Summer Jobs

[that redhead]

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We have essentially two summers over the course of the program: the one after first year and the one after second year. After exploring (and enjoying!) many of the fields of vet med as an undergraduate, I feel very strongly in my decision to pursue lab animal and/or pathology as a career.

My problem comes when browsing for summer opportunities for vet students. On the one hand, I feel as though I should choose experiences that will reflect my interest in lab animal and/or pathology in case I want to apply for an internship or residency down the road. On the other hand, I feel like these two summers are my "last chance" to do whatever I want in the wide spectrum of veterinary fields. My inclination is to use one summer doing something not directly in my line of interest and the other summer doing something aligned with my career goals. What are your thoughts?

 

[jmo1012]

We have essentially two summers over the course of the program: the one after first year and the one after second year. After exploring (and enjoying!) many of the fields of vet med as an undergraduate, I feel very strongly in my decision to pursue lab animal and/or pathology as a career.

My problem comes when browsing for summer opportunities for vet students. On the one hand, I feel as though I should choose experiences that will reflect my interest in lab animal and/or pathology in case I want to apply for an internship or residency down the road. On the other hand, I feel like these two summers are my "last chance" to do whatever I want in the wide spectrum of veterinary fields. My inclination is to use one summer doing something not directly in my line of interest and the other summer doing something aligned with my career goals. What are your thoughts?

that sounds like a good way to split your summers to me! i plan on trying to do externships for a week or so on either end of both summers to kind of bolster my resume and solidify what i want

 

[libster06]

On the other hand, I feel like these two summers are my "last chance" to do whatever I want in the wide spectrum of veterinary fields. My inclination is to use one summer doing something not directly in my line of interest and the other summer doing something aligned with my career goals. What are your thoughts?

At our school, they encourage us to use our weeks that we have off during clinics to do things and explore avenues outside of our interests (ie: explore the field). It's a week or two at a time and it gives you time to dabble in different things and make sure you know what's out there so that you either see a) that you are certain you want to stick with what you have already chosen or b) that you unexpectedly fall in love with something you didn't have any idea you'd be interested in and decide to go down that road (or at least take a very in depth look into it).

Many kids in our class didn't do anything this first summer. Some worked at restaurants, some at vet clinics (that's what I did), a handful did research through school grants, and some didn't work at all and traveled/relaxed instead. So I wouldn't get really bogged down about what to do with your summer and whether it will affect your path in vet school. I'm not proposing you do nothing or take a job that has nothing to do with veterinary medicine, as I totally am of the mindset that I need to be doing something relating to vet med whether its something I've done before or a totally new part of the field. I'm just saying there will be plenty of chances to explore down the line so at this point you can do whichever you feel would make you happiest to be working with. Either route is beneficial but keep in mind two summers aren't all you have to see what else is out there.

 

[libster06]

i plan on trying to do externships for a week or so on either end of both summers to kind of bolster my resume and solidify what i want

Although I personally haven't done any externships (and is my goal for the upcoming summer), they are a super great way to get mini experiences in. It's also a really good opportunity to network and make really good connections and many times you can keep coming back to the places and doing different things if you choose to.