So.... Externships?

[bbeventer]

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So, even though school just started, I was wondering what you all though about externships? I would like to do something over the summer and thought I should start thinking about these now perhaps, because I don't even know when the deadlines are for these things.

About when do you guys recommend sending out letters to potential externship locations? And would you recommend using externships to gain experience in a field you think you want to go into or to try and explore other areas?

 

[bunnity]

About when do you guys recommend sending out letters to potential externship locations? And would you recommend using externships to gain experience in a field you think you want to go into or to try and explore other areas?

I would give 4-6 months notice to most places or even a year or two to really popular places. It seems extreme, but since the third and fourth year students will be planning their clinical years way in advance, places fill up quickly. For example, when I applied to a well known shelter in August the earliest they had was mid-January (which is what I wanted anyway). My friend applied to Humane Alliance around the same time and they were booked up until late 2013 I think.

I don't think you need to send a letter per se - I have just emailed people and then sent my resume or filled out their application if they requested it.

I would use externships to make connections that could potentially lead to jobs - especially as you get toward your later years. If you want to do a fun one over the summer, go for it though.

Since we're on the subject, does anyone have suggestions/connections for a good shelter externship local to Philadelphia/South Jersey? (Besides PSPCA).

 

[bbeventer]

I would give 4-6 months notice to most places or even a year or two to really popular places. It seems extreme, but since the third and fourth year students will be planning their clinical years way in advance, places fill up quickly. For example, when I applied to a well known shelter in August the earliest they had was mid-January (which is what I wanted anyway). My friend applied to Humane Alliance around the same time and they were booked up until late 2013 I think.

I don't think you need to send a letter per se - I have just emailed people and then sent my resume or filled out their application if they requested it.

I would use externships to make connections that could potentially lead to jobs - especially as you get toward your later years. If you want to do a fun one over the summer, go for it though.

Awesome, thanks for advice. 👍 I've noticed lots of the places I have looked into mention externship positions, but no directions on how to apply... I guess for those places I would just shoot an email to the head hauncho?

 

[fromthebox]

Anyone have any insight to externships as a first year? Everything on all those site links are for "third/fourth year ONLY." Yet I keep hearing everyone on here talk about externships starting the summer between 1st and 2nd year.

Second question. Anyone have any insight as to how important externships these first two summers are to job prospects?

 

[bbeventer]

Anyone have any insight to externships as a first year? Everything on all those site links are for "third/fourth year ONLY." Yet I keep hearing everyone on here talk about externships starting the summer between 1st and 2nd year.

I'm totally asking as a first year prospect too ftb. The clinical externships I have found that do allow 1st/2nd years just state that there would be limited client/patient interaction, that it would be more of an observation type of externship. I have also found some at like various primate research centers that say they allow 1st years to be vary hands on and interactive. So from my very limited search so far, I think it really depends on where you get an externship.

As for jobs, I don't know, but the 4th years I have talked to said that externships are important for intern/residency matching... don't know if thats true, just what I have heard around school.

 

[primatevetjess]

Just a searching tip - you may get more results looking for "internships" rather than "externships". I know it's just semantics, but it may help. For example, I completed a lab animal med internship btw second and third year (and all the positions I applied to that summer were labeled as internships), and am currently doing two externships during my fourth year. Also try "summer position" and "preceptorship." Alternatively, you can just contact places you'd like to work and ask. 🙂

And I know that the word "internship" is also used for post-DVM positions, but that's just what I found. For your second question re: importance for matching, it may help but isn't at all essential. It's impossible to visit all the places I'd like to go. I'm applying to 13 residencies and have only spend any time at three of them!

Good luck!

 

[shortnsweet]

Anyone have any insight to externships as a first year? Everything on all those site links are for "third/fourth year ONLY." Yet I keep hearing everyone on here talk about externships starting the summer between 1st and 2nd year.

Second question. Anyone have any insight as to how important externships these first two summers are to job prospects?

After I finished up my pre-clinical EMS (think handling etc), I worked at the SPCA, Banfield, and tried to shadow at some places. Banfield's summer program is really great for 1st and 2nd years, because they train you based on what you know, and the SPCA lets you do tons of clinical exams by yourself which is awesome. The first two summers are all about gaining confidence, seeing practice, and getting comfortable with your skills. I don't think they will make or break your career if you don't get one you want, but if you build good relationships with clinics, you can always go back again later.

Then I started applying to a bunch of equine ones in prep for internship apps next year. If you are wanting to do stuff before 3/4th year, try and pick times of the year where other students may not be there, or can be super flexible with clinics if they have someone drop out/give up their place. I haven't had too much trouble with the equine clinics getting into externships (yet!).

 

[skittles12]

I did nothing except pet-sitting between 1st and 2nd year, so we'll see if that affects my post-graduation job prospects. (Hopefully not!)

This past summer I did an externship in the equine hospital part of a mixed practice. I set it up about 3-4 months in advance--just emailed them inquiring about it. I got to do most of the treatments, give vaccines, take blood, go on farm calls, etc. It was good experience, and it was good to see how different clinics have (very) different working environments.

The AAEP site has a good list of places that offer externships, if you're interested in equine practice. I would start out just calling/emailing the ones you are interested in.

Now it's time for me to start looking for 4th year externships!! eek!

 

[Cypress]

Are most of these unpaid positions between 1-2 year?

I'm also trying to figure out what I'm going to do this summer and I've started looking around at different places - but $ is unfortunately a factor for me.

 

[bunnity]

Lots of students get paying jobs in the summer. Between 1st and 2nd year I had a paid position at a clinic as a tech, and between 2nd and 3rd year I had two paid positions at school (one animal-related, one not). If I had not had paid positions I wouldn't have been able to eat all summer... lots of people are in that position so don't feel like you HAVE to do something unpaid.

I think the difference is that if you're getting paid you're expected to spend your time doing tech stuff and if you're not getting paid you can spend more time being doctorly. So it probably depends where you are in your level of clinical skills and what you're trying to get out of it. For example, I didn't learn that much at my first tech job because I had done the same stuff at other jobs before - but my second job was with exotics so I learned a ton even though I was being a tech.

 

[Lissarae06]

Banfield's student job program pays pretty well (at least for my part of the country). It is great for 1-2 year students and they are flexible with your schedule as well. IIRC, minimum time commitment is 6 weeks so you still have time to do things like go on vacation. Also, a lot of my friends have gone on RAVS trips and have absolutely loved them.

 

[jmo1012]

Banfield's student job program pays pretty well (at least for my part of the country). It is great for 1-2 year students and they are flexible with your schedule as well. IIRC, minimum time commitment is 6 weeks so you still have time to do things like go on vacation. Also, a lot of my friends have gone on RAVS trips and have absolutely loved them.

i'll second the Banfield SJP. money is good, hours are great and you're guaranteed full time work, and depending upon your placement, you should hopefully get some good "doctor learning" as well, as its supposed to be an 80/20% time relationship between technical stuff and mentorship. not everyone has a great experience but i was pretty pleased. it was hard to beat the pay and the hours compared to every other job i've ever had!

 

[irrelephant23]

If anyone is willing to commit to an amazing 6 week (unpaid... sorry 🙁 ) learning experience, California Wildlife Center offers a wildlife medicine externship during the summers that many first and second year vet students have participated in. I participated in it this summer as a non-vet student and cannot even begin to describe the amount of information I learned during the experience. You can find the program information here: http://www.cawildlife.org/images/GetInvolved/getinvolved_wildlifemedicineexternshiprequirements.pdf and their website is www.cawildlife.org. Dr. Tom is a fantastic wildlife vet and a great teacher. Externs assist with everything from morning treatments to surgery and radiographs, and can even volunteer with the marine mammal rescue team during days off. It's hard work (12+ hours for 4 days a week), but the amount of material covered is tremendous. Anyone interested in wildlife should consider applying!

They also have 10 week internships if anyone happens to read this that is interested in gaining introductory experience with wildlife. The internships are not as medically hands-on, but you do gain exposure with several wildlife species.

PM me if you have any questions about my experience!

 

[goldnretrivrgrl]

I just applied for a short term (2 week-3 week) unpaid externship at Angell in Boston. The coordinator said that now is the time to apply if you want to get certain rotations or a certain time during the summer. Just a heads up to anyone interested

 

[shortnsweet]

I just applied for a short term (2 week-3 week) unpaid externship at Angell in Boston. The coordinator said that now is the time to apply if you want to get certain rotations or a certain time during the summer. Just a heads up to anyone interested

Aw my friend just finished one there and LOVED it!

 

[bbeventer]

I just applied for a short term (2 week-3 week) unpaid externship at Angell in Boston. The coordinator said that now is the time to apply if you want to get certain rotations or a certain time during the summer. Just a heads up to anyone interested

I would love to go to different places, anyone know about funding options? I know Hill's offers a small travel fund, does anyone else?

 

[CurrySpice]

I'm torn between wanting to throw my critters in my car and work somewhere cool this summer (Montana? Alaska? Utah?) and wanting to stay local and take advantage of the awesome local opportunities I know about and haven't had time to pursue.

I feel like I "should" work as a tech since I've never done that, but research sounds like more fun...

 

[prevetdreamer]

I'm torn between wanting to throw my critters in my car and work somewhere cool this summer (Montana? Alaska? Utah?) and wanting to stay local and take advantage of the awesome local opportunities I know about and haven't had time to pursue.

I feel like I "should" work as a tech since I've never done that, but research sounds like more fun...

My advice? Do what you want most. It's always good to explore new options, but if research is something you are interested in I say go for it! Unless you've done a ton of research and could use tech work to broaden your experience... so I guess it depends on what experiences you've had already.

I'm sort of in the same boat with travel vs staying local. I would love to live somewhere else for a while, even if it's just over the summer. If I go somewhere else I might have a really cool experience under my belt, but would also have housing, food, and travel expenses plus maybe not getting paid. If I stay at home I won't have to pay for food or rent, could most likely be paid, and could probably find some cool experiences but I would miss out on experiencing a new place and maybe something that's not found at home. Soo.... It's probably going to depend on how this cycle goes and if I need unique experience vs. a better savings account.

 

[bunnity]

Bumping this up to ask if anyone else has done the ASPCA externship and if so - where did you stay? I don't know NYC at all except that it's sooo expensive 🙄

 

[OwlandPussycat]

Does anyone have thoughts on how you should choose the location of your externship?
Should I look for externships in the region that I actually want to practice in (to establish local connections) or should/could I look for externships that are across the country (so I can do some traveling while still getting experience and references)?
I suppose what I'm asking is whether (for a first or second year) externships are more important for getting experience, references, or local contacts.

I image it's some combination of the three. Any thoughts, opinions, experiences?