VMCAS-How Do I Classify This?

[russellang]

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Alright so I had a question regarding veterinary experience on the VMCAS application. I work as a large animal veterinary technician and volunteer at the same clinic. I am trying to get as many hours as I can and I work but also come in without being paid in order to get more experience. For the application, do I make two seperate entries for the same clinic/vet but classify one as volunteer and one as being paid? I am not sure if I should do this or just say all is paid and not seperate them. There is no difference in what I do whether I am paid or not.

I am also paid/volunteer as a small animal technician when I am not working out in the field on large animals. Should I seperate the small animal from large animal on the VMCAS?

Thank you guys!

 

[BlacKAT33]

I would list each clinic as a separate experience. Then in the paragraph of each description I would put down __ hrs volunteer __ hrs paid. If you don't have space in the description area because you have too many duties to list then put it in your explanation statement area.

I don't think there is a need to do separate entries for the volunteer and paid since it was at the same place with the same duties. But it is nice for adcoms to see that you have done both paid and volunteer work because then they know you'll do w/e you can do get more experience and it isn't just about the money.

 

[russellang]

I am classified as a large animal technician but do get paid to work as a small animal technician. Do I still just put in one entry?

So for one clinic at the bottom of the description write:

LA: Paid hrs__ Volunteer__
SA: Paid hrs__ Volunteer__

 

[BlacKAT33]

So this one clinic is mixed small and large animal? And the other clinic is just small?

I am confused with how many clinics you work at because this sentence sounds like it is a second clinic

I am also paid/volunteer as a small animal technician when I am not working out in the field on large animals. Should I seperate the small animal from large animal on the VMCAS?

 

[hunterjumper12]

If I am understanding your question correctly, you work at a mixed animal clinic, but work with both the small animals and the large animals? If it is under the same vet and the same company, I would list them together and list the experience as "mixed animal practice," and then list your SA hours and your LA hours in the description area (or explanation statement if you run out of room).

I know on my application, I shadowed the same veterinarian for both my small animal and my large animal experience. However, she has her own large animal practice, and just works in a small animal clinic (different company) a few days a week. Because of that, I listed the two experiences as separate, especially since my duties were very different between the two places.

Good luck on your application!

 

[BlacKAT33]

yea, if you work at a mixed practice only then I agree with hunterjumper.

Mixed Animal Clinic- SA: __ volunteer __ paid, LA __volunteer ___ paid.

And since you probably won't have room to waste to put all of that down. I'd put the hour details in the explanation statement.

 

[russellang]

I apologize I was not clear. I work at a mixed animal practice. I am a LA technician and most of the time I am working with large animals but I do work as a SA tech some of the time.

I think it is best that I put down my total hours under this clinic and only have one entry. I will then break it down as above according to SA and LA and Vol/Paid in the explanation section.

 

[david594]

If you don't have space in the description area because you have too many duties to list then put it in your explanation statement area.

If you dont have space in the description area.... then you are writing too much. Condense the info so it fits the allotted space.

The people who will read your app know what vet techs do. You can be very general with your description and they will understand.