Vet Medicine 2020

[3catsandadog]

Hi a new thread with DC applying to Vet Med next year or for anyone with DC already studying who could pass on some words of wisdom!

My DD is looking to apply to Cambridge, Surrey, Nottingham and Bristol.
She has a fair amount of work experience arranged already and we will do the open day circuit next year.

Just posting to say Hi. My Dd has just started at Bristol doing Vet. Med. If you have any queries I’m happy to help.The Student Room Vet thread is a great resource as well.

Hi Teta thanks for your reply :) The one thing that I would like to know the online application forms that most of them seem to have are they straightforward or horrendous!

Thanks

The Bristol form took Dd several hours so be prepared to set a whole day aside. This is instead of a interview though. The Surrey one is used as a filter before interviews and took around two hours. Again you need a quiet room with no interruptions.

Thank you and congrats to your DD!

Ds1 has just started at the Rvc on the 5 Yr vetmed course. It's been a massive roller-coaster ride to get there.
Every university seems to be looking for something different so read the application criteria very carefully and more than match the requirements on work experience.

Thank you and well done to your ds!

littledrummergirl how is your Ds finding the first few days? I’m getting sparsely worded texts which is probably good. Dd seems to have settled in well with her flat mates and met her vet ‘ parents’ yesterday.

He's still in his first week so in the freedom and fun stage. I haven't heard from him since Monday so can only assume everything is ok. Dh cracked today and asked how he is, he was told ok so at least we know he's around and about.

It's good that your dd is settling in.

Dd is also in freshers week. I think she must be happy because I’ve had no texts the last two days. My dd’s are normally chatty but my ds’s are not do I’m amused by your sons ‘ok’.

Hi

DD has just started at Surrey and had 3 offers- so happy to share any help that I can- although other than offering moral support I don't think i was actually that helpful.

she found the Nottingham form took a long time and was then rejected pre interview.

Well done 3 offers thats amazing!
These pre interview forms do worry me a little too be honest more than anything else in the process I think.

Hi are there any more Vet applicants for 2020 yet?

My DD is ! Having gone through medicine with eldest DD last year I'm not looking forward to it again. She's doing VetCam at Easter and we went to a day thing at Bristol. Oh and popped into Sutton Bonnington while visiting eldest at Notts. But open days still need doing. I've heard the forms take ages and can be quite complicated / DD been told not to plan much October half term. DD has 5 weeks vet practice experience (including cattle and equine), lots of horse experience, worked at a zoo and is doing volunteering with RSPCA. But farming is proving tricky as nothing near us. Anyone got any sheep farmers that might like her ?
I found the medicine thread so supportive and hope we can hold each others hands through the next year

I am sending you a DM Mumsneedwine :)

Just a word that there is a new vet school planned for 2020 entry. It will be a joint venture between Keele (north Staffordshire) and Harper Adams (Shropshire).

I'm not sure whether the most recent vet school to open (Surrey) did so in the planned year, so you'd probably have to keep your eyes open in the summer to see whether the 2020 date becomes firm. If it does there will be a few extra places available for veterinary students applying this October.

Thank you any extras spaces will be welcome!

What are people's thoughts about the career prospects and the disillusionment among vets? Like many applicants, DD has always wanted to be a vet, and is absolutely ecstatic to have been offered a university place for this autumn. But I worry that it's a very long course, and so many young people seem to regret their choice later, maybe a couple of years into their career. (DD is adamant that she will not be one of them!)

This seems to be the same with doctors, dentists and lawyers too so not just limited to vets. A vet degree is all my DD has ever wanted to do and she may want to go into research - so there are other avenues rather than just being restricted to a small practice vets.

Hi my DD is currently in year 12 studying Chemistry, Biology and Maths. She will be applying for Vetmed this sept.
She has been to Nottingham and Liverpool open days and loved them both so she is definitely applying to those 2.
The other ones she is considering are Cambridge, Edinburgh and Bristol so she will be attending their open days this summer. Hopefully it will help her decide which 2 she also wants to apply to.
We are wondering if it will be worth going to an open day at Keele or Harper Adams to try and get more information about the new Vetmed course they will be starting to see if it might be an option for her.
She has done some work experience and has lots lined up for the school holidays. It will work out to about 11 week's worth in 6 different places by the time she applies.

Hi Bati there are 3 of us now with @mumsneedwine :)

My DD also studying the same. She went to a vet course one day event at Bristol last year and is on VetCam this Easter. I am glad you liked Nottingham as this one of my DD's options and her other choice is Surrey.
We will be going to these 4 open days in the Summer.
My DD has about the same work experience in total.

I think I read somewhere you can choose a preference for Harper Adams or Keele but it can't be guaranteed.

More concerned with the work experience online forms than the interviews at the moment especially as Bristol do not interview!

Good to hear from another vet applicant parent!

My DD is currently in her 3rd year at Surrey and got 4 offers. I think variety and vet related work experience is more important than a large quantity and you don’t need everything. When you go to the open days they tell you what they are looking for - make notes!

Also important is evidence of teamwork or responsibility in the human world; team sport, work or volunteering. Plus outside interests or hobbies - important to have another focus given the MH problems in the profession.

Get your DC to chat about the profession and current issues with vets and keep an eye on the vet and general press for current issues that might come up. Also think about ethical issues, they regularly come up at interview.

Some staff from Surrey are involved in setting up the new school - including one unpopular member of staff who DD is glad to see the back of.

BTW Surrey seems really good for peer support and DD is very happy there so I would deffo recommend it.

Thanks Harriet thats really useful!

Thank you Harriet. You've made me feel so much better about DD not having lambed 250 sheep or castrated a cow !! She has variety and does volunteer and work so fingers crossed. Surrey is nice and local 😁