Worth Going to AAVMC Fair in Washington DC?

[TwentySixDeer]

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Hi, I'm a vet school applicant for this upcoming cycle currently based in NYC. I know the AAVMC Fair in D.C. is in a week, and was debating going -- it's a bit of a hassle (4 hrs each way, on a Sunday, etc). I was wondering if anyone had experience going to a fair before and knew if it was worth it, or if anyone else here is going? Thanks.

 

[pp9]

Hi, I'm a vet school applicant for this upcoming cycle currently based in NYC. I know the AAVMC Fair in D.C. is in a week, and was debating going -- it's a bit of a hassle (4 hrs each way, on a Sunday, etc). I was wondering if anyone had experience going to a fair before and knew if it was worth it, or if anyone else here is going? Thanks.

I have no info on this conference whatsoever, but I will tell you that conferences are what you make of them. Don't bother with this unless you commit to being talkative and visiting all the tables for more than just a free pen.

I tried to get more info on the conference/career fair but they have very little on their website. That being said, it's not even a full 3 hour event, so you determine if it's worth it to you. They just refer to it as a "rare chance to reach out to young people interested in the profession" and that tells me nothing. Is it going to be the corporations set up at tables with swag? Is it specialists talking about their careers? They don't even have a list of exhibitors (that may be posted later). Personally I see no value in going, especially as a pre-vet, but it's your choice.

Also..they say "high school, middle school, and elementary school students" make up the bulk of attendees. The content of this fair may be a bit below your level.

 

[TwentySixDeer]

Thanks for your input, and you definitely brought up relevant concerns I had when considering going.

In the end I decided to go, so I decided to post an update if anyone looked at this thread in the future. In terms of content there were about sixteen schools present mostly from the midwest and east coast. They had a few informational talks, one was even targeted towards the current cycles applicants. They also had an informational talk on alternative career paths in alternative veterinary medicine.

I definitely agree with what Pinkpuppy9 said about the conference being what you make of it. I found being a upcoming applicant definitely made me stand out against all the high schoolers who were attending, but you have to make an effort to network with the representatives from the schools. Definitely have questions in mind, and if you make a meaningful connection with someone reach out to them afterward to thank them and make sure they remember you. Overall I found it to be a worthwhile experience.