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.

mumsneedwine I used to watch James Herriot and doesn't seem things were much different then ?

Are you serious?

Yes ! Not much money - he lived in the attic. Horrid hours - he was up in nights and did on call all the time. I expect the paperwork and health and safety was less but the fundamentals of hard work for not a lot of reward seem similar. Not going to argue about it- just how I see it. And the vets I know love their jobs, despite the nasty stuff. It's DDs choice of carer so it doesn't really matter anyway as that's what's she's going to apply for. Which is what this thread is about - supporting our kids through their applications.

A random piece of information, if you are a dentist you can dual qualify in dog dentistry. (Maybe even horse dentistry - who knows.) Dogs teeth are more complex than humans with eight root canals and work is expensive.

My dentist, source of this information, decided to stick to humans.

A plan B perhaps?

Your dentist needs to go read the Veterinary Surgeons Act of 1966 and stop talking bollocks.

Though it was too good to be true! Nice idea though.

I was a bit surprised ! Only seen a vet do dentistry on a horse and not sure I'd fancy doing it unless v well trained. Just getting the metal contraption in their mouths looks like it needs a degree. DD rasped a lot of horses teeth, but only under vet supervision and with a horse on ketamine.

And my dog would take your hand off if you tried to clean her teeth - not sure my lovely dentist would fancy that !

He did in fairness say that you had to dual qualify. And in fairness, that he had no interest. But that dog dentistry is a growth area, and much more complicated than humans.

Not sure whether this has been mentioned, but odds have been good at Notts this last cycle due to them opening up a second intake in the spring.

Best of luck to everyone! I have helped five students apply and have found lambing experience to be terribly helpful even if not all unis insist on it.

There is a national sheep association website where farmers ask for lambing help -- ads are quite specific about dates, breed, type of student required, working conditions etc

www.nationalsheep.org.uk/

Nottingham is dd’s first choice on paper - the April intake is an interesting idea. School exams start tomorrow and EPQ has to be completed over half-term. This time next year the stress levels will be high!

Mocks done here but dreading the stress next year. Lambing was tough this year as Easter holiday was so late and no sheep round here. But DD off for a week at Bristol and apparently they have sheep so hopefully that's something. Eldest DD at Notts doing Medicine and think youngest fancies joining her - it's the only place with the farm on the same campus for 5 years. But she's be happy wherever she gets an offer. Mantra for eldest was just need one offer !

Mocks all done here 😊
Dd went to her lambing placement but the last lamb was born 2 days before she started 😐 She did get lots of experience with the actual lambs though, learnt lots and really enjoyed the placement.
We have been to liverpool, Nottingham, Harper Adams and RVC open days. Booked into Bristol and Cambridge.
We was thinking Edinburgh at one point but she thinks RVC is more her so that's one knocked of the list.
Absolutely dreading the next 12 months, I can see lots of stress and tears along the way and that's just me

Was talking with DD last night about her placements and she said she absolutely loves the surgery side of veterinary and is now wondering if she should be a surgeon and not a vet 😲
She had originally gone with vet medicine over medicine due to being able to do so much more, because in medicine you tend to specialise.
However now she has experienced surgery on animals she discovered how much she likes it, she is having second thoughts.
Not sure what we should do, I have suggested taking a year out to give her more time to decide but she doesn't want to do that.
Anybody else have a child who is not sure which way to go - people or animal medicine x

I'd say get some hospital experience asap. It's 5 years studying humans and then 2 more years doing rotations before can even start thinking about specialising so needs to be prepared for all that. My DD just spent a week with a farm vet and loved it. At RVC today in Camden after going to Hawkshead few weeks ago. Bit expensive so hoping she prefers cheaper cities !

I know 2 DC who switched from wanting to do Vet Med To Med last Summer and both are now holding offers :) I would look at entering for UKCAT/BMAT asap. I would also suggest contacting any hospitals nearby to get some work experience over the Summer if this is the route your DD wishes to go down. Good luck with the decision!

Looking forward to Bristol tomorrow. DD has thrown an interest in Cambridge into the mix so we might be adding that to our epic tour of Britain over the next few weeks!

Mine did Bristol today. Said it was heaving. Be warned. The trip from park and ride to centre took an hour. Liverpool next weekend. And mine wants to go see Cambridge but doesn't think it's for her. We shall see. It's a damn sight cheaper than RVC (which she loved)

We are going by train as I guessed driving would be difficult but thanks for the tip off. We are going to Liverpool next week too. I feel bad because I haven’t encouraged Cambridge but if she’s genuinely interested we will go.

Hi @Bati I’ve just read your post.Dd was in a very similar situation and was unsure until she did some work experience in a hospital. She found she absolutely hated the hospital and loved her veterinary experience. She is also obsessed by surgery and loves anatomy and has just completed her first year doing Veterinary Med.
I would really encourage a gap year. It’s a pretty tough course and Dd is so better able to cope having thrived and built up a life for herself in her gap year. Lots of dds friends are not coping very well with the stress and pressure .

Hi Hope all enjoyed Bristol Open day who attended. My DD will be applying, really liked both campuses even in the rain.

Is anyone else booked on the Cambridge Masterclass - 11 July?

DD and I both really liked Bristol, and it made us realise how lacking Harper Keele will be without the on site vet practice or referral hospital. We live in a very small village and although DD is a country girl through and through she was really excited about the idea of living right in the city for 3 years. Open Days are definitely worth the effort.

DD liked Bristol too. She's definitely applying there and is spending a week on their Insight course in July. Next stop Liverpool followed by Nottingham, Cambridge and a nice easy visit to Surrey. And then it's decision time - that's going to be tricky I think. Having picked eldest up from Notts yesterday I'm hoping she chooses somewhere reasonably near by.

We are just on way back from Nottingham my DD loved the course and the location. It was a great open day. She will be applying to Bristol and Nottingham along with Surrey and Cambridge which we are viewing next week. Any other Nottingham feedback?

Mine wasn't so keen. Thought it had less facilities like on site equine and small animal hospitals. And it's a bit remote from the city. So she's waiting to see Surrey and Cambs before deciding. Def Bristol, Liverpool and RVC so just one to go. Or maybe a last minute change of mind !

Mine loved Nottingham and it is top with Bristol now. She was less keen on Liverpool but will still apply and 4th choice will probably be Surrey (visiting next week). She liked the practical aspect of Nottingham.

Relieved to have no more open days. Surrey was good yesterday but as 4th choice. The buildings are very impressive and the campus was lovely but it felt very quiet. Nottingham still comes out top for us with Bristol a very close second. It’s been exhausting but useful and now the serious bit starts.