Undergraduate Internships?

[mckaylameow]

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Hey 🙂
I'm new to this site and was just wondering if anyone could help me out with some possibilities for internships for the summer of 2013?
A little bit of background info:
I am currently a student at University of Hawaii-Hilo studying Animal Science- pre veterinary specialty. I completed high school at my local community college where I maintained a 4.0 gpa, where I then transferred to University of California Santa Cruz as an incoming freshman for two quarters where I maintained a 3.84 gpa. In the beginning of my spring quarter, my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, so I left school and started at my community college again where I completed my general chem series and calculus requirements... I have decided not to go back to UC Santa Cruz but to stay closer to my family after my father's death and transferred to University of Hawaii... which leads me to...

Internship opportunities- I hope to specialize in shelter medicine and have volunteered at animal clinics in India and am going on a VIDA trip this summer to South America. I have also worked as a traveling "vet tech" with Luv My Pet, Inc. and volunteered for 100+ hours at a local veterinary clinic that specialized in wellness care.
I am looking for something that I haven't done, so involving emergency animal care, exotic animals, or research would be great....
If you know of any research opportunities for undergraduates in Shelter medicine that would be optimal...
Sorry this is so longwinded, lol... anyways I would love information on just about any summer undergraduate opportunities for 2013 involving animal or veterinary science...
Thanks so much 🙂

 

[pirateyoho]

AAVC's Veterinary Internship & Residency Matching Program is a good resource for finding internships. You can probably refine your search to specify that you're most interested in shelter medicine internships. http://www.virmp.org/

I also believe that the "job postings" section of the AVMA website includes a box that you can select to just show internship opportunities.

Hope these two sites can serve as a starting point for you! Good luck in your search.

 

[heylodeb]

AAVC's Veterinary Internship & Residency Matching Program is a good resource for finding internships. You can probably refine your search to specify that you're most interested in shelter medicine internships. http://www.virmp.org/

I also believe that the "job postings" section of the AVMA website includes a box that you can select to just show internship opportunities.

Hope these two sites can serve as a starting point for you! Good luck in your search.

I think those are just for veterinary students/graduates and not undergrads?

 

[Coquette22]

That's my understanding, heylodeb. VIRMP is for post-vet school, not for undergraduates.

 

[Fly Racing]

MOST undergrad internships are not formal internship programs, but more of something that is set up for a specific student's and the internship provider's needs. I know of a couple of formal undegrad internships for equine (because that's the world I live in), but, unfortunately, I cant help you with your area of interest. I would suggest getting in touch with people in the field and explain your goals. Be prepared to do any tasks and do them for free to get in with the people/field you really want to work with. You have to get your foot in the door and show you are hard working, very mature and professional student. There is a major equine hospital I wanted to get experience at that is about 2,000 miles from home. I got the typical response when I called (that they'll get back to me...). So I got on a plane and went there (yay, priceline's flexible date name your price, lol). I got there on a weekend, but figured I stop by and see if any one was there. The office was empty, but I saw people and the corner. So I went and introduced my self and gave a short pitch about my goals (and that I had just flown there to talk to them, yikes!). The three vets (all surgeons) that were there were totally taken by my mix of bravery, humility, and dreams they they allowed me to come back and do a month long live-on-site internship (and later a letter of recommendation!)!! I think I made one of the partners day based on how happy he seemed that this person flew across the country to speak with him! I'm not saying this is a fool proof plan, because I got super lucky (getting more than I ever imagined). But, my point is, you at least have to get out there and meet people. Just being one of a hundred plus people that will ask for experience hours, jobs, and internships this year will not likely get you noticed!

 

[kakurubird]

Google will likely be your best friend in this case, since you know best your geographical limitations (esp. staying in Hawaii vs. mainland) and other preferences, but here are a few sites with good listings to help you get started and show you what's out there:

http://asci.uvm.edu/intern/
http://people.rit.edu/~gtfsbi/Symp/vetag.htm

 

[pirateyoho]

I think those are just for veterinary students/graduates and not undergrads?

My bad. I seem to remember finding a few undergraduate opportunities on AVMA's site, but I could be remembering wrong.

I know I found some undergrad internships (some even vet med related) through the AZA (since my interest is in zoo/exotics). Not sure if there is an organization like the AZA for shelter medicine, though...?

 

[irrelephant23]

This past semester I was scrambling to find cool summer internships and was able to find a ton through AVMA, the rit website mentioned above, and hours of google searching. A lot of places I was interested in were small wildlife clinics or rehab'ers, but many of them have online applications. Also, if you visit most zoo websites they will have internship and volunteer sections to provide you with information. I found an internship through California Wildlife Center that I will be doing in 2 weeks that is solely wildlife medicine. I can't wait! I found that one through hours of googling!

Good luck!

 

[pigsatuga]

I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.
I actually went onto my university's website and found their list of all the places that offered vet students internships and called each one to see if they would be willing to take on an undergrad in a lesser position, such as just helping out as an assistant or shadowing. Most weren't really interested, but a few were! In fact, that's how I got the internship I have now. 😀 So just put yourself out there and keep your fingers crossed.

 

[mooshagen]

I know of at least one clinic that would be open to taking a pre-vet. It's small animal emergency and in the States, yet very far from Hawaii. PM me if you're interested. Not sure how far you are willing to travel.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using SDN Mobile

 

[beatles1964]

I would STRONGLY recommend volunteering with HSVMA-RAVS. You can get more information by going to www.hsvma.org. the program is funded through HSUS and they run trips to native American reservations to provide free vet care for the residents. I went on a trip this past summer to Lower Brule, SD and it was by far, the best experience I've gotten thus far. I learned so much and although I was the only undergrad on the trip, the vets, vet students, and techs included me in everything...including anesthesia and recovery. It's an intense week, but great experience.

 

[missyscove]

The AZA job listings are a great way to find exotics internships. I interned at the San Antonio Zoo in the bird department one summer for a total of about 650 hours. It was unpaid but I had housing in the area and it was really a great experience.

http://www.aza.org/joblistings/

Another way to find hands on wildlife experiences is the TAMU job board.
http://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/job-board/

 

[T_Rose]

The AZA job listings are a great way to find exotics internships. I interned at the San Antonio Zoo in the bird department one summer for a total of about 650 hours. It was unpaid but I had housing in the area and it was really a great experience.

http://www.aza.org/joblistings/

Another way to find hands on wildlife experiences is the TAMU job board.
http://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/job-board/

👍 The AZA job listings is my suggestion as well. The internship I had was listed there.