Is veterinary unachievable now?

[RainBearr]

Results on Thursday showed 4As and 5As.
Chemistry coursework was somehow marked down from a (apparently) strong A to a B which brought overall grade to an A after achieving A in exams. 3 UMS overall off an A
History was also 3 UMS off.

The A*s were in seemingly useless subjects:
English lit
English Lang
Biology
Spanish

As in:
Chem
physics
RE
history
maths

A level choices are
bio, Chem, psychology, maths and Spanish

Is it time to give up on veterinary medicine?

I did listen to what was said and I said I will look for other placements. I was just explaining why I have stayed in one place.
Is the best way to ask in person or to email? I usually ask the receptionist.

I'd suggest speaking to the person in charge of the practice rather than the receptionist.

I have a friend who is a vet who looked a bit knackered after a night on call. She had been out trying to rescue a cow that had fallen down a lead mine shaft. It was snowing, the cow was distressed and covered in shit. After a long struggle the rescue failed and she was lowered on a rope to humanely destroy the distressed and potentially dangerous animal. She says too many vet students struggle with the practical and physical side of the job. Think of things that demonstrate your manual dexterity, ops on small animal require very detailed accurate work. All successful students are academically vet able but you need that something extra. Can you communicate with people from distressed animal lovers saying goodbye to a pet to a slaughter house worker whose welfare standards are being questioned?

The receptionist probably gets loads of enquiries and will just give you a stock answer to get rid of you

The best thing is to write to one of the partners. Do a really good letter that you can reuse to send to other practices, and add in your CV. See it as a job application.

Introduce yourself, make your request, outline your reasons for wanting WE and convince them of why you would be a help rather than a hindrance.

Be realistic about your expectations of what you will be doing (observing, making tea and cleaning up poo) and make it clear how grateful you would be and how much of a help it would be to you when applying for uni.

Make a note of when and where you send each letter, then after a week follow it up with a 'hello, did you get my letter?' phone call. Ask to speak to the person you addressed the letter to (a partner). Chase (politely) until you can speak to them. Make it clear that even a day, even a few hours, even 1 hour would be amazing - once they meet you and you wow them you will have more doors opened to you.

If you have no joy, ask the partner when you speak to them if they can recommend any farms on their books who take work experience pupils. Vets are usually only too happy to help out aspiring vets, but you must be keen. One phone call to a receptionist just doesn't cut it, as you've found.

Ask your parents to scour their memories and address books for any contacts, any at all who work at vet practices. A lot of the time, whether it's right or not, who you know makes a difference.

It is possible, and if you want it enough you'll get there.

Unfortunately it is a lot easier if your parents move in circles where there are vets( same for medicine) My dad was a doctor he was from a very poor family (dad died when he was 12) he was simply the brightest boy in his grammar school and the headmaster put in a good word for him with the local medical school. Towards the end of his career he was sad how few medical students he came across from his background and would always try and give work experience to a student with an address from the non leafy side of town

I don't think that's representative of vet students bikeandrun I'm from a very Working class background and was the first student in my school ever to apply to vet med. I managed to get in because I worked hard at getting work experience placements as well as grades. The communication skills you develop in acquiring and learning from placements are vital. I've also met plenty of want-to-be vet students whose parents arrange their placements and they spend days at a time holding up walls, learning nothing. Good students stand out very clearly, and most practitioners will encourage them

My parents are both retired and don't really know anyone. I do happen to have 6 pets that are somehow all registered at different specialist vets and one said they'd be more than happy to help when I reached sixth form so I will contact them.
Does it look better to send a physical letter or an email?

Thank you all for your help, I honestly do appreciate it.

Write to the senior partner of the practice or send an email. As a senior partner of a practice you will never, ever get me on the phone to be quite frank I am to busy to talk on the phone. I will and do reply to letters and emails, it may take a few weeks, but I will reply.
You need to be prepared to wait for space for a placement I have just filled Feb half term and Easter so the next available space I have is May half term or summer next year. So you need to be writing for next summer now.
Once on work experience you need to be prepared to wash floors, scrub instruments etc.
In the last 5 years only a single one week placement has come through someone I am friends with, the student, however, was exceptional having already spent two years going every Saturday to Cats Protection League.

Send a letter, include your mail and phone number. Follow up with an email a week later if you've not heard anything

Have you tried PDSA/RSPCA vet hospitals? Most vets will take from 16yrs as 18 is too late

Three A Levels is plenty.

Letter is best I think.

We have to start off doing at least 4 A levels at my school.

I'm impressed with you asking for advice here OP
You've had lots of good suggestions I think
All the best to you!
Follow up every possible contact, get a variety of experience showing personal initiative, and don't allow school to persuade you into doing more A levels than is best for you.
Sounds like advice here is maybe 4 at AS and continue with 3 for A level.
Congrats on your excellent GCSE results!

OP - get over to Student Room. There are people there who are likely to have contacts in your area.

Millymollymamma, Liverpool send out a work questionnaire to all applicants who have the predicted grades. They select for interview on that basis and do not read the statement until invited to interview. RVC selects people over a certain BMAT score I believe, Nottingham on AS results and their situational judgement tests. Surrey on filling out a written questionnaire. Bristol might select more on the PS but they are in a minority. There are so many good candidates that they cannot separate them easily and all have their own methods. The UCAS form is only a small part of it.

Will it still look good to continue volunteering at the zoo once monthly (or so) if possible as I feel I could gain a good reference from them or is it time to completely move on? I really enjoy it, have made brilliant friends there and have really bonded with some of the animals (Plus I paid £££ for the uniform)

I am a member on The Student Room, I'll ask about contacts. Thank you! Also, thanks for the congrats, Juggling.

No, definitely keep on with it, especially if you think you'll get a good reference - but just make sure that you go elsewhere too. Loads of elsewheres!

And buy yourself a lovely big journal and keep a diary of everywhere you go.

Would a diary solely for WE be best? Would I include everything? Even charity shop etc?

Dd did work experience in a Vet. Practice this summer at 16.She had to organise her work placements herself with the aid of an official school template form.All the vet had to do was sign it and say yes or no.She also wrote a additional covering letter listing her science options and enthusiasm about Vet. surgery.Could you ask your school for an official signed template from perhaps the head of year or the careers officer?She hand delivered the forms herself and chatted with the receptionists.They in turn made sure the vets responded.After each work placement she bought a box of chocolates and a thank you card.Could you start with the vets you know?Test the waters by speaking to a friendly receptionist first.

I've just made a CV for WE. If I get a diary for all my experience should I add previous experience too?
Is it just for my reference or other people's?- as well as what I learned are photos useful too?

I will start getting in touch with vet practices now and I will also keep on top of work. Would it be a good idea to write up all my notes from the vet school I did in 2013 so they're neat? They are very detailed and have examples of specific cases we studied.

Would a diary solely for WE be best? Would I include everything? Even charity shop etc?

Yes I think that would be a good idea. Everything that is relevant - so charity shop work would show customer service, working as a team, timekeeping, interacting with the public etc.

What it will show, once you get to interview, is that this has been a long term commitment and something to which you are dedicated. It should also be quite good fun to do