Research Experience???

[OceanAngel]

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Hi everyone,
I know we have had similar posts to this, but I am still a bit confused on where to put my research experience and wonder if anyone has any suggestions of what they are doing or have done. I am applying to five schools and two say that research experience done under the supervision of a Ph.D. scientist is considered veterinary experience regardless if it involves animals. However, three of the school consider it work experience. I don't need or want to "pad" my veterinary experience since I have more than enough hours, but research is a large part of who I am as an applicant so I don't want to push it aside into the work/employment section. As I read the VMCAS explanation and asked VMCAS help they seem to indicate that any research done under the supervision of a health professional is veterinary, but on their chart and explanation do not seem to coordinate. Sorry such a long post. Any suggestions would be great!!!

 

[HorseyVet]

Hi everyone,
I am applying to five schools and two say that research experience done under the supervision of a Ph.D. scientist is considered veterinary experience regardless if it involves animals. However, three of the school consider it work experience. I don't need or want to "pad" my veterinary experience since I have more than enough hours, but research is a large part of who I am as an applicant so I don't want to push it aside into the work/employment section. As I read the VMCAS explanation and asked VMCAS help they seem to indicate that any research done under the supervision of a health professional is veterinary, but on their chart and explanation do not seem to coordinate. Sorry such a long post. Any suggestions would be great!!!

Sounds like you have the option of putting it under 3-4 places. I might not put it under work if it was academic (part of a MA etc.). Only if you worked *with* animals (rather then their tissue or for 3 second before you saked them) would I put as animal xp. If you've read the odl posts, then you know I'm prone to not put research as veterinary xp unless it was clearly veterinary (research for vet med or some behavior, etc).

I guess VMCAS doesn't have a specific place for research?

.....I wish I remembered where I put mine. But I know it wasn't work (I wasn't paid exactly), it wasn't veterinary xp (no vet)....I might have mentioned it under animal experience in reference to rodents/hamsters.....

I realize this isn't very helpful, but where ever I did put it, they noticed, and everyone asked about it. If you don't feel it is clearly reflected (I'm not sure how big of deal this is to you...like if you are planning to go into vet med research)....I would make sure you cover it in your personal statement. For me, my research is what got me more leaning toward human-med, so it was important to mention.

Also, I don't know where you are applying but I know at some places they up front have a place in the interview to ask about research.

I hoped this helped a little. I'm almost wanting to make a fake VMCAS so I can figure this out, b/c obviously it isn't clear. Personally I'm not a fan of VMCAS. It's a good idea in theory, but every school is so different. I know with me, there were a few schools that I almost didn't realize needed extra things (and money), even though VMCAS acted like they would tell you. I think the schools are similar enough (but different enough) that it's easier to apply to each seperately.

Good luck.

 

[kate_g]

I am applying to five schools and two say that research experience done under the supervision of a Ph.D. scientist is considered veterinary experience regardless if it involves animals.

I've seen this too. But, I think they're unconsciously making some assumptions here about what kind of research you're doing - they say "even if it doesn't involve animals" but I think they're still assuming you're doing tissue culture or at least working on mammalian genes or proteins or diseases. I guess I can see the rationale there, because those are kinds of research you might actually do as a vet. But my undergrad thesis project was on *plants* and there's no way I'm listing that as "veterinary" experience. 🙂 I would personally go with work experience in your case, if you think 3/5 of your schools would count it as such. I don't think the other two schools are going to discount it just because it's listed as work.

research is a large part of who I am as an applicant so I don't want to push it aside into the work/employment section.

I'm putting a paragraph in the "do you have anything else to explain" section that summarizes my research experience, its effect on me as an applicant, my intention to continue doing it, and just basically tells them they should know it's "more than a job."

As I read the VMCAS explanation and asked VMCAS help they seem to indicate that any research done under the supervision of a health professional is veterinary, but on their chart and explanation do not seem to coordinate.

Yeah, I noticed that too. They, too, seem to be making the assumption that *all* research is animal-related and under the supervision of a veterinarian or "health professional". I basically decided they were going to be of no help, and I arranged things in the way I thought was most truthful and most logical. That means I listed my undergrad (plants) and postbacc (human disease) research as "employment", and I'm actually making a separate entry in all three categories splitting out the hours of my PhD (animal) research devoted to veterinary, animal handling, and computer programming ("employment") experience. This is pretty much in direct violation of the instructions, but the hours don't overlap so I'm not "double dipping" and I doubt my application will go directly into the trash because of it (at least I really hope not!).

 

[ginkogirl]

Hi everyone,
I know we have had similar posts to this, but I am still a bit confused on where to put my research experience and wonder if anyone has any suggestions of what they are doing or have done. I am applying to five schools and two say that research experience done under the supervision of a Ph.D. scientist is considered veterinary experience regardless if it involves animals. However, three of the school consider it work experience. I don't need or want to "pad" my veterinary experience since I have more than enough hours, but research is a large part of who I am as an applicant so I don't want to push it aside into the work/employment section. As I read the VMCAS explanation and asked VMCAS help they seem to indicate that any research done under the supervision of a health professional is veterinary, but on their chart and explanation do not seem to coordinate. Sorry such a long post. Any suggestions would be great!!!

I've had this same question, however all of the schools I contacted advised me to put it in veterinary expierence (even though it wasn't with a veterinarian or with animals, and I specifically told them that over the phone.) One of the admissions officers I spoke to actually told me that several years ago the veterinary expierence section was actually titled "Veterinary and Research Expierence." I'm still planning on noting why I put it in veterinary expierence under the additional information section just to cover my bases. I would list it wherever you think it fits best, then make a comment about it if you feel it is necessary. Just my opinion, though, take it for what it's worth!

Lisa

 

[OceanAngel]

I've had this same question, however all of the schools I contacted advised me to put it in veterinary expierence (even though it wasn't with a veterinarian or with animals, and I specifically told them that over the phone.) One of the admissions officers I spoke to actually told me that several years ago the veterinary expierence section was actually titled "Veterinary and Research Expierence." I'm still planning on noting why I put it in veterinary expierence under the additional information section just to cover my bases. I would list it wherever you think it fits best, then make a comment about it if you feel it is necessary. Just my opinion, though, take it for what it's worth!

Lisa

If you don't mind me asking what schools did you talk to? I only talked to admissions people via email so sometimes its harder to get points across than over the phone. Thanks for everyone's advice!!!

 

[ginkogirl]

If you don't mind me asking what schools did you talk to? I only talked to admissions people via email so sometimes its harder to get points across than over the phone. Thanks for everyone's advice!!!

I spoke to UPenn (they specifically said it should go in vet expierence), VA-MD (said it wouldn't matter that much, but vet expierence is a good place), and Illinois (same response as VA-MD.) I'd recommend phone contact to ask questions, so far everyone I've spoken to has been really helpful and it allows you to qualify your questions in response to their answers. Hope this helps!

Lisa