Summer advice wanted!

[NittanyKitty]

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I'm planning on applying in Fall of 2009, so this is my last summer before everything's on the table.

Here's the deal: I'm living at home to work and earn some money next year. Working at a vet clinic is ideal, but with the economy, I'll be taking whatever job is hiring. My question is what to do with my summer. I'm not sure whether to pursue a last full-time internship (maybe in zoo/conservation), which could give me about 400 hrs. or begin working at home while volunteering at the local zoo and shelter for 10-15 hours per week.

My experience hours as of now are: 1500 SA, 700 research, 300 LA, and 100 equine. I know this sounds really anal. 😳 I am aiming for an out-of-state school, and would like some advice on what would be the best approach. Thanks, guys!

 

[No Imagination]

Well, what kind of vet do you want to be?

 

[NittanyKitty]

I'm still not sure, which isn't helping things any. I've enjoyed parts of everything I've done, and though I'm leaning towards mixed, it's not set in stone. I'd love to get some experience with zoo or exotic medicine (and both ideas of how to get that experience are just fine with me). I guess my question is whether you think pursuing a full-fledged internship this summer is worth it?

What would you do in this situation?

 

[Electrophile]

I'd beef up your food animal and equine experience a tad. Saying that you are willing to do mixed animal is quite helpful on your application (instead of just small animal) as we all know about the large animal shortage and the extra hands on experience will be of help to you in vet school handling the big guys. I would also suspect it would be easier to find a job (depending on where you live) or a volunteer/shadowing job with a large animal vet than small animal, but that was my experience anyways. Maybe the zoo/exotics experience could be gotten on off days or the weekend? Or do half zoo/exotics at one location and half large animal at another. Whichever works! 😀

 

[DVMorBust]

I would also suspect it would be easier to find a job (depending on where you live) or a volunteer/shadowing job with a large animal vet than small animal, but that was my experience anyways. Maybe the zoo/exotics experience could be gotten on off days or the weekend? Or do half zoo/exotics at one location and half large animal at another. Whichever works! 😀

Two things:

1. amen to the 'shadowing with large animal vets'. I had the opportunity to shadow small animal vets and equine vets, and with the large animal vets it was more of an 'assistant but not paid' situation. Small animal vets (especially in big cities) have hefty insurance and while shadowing, all you can do is observe. Large animal vets, by nature of the job, frequently need more hands-on help from people who are working with them (holding horses, pulling blood, etc.) The vet I was with always explained to owners who I was and asked if I could do things on their animals beyond simply assisting, but most horse owners were totally fine with it.

2. for getting zoo experience - try contacting a smaller zoo and seeing about shadowing the vet techs. The zoo I got my experience at wasn't huge, so they didn't have vets on staff - but their vet came in two days a week (he was a LA vet aside from the zoo gig). I went in and spent the day with the tech when the vet was coming in, and went through the zoo instead of the vet to set it up.