How Many Vet Schools Should I Apply To?

In the fall of 2013 I received a concerned message from a vet school applicant: I have applied to 13 (10 in the US, 2 in Scottland, and 1 in London), and from what I am hearing, I am starting to regret that decision as it seems that vet schools may look unfavorably upon me Read More …

2013 California Veterinary Economic Issues Survey

The CVMA has published the 2013 Economic Issues Survey, a report compiling statistics that they gathered from veterinarians throughout California to provide a perspective of how much money veterinarians in California are earning, benefits received, and what factors seem to affect the amount of money veterinarians earn. You can see the report here: http://www.cvma.net/userfiles/uploads/CVMAEconomicIssuesSurveyReport.pdf Given that Read More …

A New Chapter Begins!

It’s official — I’m starting a new blog! Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean that Life In Vet School & Tips On Getting In will be forgotten about! It has served as too precious of a resource for thousands of pre-veterinary students throughout the world for me to even consider ending it. However, now that I Read More …

First Job Offer for New Vet Grads – Take It Or Leave It

It’s been over six months since I graduated from vet school and though I’ve been working ever since I received my license, some of my classmates have not worked a single day since graduating. It’s not that they’re not trying. It’s just that the market is so saturated — there are too few jobs and Read More …

Vet’s Response to ABC’s 20/20 Clip – Is Your Veterinarian Being Honest With You?

It’s no surprise that the veterinary community throughout the country is in an uproar after 20/20 unveiled a video that was intended to instill fear and doubt into the minds of pet owners throughout the world. Conflict and drama tend to attract viewers and since the purpose of the media is to gain viewers, there Read More …

PETA – 96% of Animals Saved or Killed?

Most people know of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Most people who know of PETA have strong feelings (positive or negative) towards them. With that being the case, I try not to open a can of worms because there is no way to get everyone on the same page. So why even Read More …

My First Patient to Crash

On Friday, a patient crashed on me after surgery. Ever since I graduated I have been dreading the day when this would happen to me for the first time outside of UC Davis and all of the safety nets that the school provides for students. I had a resounding fear that I would freeze, not Read More …

How To Keep Track of Experience Hours

Keeping track of your veterinary and animal experience is easier than you think! You just need to be diligent about maintaining a log. I recommend that you: Use an excel spreadsheet to record your hours — dates, times, etc. Don’t worry about getting signatures as proof. Record which species you worked Record what your duties/responsibilities Read More …

How To Start Getting Veterinary Experience

The age-old question is: how to start getting veterinary experience if you have no experience or skills to qualify you for a job or even a volunteer opportunity. Just about every vet student nowadays has tackled this conundrum, so you are not alone. Though some vet students are fortunate enough to have a family member Read More …

You Can’t Get Experience Without Someone Giving You A Chance

It’s a problem in the veterinary field as well as many other fields – we need experience to get experience. Whether it is a job or simply time spent shadowing a veterinarian, people are reluctant to take a chance on people who haven’t proven themselves in that specific niche before. It’s understandable, after all, given Read More …