No SA experience

[lyndaelyzoo]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am wondering if I stand a chance of being accepted into vet school with no SA experience. I have extensive equine experience (both animal and vet experience) that includes about six years full-time and about two years full time as a vet assistant at an avian vet clinic (can birds be considered SA experience or are they considered exclusively "exotic"?). I want to become an equine or possibly exotic animal veterinarian, but am wondering if a lack of SA experience will decrease my chances of acceptance. I have been trying to volunteer at an SA clinic this summer, but am finding that a lot of SA vets do not want to "hire" volunteers, apparently for liability reasons. Is anyone else having this problem? Please advise.

 

[dgm]

I don't think that anyone here is qualified to tell you that you have absolutely no chance. However, it probably would be advisable to get some small animal experience, just to be as well-rounded as you can. I had a tough time finding a place to get experience, too, but eventually found something. Afterwards, while talking to someone in admissions at Penn Vet, I mentioned how hard it had been to get experience, he said "Oh, you should've asked me, I could have matched you up with a clinic". So if you live close to a vet school, it might be worth asking them if they know of any opportunities (either within their hospital or elsewhere). Failing that, I guess you just have to be persistent in looking on your own. Good luck, I know it is tough!

 

[rileyroo]

i agree with dgm, sometimes it's really difficult to find vets in certain areas to let you shadow, but i would recommend trying to get some experience with a SA vet (even if it's just a couple of hours). i had a really hard time getting started and even when i found vets who were willing to take on student shadows they weren't the best to follow, so i had to jump around until i found really great vets who were eager to explain things. it takes some work but i'm sure you can find one 🙂 you have a few months so like i said, even if it's just one time for a couple of hours, i think it will help!

 

[gone2dogs]

I had/have sort of the opposite problem, no LA experience... But by the time of my file review with CSU I had spent 8 hours shadowing an equine vet and was told that even something like that was really good but not to worry too much because my interest is in SA. So it was recommended that I continue to dabble in other areas, but not worry too much about lots of hours.

So basically, I second what rileyroo said! I'm sure it will vary from school to school, but I would think that getting a few hours of shadowing in would be good but you don't need hundreds of hours.

Also, if I remember correctly, you are a career-changer like me. Although it sounds like you have WAY more hours, I was told that the admissions committee would understand that career-changers would have less experience hours and not hold it against me within reason. Not sure if that applies to you, but maybe it is a bit of encouragement.

 

[168135]

I had/have sort of the opposite problem, no LA experience... But by the time of my file review with CSU I had spent 8 hours shadowing an equine vet and was told that even something like that was really good but not to worry too much because my interest is in SA. So it was recommended that I continue to dabble in other areas, but not worry too much about lots of hours.

Would other schools be that lenient? I'm going to be applying to a Canadian school and they say you need at least 40 hours small and 40 hours large. I only have about 4 hours of large. The one LA vet down home won't have anything to do with me, and the city that I live in now, the closest LA vet is over an hour away, which makes getting experience close to impossible 😛 I'm was worried that schools won't even look at me if I didn't have a reasonable aoumt of LA experience.

 

[rileyroo]

The one LA vet down home won't have anything to do with me, and the city that I live in now, the closest LA vet is over an hour away, which makes getting experience close to impossible 😛 I'm was worried that schools won't even look at me if I didn't have a reasonable aoumt of LA experience.

i have had to travel at least an hour (sometimes an hour and a half) to my LA vets for experience. it's not impossible, just requires more time and dedication. 😉

 

[crittergal]

Could you ask your LA vets if they have any friends in SA practice? Maybe they would be able to make a call and get you in the door. Networking can be a wonderful thing sometimes.

 

[rileyroo]

Could you ask your LA vets if they have any friends in SA practice? Maybe they would be able to make a call and get you in the door. Networking can be a wonderful thing sometimes.

that's a really good point, that's how i got involved with LA vets (by asking the SA vets i shadowed).

 

[168135]

i have had to travel at least an hour (sometimes an hour and a half) to my LA vets for experience. it's not impossible, just requires more time and dedication. 😉

And a car lol. I'll figure something out eventually 🙂

 

[rileyroo]

And a car lol. I'll figure something out eventually 🙂

true, i have had to rely on rides myself. 🙂 are there people you could talk to who have attended/are attending the school(s) you're applying to and see what they say about the LA experience requirements?

 

[168135]

true, i have had to rely on rides myself. 🙂 are there people you could talk to who have attended/are attending the school(s) you're applying to and see what they say about the LA experience requirements?

My ex-boyfriend's sister just got in, but I barely talk to him... and I knew she had tons of equine, 4H and LA experience. She went to the agriculture college here 😛

 

[CatVet2Be]

What about a local shelter or rescue group? They're always in need of volunteers for socializing and cleaning. This could get your foot in the door to shadow a vet that works there or one that they take their animals to.

 

[AidanEvieCleo]

I think whether they will require you to have well rounded experiences depends on which schools you apply to. The requirements will change depending on if the school tracks or not, I think that a school that tracks will not be as bothered by a lack of breadth as a school that has you learn equally about all animals. I applied to, and was accepted to UC Davis, Minnesota, and Western health sciences, and I only had 70 hrs of small animal, and no exotics, but TONS of large animal experience. I made it clear in my application that I was only interested in large animal and never mentioned my small animal experience in my PS. The only reason I did the SA hours was so I could say "I tried it, and it wasn't for me"

 

[lyndaelyzoo]

Thanks for the advice! I will definitely contact some equine vets to see if they know any SA vets that I can assist. I will also check the schools to which I am applying to see if they track SA, LA, or exotics. I feel much better now about my application. Originally, I had this perception that the vet schools would want hundreds of hours or both SA and LA, but I am learning that is not the case. Thanks again!!! 😀
And now its back to working on that PS which apparently is an infinite work in progress. 😱

 

[StillDreaming]

I would continue trying to volunteer at SA clinics and get more SA experience, but i don't see this being a downfall for you. There are quite a few applicants that only have small andimal experience and no LA or Exotics and get in, so why would there be results any differently for the opposite. As was said previously, getting SA expereience will help you become more well rounded and up your chances, but I don't think going into it without SA experience is a downfall.

 

[Anzalisa]

I'm in the exact same situation. The majority of my experience is in large animal/equine because that's the area I want to pursue. I have about 8 hrs of small animal from shadowing for a day... I wonder too if that will hurt my chances..

 

[Sweetcaroline14]

I am wondering if I stand a chance of being accepted into vet school with no SA experience. I have extensive equine experience (both animal and vet experience) that includes about six years full-time and about two years full time as a vet assistant at an avian vet clinic (can birds be considered SA experience or are they considered exclusively "exotic"?). I want to become an equine or possibly exotic animal veterinarian, but am wondering if a lack of SA experience will decrease my chances of acceptance. I have been trying to volunteer at an SA clinic this summer, but am finding that a lot of SA vets do not want to "hire" volunteers, apparently for liability reasons. Is anyone else having this problem? Please advise.

Hello! I don't think your lack of SA experience will hurt you. Once you get into vet school, you'll see that lots of students dont have very much clinical experience in one area or the other! As much as we'd like, we don't have experience in one area or the other. I worked with wildlife, some large animal and with an avian specialist who also saw small animals. I think the most beneficial part of your application is that you know what you love and you love what you do, so it'll show in your PS that you have a clear knowledge of where you want to go. I think the main purpose of experience before vet school is so you have clear understanding of the reality of veterinary medicine and what it requires. Some students may not have had the opportunity to do things in small animal practice, so they may not know what to expect, but its something that you will learn. I found my small animal experience by sending out a letter to local vets, telling them I was applying to vet school and was willing to do anything to shadow and see how the practice works. I was fortunate to have someone take me on and give my wonderful experience. Thank you Dr. M and Dr. T. So, apply and be honest on your experiences. Seriously, you will find in vet school that many students have never placed a catheter or done a blood draw. That's perfectly ok and you'll learn along the way. Good Luck to you🙂