Veterinary Should I get job experience or volunteer experience?

[TheBoneDoctah]

Hello! I am considering vet school and I’m currently working as a research technician in a microbio lab (3 years). I interviewed for a veterinary medical technician job and was offered it (I don’t have a license however). I would have to leave my current position which is pretty flexible with hours for this new position which is more related to the field. I hoped to do more volunteerships in my current position since it has more flexibility and it seems like I wouldn’t be able to take on as many volunteer opportunities if I took this new position.

My question is, do vet schools prefer to see more volunteerships or paid work experience in the vet med field?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Regardless if it is paid/volunteer, you do need to get experience in the vet world. Working in a micro lab is cool, but not remotely related to vet work.

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[Mr.Smile12]

Thanks so much for your response! I am def planning on volunteering at a clinic (I was but stopped because of covid) and at a lab animal facility. I can probably take on even more volunteer opportunities in my current job since it is more flexible. But in the new job I would be able to do maybe 1 or 2 volunteer ships with limited hours. I also want to go into research in the vet med field and the new job is NOT research based (if that makes a difference).

So my question is, is it better to have more experience in volunteer ship or more work experience? Thanks again!

It's hard to say without a full accounting of what activities you already have completed.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi! I’ve only done 40 hrs of volunteering at a vet clinic due to the pandemic. I plan to do much more and won’t be applying for some time. I should be volunteering at a lab animal medicine facility soon as well. Thanks!

I don't think vet schools have a strong preference for volunteer versus paid positions in the field for an application. I would ask the schools. In my opinion, you seem to be okay.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Yeah just ask the schools. They are the ones accepting you. They can tell you directly what they need/accept.