries for the middle school and elementary school camp stuff. If it was important to why you want to become a vet, you can mention it briefly in your PS. Likewise the "owned lots of animals" and "mother is a vet" stuff, presumably that upbringing affected your current career goal.

I'd put the cat showing experience in the "animal experience" section. Even if they're your own pets (which are generally not supposed to count), routine pet ownership doesn't include showing so I'd list it.

I dunno about riding lessons, maybe somebody else who actually had that kind of experience can comment.

 

[Emio]

can we sticky this?

a few just from the first page of threads:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FWjxN-vcts
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=438816

 

[kate_g]

Here are two more:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=437731 (extracurricular/community)
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=437813 (research)

And here's a pasted-in exchange from akitavet's thread on what kind of research vet schools are interested in:

2.) but thank you for your responses, and on that note, I did an MS and did loads of research during that. Where do I put that in the VMCAS? Should it be listed as an experience category in and of itself even though its through the academic program?

Whatever courses you took for the degree will be listed in the course section, but you should make an entry and talk about your research project in the "veterinary experience" section. (Yes, even if the research was not veterinary (i.e. clinical) in nature, and even if it didn't actually involve live animals. Loads of past threads on classifying experiences where this has been brought up. I drew the line at including my plant biology research as "veterinary" just because it was research, but did include the molecular bio research I did on yeast.)

Whoa! That would bring my veterinary hours from ~1200 to somewhere in the ballpark of 7000. My research was DNA sequencing and genotyping methods. Although our focus was human, I have to say that I know more dogs that have had DNA markers looked at than people. Do you guys think its applicable enough?

Absolutely.

 

[Tiraka]

Oh, I've got one! I know research under a PhD is supposed to be considered vet experience, but I'm wondering if mine should go under animal exp. It was an equine nutrition project that gave me great hands-on experience, but all I did was feed, do blood draws and muscle biopsies, and help with data collection after foaling. Although I am familiar with the goals and basic science behind the project, I had no part in the analysis and really don't even know what they found. So...what do y'all think?

 

[Emio]

but all I did was feed, do blood draws and muscle biopsies, and help with data collection after foaling.

lol. my vote is to put that under vet experience: blood draws and muscle biopsies are clearly "above and beyond" typical animal experience. however, be explicit in the description so as to not mislead adcoms that you were a data analyzer, or paper writer.

 

[kate_g]

lol. my vote is to put that under vet experience: blood draws and muscle biopsies are clearly "above and beyond" typical animal experience.

Yeah, I agree. You did the same kind of stuff you'd do employed as a vet tech, which would count as veterinary, even if you weren't as involved in the research aspect.

I have to say I hate this "veterinary-slash-research" category and wish they'd just make a fourth category for non-clinical research, I think that would clear things up a bit.