Vet App Descriptions??

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rosemma

MSU CVM c/o 2012
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How in detail do I need to make my extra-curricular descriptions?? Do I need to make it very resume-like and use power words and such? Opinions welcome - thanks!
 
i made sure that i described what it was breifly, but also included things that i learned from them. for example, i've played soccer forever. i explained that i played on township teams and school teams. then i explained that i learned how to work well with others, honor commitments, be a leader, etc.

hope that helps, and good luck!
 
I used a series of very direct/descriptive sentences w/o much filler. I do know that some people were just listing "vaccinations, restraint, record keeping, ..." -- personally I liked how mine read better with SOME sentence structure - but avoid fluff.

I didn't have room to fit in what I took from the experiences. I left that for the personal statement/interview, etc. I reckon it's just a matter of opinion and there probably isn't a right/wrong way to do it.
 
So should I give specific examples of things I did while working with a vet? (Example: I assisted in a biopsy of a kidney) or make it more general? (Example: assisted veterinarian with biopsies).. So far mine has been general.
 
So should I give specific examples of things I did while working with a vet? (Example: I assisted in a biopsy of a kidney) or make it more general? (Example: assisted veterinarian with biopsies).. So far mine has been general.

generally specific. LOL.

name categories of things you did to encompass general tasks and ideas, and get more specific if it proves relevant.
 
So should I give specific examples of things I did while working with a vet? (Example: I assisted in a biopsy of a kidney) or make it more general? (Example: assisted veterinarian with biopsies).. So far mine has been general.
For me it kind of depended on how much time I'd spent on that experience, whether it was "doing" or "watching", and how long ago it was. So for my two years volunteering in a shelter, 8 years ago, I just gave a general list of my duties (injections, pills, ear cleaning, blood draws, assist with spay/neuter...). But I spent a single day riding along with a mobile radiologist just before applying, and there I think I mentioned a couple of specific things I saw (cardiac ultrasound, ultrasound-guided liver biopsy) because I certainly didn't experience the whole field of radiology in one day. I guess what I'm saying is, be flexible, and describe each experience in whatever way works out best for that experience.
 
Thanks - that really does help a lot actually. Pretty much what I did with mine. I am just trying to give an accurate description of what I did. Also - for extracurriculars and awards do I need to state what I learned from those really? Like soccer... can't I just give a general overview? Do I really need to say it taught me this and this and this?? I feel like that will just be overload on the admissions person looking over my app. Plus, I put stuff like that in my PS. What do you think?
 
I agree that you certainly don't have to write what it taught you. I really don't think the adcomms are looking for an explanation in every section. Sometimes less really is more.
 
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