Which internship?

[AussieDr]

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I am a junior year pre-vet student. I have applied for a few internships this summer. I have been accepted at one and am awaiting the interview for the 2nd. If I do get accepted for both, my question is which one would look better to vet schools?
The first is an internship at a wildlife rehabilitation center. I would be working with injured avian/waterfowl ie birds and their care. It would be hands on with the birds.
The second in an internship at a zoo. This one is a monkey behavioral study internship. It would mostly involve observation and record-keeping along with providing information to zoo guests about the monkeys etc. The data from the study is to be used to design enrichment for the monkeys. I do not know how much actual animal care or behind the scenes will be involved, if any.
I currently work as a vet assistant weekends during school and the past 3 summers and have LOTS of hours there, so do not need more hours like that I don't think. I will be working there this summer also and will schedule those hours around my internship. I am also going to be volunteering at a horse rescue occasionally this summer.
Which internship will look better and give me the best chance at admittance?
Or I could do neither and do more hours as a vet assistant/ make more money 🙂 and then do more hours at the horse rescue. I am not sure what to do for the summer and would appreciate any advice.
Thanks!

 

[JM313]

As far as which internship would look better I am not sure, they both sound great. I know the vet schools I applied to definitely liked to see unique experiences like this. Sounds like you have a lot of vet assistant hours and while it would be nice to make more money I definitely recommend taking at least one of these internships. Personally I would lean more towards the one at the zoo, as a lot of times there are places like raptor centers where you can volunteer to get the type of experience you would be getting in the first one, but of course that depends on where you live. Also the one at the zoo has you involved in a type of research/study which a lot of schools like. From what I can tell, schools like to see that you are aware of the variety of areas in veterinary medicine and have taken opportunities to experience them; so you have equine and small animal experience and now you can get some exotic and a little research with the zoo one or wildlife experience with the other internship.

 

[equineconstant]

I would lean towards the zoo one as well because it has more of a research and communication aspect. Especially since VMCAS has added a separate research section, iirc. On the other hand, if you have a strong interest in wildlife, the rehab center would probably be a better choice so that you can explore them more. Good luck at your interview!

 

[variegata]

Whichever one you are more passionate about. Either one will help diversify your experiences on VMCAS, and when it comes to writing a PS or interviewing at vet schools and talking about your experiences, it will be easier to talk/write about something you have great interest in.

 

[that redhead]

The zoo one sounds like a dream to me personally (all my interests and whatnot); I think you could spin either one in a positive light but the zoo one is a bit more unique than the rehab place.