Vet med - how to get there

[stripesordots]

My daughter is planning to take A-level Chemistry and Biology. She is trying to decide on a third subject that would be well regarded and useful when applying for Veterinary Medicine.

Would Maths be a good option? Or Psychology? What about PE?

Dd is very experienced in caring for horses as she has been riding since she was 8, there are plenty of veterinary practices nearby but no farms. In terms of work experience, is it usually possible to get a Saturday job for young people aged 16 and above, or do most applicants volunteer? How do students typically go about finding placements?

Do many applicants reapply the following year if they don’t get in? If so, what do they typically do in the year after completing their A-levels while preparing to reapply?

If you have any tips at all on how to increase her chances, we would be very grateful.

My daughter is 3rd year at Liverpool. She did Bio, Chem and Economics. Didn’t waste time on an EPQ as they don’t drop a grade for one. She did do a lot of work experience, in part so that she had an idea of what it entails. She started lambing when she was 14, volunteered for RDA at 13 etc.

What does need to be pointed out is that when they’re studying it’s full on. I think in total she spends 60-70 hours per week either in lectures, labs or studying. She would not have time to get a term time job. In the first 2 years, students have to do weeks of experience during the holidays but a student could fit in a summer job too. This year she has to do 14 weeks during her holidays so that’s pretty much no holidays left really. You are expected to pay for travel costs, accommodation etc, although some offer that for free. Very few placements are paid. Certainly none of hers have been. She is fortunate in that she has her own car and she doesn’t need to earn to top up loans.
She does have 1 friend who has to work to be able to study but that’s the only one in her cohort.

I will add however that she is loving it all, she feels as if she is living her dream.

@follygirl they work hard but play hard 😁. Mine loved Uni, loved placements and now loves her job. It's exhausting but I suppose if you do what you love then it's not as bad.

I have today just done a thorough search on all the unis websites and checked student room etc and from what I can see it’s only RVC and Liverpool that ask for formal references from work experience. Other unis are very clear that although some ask for a list, they do not require formal letters or references from the placements themselves. Eg Surrey explicitly state that they will never ask for formal references, Bristol don’t as they don’t have a work experience stipulation, Harper keele and uclan don’t ask for work experience and neither does Nottingham even though they ask for a list from the applicant. This has changed a lot in recent years so it’s the up to date info as of 2026. May change for 2027/2028 though!! Thought this might be helpful for us parents of kids applying next year.

@Onthesofawithmydog then don't get them 🤷‍♀️. But as someone who does to every year I'd suggest that is foolish. But your choice.

Yes it does change so just keep an eye out. Nobody minds filling in a form for a dc who has done a week’s work experience.

The change I hate is the video interviews. Horrid things. Having to speak to a screen is so hard and not sure why Unis are using it.

Just as an alternate route if needed - friend of a friend was desperate to become a vet. Didn’t get in from a levels so went and did the vet version of biomedical science - excelled there with a first and then got in to vet med as post grad. It was a lot of years and very hard work but she did it and has her dream job now.

It's all v v expensive. 2nd degrees are not fully funded by SFE. Need v deep pockets to to grad vet med.

I think you’re better retaking the A levels.

@mumsneedwine I didn’t suggest not getting references! It’s just helpful to know which ones will ask for them because Liverpool want three weeks worth but can be done in the last five years - so this means we will now get a reference from her year 10 work exp placement as that will count towards it. Whereas for rvc that wouldn’t count as needs to be in previous 18 months. So the info was just to help with knowing which references to collect and who will ask.