Take a job offer?

[KitCat]

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I got offered to come back to work at a small animal veterinary clinic that I worked at, however, I have about 750 hours small animal veterinary experience but less than 10 hours large animal veterinary experience. Basically, I'm worried when I'll be able to get large animal experience if the only large animal vet around here does farm calls on Mon.-Fri. (days I'm either in class or would work) and how I'll be able to continue to get experience from a different vet that I would like to use for an LOR again if I don't get in this cycle. I just don't know whether I should take the job or not. Also, my GPA is 3.2 cumulative and my GRE (revised) was 294 so it's not like I have a stellar academic record to make up for "lack of variety" in experiences.

 

[bannanababy146]

I'm not sure if this is the same at most schools, but my instate puts a lot of emphasis on having a variety of veterinary experience. This year is the first time I applied, but friends of mine who applied last year were able to do file reviews/get feedback on why they were denied. It seems like a few of them were denied mainly based on the fact that they lacked large animal experience. I've also talked to the dean at my IS and he said they like to see students have at least 40 hours of large animal veterinary experience.

If I were you I would try to get more large animal/wildlife experience instead of taking the job. You would also have more time to focus on your class work and retake the gre if you want to. That's just my opinion!

 

[macita183]

Is it possible for you to shadow a large animal vet on the weekends if you take this job? That's what I had to do since the clinic I worked in only served small animals. I was able to forge a great relationshp with the LA vet and she wrote me a letter of recommendation as well as the vet I worked with in the clinic.

 

[StartingoverVet]

I got offered to come back to work at a small animal veterinary clinic that I worked at, however, I have about 750 hours small animal veterinary experience but less than 10 hours large animal veterinary experience. Basically, I'm worried when I'll be able to get large animal experience if the only large animal vet around here does farm calls on Mon.-Fri. (days I'm either in class or would work) and how I'll be able to continue to get experience from a different vet that I would like to use for an LOR again if I don't get in this cycle. I just don't know whether I should take the job or not. Also, my GPA is 3.2 cumulative and my GRE (revised) was 294 so it's not like I have a stellar academic record to make up for "lack of variety" in experiences.

where do you plan on applying. Requirements vary widely.
Penn for example wants experience in the area you plan on being in...
Some schools specifically want variety, and some don't care as much.

 

[prevetdreamer]

I would take the job. Depth of experience is also valuable, especially if small animal is what you want to do in the future. If you need a job to support yourself or save money, this could be a great opportunity to make money doing something you like. Who knows if you'll find another job like that. However, you will want to make sure you find ways to broaden your experience. Maybe you could ask for one day off a week so you can use that day to volunteer or shadow? That's what I'm planning on after I graduate, working 4-5 days at a small animal clinic and then volunteering in some other area. I'm extremely happy at my small animal clinic and I want to maintain a strong relationship with them while trying to get into school.

 

[sumstorm]

Is the clinic open weekends, evenings? If so, ask for those shift. Be upfront about your dilemma and negotiate for what you need. Back when I had hiring power, I loved having someone who preferred to work the weekends because it eased scheduling conflicts for everyone.

 

[Kpowell14]

I'm not sure if this is the same at most schools, but my instate puts a lot of emphasis on having a variety of veterinary experience. This year is the first time I applied, but friends of mine who applied last year were able to do file reviews/get feedback on why they were denied. It seems like a few of them were denied mainly based on the fact that they lacked large animal experience. I've also talked to the dean at my IS and he said they like to see students have at least 40 hours of large animal veterinary experience.

If I were you I would try to get more large animal/wildlife experience instead of taking the job. You would also have more time to focus on your class work and retake the gre if you want to. That's just my opinion!

This sounds like the school that I'm wanting to attend... I wonder if they are the same

 

[KitCat]

Thank you everyone!

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[KitCat]

where do you plan on applying. Requirements vary widely.
Penn for example wants experience in the area you plan on being in...
Some schools specifically want variety, and some don't care as much.

I applied to CSU, Virginia, Auburn & Cornell

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[KitCat]

Is it possible for you to shadow a large animal vet on the weekends if you take this job? That's what I had to do since the clinic I worked in only served small animals. I was able to forge a great relationshp with the LA vet and she wrote me a letter of recommendation as well as the vet I worked with in the clinic.

When I asked the LA vet he said he doesn't usually make farm calls on Sat.

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[KitCat]

If anyone else has any thoughts/opinions etc. send them my way 🙂

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[bannanababy146]

Kpowell, my IS is illinois!

And KitCat I did not realize you already applied this cycle. Maybe a better option would be to take the job at your small animal clinic and if you don't get in this cycle THEN focus on what you need to improve over the summer. For example, I worked at the dairy farm on my campus this summer and got a ton of large animal experience (and I got paid for it too!). You could shadow a large animal vet, intern somewhere, or whatever else you might need.

 

[Trematode]

If you need to work, take the job.

Do not pass up a job because there is a "chance" of you to shadow a large animal vet. If the shadowing is for certain, the decision will be a little difficult to make.

Best of luck 😀.

 

[bunnity]

Do you need money? If you don't work this job, will you work another job?

 

[KitCat]

Kpowell, my IS is illinois!

And KitCat I did not realize you already applied this cycle. Maybe a better option would be to take the job at your small animal clinic and if you don't get in this cycle THEN focus on what you need to improve over the summer. For example, I worked at the dairy farm on my campus this summer and got a ton of large animal experience (and I got paid for it too!). You could shadow a large animal vet, intern somewhere, or whatever else you might need.

Yea I already applied, I should have mentioned that but thanks for the advice 🙂

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[KitCat]

I guess I don't "need" the job but it would ne nice to make some extra money and at the same time gain valuable experience so I think if I was to go back im just going to try and stock up on LA hours on xmas break, spring break etc.

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