Where to get experience

[mrt111]

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Hi all. I don't have very much animal experience. Every animal hospital or private practice near me says they aren't taking on volunteers or ask for my resume and never get back to me.

Do Vet schools prefer the experience to be under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian? I appreciate any suggestions as I am getting desperate. 🙂

 

[RackingHorse]

Not only do vet schools prefer that you have experience under a veterinarian, they require it. Each school usually has a minimum amount of vet experience that they require to even consider you for admission. The more hours you have, the better. To gain veterinary experience you are going to have to be dedicated and determined to do so. I am currently driving two hours once a week to job shadow at a clinic. You may have to drive a couple hours out of you're town as well if all else fails. Make sure when you call the local clinics that you tell them that you are a pre vet student and desperately need to gain hours. Even if they say they are not taking on volunteers ask the receptionist to pass on you're request to the vet. You are also going to have letters of recommendation from 2 or 3 vets so be sure and make a good impression when you do land a shadowing position.

 

[twelvetigers]

Not only do vet schools prefer that you have experience under a veterinarian, they require it. Some schools may have a minimum amount of vet experience that they require to even consider you for admission, but most just expect you to have some hours to show that you know what you're getting into. Generally, the more hours you have, the better. To gain veterinary experience you are going to have to be dedicated and determined to do so. I am currently driving two hours once a week to job shadow at a clinic. You may have to drive a couple hours out of you're town as well if all else fails. Make sure when you call the local clinics that you tell them that you are a pre vet student and desperately need to gain hours. Even if they say they are not taking on volunteers ask the receptionist to pass on you're request to the vet. You are also going to have letters of recommendation from 1 vet (or 2 for Ohio) so be sure and make a good impression when you do land a shadowing position.

Mostly correct, but fixed a couple of things. 🙂

 

[SocialStigma]

They require both vet AND animal experience, and as RackingHorse said, you'll need some LORs from vets.

 

[Bisbee]

One of my volunteer experiences under a veterinarian came about as a result of my volunteering at an animal shelter. The shelter sponsored four spay/neuter clinics per month and needed volunteers to help draw vaccines, do paperwork and even handle animals, so I got right on that. Through this experience I met and got to know several great vets who traveled to the various shelters doing these clinics. One of them is writing me a letter. I think if you get your foot in the door at a shelter as a valuable volunteer, you will meet people and make these important connections. Good luck!

 

[LetItSnow]

Do Vet schools prefer the experience to be under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian? I appreciate any suggestions as I am getting desperate. 🙂

You need both. You'll just have to keep calling places, there's no easy way around it! Things to try:

• Change your terminology; instead of 'volunteering', ask if you can 'shadow'. It's not as useful long-term as hands-on work, but it still counts as vet hours. And places vary with how much they'll let you be involved. This was half my hours, and sometimes it's the best option for people (like me) who don't have the time for another job.
• If you're located where there's a teaching hospital, they probably take volunteers. Personally, I think those are great hours for an application because it's as close to 'in house' as you're going to get for an applicant, and that usually counts for something in any field. This was the other half my hours.
• Look for rehab/shelter gigs. Wildlife rehab places always needs volunteers. Shelters may or may not.
• If you have time for a job, start applying for vet assistant jobs. Might as well make money while building hours if that's viable for you.
• Expand your search criteria. If you're only looking at small animal places, start including large-animal/production/equine/whatever vets. My first hours were equine and I don't, at the moment, have any plans to do equine medicine.
• Change your approach. Right now you're probably calling the clinics. Try stopping by in person (and bring a resume).
• Network. Try asking everyone in your circle of influence (school, work, friends, church, family, ....) if they know a vet personally where they can put in a good word for you. I got my shadowing contact via a school friend who was related to a vet; it's turned out to be a wonderful opportunity. My friend even went so far as to call the vet and ask on my behalf, so I ended up not needing to do any work at all to get in their doors.

There's no shortcut. You just have to pound pavement and burn up telephone lines and be confident, assertive, friendly, and polite. G'luck.

 

[jtom]

I would also suggest emailing some clinics. I initially called all my local clinics but started emailing them and one clinic got back to me. The ironic thing was the email on the website is the veterinarians personal email address so I got to talk to him directly. The next week I started there and have been there ever since.

I actually ended up doing the reverse of what some other have done. I got a vet tech job with no experience and then had to go back to get animal experience because I did not have any.

 

[BakedZiti]

Is there a community college around you where there is an animal science department at all? I emailed someone at our local community college where they had a farm lab, and they allowed me to participate in hands-on activities. It really helped with my application. It isn't under a veterinarian, but it is still animal experience that was really helpful.