Veterinary science-what A levels?

[JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots]

My Dd is year 10 and wants to do veterinary science at uni. What A levels should she be looking at doing? She's predicted a 9 at GCSE for biology and 7/8 for chemistry and physics and is working to improve those grades. Maths an 8. Everything else is a similar grade.
Thanks 😃

Unfortunately that's not how it happens now. You don't need physics or maths. And no one will get an in an unconditional offer unless they already have their A levels 😊. Some need AAA but some take AAB.
New ones are Aber (run with RVC) and UCLAN this year. Harper Keele been up and running a while now.

Mine took 3 A levels so she could focus on having fun 😂. And having a part time job in a supermarket- this provides valuable skills in customer contact and these are v useful at interview. And provide cash for when they start Uni. Being a vet student is expensive as EMS placements are endless and sometimes require driving or paying for accommodation. Although DD has ended up being paid several times (once in endless eggs and half a side of cow !).

My friend is a vet, her A levels were Chemistry Biology & Physics. That’s the traditional combination, with Chemistry & Biology as required subjects for obvious reasons. Some people chose Maths instead of Physics.

Most vet students are female - about 75% !

I can confirm. The profession has become overwhelmingly female over the last 20 years, particularly on the small animal side.

It really isn't. Lots of vet students have Bio chem and maths. But lots have art, drama, history, English, French, anything as a 3rd. Unis do not care !!!! They don't look. They care about grades.

Well this is promising news. She's doing geography, history, drama and triple sciences along with maths and English for GCSE. She already has French at grade 6 (they do it early).

I would second the suggestion to keep a diary of any relevant experience - including customer facing roles like shop work as these demonstrate skills she will need for dealing with owners/ working in a team within a practise. . She shouldn’t just write down what she did but be reflective about the experience eg what did she notice about the way the vet interacted with owners / animals, can she point to situations when she has demonstrated aspects of her personality that would make her a good vet student and eventually an effective vet.

@Cathpot that's a good point, thank you. I was a nurse and well versed in reflective practice so can guide her in that

DD1 did chemistry, biology and maths.

She also had a struggle to get work experience, a) because it was just after Covid, and b) because she only decided to apply for vet med at the of Y12, so didn’t have much time! That said, she did do a MOOC, which some of the universities accept in lieu of some work experience and did eventually manage to get two weeks at two different vets. She was rejected by all four choices, took a gap year when she did LOADS more work experience (much easier to get once they’ve turned 18!), reapplied and is now at Cambridge. It’s hard work but she hasn’t regretted it for a minute.

I would strongly recommend looking at the Vet Schools Council website, which covers all the vet schools (and their entry requirements) in the UK.

Good luck!