Veterinary science ??

[Springiscomingsoonish]

Anyone’s child successfully on a veterinary science course? If si what were their GCSEs please? Trying to see if results today will be good enough. Thank you

Yes. You need 7 7s, with those being in science. Usually a 6 for maths and English.

Check the work experience required for each uni too.

https://www.vetschoolscouncil.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/VSC-entry-requirements-for-2025.pdf

Unfortunately, not all veterinary schools have their GCSE requirements listed (Nottingham doesn't, for example, but theirs are at https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy/course/Veterinary-Medicine-and-Surgery-BVM BVS with BVMedSci#requirements).

Harper-Keele, Liverpool, Nottingham and Surrey all say five at grade 7. I haven't checked the others. There will usually be subject requirements for science, English language & maths.

Sorry meant 5 at grade 7. Was a long day !

Thank you for replies. We know what grades the unis say, I'm more interested in what people have actually experienced as we have heard it needs to be all 8’s and 9’s for GCSEs in reality.

my daughter is a final year -she got 6 a stars 3 a and a b - think that is 6 x 8 (there might be 1 or 2 9s ) 3 x 7 and a 6 in todays money!
the vet schools did not seem to focus much on GCSE it was all about predicted a levels and work experience. they seem to interview a lot and the interviews were tough. Get going with the work experience ASAP as the requirements are huge for some of the schools
she got offers from HK/Liverpool and Surrey and rejected by Bristol before interview - the only one 1 think where her GCSEs were considered

@Springiscomingsoonish not true at all. I'm a teacher who helps students get into Vet Med (as well as the mum of a 5th year) and lots get in with 6s and 7s. It's more about the supplementary forms you have to fill in. And Liverpool interview everyone with the minimum grades and work experience and then it's all down to the interview.

You do not need all 8/9. It's a stupid myth.

@ipredictariot5 they've cut the amount of wex needed since ours did it. Much more manageable these days 😊.

Know Bristol student this year with 9,9,8,8,7,7,6,5,5. Got 4 offers. It's those pesky forms !!!

About this. Beware.

They will pick the student that has thrown themselves into work experience massively over the ones that just do what they think the requirements are likely to be.

A student that can show they have been working at catteries, kennels and been a 'Saturday' girl or boy for years at the vets, worked at local wildlife rescues etc. will have a far better chance.

I know this sounds obvious but I have had 45 years experience in this field and seen potentially good students fail to get in because they haven't been seen to be passionate enough about the profession.

Why is it so insanely difficult to become a vet?!

@DowngradedToATropicalStorm this isn't the case these days. Liverpool interview anyone with the required 3 weeks. Others only need 2-3 weeks. It's more about talking about what you've learned, not what you've done. They also take MOOCS as work experience. Once you're at interview it's all down to how you perform.

Vet schools have tried very hard to ensure students who don't know any vets, or live on farms, can apply.

@Prenelope it's not. It's very competitive though.

There are only 11 vet school
in the UK (46 med schools) which adds to the competition I think

Yes my daughter was applying 2019 and they had much higher work experience pre pandemic
apply to the new schools too HK UCLAN and Aberystwyth now I believe? It doesn’t matter if you went to Bristol/ Edinburgh etc it’s all the same degree !

So so helpful, thank you all. Fortunately we are already on the way with work experience, both with a Sunday paid job (riding school) and a vets practice. We have lambing lined up next spring and she wants to do some with a kennel or cattery, or possibly a blue criss charity. Thank you all

@Springiscomingsoonish she'll have more than enough work experience.

Tell her to keep a diary of things she sees and does - it's really handy when filling in the forms and for interviews.

And get references from each place detailing the dates she did on headed paper - will need to submit them to Unis when applies. And easier to get them straight after each placement.

Back in 2022, two of DD1’s cohort got places at vet school with a mix of grades 6–9, whereas DD, with straight 9s, didn’t get any offers. Work experience requirements had been relaxed because of Covid, but DD still had comfortably more than the minimum. I think it was all the supplementary forms that were her undoing!

Anyway, she reapplied after A-levels – with top grades and another load of work experience in hand – and was successful, though even then Surrey rejected her pre-interview, so they’re obviously looking for specific qualities in their vets that DD clearly doesn’t have!

One of my kids is going into their 2nd year. They had all 8s and 9s @ GCSEs, and 2 A *s and an A for A levels. Masses of work experience etc. 3 interviews and 1 offer. It is incredibly difficult to become a vet because it is so competitive! Good luck Springiscoming to your daughter, my kid loved their 1st year.

When you say supplementary forms..what do you mean please? We havent gone through the process yet, obviously, so not sure what forms she will need to complete. Thank you

@Springiscomingsoonish when they apply they will be sent a variety of forms. Different for each Uni. These are used to select t for interview.

@Springiscomingsoonish Bristol don't interview, just use their form so v important. Liverpool interview everyone with the right grades and wex. The forms can take hours to don- each !

Daughter has 12 level 9 at GCSE (did some early). Did one A level in year 11 (Maths A- not considered for vet med as not in same sitting as the others) currently predicted 4 A at A level - going into year 13. Has done 6 weeks worth of work experience at 3 different vet practices of small animals, has one week of large animals and a week of work experience at an abattoir. She has 3 years of equine and yard experience, she has a month’s experience of looking after a an animal small holding, as well as her own pets. She’s got calving experience and lambing, but she’s been focussed on nothing else since year 10 as a future career. She’s not applied yet but is and is hopeful of offers. Different unis wants different things but the cost varies massively. Eg the Cambridge college she is doing outreach with £6K a year for accommodation - Nottingham want £12 K 🙄

The biggest thing is work experience and you will need to ask and ask and ask

@Andwhatfreshhellisthis ? What do you meant" by costs ? Fees are the same at every Uni. Accommodation costs vary within each Uni - Notts is nowhere near 12K though.

And you don't need that much - don't want others to be put off. 3 weeks can get you in. It's about reflecting on what you've learned. Some now take a paid customer facing job as week of we mx - so supermarket or cafe work counts.

It's about those forms and then smashing the interviews. Which are mostly MMI format.